Stateline Windfarm Loop

We spent some time in Walla Walla this summer.  I thought it would be neat to get close up to those windmills that are plainly visible while driving from the Columbia River to Walla Walla.

The name of the wind farm is the Stateline Windfarm which is near Walla Walla, Washington.

According to wikipedia, Stateline will be the largest windfarm in the world when completed.   It is visible in the distance from Washington Route 12 while driving between the Columbia River and Walla Walla.

During this trip, we got close and personal with the windmills from the Oregon side of the state line.

A closer look is possible using a loop route from Walla Walla to a little road called Butler Grade Road and then to the Columbia River and finally back to Walla Walla.

The driving loop has four legs all of which are paved except for leg 2 which is gravel.  All driving legs are public roads.

The loop route begins in Walla Walla and ends at Three Rivers Winery in Walla Walla.

A Google map of the loop route can be found here.

Short Video

Twin Sisters

Gravel Guard

July 4th Seattle

On July 4th, Jupiter and Venus were nearly aligned as the American flag drifted by. It was patriotic and cosmic.

Smoke from the finale of fireworks on Lake Union drifted over the space needle creating this eary scene.

Magnolia Eve

The Seattle neighborhood of Magnolia is a few miles northwest of downtown Seattle.

We caught these robins hanging out with Mt Ranier as a backdrop.

A P51 Mustang flew by.... Probably headed from Boeing Field in Renton to Everett

Traffic from Seatac

Downtown Seattle from Magnolia

The moon was in and out as the evening progressed.

Seattle Fremont 2015 Solstice Parade

These pictures are from the 2015 Fremont Solstice parade known for its naked bicycle riders and colorful floats.

Seattle by Chopper

The  helicopter departed from Boeing Field just south of Seattle.  The pilot headed north east towards Mercer Island.  He followed the Eastern shore of Lake Washington and we got an aerial view of the house of Bill Gates.  According to the pilot 60 to 70% of the house is below ground.  He then turned West and followed Route 520 back across Lake Washington where we could see the new construction of the 520 floating bridge.

The pilot flew north along Phinney Ridge for a few miles and then turned west towards the Puget Sound and turned left again heading south back towards Seattle. Passing Shileshole we had a birds eye view of the Ballard Locks and surroundings.

The locks opened in 1917 providing a link for ships between fresh waters of Lake Union and salt waters of the Sound. To the north are the Carl S. English, Jr. Botanical Gardens, and on the south side of the lock is a Salmon run with amazing underwater views of fish preparing to jump to the next higher level.

Sea Stacks and the Oregon Coast

WaldPort

August 1, 2015.

The town of Waldport was base camp for a few days on the Oregon coast. Waldport is two days drive south from Seattle with an overnight stay in Portland.  

A VRBO beach house met our needs because it was comfortable for two people; provided ocean views; had wifi and a 50 Inch Smart TV; and was just a few blocks off the beach. 

 Google maps has Oregon beaches and towns visited during this trip.

Arrival in Waldport was rainy, cold, dismal and uninviting with forecasts calling for more of the same which was not expected since this was the first week in August. Fortunately, weather reports were wrong and conditions improved nicely over the next few days.  

Seal Rock

Seal Rock had sea stacks located close to the shore or connected to the shore and it's just a few miles north of Waldport. Seal Rock provided an introduction to the wild Oregon coast. Access from Highway 101 was easy.  Temperatures ranged from the 50's to the 80's. 

So far so good Fred;.. a little to the left.., no, too far... come back....good.. now drop..

Oregon Coast Aquarium at Newport

North of Waldport is the city of Newport with its amazing, must see Aquarium.  Check out this video:

Natives of the Oregon Aquarium

Dunes National Seashore

The north end of Dunes Seashore is 30 minutes south of Waldport.  Dunes National Seashore is big. Unless you know exactly where you're going the first stop may well be the lighthouse at Umpqua.  

From the lighthouse, we got directions to an area called Lake Hall, which is known only to locals. A path around the lake went past a waterfall and up a 200 foot dune with a view of the Pacific.

High Dunes Wind and Sand

A word of caution regarding the high dunes of Dunes National Seashore. Eye protection is important here because sand on top of a 300 foot dune is different from sand on the beach.  While ocean beach sand is coarse, high dune sand can be powdery fine and without eye protection the 20 to 30 mph winds can push finely ground sand into the eyes and really mess things up.  Wear close fitting glasses or goggles while trekking on top of these dunes.

Three Arches

Three Arches are sea stacks near the town of Oceanside.  

The beach here is littered with agates washed down from nearby hills and deposited on the beach.

The beach here also had cute fuzzy pooches running wild by Three Arches.

Cannon Beach

Cannon Beach is a cozy coastal town that is a popular destination. Just offshore is Haystack one of the largest seastacks on the Oregon coast. At low tide, you can walk to the base; but climbing is not allowed.