May-June, 2023
What can you do when you’re in such gorgeous country and the weather is so perfect? What can you do but go out for another walk and just be amazed by everything? [click on photos to enlarge them … if you don’t have a large screen, most folks will have a local library nearby with computers with large screens you can use for free]
The three photos above were taken as I looked at the ice-cold water coming down towards me … down towards the bridge that I was standing on … down from the icy cold snow-covered Cascade Mountains. The start of Icicle Creek is way up there about 30 miles away, as the crow flies … and probably 50 miles away with all of the twists and turns of this mountain river/creek.
The photo below was looking the other direction from the bridge I was standing on, down-river, towards the east, as the water flowed downhill away from the bridge I was on. Look at that pile of tree trunks down there. The power of this ice-cold river is not to be trifled with!
After that walk across just this one bridge, the three of us jumped into one vehicle again and this time we headed into town … into the town of Cashmere (pronounced not like cash-meer, but pronounced just like the fabric made from wool, a soft sound … as in casual).
Our destination was the Cashmere Museum & Pioneer Village. The Cashmere Museum was mostly about native tribal history and it was fascinating, full of great info and exhibits. But it was so dark inside that I couldn’t get good photos. I asked at the front desk about the lighting and was told the lights are kept dark so as not to damage artifacts, original weavings and old wood items, but that indeed I was more than welcome to take photos.
At home, I edited the photo below to add much more light than was available when I took the photo. I sure understand their desire to preserve original artifacts. If you are ever in the vicinity of Cashmere, WA, and have the time, this museum would be a super place to visit.
But right outside that museum, the light was gorgeous … blue sky! This was the “Pioneer Village” part of the museum. The buildings here were disassembled at their original location, then brought here, and then reassembled here purposefully for the museum, in order to preserve the buildings. The log buildings/cabins are all authentic and original from the late 1800s, and all from the local area.
Almost all of the buildings were open such that you could walk inside at least a few feet and then see exhibits of tools or furniture or clothing or cooking gear or heating devices or medical/dental gear, etc, and see details of how these cabins were built. But again, they were dark inside, not well lighted. Plenty of light for viewing with your eyes, but not for photos.
With this last photo, I need help. The flower above was stunning. The white and purple … the small threads along the edges of three of the six petals. But what is it? When I got home, I looked online for hours and I can’t find it. Maybe it’s not native to the Pacific Northwest … maybe someone planted it here. But I’d love to know what it is. Do any of you know? Help! 🙂
I like this, as you say just a day out and about seeing what’s what in the area. I don’t have a clue about the flower but it sure is pretty. That river looks COOOOOLD!!!
Oh man, Tim, I put just my one finger in that Icicle Creek and it about froze off! It is COLD!
That flower looks like a gladiolus, but I can’t find one exactly like yours online either. Maybe it’s a new/wild hybrid? Maybe? But they usually grow in stalks, not as a single flower. Oh I hope someone knows or can find it. 🙂
Good thought Ruby. When you commented that, I then looked up gladiolus online and indeed it does look like that flower, but no, this one that I saw wasn’t in a stalk of flowers. I think I see an answer comming in the comments below. But I like that you cared enough to look and share your thoughts. Thank you!
Sometimes you head out for something specific to see and then sometimes it seems you just head out to see what might show up. I like that you do both. So often, when you never expect it, things wonderful show up don’t they? This was one of those times. Happens for me too. Gorgeous photos. Hope someone can find out what that flower is. But the tree flowers were really nice too. And those old log cabins were really great. They make me love my house!! 🙂
Yep, I do those two different things … head out to something specific … or just “head out”. I’m glad you do that too, David. Ha! yes, those log cabins are sure quaint and attractive, but yes I love my home too. 🙂
Or Star of Bethlehem flower? Although I haven’t seen one (and can’t find one online) with that purple line in it.
Love the old log cabins, would love to see inside one someday when the light is good enough for photos.
Oh, good thought Tina. After your comment, I looked for a Star of Bethelem with a purple line in it and I couldn’t find one either, but the flowers do look the same otherwise.
Ok, I’ll keep my eyes peeled for an old log cabin that has enough light to take photos. 🙂
Can’t tell ya how many times we got somewhere with our rig and just parked and pulled out the chairs and sat and did nothing and enjoyed every minute of it. After having worked full time both of us for most of our lives, and raised kids, and took care of the house and the yard and the cars and the cooking and cleaning and everything else in life, it was so wonderful to do nothing! But now, I LOVE what you see on your camping trips and your walks and your explorations. Fascinating things! I can’t remember how I found your blog, but I sure love it. Thank you!
Marge, the two of you deserved to sit and do nothing. Working fulltime, raising kids, taking care of a home and a yard, and all the other stuff that goes with those responsibilities … and taking care of a camping rig (I think you folks had a motorhome?) … heck, with all of that, just sitting and doing nothing would be wonderful. Thank you for your comments Marge, always welcome here. And I’ll keep on camping and sharing my adventures. 🙂
Marge, we did that sort of “camping” for years and years too when we could get away from work and home, and then more often when we both retired. Now we both wish we had explored more. Ah well, keep reading Ann’s blog, it’s the best. 🙂
Love that icy Icicle Creek. And the log cabins.
Wanda, my same thoughts to you folks too, as I wrote to Marge above. Every one of us does the best we can at the time. You two probably needed rest!
Thank you for the nice words, much appreciated and makes me smile. 🙂
Lots of museums keep their lighting low, and don’t allow visitors to take photos for fear of flash cameras, because light damages cloth and dye and wood and paint and all manner of things. I wish those museums would put photos of their exhibits online so people could see them and share them. Would just ONE photo of each thing really do that much damage? Hmmm. Maybe so. I’ve seen other people sneak photos … glad you don’t do that.
Good thought! Yes, I wish the Cashmere Museum had more photos online of the exhibits inside. They have some photos online but the place was huge inside … so much more could have been online and so it would draw people to come see the museum in person. The museum was spectacular.
Nope, no sneaking photos. 🙂
Calochortus lyallii, or Lyall’s mariposa lily. I used https://identify.plantnet.org and simply dropped your photo into their query. The answer popped up in about 3 seconds. 🙂
So, a lily! I wouldn’t have guessed that. And I thought it wasn’t even native to the Pacific NW, but it is! It is native to BC, Canada, and to WA, USA, but only west of the Cascade Mountains.
I’m new to your blog, but I’m catching up. It was fun to read this one and then find the answer to that flower ID. I loved the log cabins too.
YES!!! That’s it, Lisa … that is the flower! Oh thank you! 🙂 Ok, I have bookmarked that plant ID website for future use. I don’t remember seeing the flower ever before in my life and yet I’ve lived here most of my life. On the other hand, I’ve mostly been a boater on the water in Puget Sound and the Canadian islands, and I bet bet lilies don’t grow well in salt water. 🙂 These past seven years of land camping are teaching me a great deal. Thank you for adding to that. That was great. Thanks for being here. 🙂
I love to do that too. Plant myself somewhere and then do day trips to explore the area around before moving on. Someday I hope to do a lot more of it. You sure visit some beautiful places!
It’s fun just to see what’s what, isn’t it? Most places I go camping, I’ll stop in at the local small grocery store, or the library, or even the gas station, and ask the local folks what might be interesting to see in the area … a historic spot, or a hike, or an interesting building, or a weird art thing, whatever. I get the best answers and suggestions.
I think YOU visit the most beautiful places! Gosh the UP is gorgeous, Michigan is gorgeous, the water, the forests, the night skies. The doggies. 🙂
Would love to see how those log cabins are built, never been around one. They are probably all over the US and Canada … see if I can find me one. 🙂
I wonder … I’d like to think that people have kept or restored old log cabins in most places in the US and Canada. Maybe? I hope so, and I hope you find one, Joe. If I come across one in the future that’s well lighted inside, I’ll take some detail photos and share them here. It’s fun to see and learn this stuff isn’t it?