August 29, 2014: On a bright late afternoon on board the legenday #8 Amtrak Empire Builder train heading from Seattle to Chicago, we slowly pulled into Wenatchee, Wa. After a long run through Cascade mountains, here was our opportunity to get off the train and stretch the legs. The neat low level platform has probably seen better days - for nobody was found to be waiting for this train. In the western end of the station I spotted a number of BNSF locomotives keeping busy in the freight yard. At this moment, ice was broken between four odd co-passengers as they started talking to each other while loitering on the platform.
Picture: Tail end of the train with some activities in the Wenatchee freight yard.
One veteran farmer from Idaho, a young lady from Illinois, a fish processing expert from Alaska and yours truly made an excellent combination to wane the stuffiness of the environment. The farmer was sharing his thoughts – talking about his family and friends. He was going to his parental home to meet with siblings. He definitely was a voracious talker with detailed knowledge of local agriculture and infrastructural developments. Soon after Wenatchee we crossed the mighty Columbia River. Interestingly, some people were found to be tubing. In the reddish yellow desert like background I felt like being in a sanctuary outside our familiar world. I felt like being in Mars - as depicted in science fictions!
Picture: Desolated streets next to Wenatchee station. Look at the rugged hillocks in the background. This area probably gets minimal rainfall due to the shadow effects of The Cascade Mountains guarding pacific rain clouds.
After a 20 minute halt, very silently we crossover the town of Wenatchee, took a huge bend leftward and gracefully crossed the river! Afternoon sun was at its best to paint the external world in reddish yellow to treat my eyes.
Video: Crossing Columbia River.
Picture: Tail end of the train with some activities in the Wenatchee freight yard.
One veteran farmer from Idaho, a young lady from Illinois, a fish processing expert from Alaska and yours truly made an excellent combination to wane the stuffiness of the environment. The farmer was sharing his thoughts – talking about his family and friends. He was going to his parental home to meet with siblings. He definitely was a voracious talker with detailed knowledge of local agriculture and infrastructural developments. Soon after Wenatchee we crossed the mighty Columbia River. Interestingly, some people were found to be tubing. In the reddish yellow desert like background I felt like being in a sanctuary outside our familiar world. I felt like being in Mars - as depicted in science fictions!
Picture: Desolated streets next to Wenatchee station. Look at the rugged hillocks in the background. This area probably gets minimal rainfall due to the shadow effects of The Cascade Mountains guarding pacific rain clouds.
After a 20 minute halt, very silently we crossover the town of Wenatchee, took a huge bend leftward and gracefully crossed the river! Afternoon sun was at its best to paint the external world in reddish yellow to treat my eyes.
Video: Crossing Columbia River.
The farmer told
us that the authorities built two dams on the Columbia River, one of which got a leak soon enough. The authorities abortively attempted to fix the crack. As
a result, the water level reduced and a lot of small islands peeped out of the
river. As we were now traveling through the western bank of the River, it was
outstanding to capture the setting sun, still glowing strong behind the otherwise monotonous yellowish hillocks rising from the crater.
It is
interesting to learn how the cherry fields are created in that part of the world. The farm owners
eliminate the rock from the soil and put a lot of water to cultivate the plants.
With the Columbia River next to these fields, it really makes things easy in
the heart of Washington's otherwise dry area. The train took a hairpin bend and moved towards
a place called Quincy. And there we saw it!
Crescent bar - the train crawled up the mountains as the river widened and took a breathtaking turn in a crescent shape. It was quite unearthly as a scenery!!! Though that did not deter the enterprising Americans to set up a resort at that location in the middle of nowhere! Uploading the video of Crescent bar as recorded from the train's windows:
Video: Crescent Bar from Amtrak vantage.
Video: Crescent Bar from Amtrak vantage.
Location of Crescent Bar is given below:
No comments:
Post a Comment