Day 2 - Tuesday

As we awoke on Tuesday at the Paradise Inn, we were greeted with some of the views we had hoped to see. The clouds had lifted somewhat, and those that took to the hiking trails early got the best of the day.

Peaks appearing above the clouds over the vacant parking lot at 7am

Nisqually Glacier visible below the clouds

Greg and Dianne out on the trails before the clouds descended again.

However, it didn't take long for the clouds to descend once more. So, when you can't see the big picture, you have to focus on the details that are visible... I took the short hike to Myrtle Falls

Myrtle Falls

The vegetation is varied and profuse

Lots of variety among the plant life along the trails

Our driving schedule for today was designed to allow everyone time to explore the trails from the Paradise Inn before we hit the road. At least one of us failed to read the directions (yes me - even though I wrote them!) and didn't make it to the start point at the Grove of the Patriarchs... Our unintended diversion (via another horribly rough road) meant it wasn't until lunchtime that we caught up with the rest of the group. The route took us on US-12 east to Naches where we refueled the cars and bought provisions for a picnic lunch.

Waterfall by the side of the road (if you took the right road...)

View while we waited for at a stop for road works on US-12 - a bit of blue sky for a change

The weather continued to be showery, with occasional spells of sunshine. The picnic stop by the Yakima River was dry which made for a pleasant lunch break.

Lunchtime picnic by the Yakima River

At the picnic stop we took by the river in Yakima Canyon on WA-821 several of the OTS drivers "dropped their tops" for the first time of the trip. Within 10 minutes of resuming the drive to Leavenworth they had to pull over and put the tops back up! The drive on WA-821 and US-97 from Yakima to Leavenworth involved sweeping curves in the Yakima Canyon followed by a a long ascent on US-97 through the pass before a descent into Leavenworth. Leavenworth is a Bavarian-styled village in the Cascade Mountains. Alpine-style buildings line the main street which is also decorated with beautiful displays of flowering plants. Having checked into our hotel at the Icicle Village Resort, many of us explored the quaint village and it's stores.

Bavarian-styled buildings on the main street

Amazing displays of flowering plants decorated all the stores and restaurants

Tending these flower displays must be a full time job in Leavenworth

The restaurant at the Icicle Inn was our dinner destination for the evening, and we enjoyed a great meal and, most importantly, great company! The dinners on these tours give us the opportunity to meet and chat with each of the participants, and for many of us, are the highlight of the day. Old friendships are renewed, and new ones made. The weather forecast for tomorrow's drive is better than the past two days, so as one of the OTS drivers, I look forward to some open top motoring, particularly as the beating the exhaust system has experienced seems to have resulted in some minor exhaust leaks which invade the cabin.