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Packed up a sandwich, a couple of pops, the dog and headed up into the Cascades this mornin'. Cloud cover burned off as I passed through Granite Falls and on my way up past Silverton.
Silverton is an old mining town, where they used to pass ore back across the ravines by "sky carts". It's amazing to see just how high up and how far these cables had to go, more than a half mile across in some places and hundreds of feet in the air.
There's an old dirt road at the end of the main highway that winds back and forth back through the west side of the mountains around to the town of Darrington. Darrington was an old lumber mill town. This road aint for the light hearted, nor those without four wheel drive*G*.
Not many folks around on a Monday. I just rolled down all the windows and putted along at about 15 mph, listening to all the chirping and singing of the birds. Once in a while I'd catch the rushing sound of water as it traveled down the many little falls in the area. A few of them passed right under the roadway, coming out somewhere down below. Callie must be a city dog, she shore wasn't much impressed.
We stopped at a small, quiet little picnic area and had lunch. The table set up on the edge of long slope, with a view of the crags on the mountains across.
Normally, during the late Winter and early Spring, you might spot a herd of mountain goats haulin' themselves around on those crags. By this time of the Summer they've already gone on to the basin just over the other side.
It sure was beautiful, all shades of green with a bit of gray and white where the snow capped peaks stick their heads up into the crystal clear mountain blue sky.
The Sauk River was rumblin' its way past a thousand feet below, looking so fresh, clear (and obviously cold) as it bumped its way over the white and gray granite rocks, stacking up cedar and fir deadfall on every twist and turn.
Felt like I was actually alone in this place of wonderment and beauty. Just me an this here city dog (who sniffed the air and just wanted to get back into the Jeep*G*). Temperature at a perfect 65, minimal breeze and sun shining down on my now very windblown hair. The silence was deafing.
This is why I live, this is what I came for, the serenity of nature. Life growing silently all around, with or without you.
All in all we had us about a four hour trip, stopping to check out the many possible campsites along the 20 mile dusty stretch windin' through to Darrington. Sayin' "Howdy!" to the few campers that were out there, most of them tent campers, and checkin' on their fishin' luck.
Maybe I'll wander back the other way tomorrow, cruise up the Cascade Highway about dawn, set at the pass and watch the sun come up.
Life's too short to miss.......
Laws (Of Simple Pleasures)
I rolled out early this mornin', grabbed up a thermos of coffee, the dog and kissed the wife (good thing I'm wide awake...I'd hate to have kissed the dog instead*G*). Everyone in the neighborhood was still cuttin' z's as I pulled out into the predawn blackness. The sky was clear with a multitude of stars twinklin' their hellos.
Most of the traffic I did come across was headed the other way, folks headin' into work I suppose. The sky began to lighten a bit and gray shapes started appearing all along the roadway. Tall pines guided my way east, waving at me from the sides of the road.
My timing was a bit off, took me longer to get to the pass than I expected, but I still caught the tail end of the sunrise as it rose to meet the day. Temp was already at about 60, with just a few sparse clouds on the horizon, shades of pink, purple and orange along their edges. The light blue sky looked like a watercolor painted background set for the sea of forest green below it. The glow of the morning sun gave everything it touched a look of warmth and renewed color.
I sat at the lookout point, poured myself a cup of coffee and watched a small herd of deer wander it's way down to the creek below.
Callie was all eyes now, she would of headed out to get them if I hadn't had her on a leash, even with it she dang near jerked my arm out of it's socket, spilling hot coffee on my newly washed jeans. With a quick hop and a loud reprimand she settle down right quick*G*. Nice thing about jeans, they're meant to protect ya and do a fine job.
Hookin' the leash around a nearby table, I repoured myself another cup of coffee and returned to my viewing pleasures. By now the deer were out of sight and the only thing left to see was God's ability to paint a landscape that no man could match.
Sitting there, thinking briefly about returning to work tomorrow, I realized my need to do this more often. Settles a man's soul, puts the true meaning back into living.
I sat there for about an hour, 'til the coolness of the concrete table I was sitting on started seeping into my buns and then decided I best start to ramble back on home.
But part of me remains there, always waiting for the opportunity to come again.........
Laws (Of A Simple Man)