January 1 - Point Counterpoint

Ah, yes, and, again... thus endeth this chronicle... continued, archly, at

markalburger-2014.blogspot.com...

December 31 - To the Horizon

Wake up to the mostly-overcast skies of Walla Walla,

but it could be worse: not much fog or rain, and -- while cold -- no freezing temperatures or snow.  

So off again to Starbucks

then

the pull west,

along 12,

again through Lowden and

Touchet,

touching

down

to

Wallula Junction,

but then Cascade-ward,

over the Columbia,

lonely

Benton

County,

yet

once

more

against

the Horse Heaven Anticline (Cow Hell Syncline?),

fog

frost

anon

upon

each

limb,

sky

clearing

and

Canyons

rising

up

Yakima

River

Valley,

up

the

Ellensburg

Divide,

contouring

above

a

major

declivity

to

the

northeast,

over

Manastash

Ridge

(2672),

towards

the

Bar 14

Ranch

House.

After re-supplying,

back

on

90,

ascending

past

Cle Elum,

spectacular ridges

and

ominous clouds looming,

along the shores of the

Lake Keechelus

Snowshed,

compromised visibility at Snoqualmie Pass,

ice,

misty

mounts

downslope

into

ruburban

Seattle,

across

watery

Washington,

north

on

5

to

another branch of the

coffee empire,

meeting up with Nathan and

Claire,

who guide us

to our

overnight

accomodations... 

a

palatial

houseboat,

a

floating

mansion

on

the

east

bank

of

Union,

with

panoramic

views

within

and

without.

From here,

it's

off

to

the

Center with Harriet and grandchild,

through the Armory,

beneath

dancing,

for

ice

skating,

where

our

young charge

proves a natural;

then

International Fountain viewing in the chill night air,

hot drinks at yet a third familiar-and-continued-amazingly-overcrowded situation,

towards a climax of quirky Space Needle fireworks ... Happy New Year!... continuing at markalburger-2014.blogspot.com.