Washington State Circle Tour

Northern Cascades Drive

June 2, 2008
by floracycle

We left reluctantly Monday morning from the Sun Mountain Lodge.  It was sunny but cool, great riding weather.  Our goal was to make it to Seattle by 3:00 p.m.  I'll have to say the drive across the Cascades was one of the most beautiful drives I've ever taken.  The mountains are majestic.  The melting snow fueled waterfalls all over the mountains.  As we moved onto the western side of the Washington Pass, Hwy 20 wound along side creeks and rivers.  The Skagit River system is dammed in several spots, forming lakes with water the color of turqoise and jade.  Ross Lake is the first one, Diablo Lake, and Gorge Lake the final one we saw.

Gorge Falls is a site to behold, and we stopped there to take a few pictures and take a break. 

As we moved onto Seattle, we took hwy 530, and again experienced a great drive, with a yet different terrain and geography.  This stretch of highway epitimized what I think of when I think of northwest Washington.  Lush, green foilage, wild ferns, moss covered trees. damp misty woods.  Rushing creeks and rivers.  The camalias were also in full bloom.  The variety of colors was spectacular.  The deep purple and red were my favorites.

  We made our way out to I-5 and on toward Seattle.  Rolled in around 3:30.  Glad to be off the road.  We are staying right on the waterfront downtown at the Marriott.   

Tags: Motorcycle, Mountains, lakes, rivers