Our trip to Pearrygin Lake State Park, Washington - June 2008...
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Jackie and I had the opportunity to meet some friends we hadn't seen in a while at Pearrygin Lake State Park just north of Winthrop, Washington. This was our first visit to this park but it won't be our last as it now rates at the top of our list of favorite Washington State Parks. You can find out more and make reservations here. The sites away from the lake have full hookups. Lakefront sites have just water and power... |
| This looking down into the west campground as you enter the park. They've planted a large variety of trees and it really adds to the beauty of this park... |
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The west campground is over there in the distance near the other end of the lake. Down below is part of the east campground where we stayed.. |
| The roads are nicely paved, wide, and tree lined..... |
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We're in site number 37 so we need to go thataway... |
| We've got lakefront property. The slides are out, the bike's unloaded and we're ready to go. Or stay.. |
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The sites are very far apart and there's lots of grass.. |
| Cecil and Linda have a new La Palma. Look at that all front windshield and they've got a great view of the lake from their site.... |
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Mike and Carol are next door across the way... |
| Beautiful tree and grass lined roads throughout the park.... |
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The boat launch is down yonder... |
| Next to the boat launch is a small store offering ice cream and boat rentals... |
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Mule deer are everywhere doing what deer do. Here one trots down to the lake to get a drink... |
| It looks awkward but the deer doesn't seem to be having any trouble.... |
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Waterdrops fly from her mouth as she throws her head up in alarm... |
| Flowers are in bloom at this time of year and the Indian Paintbrush is beautiful... |
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Bubba's happy to be here! |
| Mostly 'cause he likes watching the squirrels! This one is a Douglas squirrel as Rick, the Park Manager, was kind enough to tell me via and email after he found our website... |
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Somebody had planted some Iris by a sign. I received an email later from Rick, the current Park Manager, kindly informing me that "The Iris were planted in 1996 by Bill and Ellen Schirmer who hosted during the months of June and September for 10 straight years. Sadly, Bill left us in late September this past year. Ellen lives in Spokane and never misses Gonzaga home basketball games, climbing to her perch in the 2nd row from the top of the Mac Center in Spokane.".. |
| The Iris seemed to glow from within... |
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The weather was great and Mike and Cecil took the opportunity to look under Mike's rig... |
| The Mountain Lupine was in full bloom... |
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Jackie and I took the bike for a ride. We saw this ice cream dude wood carving while in Winthrop... |
| You won't get away with speeding in Winthrop... |
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I don't know what it's called but we saw lots of this purple flower in bloom. Rick suggests that it's probably a "penstemon, either "shrubby" or "cascade"..." |
| One needs to be careful as there are a lot of Sasquatch in the area. Here's a camper that wasn't paying attention..... |
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Wild Indians can be dangerous, too. This one was creeping over the roof getting ready to pounce on the hardy pioneers... |
| We rode the bike up the Chewuch River road. Several nice campgrounds along the way but our rig would have only fit into one of them. This campground was pretty and right on the river but too small... |
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This one lane bridge was only a few hundred feet from the end of the road. Glad we're not in the RV... |
| The view from the bridge was beautiful, though, and worth the ride... |
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We were careful to avoid this dinosaur in the field on the way back to the campground... |
| Here's a variety of Snapdragon in bloom. Rick, as Pearrygin Lake State Park Manager, again informed me via email that this plant "is actually a Class A noxious weed called Dalmatian Toadflax. It came to us from Europe and our charge, under the law, is to attempt to eradicate it. If you would encourage people to not pick it, that would help us out, immensely, as it's primary method of spreading is by seed production, over 150,000 per flowering head, and underground through it's rhizomal root system. When it gets picked, it activates both methods, vigorously." We don't pick wildflowers so that wasn't problem for us but I sure hope you won't pick it either, if you run across some... |
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Back at the campground the boaters were having a great time on the lake.... |
| The Yellow-Bellied Marmot were everywhere and pretty tame. This one looks just like I imagine that Hamster fellow did before he began his diet... |
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After his diet but before the visit to the dentist. Looking good, Malone! |
| First there was one squirrel in the fork of the tree... |
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Then there were two. Belly licking seemed to be on the menu... |
| Aren't we cuuute? |
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Three squirrels and it's party time! |
| Birds and animals abound in this park. Here's a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker.... |
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And here's a Magpie high in a tree... |
| We woke up and went to sleep to the sound of Redwing Blackbirds... |
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This deer seemed to be laughing at us... |
| I think this deer was making a comment about political posts on RORT... |
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The daisey's are in bloom... |
| Even the sagebrush is in bloom. Rick informed me via email that this bush "is actually a shrub called Bitterbrush, and for good reason. You will note that it is one plant that flourishes because the deer leave it alone. It looks like there is a small blue sage in the lower left hand corner of the picture, though." ... |
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It's been fun watching these furry little guys and all of the other critters and we've had a great time visiting with our friends but it's time to go. We're already looking forward to our return to Pearrygin Lake State Park... We sure appreciate it when visitors to our website are kind enough to send us emails with corrections when needed and to let us know how much they enjoyed the visit. Thank you, Rick, for the kind email and new info. |