From April to May

Days 4,5 & 6

April 30, May 1 and May 2

Days are flying by but we are traveling slowly as we are stopping to see the sights on the way and we go through museums very slowly. Bill says, “ We keep the old lady docents awake when we are there.”

We both found the Yakama Nation Museum in Toppenish WA a lovely spiritual experience. It was a place to slowly meditate through. We boondocked this night at a free BLM campground in the Yakima River Canyon. We crossed the river on a suspension bridge and hiked along a long trail next to the river.

The next day we stopped in Cashmere and went to the Cashmere Museum and Pioneer Village. The Museum had its high points and low points. I am less fond of museums that are just collections donated by individuals. The natural history dioramas were worth going to the museum.
The Pioneer Village which is on the museum grounds was impressive. The individual cabins were moved to this location and furnished authentically. Very worthwhile.

We spent last night at the Wenatchee Confluence State park. No rangers, just a rather poor method of self pay for campsites. This is blamed on funding cutbacks.

This morning we spent a long time hiking around the Ohme Gardens. Interestingly the State gave this site over to the county to manage in 2008. The county had a county jail inmate crew weeding.

We hiked up and down across the park on stone paths and stairs. Amazing stone benches and lots of waterfalls.

We lunched out in Wenatchee at a small restaurant recommended by the young cashier at the Gardens, The Tropical Salvadorean. We tried for authentically Salvadorean dishes. William had a hand made corn tortilla cooked with meat and cheese inside and a sandwich of some kind of fry bread with chicken and avocado. I had a plate that was called a salad with fried cassava root, pork, slaw and hot sauce. We will have leftovers and a few more vegetables for dinner.

We walked to the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Much of the downstairs is being redone, but we enjoyed what was available. The Great Northern Railroad diorama was fun. I put in quarters to run the train and sound the whistle and horn. A docent demonstrated how all the old apple sorting machines worked. She had to take the lift back upstairs. We were OK with the stairs. William liked the apple labels and the crouching man statue in front.

Tonight we are back at the Wenatchee Confluence State park. The campers on either side of us must be here for the Apple Blossom Festival that gets into high gear tomorrow. We don't plan to stay. They both have raging bonfires and stacks of wood, fancy tablecloths and pots of flowers on the table.