We played tourist today, filling our off day with a trip to North Cascades National Park with stops in Twisp and the delightful touristy/artsy Winthrop following the Methow and — on the Pacific side of Washington Pass — the Skagit rivers.
I rode through here several years ago on a cool, cloudy, western Washington day. Today was all-day cool and sunny as if to celebrate Michele’s first Cascade experience.
Diablo Lake, pictured above is the second of three lakes that stairstep their way down the Skagit with hydroelectric plants generating power for Seattle City Light. Ross Lake is just up stream and Gorge Lake just down stream. All three are part of the Ross Lake National Recreation Area within the sprawling National Park.
After a snack stop at Newhalem General Store, hard beside the Gorge Dam, we did an about face, back to Winthrop — we’ll be back for a late lunch.
