On Friday the 6th of December we left our home early to drive to the Coast via highway 25 and US Route 2 in Washington State.
U.S. Route 2 is a component of the United States Numbered Highway System that connects the city of Everett in the U.S. state of Washington to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, with a separate segment that runs from Rouses Point, New York, to Houlton, Maine.
The only hazards on the roads that we encountered 4 separate times on highway 25 were flocks of wild turkeys that decided to cross the road in a line and not in a hurry.
We passed through many small towns miles apart with limited services.
When we finally got to US Route 2 we found a great little Corner Cafe in Creston, Washington.
Now we were starting the climb over the Cascade Mountain Range.
Leavenworth was decorated and ready for their annual Christmas tree lighting. There were many people milling about. We drove right through without stopping.
We arrived to Josh and Laura’s home for the late afternoon and night. On Friday evening Josh and Laura took us out for our anniversary to a new spot to us, Emory’s on the Lake. It’s such a blessing to have a home base on the other side of the Cascades where we are always welcomed.
On Saturday we met up with friends for breakfast and then packed up the car for our trip to Chilliwack, British Columbia for our annual Mennonite Girls Can Cook Christmas celebration. I’ll save that for a separate post.
On the way home from the Coast on Monday we stopped in Spokane and purchased our Mystery Tree for 2019. It’s still in the car while I type and as soon as we put it in it’s spot we’ll have the reveal and see what it looks like in it’s stand.
We made it back to our country bungalow before dark after stopping for Linner in Chewelah at our favorite Mexican restaurant. Our drive back from the Coast was on Interstate 90 and we encountered several miles of fog which was hard on our eyes. We were so happy to see some clearing after Ritzville. We did not see blue skies until we came down into the valley before Chewelah. That was a welcomed sight for sure.
Now that we are home for the rest of December my Christmas decorating will begin in earnest. Are you all decked out yet? I’m working on our Christmas letter. When that is copied off I’ll be able to send our Christmas cards. I’m happy to say they are all addressed already. Do you still send cards?
I’m headed out the door to a Bible Study and lunch. I hope to make some visits to blogs this evening.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
What a great trip. I finished all my decorating the weekend after Thanksgiving. I probably should post some pictures on Facebook. I still need to write my Christmas card and send that out.
…wow, wow! That lovely church was perhaps designed by architect Benjamin D. Price.
https://backroadstraveller.blogspot.com/2013/09/western-adirondack-presbyterian-church.html
Tom, Hunters First Presbyterian church really looks like it is part of the Price design. I couldn’t find much information on the church. They don’t have a website. It is in Hunters, Washington. Thanks for linking the adirondack churches designed by Price!
Yes I still send Christmas cards to friends and family, in Europe mostly. I love receiving them and keeping in touch however infrequently with old friends. I always feel sad when I get the message that someone is no longer sending cards. I guess they don’t feel the need to connect as much as I do. Angharad.
Such beautiful country you passed on your journey, Ellen. We have decorated and we took the Christmas cards to the post office yesterday. I don’t send as many as I used to, but send them to friends and family we won’t see during Christmas.
That’s a pretty road to travel. We spent some time in Leavenworth last fall and enjoyed the amazing colour of leaves along the river. I sent out a few cards, not as many as in previous years, but I like to send a few.
I always enjoy “riding along” with you. You describe everything so nice and interesting. Can’t wait to hear about your Chilliwack fun and feasting! Glad you made it home safely. My hall is decked and the tree is up. Now for some serious baking, wrapping, and preparing …
That looks like a beautiful journey, Ellen. Yes, I still send Christmas cards but sadly, I have reached the age where every year, I have to take someone off the list. Last December one of my cards was returned with the message that a dear friend had died earlier in the year. I was upset, but I had always feared that nobody would think to let me know when it happened (she was 91 years old and lived several hundred miles away from me). I have my Advent calendars and tealights up on the mantelpiece but no Christmas decorations yet. We’ll bring our tree on the day of the winter solstice. x
What a lovely adventure (except for the foggy miles!) . . . and it’s fun to take a different route sometimes! Looking forward to hearing more!
Decorations are done here . . . cards are not . . . gift wrapping begins today. The Christmas season seems so short this year!
What a lovely drive! And I love the idea of your mystery tree…how fun! I’ll just bet it turned out beautifully. I am decked out for Christmas just about as much as is possible in an RV..LOL!
On Tue, Dec 10, 2019 at 11:38 AM The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. wrote:
> Ellen posted: ” On Friday the 6th of December we left our home early to > drive to the Coast via highway 25 and US Route 2 in Washington State. U.S. > Route 2 is a component of the United States Numbered Highway System that > connects the city of Everett in the U.S. sta” >
What a beautiful drive. Love the church.
What nice wide streets that town has!!
Beautiful photos! I always love a road trip. I do send cards every year but it seems we are a dying breed! I got mine done early this year and I put the last ones in the mail on December 6.