First, some unusual vehicles we spotted this year. The first one was parked in front of our hotel, and is owned by them. We got a big laugh at the comment painted on the passenger side rear panel.

It’s an old Mercedes vehicle, last licensed in 2023. Since then, the State has hugely increased the cost of vehicle registrations due to the “Climate Commitment Act” which seeks to run petroleum-using vehicles out of the state, so I can understand their desire not to break the bank. [note: over 600,000 vehicles in Washington are running around with expired tabs, since they are being over-taxed everywhere. After this year, that figure will probably rise.]

And the second interesting vehicle made me gasp when I saw it.

Is that not a gorgeous cycle? Brand new, made in America. The company is scheming on overtaking Harley Davidson, who has moved much of its manufacturing offshore, and has been in the (bad) news for its company DEI policies.

It wouldn’t be a Leavenworth post without some music videos. I normally love to watch the youngsters compete in their various categories. This year, there were no little kids at all, only middle-school-age and above. This young man did very well with “Waltz Allegro.”

And the Accordion Parade down Front Street from the Festhalle to the Gazebo downtown.

Please note that, due to the outdoor venue which is very noisy, the players in the back aren’t playing with the ones in front-no conductor to walk backwards with a baton! However, once they reach the gazebo, they all play songs together. Anyone who can play accordion can march in the parade, and there are always young and old alike. It’s great fun.

Here are some scenes from the gazebo, once all the players arrive and array themselves on the steps.

On Friday night before the concert, we went out to dinner at a nice restaurant downtown. After dinner, we walked back through town to the concert, and I got some nice photos of the central area.

Nature saved the best for last on Friday.

How about that nearly-full moon! And the nice sunset clouds, too.

Saturday, we decided we weren’t interested in attending the concert, so after I got back from watching the competition in the morning, we hung around the hotel.

Then, we walked around town. We visited the new picnic shelter behind the gazebo that was built in the last year for getting out of the rain and allowing visitors to bring their lunch. It was very well-made and the furniture was made in America! The little balcony off the back allows a great view of downtown.

Since we weren’t attending the concert, we decided to take a little drive up to the town of Plain, north of Leavenworth. It was a nice drive, even though the weather was cloudy with occasional spits of rain. But it was the last mile that was the biggest surprise, just before the road ran back into US2. We found Nason Creek, which is a tributary of the Wenatchee River. We had to pull off the road to listen to and watch the creek meander.

Looking the other direction from the top photo!

And the rocks that line the river bed, reflecting the character of the Cascade Mountains surrounding. You can see pieces of the columnar basalt and granite that mostly make up the Cascades. Also, the long needles of the pine trees.

Here’s a closeup. And a bit of what the creek sounds like.

At the end of our ride, we decided to have dinner at a place we see at least twice on every trip to Leavenworth, the 59er Diner at Cole’s Corner.

The decor is classic 50s Diner. The food wasn’t all that wonderful, but the ambiance made up for it.

At the end of the day Saturday, this was what we saw from our hotel room window. Apologies for the telephone wires!

Altogether, a nice trip once again. We go to Leavenworth at least twice a year, and we are so lucky to live only about two hours away. If you are in Washington State, it’s a must-see!