Chelan, WA - August 23-25 & Richland WA 8/26-9/1

We had a wonderful time in Canada with our Palm Creek friends Gail and Tom and a visit from Joanne and Odean.  But its time to hit the road and head back to the good ole USA!  Here is one last look at the beautiful Lake Okanagan on our way out.

As we neared the border we once again passed many people enjoying their float down the canal in Penticton that links Lake Okanagan with Lake Skaha.  As it is right beside the highway, Mark and I took a pass, but it is fun to watch them!

 

I think these advertisements for Cottage Rentals are just so cute and these, as we call them, Adirondack chairs are all over the highway in British Columbia!

Chelan, WA is a beautiful city with the amazing Lake Chelan and all the orchards as the centerpiece.  Mark and I enjoyed a fun lunch on the veranda pub at Campbell's, one of the premier hotels in the area.  The veranda is an open air passage way between two sections of the hotel.

But, without a doubt, the highlight of our stop in Chelan was the Chelan Electric Bicycle Winery Tour.  Marv is one crazy Englishman who leads the group on a 20 mile ride around the lake to visit three fabulous wineries.  Here is our group with the lake as our backdrop.

 

Next stop on the bike tour was the only public sand beach on the lake. It is just amazing to see the clarity of the lake water.  Sorry, I didn't get the beautiful sand beach in the photo.

 

Then on to the fun part, the wineries.  The electric bike allows you to pedal if you want.  But, if you need to speed up to catch up with the group, or if you are just lazy going up the hills, you turn the right hand throttle and off you go - up to 20 mph!!  Here is our first winery stop at Karma Vineyards.  We enjoyed a Brie en croute appetizer along with our glasses of wine.  We also took  a champagne making wine tour that took place in "the cave" at Karma Vineyard.  No one is driving a car so no need for a designated driver!

 

 

Next onto the Tunnel Hill Winery.  In 1933 the Knapps Hill Tunnel was blasted. They used the rubble to build the cottage, hence the name Tunnel Hill Winery.  It is once again on a beautiful site.  We had a nice respite from biking as we sat at the top of the waterfall looking out toward the lake.

 

Last winery stop, Tsillan which was the original spelling of Chelan. Merv, our guide, most certainly did save the best for last.  This winery is quite beautiful with waterfalls, koi ponds, patios, verandas and the best view of Lake Chelan.  The wine bar is just spectacular.  We ordered a Chicken Caprese Sandwich for lunch - delicious!

After the wine tour we took a ride through the park - I just love those electric bikes.  But, wait, there is more to Lake Chelan - the Jack Nicholas Bear Mountain Ranch Golf Course.  This is certainly a golf course with some of the  best views we have ever experienced.  And, it is quite the challenge playing the crazy elevations!

Yes, I moved up to the front of this tee box but it was a long way over this rough and I didn't want to lose another golf ball!  But you get a great view of the 50.5 mile lake from here.  The lake is narrow but it is very deep at 1,486 feet deep.

 

While we were golfing we had lots of spectators - they were not the least bit afraid of us.  The sun was starting to set and it was their time to take over the golf course!

How cute is the little one watching us from the vineyards by the side of the fairway.

But, as we all know, all good things must come to an end.  Here is a view from the top of the 18th hole.  Its a long way up the hill to finish this course - but we had a great time!

 

After our great stop in Chelan we headed to Richland, WA.  We had been here for a month in July of 2012.  But, we did have one unique experience this time.  Mark and I are really enjoying the new TV show "Manhattan" about the Manhattan project.  So, we took advantage of the opportunity to visit the local 375,000 acre "Handford Site."  In 1942, Hanford was established as the second production site for the Manhattan project.  The B Reactor is now a National Historic Landmark as the world's first full-scale plutonium production reactor.  What amazed us was that this was built in 13 months without computers or final scale drawings!  Now Hanford is in the process of a clean up.  The nuclear waste is vitrified, turned into glass, which safely immobilizes the waste.

 

Richland has 23 miles of looped trails around the beautiful Columbia river that are great for biking but it is late August so the blackberries along the river were gone.  Now we are off to St George, UT with some quick stops in Mountain Home, Idaho and Fillmore, UT along the way.