Picto Diary - 21 August 2015 - Walla Walla to Tacoma

Above: John Galt's Cub in hanger on his property in eastern WA. 21 August 2015.

He was willing to take me for an AM flight.... but I looked at the process of getting in...and it didn't look easy for a near 300 lb fat guy. So, I passed.

Galt is standing at left.

Above: Cub runway on Galt property in eastern WA. 21 August 2015.

Galt has water rights. He has to water the run-way grass. Use it or loose it says the county.

Galt and Dagny Taggart's house is not seen, out of the image to the left... up on the bluff.

Above: Breakfast place, Bacon and Eggs. Walla Walla, WA. 21 August 2015.

Very good corned beef hash.

Add to the list of great breakfast places.... Winona's in Steamboat, Kate's in Ridgeway, Brothers in Ashland, Aspen Over Easy in Aspen, the Jail House in Moab, and Evergreen in Buena Vista.

Missing in Park City. A 'go to' breakfast place.

Walla Walla a happening place. 100 plus vintners. Unlike Napa, plenty of water. Watch for the rise of Walla Walla wines as California dries up. Also, tony Whitman College, for that liberal arts degree that is a sure stepping stone to top graduate programs around the nation.

Above: Sunflower outside of Bacon and Eggs. Walla Walla, WA. 21 August 2015.

Two flowers? Or one flower with hybrid flower?

Above: Bird killers. Southeastern Washington. 21 August 2015.

Many tourists mistake these structures for electricity producing wind turbines.

Above: The Bishop, Mt. Rainier, and the Duc. WA SR 410 between Yakima and Enumclaw. 21 August 2015.

Prior to taking this image, I had ridden the high elevation pass of WA SR 410, for about 10 miles, in dense fog, light rain, and 41 degree temperatures.

Two years ago, at about this same time, I rode this same road, in the opposite direction towards Yakima, experiencing from the summit, for a distance of at least 20 miles, some of the worst rain I have ever experienced while riding a motorcycle. Finally, near the bottom of the mountain route, I found a Shell station where I took temporary refuge. Then, I was riding the BMW K1200 LT luxury tourer, which I still ride occasionally.

Above: Mt. Rainier. Sunset. From Murano Hotel 24th floor window. Tacoma, WA. 21 August 2015.

Coming here for four years now, this is one of the best views I've seen.

FeeBee climbed this mountain with Kelly. Steve, El Contador's son, was a mountain guide on Rainier for two or three years.

The mountain is a reminder that the urban northwest sits on one of the more dangerous tectonic plate faults in the world. Check out this recent, well written article:

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/07/20/the-really-big-one