Manchester Democrat., 1921-09-21
'COAS7WARD BOUND


All along the way, since came
west, | have been promising you
through the columns of the Democrat,
that when I got to Puget Sound, TO
visit at my brother Ranse's home,
that / would give you a write up,
descriptive of my travels on the coast
and there-abouts, but as my son-ln-
law, Ned Griffith is constantly in such
demand in the Addy Creamery here,
that it has been almost impossible for
him to get lay off from the Com
mercial Creamery Co., sufficiently long
enough for us to make the overland
trip. However, on Tuesday morning,
August 23rd the weather having been
admirable and everything favorable,
we headed out from Spokane, on the
"Sunset Highway" and commenced our
journey to the coast, and truly ! felt
how characteristic it is for Tom and
/, at our advanced ages, to be trail-
ing down the Sunset Highway Trail,
which should be the very best of life,
as it is to many tired, and weary
travellers, the first and only chance
they have had to rest, but surely
nothing could be more attractive and
interesting than a motor trip to the
Puget Sound country. On Monday
evening the 22nd we drove from
Addy to Lyle's home over in Spokane,
distance of seventy-two miles and
thus got an early start in the morn
ing. Our baggage was light, as we
knew we could not remain long and
our travelling party consisted Of Ned
and Merl, master Tommie Griffith.
Tom and myself, which proved light
load for a seven passenger Haynes
car, and the day was altogether love-
ly, so we travelled until noon, at a
fast rate of speed westward, over ex-
cellent paved or hard surfaced roads,
through fine wheat belts, bending with
the weight of the golden grain in the
north bend section which in some
localities was being harvested with a
combine, or header, and which called
forth shouts of merriment from master
Tommie, it having been his first in
PRODUCTION to combine harvester.
Some of these combines had eight,
ten. twelve and perhaps sixteen hor-
ses attached and did the whole busi-
ness Of cutting, gathering, threshing,
or garnering the grain all at one
operation. On, on we sped, past pleas
ing farm homes, and convenient houses
through noticeable towns, that were
well kept and flourishing and we
found pleasing camping grounds at
Wilbur for the noon hour, where we
refreshed ourselves with hot cup of
coffee, and most delicious lunch,
amid, all the.conveniences Imaginable;
and in the camping grounds out here
in the west, all along the way, they
have them fitted up with electric
tables, chairs and all the little home.
like conveniences, that one could wish
for and all along the Sunset Highway
we found excellent roads, and splendid
accommodations and our first days
travel on our tedious journey passed
without accident of any kind and we
spread our tent for the first night in
the noted camping grounds OF ELS
burg on the beautiful Yakima river,
where we all rested comfortably and
were all up, and breakfasted betimes,
and hurried on our way Wednesday
morning.
One could not fail to notice hos
pitality of the people, as we journey
ed westward, in notifying travellers Of
their camping grounds and would stop
their work to pilot travellers on their
way. A friendliness that is practiced
by the residents, all along the western
routes toward tourists or motorists and
others.
Not many years ago over this same
route, dwelling housese were few and
far between, and instead Of the black
smith shops, general stores and hotels,
ruling the towns it is the garages
that dominate and in some of the vii |
lagos the most imposing building is
the garage. At Davenport and other
western towns as we got nearer to
the metropolis cityof Seattle, the peo-
pie began to assume metropolitan airs |
and automobiles were parked in the
center of the broad streets, and the |
stores seemed to be doing a good busi-
ness.
Apple orchards, miles and miles of
them, were in evidence, with we'll kept |
trees; and men taking care of them.
On the other side of the broad and |
Interesting Columbia River, which We
crossed via Ferry at Vantage, we saw
as we Travelled on, professions of or
chards, fruit laden, and perfect roads,
which would delight any sojourner
thereof.
Thus it was all along the route un-
til we came to Everett, even all thru
the Snoqualime Pass, which seemed |
veritable Paradise, up and down |
thru the mountain ranges, now smooth
with scarcely room for two cars to
pass, but straight on, and on a dis
tance of 80 miles or more. of the
most beautiful scenery, imaginable. |
Then we came to Everett, the third |
port of Puget Sound, situated east of |
Seattle thirty-three miles and the city |
from which we embarked on the |
Sound, on the great Ferry boat for
WILDLY Island.
Everett is beautiful little, or big |
city of 10000 inhabitants and is butt |
upon the peninsula which owes much |
of its prosperity of the great forests |
of standing timber, that are round |
about it. 1t is the youngest of the cities
of the sound, and did not exist in
1900.
In sight from Everett's hill tops,
are Mount Baker Mount Rainier and [