• Home
  • Browse
  • Search

OptimImagery

  3. TRAVEL: 2007 through 2011
  4. JULY AND AUGUST, 2011

BACK INTO WASHINGTON

Read More
Looking through translucent leaves.
15 / 46

Looking through translucent leaves.

uenleaves

  • Bellingham, WA. I guess they want to make sure that their trees stay warm in the winters in style. Hate to see a shivering tree, or one unable to get into some classy duds.<br /> <br /> Such a caring town must be a great place for one to have roots.
  • Mallard Ice Cream Shop. A truly unique parlor. According to their web site: "...we turn something simple into something blatantly superior." Gotta say I agree with that. This is one of those places where you can taste the quality, regardless what flavor(s) your get. Now, match that quality with the choice of flavors such as coriander, basil, vanilla black pepper, apricot black tea, rose, and apricot/Tamarind/Cayenne -- in addition to the old standards such as maple walnut. The flavors can vary from time to time, but one can always count on indulging in a wonderful treat.<br /> <br /> You can find Mallard on the web at <a href="http://www.mallardicecream.com/">http://www.mallardicecream.com/</a><br /> <br /> And who knows, maybe I'll see you there?
  • South of Bellingham. Nice sunset just prior to heading up over North Cascades Pass.<br /> <br /> Thanks, Zac, for showing us this place.
  • We spent the night in a campground outside Marblemount, WA. 10-person tent with 5 people, but I guess Zac decided he needed some time to himself. T'was a cold night, and there was no fire in that fire pit (Looks like it may be a good thing that there wasn't).
  • Gorge Powerhouse, just east of Newhalem, WA. This was built in the early 1900's, and the first superintendent built a garden behind it. Through the years, the garden has fallen into disrepair, but I was glad to see that the locals are now restoring it. Even at its worst, it was a beautiful, relaxing stroll -- and this has always been a place I have had difficulty driving by without stopping to stretch my legs a bit. We will be ambling around behind the powerhouse for the next few photos.
  • Olga starts by photographing this very unique interpretive sign. The interpreter looks a bit like that guy who slept outside our tent last night.....
  • And we continue our gorging on local wild bounty with these very tasty thimbleberries. Maybe THAT's why it's called the Gorge Powerhouse?
  • See why this place, so easy and quick to get to once you exit your car, is so difficult to just drive by? Where else can you be in such lush forest, along a refreshing mountain stream, just 2 minutes after you close your car door?
  • Wish I could pipe some of the refreshing air over you as you watch these photos. Wish I could pipe some of it here to Saipan any time!
  • Ladder Creek Falls is the highlight of the area behind the Gorge Powerhouse. This is a relatively gentle fall which zigzags down the hillside. You can't really get a photo of "the falls," since there is no vantage point from where you can see the entire thing. You have to walk the path, listen to the changes in tone and vibration, and inhale the air -- inspirited with mist fresh from water compliments of the Ladder Creek glacier.
  • Untitled photo
  • One small part of Ladder Creek Falls.<br /> <br /> Olga: This is the effect I was trying to show you how to get when I recommended that you slow your shutter speed down and make sure that your camera was steadied against the railing.
  • One can visit the Gallery of the Powerhouse, where there are some interesting artifacts and a balcony view down onto the generators. The entrance is in the rear of the building, just after this narrow area.
  • Inside the powerhouse gallery, Mario is gazing down at the generators. If you look closely through the windows to your right, you can see the bridge that Zac and Bev were on several photos back (you'll see the bridge again a couple of photos hence).
  • Looking through translucent leaves.
  • Gorge Dam is several miles east of Gorge Powerhouse. Here water is diverted into giant tunnels to descend to the powerhouse and turn the turbines so that the Pacific Northwest can have some of the least expensive electricity in the country.
  • Just above Gorge Dam, a little tributary graces the hillside with a very approachable and refreshing waterfall. What you can't tell from the photo is that I am standing on the shoulder of the highway to take it.
  • The water from the previous photo flows through this culvert under the highway. Here you can hear a solo by Zac, and then a duet by him and yours-truly as the vocal sounds reverberate off the walls of the culvert. Just imagine what you would have missed if you hadn't chosen to look at this album! Oh, and there are more videos to come which will fill you with even more wonder!
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • No Comments
  • Photo Sharing
  • About SmugMug
  • Browse Photos
  • Prints & Gifts
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Owner Log In
© 2023 SmugMug, Inc.