Since it is over 350 miles to Arlington from my house in Spokane I started out Tuesday afternoon to be able to get my registration Wednesday afternoon at Arlington at the Byrnes Performing Arts Center. I wanted to go across Highway 2 this time to see if it was better than I-90. Started out pretty hot in the 90s when I left Spokane and seemed even warmer when I got out in the country. Hardly any vehicles on the road Tuesday afternoon, so I buzzed right along. Many of the wheat fields had been harvested, but several were still waiting for the combine.  Tuesday it was clear, but Sunday when I took this photo it was smoky.

Left the wheat fields and got into the orchards, and their huge stacks of bins for the upcoming apple crop.

Then started up the North Cascades Highway to the North Cascades National Park.

This photo from the Washington Pass Overlook, shows the road climbing toward Washington Pass and the switchback up to the top.

Headed into Arlington, and up to the Byrnes Performing Arts Center to pick up my packet for the conference that starts Thursday. I went to the line that contained the letter “H” packets, and they said I needed to fill out a survey first, filled in the survey, then went back to the table with the packets, told them my name and they had a marker in the packet to see the help desk first, so over to the help desk, where they said I had not paid for my meals and wanted a check to pay for them now, seems my check I sent a week or so before had not arrived yet. I had not brought my checkbook so paid in cash. Took the packet and back to the mini to check out the classes and headed for dinner. Got to bed early and was one of the first ones there on Thursday morning. Found out my picks for Thursday would have to be changed as Luana Darby had not come, so more checking the classes.