Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Icicle River ... that's hot!

We spent most of last week near Leavenworth, which is a Bavarian-theme town at the eastern entrance to Stevens Pass through the Washington Cascades. I would say we were just chillin', but it climbed up to 95 or more every day. We took our travel trailer and arrived at Icicle River RV Park on Wednesday afternoon.


The park was at less than 50% occupation that evening -- no neighbors.
An unusually cool and rainy June resulted in higher-than-normal water levels for
mid-July. Early bookers get sites just a few feet from the banks of the river,
visible in the center background of the photo below.


This park is about four miles out of town and follows
the Bavarian theme set by the town, right down to the bathrooms!



Each morning, we took a 30 - 45 minute walk before breakfast.
Most days, we walked upstream on the shoulder of Icicle River Road.



Overlooking the Icicle River drainage is a ridge known locally
as Sleeping Lady. Do you see her?


One morning, we took our walk through the grounds of the
Sleeping Lady Resort, which was immediately adjacent to the RV park.
They host corporate and religious retreats and summer music camps.


We saw a doe and her fawn (look closely just below the head of the doe) ...



... and a fisher of men.


Janie was worried when he spotted me ...


... but fortunately this big one got away.
I congratulated him for the good effort.


We spent one day checking out downtown
Leavenworth. Above is the city center park.


We listened to the community band rehearse for awhile.


We also took in the river walk through a nature preserve
and bird sanctuary along the Wenatchee River
just behind downtown.


The businesses present a variety of Bavarian architecture and the city
maintains hundreds of flower pots. We had dinner one night
at the restaurant through the arched doorway in the center.


This is a favorite stop a few miles up the Wenatchee River canyon on the way to
Stevens Pass. This amazing candy store has every type of fudge and taffy you
ever dreamed of. The most irresistable draw for me was the fudge.


Camper Janie reads as she relaxes in the air-conditioned trailer.
She is also enjoying some Luxury Nut Fudge. Yummy!


Apparently enboldened and strengthened by the fudge, Camper
Janie tries to push over a tree in the way just prior to our departure.


We bid you adieu from Icicle River RV Park. We left Sunday
morning, by which time, the park was completely full. Our site, which
was a lonely spot on Wednesday, is clear in the back by the tree.