Grand Coulée Dam to Yakima, WA

Today is Monday August 23. Again no great mileage but many changes in scenery. From Grand Coulee I traveled west through rangeland and wheat fields. The country is desert and harsh in many areas. They burn away the brush, pile rocks into piles and cultivate around where they can to grow wheat.            Other areas are free from this volcanic debris with great soils for miles and the wheat seems to go forever. My day was spent following the Columbia River from Chief Joseph Dam thru a great little town of Bridgeport with tree carvings along the main street. I think I have seen these before from pictures Melissa took on one of her trips.                                 Then I was off to Wells Dam. This is where I meet Randy. He was the contract landscaper that takes care of the grounds. Each Dam site has visitor areas and viewing sites. After some talking Randy said the best Dam was on Rocky Reach Dam on alt 97. It has the best visitors center and a fish ladder with viewing windows. Before I got there I saw another beautiful recreation area at Chelan River Dam.
Rocky Reach Dam was worth the effort. This whole Columbia River Basin is one of the better government projects I have ever seen. Along the entire stretch of this desert are orchards and farms that flourish because of the water.
Getting toward Yakima I went through more mountains where the trees were diverse and large. This is where the rain and snow falls. Certainly not a desert but the mountains rob the range land of the moisture, 10" per year is desert. Good nite for now.