The one constant in crossing the country is that both Lee and I feel we never have enough time in any one place, that there is always more to see if only we were staying a few more days! We never get bored, we are very good at keeping ourselves entertained.
So, yesterday, our last day in the Ellensburg area, was quite full. We decided to start with the Gingko Petrified Forest. Sounds cool, huh? There were more than Gingkos. There were also elms, walnut trees, spruce, Douglas fir, and more.
Even the bark was petrified:
The growth rings are very clear:
There was a trail to hike where petrified trees have been partially excavated. They are covered with wire screens for protection. This one is an elm.
And this one is a gingko, where individual splinters of wood were petrified:
This Gingko Petrified Forest, a national landmark, is on the plain above the Wanapum Lake of the Columbia River. This portion of the Columbia River is in central Washington, and at this point the river runs south. It is in a dry area that receives very little rain.
Thousands of years ago, this region was covered again and again by layers of flowing lava. Today, there are outcroppings of basalt, lava which has cooled quickly. Its structure is columnar:
The area is very dry, but there are wildflowers:
Sage is wiry and persistent:
At the park there are also petroglyphs. I took photographs of several, they are so interesting and beautiful. The elk and bighorn sheep are easily recognized. These petroglyphs were moved from their original location, which is now covered by the waters of Lake Wanapum:
We next drove south along the Columbia River, and stopped for a closer view of the Wanapum dam:
Next we passed the Priest Rapids dam. Remember this one, Sue? A few years ago I did some research on all the Columbia River dams for a project at work, and it was a thrill to see two of them. (I am easily entertained.) When I was doing the research, I imagined all these dams in lush, green valleys. Boy, was I wrong! (I was looking for water data, not land data.)
Next we passed through the Yakima Valley and Yakima. This area is also dry, but heavily irrigated. Irrigation has turned it into a crop-rich valley, full of orchards (apples and pears), vineyards, and one crop which I had never seen before. Some fields were filled with upright poles, perhaps 10 feet high, every few feet with strings stretched between. It turns out the crop was hops! Follow this link to a YouTube video that explains it very clearly:
Finally we drove through the Yakima River Canyon, which was really quite beautiful, with steep walls and more basalt columns. The canyon walls are dry, but the riparian areas are green and lush:
To end the day, we saw bighorn sheep on the hillside! It was icing on the cake.
