My cousin Anje and I headed east of the mountains this weekend to visit our Aunt Barb and Uncle Rich, who live in Carlton, a little town (think post office, church, not much else) in the Methow Valley near Twisp and Winthrop. We headed out Saturday morning after a nice breakfast in Seattle, for what should have been a 4 hour scenic drive. Thinking "Ive been East of the mountains many times before, I know the way", I neglected to take one more look at my Google Map directions, and Anje and I (between me talking on the phone and her taking a much needed snooze) managed to drive 80 extra miles on I-90-- all the way to Moses Lake. I believe it was Anj who noticed that we were at mile 185 when the directions said we should have made the turn northward at mile 85! OOPS. The gas station attendant was kind enough in asking me if I needed assistance, as I shamefully gazed at the WA State map (the map I had to purchase from the store, not having one in the car of course-- OOPS again). He showed us a 'short cut' which basically just meant we didnt have to backtrack 80 miles so we were relieved, though I stayed embarrassed for another hour or so.While we waited to purchase the map and some Pringles a nice man with an even nicer mullet asked the attendant "They lost? Where they going?". The attendant replied "Carlton", to which mullet man replied "By choice??".. We were undeterred... and on the Road Again.
We finally made it to Barb and Rich's house at around 3:30 (5.5 hours on the road!) and felt relaxed immediately. They have a beautiful house in a perfect spot right on the Methow river. The house has big picture windows and a deck and sits just above the river-- Perfect.
Rich had just returned from fly fishing in Argentina and didnt seem annoyed at all that his wife had invited house guests for the Easter weekend :) as they both greeted us warmly and Rich started making Martinis. For the rest of our short stay the hospitality continued-- with drinks, wonderful food (oh, sure, I eat steak and homemade cherry pie at home all the time!!), and touring Twisp and Winthrop (including visits to Cinnamon Twisp -a well-known bakery- and the humble Catholic church in Twisp for Easter Sunday). We went on a snowy hike, saw cows and horses and even watched a deer swim down the river.
This little piece of Eastern Wa. is a different world, and I was really happy to be in it. No traffic, no pretension, and people seem to be relaxed and really enjoying life at a slower pace than we seem to believe is so necessary in the city. Of course the best part was being with family and having time to reminisce about the past and share hopes for the future.
Barb and Rich kept apologizing that we came to visit during a 'bad' time; after most of the snow is gone (but not all of it!) and before flowers start to bloom; when its still too cold to do much hiking or enjoy a swim in the river.... But, I assured them that Ill be back soon, armed with my hiking boots or my bike.... Or.... perhaps just ready to sit on the porch swing or sip a martini in the hottub!!! I cant wait.
