In one of our favorites, here’s some ice cycles hanging from the wheel cover of the right front wheel.

Ice cycles hanging from the bodywork between the drive wheels and tag wheel on the right side.

See the depth of snow on the steps and table.

Snow covered Jeep.

Copyright ©2012 by Nikki Ahrens.

All photos copyright ©2012 by Nikki Ahrens.

Technorati Tags: Lynnwood WA, Washington, Snow Event, Weather

Friday afternoon we arrived after traveling through the rain, and then found the weather much better on the beach. After a short walk on the beach, we took a drive down through Ocean Shores to breakwater for the inlet to Gray’s Harbor. On the way back we stopped at Bennett’s Fish Shack for dinner. We had Clam Chowder and Halibut and Chips. The Halibut was good. The clam chowder was also good, but not as good as Ivar’s.

Saturday, the weather was very nice. We walked on the beach in the afternoon. The sun came out, but not real clear. Later in the day, the weather changed, leading into an overnight rainstorm.

Sunday dawned clear. We went for another walk, late in the morning. Mid-afternoon, since the weather was still nice, we went out for a walk through town (what there is) and then back up through the dunes, back to the camp. It was a short walk, but nice for getting us out.

Sunday evening another storm blew in with wind and rain overnight. The wind died down by morning, but we dealt with rain off and on all the way back to Lynnwood.

Overall, it was a nice break. We didn’t have internet access, except on our phones, as T-Mobile and Verizon both had no network access. AT&T had Edge, which was slow, but available. We read quite a bit, and had our first vacation (real vacation) in about three years.

Technorati Tags: Copalis Beach WA, Copalis Beach Resort, Sunrise Resorts, Ocean Shores WA, Bennett’s Fish Shack

A heron was sitting on the roof of the pier next to ours.

A sailboat on the Sound with the Olympics in the background.

Another sailboat image with the island behind.

Mt. Rainier against the deep blue sky.

The beach where we anchored.

All photos copyright ©2011 by Nikki Ahrens. All rights reserved.

Technorati Tags:
Puget Sound, Sailing, Des Moines WA

We had light rain most of the way, except in the Monastash Ridge between Yakima and Ellensburg, we got rain and snow mixed, with snow alongside the road, turning back to light rain, mist really, as we came out of the hills into Ellensburg. Then, climbing up Elk Heights, west of Ellensbug, we came back into snow along the road, continuing over Indian John Hill, before dropping back out of it in Cle Elum.

By Easton, the precipitation had pretty much stopped, and stayed stopped except for some at Snoqualmie Summit, until about five miles east of Issaquah.

Lake Keechelaus looked to be fuller than I expected, and snow covered.

Bare road approaching Snoqualmie Pass.

Ski area at Snoqualmie Pass.

From just east of Issaquah, all the way to Lynnwood, we had a steady drizzle. Welcome to the wet side of the state!

Technorati Tags:
Easton, WA, Kennewick WA, Snowbird, Snowbirding, Washington, Lynnwood WA, Issaquah WA, Westburg RV and Mobile Home Park

We had snow near the highway for over 100 miles on this leg of the journey.

Coming over the hills between LaGrande and Pendleton, we had quite a lot of snow, with melting snow making a mess of the highway, and the rig.

View towards Pendleton from the top of the hill.

First time I’ve ever seen a truck overrun in use.

An overpass in Pendleton.

When we got to Nikki’s Mom’s, it was sunny so I got the rig, and the Jeep washed, ready to get dirty again when we head over Snoqualmie Pass on Saturday.

Technorati Tags:
Jeep, Oregon, RVing, Washington, Kennewick WA

We followed the Snake most of the day, crossing it several times.

Also had snowcapped peaks around us much of the day.

We saw antelope on the hillsides along the freeway.

Once in Oregon past Ontario, we climbed through a set of hills before dropping back down to the river.

As we came over the top and started down, the snowcapped peaks came back into view.

Once to the park, we get to sit next to the river. Note the railroad track on the far side.

All photos copyright ©2011 by Nikki Ahrens.

Technorati Tags:
Idaho, Oregon, RVing, Snowbird, Snowbirding

All photos copyright ©2011 by Nikki Ahrens.

Another interesting animal warning sign:

Snowcapped peaks surrounded us all day.

Animal warnings and snowcapped peaks.

Approaching Jackpot NV, on the Nevada, Idaho border, we came through gray mountains of rocks, almost like a giant had dumped piles of rocks.

Note the spring colors in the plants, indicating the sap is starting to run.

Interestingly, as soon as we crossed the boundary into Idaho, the road got worse. Not like California roads, but as of this point, I’d have to say that Nevada roads are the best in the west, at least as far as I’ve travelled them. And California’s are the worst.

Technorati Tags:
California, Idaho, Nevada, Snowbird, Snowbirding

The route consisted of I-15 out of Las Vegas, to US-93 to NV-317, then NV-6 into Ely.

All photos copyright ©2011 by Nikki Ahrens.

Coyote Springs sign on US-93.

That’s a lot of bull!

Snow still around at 7400 ft pass level.

The view out our front window at the KoA of Ely.

Technorati Tags:
Las Vegas NV, Nevada, Snowbird, Snowbirding, Ely NV

Not only were the roads good, but so was the weather. Our trip took us up US-95. We stopped at Quartzite AZ to get gas before going into California and the much higher prices there. As usual, the roads in California were much worse than either Arizona or Nevada. In all, unless you have reason to be in California, it’s best to avoid it.

All photos copyright ©2011 by Nikki Ahrens.

When we entered Nevada on US-95, the roads went from two lane rough roads to smooth four lane divided highway.

Entering Las Vegas.

Technorati Tags:
Arizona, California, Nevada, Snowbird, Snowbirding, Yuma AZ, Las Vegas NV