I started the day at Confluence Campground. I ended the day at Pothole Reservoir Campground.

Here is a short description of the day:

0826 Tu day 14
Planned a meandering day. I attempted to soak up downtown Wenatchee, but it was just another mid-sized traffic hell so I bailed, crossing the mighty Columbia to SR 12 south along the river. Quite a dramatic valley, even up here, I keep thinking about the giant lava flows 17 million years ago, then the hundreds of repeated giant floods ten thousand years ago. strains my geologic imagination actually.

Only real stop of the day was at the Wanapum Dam, with the Wanapum museum. They spoke well and sadly about the the Wanapums, who were peaceful and religious (whatever that means), and much too mellow to raise enough ruckus to get any kind of treaty or resettlement, so they are all but extinct. But anyway, at the edge of this giant hydroelectric dam is a lovely little 50's modern oasis of shade trees, a little fountain, overlook with binoculars, and a sweet little museum dedicated to the life and times of the last few Wanapums, in native garb sittin on 57 Chevies, singin songs, doing healing chants, weaving, the works.

Then I took a 80 mile route to get to a place 45 miles away, just because I've never been here before. My route followed the north side of the Columbia, and on the south site was the Hanford Atomic Testing Site, which turns out to have been a top secret army base in WW2, where they made fissile material for the A bomb, what we call "weapons-grade plutonium" when the Koreans do it. There was an overlook where you could see the nuclear reactors still standing as they slowly try to decontaminate the place.

Here is a short description of the evening:

Near the lake, short drive to the fascinating potholes

Story for today: {STORY}.