Taking it Easy Around the Hotel in Winthrop
North Cascades Travelog #15
Winthrop WA - Mon, 4 Sep 2023, 5pm.
This afternoon is where we come up short because the hikes we wanted to do in North Cascades National Park are on fire. The past few days we were able to do other hikes instead... but those were hikes we were going to do anyway, in addition to (at least) two trails in the park. We just skipped the hikes in the burn area and did the others. So this afternoon we have half a day left and nowhere else on our list to go hiking. Nowhere else that's not closed, covered with smoke, and at risk fire.
We're skilled at finding alternatives, though. Part of traveling a lot is gaining a lot of experience at finding alternatives when one plan gets foreclosed for whatever reason. Because unexpected closures do happen. It can be bad weather, delayed flights, construction closures, fire, hurricanes, death riders; you name it, we've probably had to route around it.
With nowhere else to go this afternoon we decided to stay put. Stay put at the hotel, that is. The Abby Creek Inn (where we're staying 3 nights) has a nice pool area in the central courtyard. The photo above shows the swimming pool. The water feels a bit cool today with air temps in the low 70s. It was probably more relaxing a few days ago when the weather spiked to around 90. Instead of the pool we took a soak in the hot tub.
After the hot tub we decided to go sit down by the river. Well, I decided to sit; Hawk went rock-hopping.
BTW, no, this is not Abby Creek. It's the Methow River. I don't think there is a namesake waterway for the Abby Creek Inn. And the inn doesn't even make a big deal out of this bit of riverfront land. It's beyond the back parking lot, past a terraced slope. There are two picnic tables but they aren't that close to the water. I grabbed the chair I'm sitting in from the edge of the parking lot, where it seemed like it was left as junk.
We hung out at the river for a few hours. Hawk rock-hopped up and down the river while I relaxed and enjoy the scenery, water bottle (and later two cans of beer) in hand. It was a good way to spend the afternoon. And I didn't even miss hiking all that much. I'm kind of stiff from all the hikes that's haven't been on fire the past few days.
Winthrop WA - Mon, 4 Sep 2023, 5pm.
This afternoon is where we come up short because the hikes we wanted to do in North Cascades National Park are on fire. The past few days we were able to do other hikes instead... but those were hikes we were going to do anyway, in addition to (at least) two trails in the park. We just skipped the hikes in the burn area and did the others. So this afternoon we have half a day left and nowhere else on our list to go hiking. Nowhere else that's not closed, covered with smoke, and at risk fire.
We're skilled at finding alternatives, though. Part of traveling a lot is gaining a lot of experience at finding alternatives when one plan gets foreclosed for whatever reason. Because unexpected closures do happen. It can be bad weather, delayed flights, construction closures, fire, hurricanes, death riders; you name it, we've probably had to route around it.
With nowhere else to go this afternoon we decided to stay put. Stay put at the hotel, that is. The Abby Creek Inn (where we're staying 3 nights) has a nice pool area in the central courtyard. The photo above shows the swimming pool. The water feels a bit cool today with air temps in the low 70s. It was probably more relaxing a few days ago when the weather spiked to around 90. Instead of the pool we took a soak in the hot tub.
After the hot tub we decided to go sit down by the river. Well, I decided to sit; Hawk went rock-hopping.
BTW, no, this is not Abby Creek. It's the Methow River. I don't think there is a namesake waterway for the Abby Creek Inn. And the inn doesn't even make a big deal out of this bit of riverfront land. It's beyond the back parking lot, past a terraced slope. There are two picnic tables but they aren't that close to the water. I grabbed the chair I'm sitting in from the edge of the parking lot, where it seemed like it was left as junk.
We hung out at the river for a few hours. Hawk rock-hopped up and down the river while I relaxed and enjoy the scenery, water bottle (and later two cans of beer) in hand. It was a good way to spend the afternoon. And I didn't even miss hiking all that much. I'm kind of stiff from all the hikes that's haven't been on fire the past few days.