Gary and Dona's Trip to Port Townsend, Washington

July, 2012

Part 4 -- Ross Creek Cedars

After our great but long drive along the Skagit River and through North Cascades National Park, we were a bit butt sore and tired of being in the car. We stopped for breakfast at a small diner in Clark Fork, Idaho, and were pretty disappointed. We should have had breakfast at the campground. We were headed for the Ross Creek Cedars Scenic Area, but our next stop was at the road junction. We had to get the Hunky Dory inspected for Zebra Mussels and other invasive marine organisms; fortunately, we weren't carrying any hitch-hikers. Then we turned north to see the biggest cedar trees in Montana. Dona had seen them before with her boys, but I had not. Wow! It is a cool, almost magical place.

Ross Creek Cedars We needed all the help we could get...
Oak Fern Something else...
Creek with Moss Knothole Knothole
Creek Moss Knothole Knothole
Fungi Fungi Fungi Fungi
Fungi
Ross Creek Cedars Ross Creek Cedars Ross Creek Cedars
Ross Creek Cedars
Ross Creek Cedars Dona, Ross Creek Cedars
Ross Creek Cedars For Scale, Find Dona's Head
Burl, Ross Creek Cedars CommonArea, Ross Creek Cedars
Burl, Ross Creek Cedars Common Area Between Trees
Ross Creek Cedars Moss, Ross Creek Cedars
Creekside Cedar Moss
Tiny Snag, Ross Creek Cedars Cabinet Mountains from Ross Creek Cedars
Tiny Snag, Ross Creek Cedars Cabinet Mts. from Ross Creek Cedars

Then it was back into the car, drive home, and crash. As we were heading up the Clark Fork River, we came across a couple of bald eagles by the side of the road.

Bald Eagle Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle Bald Eagle

We were glad to be home... but glad we went. Dona learned a lot, I saw some friends, and we both saw some more of this great part of the world.