From Here to There.......

The road goes ever on and on.....what can I say? The trip from our home here in western Washington State to our sons' home in eastern Washington State is a breathtakingly beautiful trip! Mountains, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, forests.....farm lands. Our state is one of great variety too! There are prairies, deserts, and the coastline of the northern part of the Pacific Ocean.All within a days' driving. I took these pictures through the windshield and here the raindrops blur the view. We headed off to Eastern Washington early Wednesday morning, my daughter A.Joy , her four children and me! We were off to visit my sons, daughter-in-law Breezy, and our oldest son's four daughters. I get to spend 4 nights and 5 days with all three of my children and all eight of my grandchildren!Whenever we are on our way up the mountains , to journey over Snoqualmie Pass I think of Tolkein's poem 'OVER THE MISTY MOUNTAINS', "Farewell we call to hearth and hall! Though wind may blow and rain may fall, We must away, ere break of day Far over the wood and mountain tall...... Snoqualmie Pass is one of 4 east to west highway crossings in our state with an elevation of 3,022 feet. Often it is impassable because of snow and avalanche danger. The pass is beautiful when one can actually view it. Frequently mist, fog, snow and rain obscure the view. Our trip started with rain shortly before we entered the high way up the pass. Isn't this island in the lake off to the side of the highway I-90 just beautiful? As we go over the mountain pass the fir, yew, and cedar trees, thick ferns and almost impenetrable undergrowth give way to Ponderosa Pines, and much less undergrowth...we are now on the side of the mountains that gets less rain and moisture. It is because of the mountains much of the moisture drops on my side, leaving the east a dryer, hotter climate . This bridge is just past the town of Vantage, and it goes over the mighty Columbia River. Shortly before we get to Vantage and onto the other side of this mighty river we enter a whole different scenario and climate. The rock formations and deep canyons remind me of our trip to the Grand Canyon, very, very similar but not as big. Trees around here are scarce, but this area has its' own amazing beauty. The sign just over the bridge, and the road goes up, up, up.....we do not go East, we veer off to the left, and the road goes ever on......for another 4 hours of travel!