[mobike008]

I have this unusual bug of driving (I'm sure most of us here have this bug) but, I seem to suffer from it a little more than average. LOL!

I feel like doing a drive every few weeks to some exotic location (Washington is filled with them and it makes the drive urges go up like nothing that I can explain). I would like to tick every possible place that is worth visiting in Washington.

The best part is that all exotic locales in Washington are “ Day Drives” and maximum of 150 miles one-way which means we can reach that destination in 3-hours of driving at the maximum.

I may have covered about 70% of the major attractions already in Washington and some of them warrant going back at least 2-3 times in a year (Landscapes change drastically during each season- Summers, Fall and Winters)

With that said, I kick started another beautiful drive plan for November 18, 2023.

I keep track of all beautiful locations from a local blog- Life in Northwest Washington. I saw there that “Picture Lake” in the North Cascade Mountains already received a lot of snow (winter hasn’t even started for us yet) and I was getting an urge to visit the snow capped mountains so I set a plan in motion.

Initially, there were 6 cars who confirmed to join and on the D-day, it dropped to only 3 folks who showed up.

The plan was simple :

1. Drive up north for 100 miles and visit the frozen “Picture Lake” in Mt. Baker area which is part of the North Cascades Mountain range.
2. Spend a few hours enjoying the view at the location.
3. Drive back home and enroute stop for a late lunch.

Weather gods also gave us full support, it was 0 Celsius but, sunny through out the day.

Folks who joined :

1. Mobike008 (BMW X3M40i)
2. Crackhead (Toyota Highlander)
3. Ram (Non BHPIan but, joins most of our drives in his Subaru Forester)

We decided to meet at a Chic-a-fil at a location up north at around 9:00am. We enjoyed a quick breakfast on the bonnet of the Highlander.

Left the breakfast location at 9:30am and drove north on I-5 for about 30 miles and then detoured into the B-roads. Here is where the fun started.

Me and Crackhead enjoyed some spirited driving in the hills for the 50 odd miles through some beautiful, curvy and hilly roads.

We reached Picture Lake around 11'sh and spent a couple of hours exploring the area.

Picture Lake was completely frozen and after thoroughly testing the shore area, we decided to walk on the frozen lake for a few feet inside which was a surreal feeling. Imagine this used to be water just some weeks ago.

Around here, there were a bunch of small birds who would come and sit on your hand if you stretch it out. It was super cool !!

Around 1:00pm, we decided to head out and as per Crackhead’s suggestion, we stopped at Aslan Brewery in Bellingham, WA (near the Canada Border) for an amazing lunch. I’m usually not impressed with food easily as most places dish out just average food. But, this place was really good and I already planned to visit here again for their awesome ambience and delicious food.

After spending an hour on lunch, I split early as I needed to get home so I clipped my way home for rest of the 50 miles to reach home around 5:30pm.

That’s how a beautiful day drive ended where the food complimented the amazing scenery that we witnessed during the day.

Enjoy the pictures. Cheers!!

[mobike008]

A few pictures of scenery enroute and drive to the destination.

Out of the 100 miles, about 70 miles was through the mountains and last stretch of 20 miles was through a winter wonderland as we kept climbing the top.

Even though there was not much snow (this place will completely change from January to April with 3-4 feet snow everywhere) as winters are just setting in, it was pleasant to be visiting at this time as you can walk around due to less snow.



































Walked in deep snow towards the lake that was completely frozen.

https://youtu.be/bwU-lOq9fbM

Surreal Drive as we come closer to the Picture Lake.

https://youtu.be/zhivfNu3JBc

360' Degree View Point from Artist Point, Mt. Baker.

https://youtu.be/NRSMtXcPv1I

[mobike008]

Some more pictures of our exploration at Picture Lake, Mt. Baker/Mt. Shuksan area of the North Cascades Mountains and National Park.

[mobike008]

Being a self confessed hard core foodie, I cannot close any photoblog without sharing some of the awesome grub pictures.

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[sachin_cs]

Breathtaking pictures Mobike, it indeed was a pleasure to go through your travelogue on a Saturday morning. Your ride looks menacing in that shade and so happy to see you putting your car to use for the purpose it’s meant to be. I’m also interested in that bird, how did you managed to click that, please enlighten me.

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by sachin_cs

Breathtaking pictures Mobike, it indeed was a pleasure to go through your travelogue on a Saturday morning. Your ride looks menacing in that shade and so happy to see you putting your car to use for the purpose it’s meant to be.

Thanks for your nice words. Glad to know that this photos made your Saturday.

Originally Posted by sachin_cs

I’m also interested in that bird, how did you managed to click that, please enlighten me.

Just outside the frozen Picture lake, there was a small tree where lot of these birds were perched and we saw a bunch of asian youngsters stretching their hand and upon seeing the stretched hand, the birds would come and sit on them assuming you will feed them something. They were having a lot of fun doing that.

I tried it and they fell for this trick.

Then after sometime, they got smart and would not come and sit on the hand even if you stretch out.

[aeroabir]

Amazing pictures and beautiful travelogue @Mobike. I am based out of Bellevue and would love to accompany in future. I have already followed your footsteps to Olympic national park and North Cascade loop.

Did you need to carry a chain in your car or it is not not required because all cars were all-wheel drive?

[Kkumar]

Nice travelogue and wonderful photos. You are truly blessed to have been able to visit such great places. Keep on munching miles.

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by aeroabir

Amazing pictures and beautiful travelogue @Mobike. I am based out of Bellevue and would love to accompany in future. I have already followed your footsteps to Olympic national park and North Cascade loop.

Thanks for your kind words. Nice to know you are in Bellevue. My office is in Bellevue and come there around once a week.

Please share your cell no and also do follow the meets thread (You can subscribe to it) for future meets. Most probably we will plan another snowy drive sometime mid-December or Early January 2024.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/team-...ml#post5668002 (Team-BHP Meets @ Seattle, Washington)

Originally Posted by aeroabir

Did you need to carry a chain in your car or it is not not required because all cars were all-wheel drive?

I have driven in snow conditions regularly in the East Coast (Michigan, Ohio, New York, MA etc) and there nobody talks about chains. Probably because it’s the plains.

Washington being a state full of snow capped mountains, there is a lot of talk about chains. However, I have never used chains ever in my life.

Last December, we drove in an absolutely crazy snow blizzard from Leavenworth, WA to home.

About 50 miles, there was a snow blizzard and nothing was visible to the eye except a white blanket (no road markings, no road borders/end etc). It was a thrilling, dangerous and mind blowing drive experience that still brings goose bumps to me.

Even in these conditions, we didn’t use chains. My BMW handled these conditions with aplomb.









Look at the speed that I am carrying even in those conditions.

Originally Posted by Kkumar

Nice travelogue and wonderful photos. You are truly blessed to have been able to visit such great places. Keep on munching miles.

Thanks Kumar. Yes, I keep telling that to myself that I am lucky to live in Washington and not some other state in US as according to me, this is the most gorgeous state in entire US.