Well the initial plan for today was to visit the Maryhill Museum of Art before setting off north, but turns out it isn’t open on Sundays. I refer you to previous comments on the quality of trop research. I’m wondering whether complete lack of planning is the way to go. The fellow traveller that I met on the first day said that she just comes to the US for a month every year, picks a vague area and then goes where the mood takes her. I can certainly see the appeal in that.
Anyway, first things first: the morning routine of making sure that I have a full tank and clear yesterday’s bug carnage from the windscreen.
Much to my surprise, I discovered today that Washington has a fondness for roundabouts. Once you get over the initial terror, akin to the first left turn of the trip, they are not too bad, In fact it quickly became apparent that even in reverse, I was much more used to roundabouts than the locals, who seemed to struggle to get their heads around how it worked. Which was a challenge in itself of course.
Lots of signs today (I think at county boundaries) forbidding transport of homegrown fruit beyond this point. I’m not sure whether this was to stop the spread of something nasty or just inter-county trade wars, but not idea how they enforce it. Which reminds me - I have some apples in the boot. Hope I haven’t transgressed!
First planned stop of the day was the Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park. Now I’m sure that there was a forest here once but the “state park” was more like someone’s garden rockery. With rangers of course. Not uninteresting though and further signs of the cataclysmic combinations of volcanos and floods which have formed this landscape, which is the main thing I have come to see.
Some cool petroglyphs too
… and of course more sightings of the gorge carved out by the flood (more of this tomorrow).
And so onto the main destination of the day.
Welcome to Roslyn, WA aka Cicely, Alaska.
Even 30 years on, Northern Exposure is probably still my favourite TV series, so I couldn’t pass this way without visiting where it was filmed. Apart from the NE connection, Roslyn is a lovely, friendly small town, with a laid back, Sunday afternoon sort of vibe. Although, to be fair, it was Sunday afternoon so that may explain it.
Clearly I had to head the the Brick for some food and a pint or two.
Good beer, an Impossible burger (yes!), Euros on the TV and full on nerding out. Today is a good day!
Whilst scanning OpenStreetMaps (no Wifi to mooch off in the Brick) to see what else is around, I spotted the very weird looking segregated cemetery. I did start to walk up their but it was way too hot. Possibly a visit in the car tomorrow…
Lodge wars? I was particularly intrigued by the Druid’s cemetery. Gotta think there is a story there…