Day 21 - Monday 31 October

Seattle

We began the day by checking in our luggage for tomorrow's train adventure, then dropping off our rental car (after driving 4,055 miles) - a relief.

We then went to Pike Place Market, where we had lunch at - http://eatatlowells.com/ - , and looked at what was on offer.

We then separated for the day - Di going to the Seattle Art Museum, for the brilliant Yves Saint Laurent Exhibition - http://ysl.site.seattleartmuseum.org/ - , followed by retail therapy.

Bill went to the Microsoft helpdesk, for assistance with a software problem on his laptop - successful so far!.

Bill then went to Century Link Field, the home of the Seattle Seahawks.

Bill then went to the Pioneer Square District, which included a visit to the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (museum/exhibition) and the discovery that the founder of the Nordstrom Department stores was a Klondike gold prospector..

We rendezvoused Downtown and had a delicious dinner at - http://www.assaggioseattle.com/about-us/ .

We then returned to our hotel, near to Seattle's landmark.

Day 20 - Sunday 30 October

North East Olympic Peninsula.

It was a clear morning when we drove north to Edmonds, then board the ferry to Kingston, on the Olympic Peninsula.

We then drove north west, across the Hood Canal Bridge.

We stopped at Port Townsend (which has the second largest collection of Victorian homes in the US, after San Francisco) for a stroll, and a good Japanese lunch - http://hanazonoasiannoodle.com/ .

We then headed south, passing "Fat Smittys", as the weather started to deteriorate.

We drove up to Mt Walker, which provides spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains, Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains, depending on how clear it is - which obviously it wasn't.

Whilst the weather didn't provide many good photo opportunities, the drive along Highway 101, by the side of the Hood Canal, was beautiful.

Then near Olympia, we started our drive north, back to Seattle on Interstate 5, normally a 60 mile, 1 hour drive. However due to the worst driving conditions we can recall, and an accident up ahead, the journey took almost 3 hours.

Anyhow, home safe and sound.

Day 19 - Saturday 29 October

Kennewick - Seattle, Wa.

Another long and beautiful driving day.

This morning we drove north-west along the Columbia River

We stopped at Vantage to once again observe the great river, and see the Wild Horses Monument.

We then commenced the very scenic drive - https://www.myscenicdrives.com/drives/washington/stevens-pass-greenway , and stopped at the Bavarian village of Leavenworth.

 

And not surprisingly, Di found a Christmas shop, which she rates as one of the best!

We followed the Wenatchee River.

Our next stop was at Lake Wenatchee.

We continued our scenic drive.

We then arrived at Di's target destination, for a return visit - one of Di's favourite shopping streets!

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We then drove to Seattle, to another of Di's favourite shopping destinations - University Village, and had dinner again at - https://uvillage.com/joey-kitchen/, and it didn't disappoint.

On our way to our Seattle hotel, home for the next 3 nights, we passed the Seattle Space Needle.

Day 18 - Friday 28 October

Baker City, Or - Kennewick, Wa

Another long and lovely driving day.

In the morning we had a brief look around Baker City.

 Our first stop was at the informative Oregon Trail Interpretive Center - http://www.blm.gov/or/oregontrail/

 
We then drove along the beautiful - https://www.myscenicdrives.com/drives/oregon/hells-canyon-scenic-byway,

We had a hot chocolate in Halfway.

The next stop was at the scenic Hell's Canyon Overlook.

We then stopped for a late lunch at the artistic town of Joseph and nearby Wallowa Lake.

We then drove across the agricultural fields of North Oregon, and spent the evening across the border in Kennewick, Wa.