I arose early and put up the Yakima Trolley story on Trainorders.com then sent Steve Grande an e-mail about the other two stories before I checked out of the Pasco Motel 6. I went to Kennewick to McDonald's for hot cakes and sausage before going across the street to Safeway for some goodies then drove Interstate 82 south to Washington Highway 18 for my trip along the north bank of the Columbia River. I just missed an eastbound BNSF grain train so continued west and further along, saw another eastbound BNSF freight so pulled off.
I set up but the camera did not work so turned around, drove and overtook him but the same thing occurred. Back into the car, but with a repeat of both.
I did get the camera working but not the shot I wanted. I had called Amtrak and learnt the Empire Builder was running over five hours late so continued west to just beyond Bates, pulled off and parked, hoping for another eastbound BNSF train.
The scene in which I wanted a train.
The view across the Columbia River into Oregon.
The first eastbound Union Pacific train of the morning.
A westbound Union Pacific train heading towards Portland.
A barge on the Columbia River.
Another westbound Union Pacific freight.
Never a train when you need one. From here I headed west but saw a sign which made me pull off to investigate.
The American Stonehenge in Maryhill, Washington, An almost identical copy of the more famous English Stonehenge, it was built by Sam Hill, a road builder, as a memorial to those who died in World War I. Dedicated in 1918, the memorial was not completed until 1930. Hill passed away soon after he finally saw his masterpiece completed. He was buried at the base of the bluff; but, because he wished to be left alone, there is no easy path to his resting place.
The project began when Hill was mistakenly informed that the original Stonehenge had been used as a sacrificial site. He thus constructed his replica as a reminder that "humanity is still being sacrificed to the god of war". The dedication plaque on this American Stonehenge reads: "In memory of the soldiers of Klickitat County who gave their lives in defense of their country. This monument is erected in the hope that others inspired by the example of their valor and their heroism may share in that love of liberty and burn with that fire of patriotism which death can alone quench."
Sam Hill's Mansion, as well as the American Stonehenge, are now part of the Maryhill Museum of Art, which also includes monumentsto the soldiers of Klickitat County who died in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
The Stonehenge sign.
The view from Stonehenge. I returned to the road and took another detour just over a mile way.
The Maryhill Museum is a world-class collection of art ranging from early 20th century European works to an extensive Native American collection. Set in a castle-like chateau on a stunning 6,000-acre site overlooking the scenic Columbia River Gorge, Maryhill Museum is one of the Pacific Northwest's most fascinating cultural destinations and located just 100 miles east of Portland, Oregon. The museum's permanent collection includes more than 80 sculptures and watercolors by the French master Auguste Rodin, including the only pedestal-sized plaster version of his famous The Thinker, and much more. The art museum is housed in the Sam Hill's Mansion.
From here, I drove to Horsethief Lake State Park which contains Native American pictographs (paintings) and petroglyphs (carvings). Some of the oldest pictographs in the Northwest are found in this park.
These pictographs were really interesting but I had another reason for stopping here. Knowing that Amtrak would be coming by in less than an hour, I wanted to catch it here.
The turtle cloud with its head out.
Horsethief Lake.
View of the Columbia River from Horsethief Lake State Park.
The reason I was here and now I waited for the Empire Builder.
The Empire Builder, Train 27, running close to five hours late. I met some railfans from New Zealand and I gave them my Washington State map to assist them in chasing Southern Pacific 4449 tomorrow. I continued west towards Portland.
Two views of Mount Hood. I found another eastbound BNSF train and turned around, beating it to my photo location.
BNSF 5011 East running east of Bingen.
Mount Hood through the clouds. In Bingen, the highway was shut down due to a suspected package in town and the traffic was made to go on a poorly-run detour which wasted everyone's time and put all of us in danger had something gone off. I was glad to finally leave Bingen, Washington and drove west to Stevenson, stopping at Subway for a very early dinner. In fact I was still eating when I pulled into the Columbia River Discovery Museum where I wanted to see my old friend.
Spokane, Portland and Seattle F9A 802, nee Northern Pacific 7013D built by Electro-Motive Division in 1956.
Spokane, Portland and Seattle caboose 701 built by Great Northern. I returned to the highway.
Beacon Rock. Later outside of Washougal, the fuel light came on and knowing that meant I had about two gallons left, I continued onward, taking Interstate 205 south into Oregon and exiting at Gilsen Street and then turned onto 82nd Avenue to get to the Days Inn. I checked in then took the rental car back to the airport, riding the MAX Red Line back to 82nd Avenue and walked back to my room at the Days Inn, then finished this story and relaxed the night away.
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