Wheatland Hills - 2

Hills, Clouds - Washington  2024

Hills, Clouds - Washington  2024

Both photos taken with a Nikon Z7II / 24-200mm lens combo.

Wheatland Hills - 1

Oversize Load - Washington  2024

Hills - Washington  2024

"The Palouse is a distinct geographic region of the northwestern United States . . . It is a major agricultural area, primarily producing wheat and legumes. Situated about 160 miles north of the Oregon Trail, the region experienced rapid growth in the late 19th century."

-Wikipedia

Railroad Buildings

Railroad Building #1 (Colfax) - Washington  2024

Railroad Building #2 (Colfax) - Washington  2024

These extremely photogenic ramshackle buildings were located around the corner from my motel!

Top photo taken with an Olympus E-M1II / 25mm lens combo. The bottom one was taken with a Canon G5XII. 

Alas, the Canon vanished during one of my recent Los Angeles trips, and, to make matters worse, Canon no longer manufactures that camera. What's interesting is that it's commanding a premium price when listed as used on eBay, far above what I had originally paid when new.

Monday Spotted Sandpiper Blogging

Spotted Sandpiper (Colfax) - Washington  2024

"The dapper Spotted Sandpiper makes a great ambassador for the notoriously difficult-to-identify shorebirds. They occur all across North America, they are distinctive in both looks and actions, and they're handsome."

Photo taken from my motel window.

Palouse River Trail

Palouse River - Washington  2024

Hiking Path - Washington  2024

Nice hike, down an old railroad line, wheat fields in the distance. 

WAMX 4043

WAMX 4043 (Colfax) - Washington  2024

Photo taken through my motel window. As I've noted before, the motel employees told me that there were no railroad operations currently going on. However, that engine certainly looked functional to me! Plus, those things have got to be expensive.

(Clipped from the Web)

Colfax Sightems - 2

Photo Studio (Colfax) - Washington  2024

We Deliver (Colfax) - Washington  2024

Earlier shots of photo studios: Photo Studios

Colfax Sightems - 1

Building #1 (Colfax) - Washington  2024

Building #2 (Colfax) - Washington  2024

Photos were taken early Sunday morning, with me being the only pedestrian in view.

Railroad Stuff

Colfax Station (Colfax) - Washington  2024

Train Tracks (Colfax) - Washington  2024

I was pleased to find that my motel was quite close to some railroad tracks and assorted railroad buildings. (Best Western motel sign visible at the right of the lower photo.)

Alas . . . there hasn't been any actual trains in the town for a number of years apparently. 

Through Idaho to Colfax

Colfax Says (Colfax) - Washington  2024

Gas Station - Idaho  2024

At one point I was going to stay for a couple of nights in Spokane, but decided to push on a little farther to Colfax - more rural and quiet.

Motorcycle #1

Post Rock - Seattle  1998

One of my continuing selection of 1990's photos. Taken in . . .um, Seattle, I think.

Flag

Seen on Whidbey Island last year.

Photo: Flag—Whidbey Island, 2009

Rhododendrons

We were lucky to be in Washington when the rhododendrons were in bloom . . . spectacular displays.

Photos: Rhododendrons (1)—Washington, 2009; Rhododendrons (2)—Washington, 2009

Anacortes

Mike had a very nice mini-pizza in Anacortes. And a pint of draft beer . . . some local brand. Quite good! Most of the businesses in the downtown area were closed.

Not as touristy as some coastal towns—still some industrial stuff. And a Memorial Day weekend Vets for Victory demonstration.

Photos: Smokestack—Anacortes, 2009; Vets for Victory—Anacortes, 2009

Whidbey Island

After crossing over the Deception Pass bridge you are on Whidbey Island. Seems like a nice enough place, agricultural and touristy.

The "shrimp" sign: quick, a sharp left-hand turn! Needed in order to get over to the early morning light slanting across the painted side of the building.

Mike made it down as far as Coupeville, with its restored bed and breakfasts and Memorial Day flags, before turning around.

Photos: Shrimp—Whidbey Island, 2009; Flags—Whidbey Island, 2009

Deception Pass

Mike drove north on Highway 5, then west towards Deception Pass State Park.

Finally: some real forest. He hiked to the top of Goose Rock, passing under the famous Deception Pass bridge, where he stopped to take a three-pix panorama. Nothing much to speak of at the top: weather too hazy to see any of the promised landmarks. No goose, either.

Coming back down, though, he was excited to see the elusive black slug. Easier to take pix of slugs than birds, for sure.

Photos: Forest—Deception Pass, 2009; Bridge—Deception Pass, 2009; Black Slug—Deception Pass, 2009

Edmonds

While Joan & Hali shopped, Mike took off towards the water in search of pix.

First up was this exquisite Ford Mustang. Now, it might not be a "Pacific Northwest" scene, but still . . . very nice.

Then, the ferry arrived and the cars started driving off. Some observed, some didn't.

Photos: Mustang—Edmonds, 2009; Ferry—Edmonds, 2009

Puget Sound

After Seattle, Mike & Hali drove to Joan & Al’s in Bothell, just north of Seattle.

Sunday, Joan kindly drove us over to Edmonds, featuring a view of Puget Sound.

Photo: Puget Sound—Washington, 2009

Seattle 4 / Early Morning

Early morning pix found around our hotel.

For some unexplained reason, the coffee at our hotel wasn’t very good. In Seattle! So we were out and about quite early looking for some caffeine, only to come up empty. But I got to see the "Crow" restaurant sign and the bright yellow building across the way.

Finally located a Starbucks in the QFC store around the corner, but . . . the coffee wasn’t very good. In Seattle!

Photos: Crow—Seattle, 2009; Yellow Building—Seattle, 2009

Seattle 3 / Pike Place Market

We had thought to arrive early so as to beat the crowds. But we had not anticipated the numerous cruise ships berthed within easy walking distance of the market.

So it was crowded. But not crowded enough to prevent us from getting fresh cinnamon-sugar doughnut holes. And a café americano. And a cha siu bow.

Photos: Public Market—Seattle, 2009; Balloons—Seattle, 2009