September, 2022
Toppenish, WA.
The town of Toppenish, WA, is just a few miles south of the town of Yakima, WA. In between the two towns are huge orchard fields, and fields of other crops, and homes, and huge fields of hops, and a river or two, and some small hills. I liked both towns a lot.
But Toppenish is smaller (about 10% the population of Yakima), and it seems more comfortable, less busy (but still plenty busy), so I liked Toppenish. 🙂 It’s pronounced TOP-en-ish. It’s the largest city/town on the Yakama Indian Reservation. The word “toppenish” is derived from a Yakama word/s meaning “sloping downward and spreading” … likely describing the town’s location on the Yakima River.
One of the main tourist attractions in Toppenish is the American Hop Museum. You know about that place! There’s also a railway museum in Toppenish that I’ll visit in a day or two and share that experience with you.
But for this blog post, I just want to share a few photos I took in and around Toppenish. Toppenish is known for its murals. I didn’t realize that until too late in this camping trip. I’ll get more photos of those murals on my next trip here. For now, just come on along with me on a gentle drive around the town and then into the country.
Look at the crank on the front of the engine on this tractor. No “starter button” on this engine!
And look at the traction on the large wheels. I was told that no rubber tires were used on this tractor. I’m thinking those metal “treads” would work better than rubber tires anyway, maybe not so much on a paved road, but they sure would work well in the field.
A bit outside Toppenish, I found these goats. They are raised for meat, and for milk. I love goat cheese and found some made from local goat milk. It was so delicious and rich. I also love goat milk. The local goat milk here had a wildly different taste than the taste of goat milk that I buy at home in Safeway, etc. The local, natural goat milk here was delicious!
Back in Toppenish, there was this fruit processing plant with huge semi rigs loading or unloading. I liked the wall and the list of produce from this part of the world.
And then I started on my way back to my campsite just east of Yakima. But, just a tiny bit outside of Toppenish, I came upon this market (below). Everyone drove in, did not get out of their vehicle, but simply stayed in line as each vehicle drove, in turn, into the shade of that large roofed area. Employees would ask each driver what fruits or vegetables they wanted … then the order would be gathered and presented for approval … the people in the car/vehicle would pay … and off they would drive with their local produce. Given how hot it gets here in western Washington in the summer, this was a great idea. Everyone “shopped” while sitting in their air conditioned vehicles while parked in the shade. And the employees were in the shade as well. Cool!
The photos here show the pumpkin/squash produce grown locally and for sale.
What a great day.
I like that goat. Weird looking goat, but I like it.
Me too. 🙂 No, not that I’m weird looking! But the goat is. 🙂
Never seen a tractor with metal treads, what a great idea if your tractor is never run on a concrete or blacktop road but only on the earth in a field. Sometimes the old ideas are the best ideas.
Absolutely. Tried and true, they say. 🙂
Great squash/pumpkins! Gorgeous! I want one of every one of them. 🙂
Aren’t they wonderful? I may have to print one of my photos of them. They are so much fun.
Looks like a town that likes their history and people, and their produce, and their goats. 🙂 Looks like a nice town.
It felt like a nice town too, Shawn. I liked it there.
Lovely town. Lovely photos. We had a motorhome for decades and obviously didn’t see 1/10th of what there is out there to see. Love those punkins! 🙂
Oh gosh, there is so much to see, isn’t there? Even a lifetime doesn’t give us time enough. I hope you folks think back and remember and talk about all sorts of memories.
That made me smile … punkins. 🙂
This was fun. Your photos and descriptions are great. thank you.
You’re welcome. 🙂 thank you.
I thought the name Toppenish was familiar. Checked with a neighbor this evening, he was raised in Toppenish and lived there most of his life. As a young guy, he harvested hops. He says the town has grown way too big, not like it used to be. But I imagine we might all feel that way about our childhood home town. I had him come over and look at your photos on my computer. He really liked them, and likes how you talk about “his town”. He thinks he knows the woman in the Hop Museum but he can’t remember her name … if you think of it, let me know. Life goes by too quick, these connections are so cool.
How cool about your neighbor being raised in Toppenish! And yes, most everyone from a “small” town feels the same way when we see the town today, way too big.
Please share more of the photos and videos here with him, Bill. I hope he enjoys them. I’m sure he has LOTS of stories to tell.
I think I remember the woman’s name in the Hop Museum, although I’m not sure about how she spelled her name. I think it’s Maribel. The last name sounded like it start with AL…. but I can’t remember for sure. See what your neighbor thinks. And please give him my best and thank him for his part in creating a really super town that felt so welcoming to me.
It’s so perfect that you can go stay somewhere for a week or so and then get to see lots of things and talk with the locals, and that you’re staying inside your own “home”! Love those pumpkins/squash and the goat and the murals, wow what a crank on the front of that tractor, looks like arm arm or a wrist breaker to me.
Indeed, having a travel trailer (or other RV) is sure perfect exactly for that reason, June. My “home” travels with me.
I thought about that crank too, and wondered if I would have been brave enough to try turning it. Probably not! 🙂