Setting out from Sandpoint, our route took us west along US-2 to Newport where we took WA-20 north west towards Chewelah via Flowery Trail Road ( a fabulous twisty road – definitely worthy of ‘destination highway’ status). Fueling in Chewelah we met a travelling salesman who was also a biker who recommended we change our route and take in the Keller Ferry to Wilbur. We continued on to the Gifford/ Inchelium Ferry and down to Wilbur as suggested. Bridge Creek road was another fine motorcycle outing.
Both ferries were free – ostensibly as compensation for roadways lost when Lake Roosevelt was formed by the Grand Coulee Dam which was built along the Columbia river during the depression. The dam generates power and provides irrigation for the region.
Further on at Bridgeport we took in another large dam on the Columbia River – the Chief Joseph Dam – which has the distinction of the most ( 27) penstocks and generators of any hydro damn in North America.
Turning south on US-97 we passed the Wells Dam just south of Pateros. The Columbia is one of the largest river watersheds on the Pacific side of the continental divide so little wonder that it is used so extensively for hydro power generation.
Throughout the whole region large boxes were strategically positioned at orchards in anticipation of the harvest. We passed several processing plants as we continued on south on US-97 to our destination in Wenatchee.
