Sagebrush Country or Bust

Posted on June 1, 2018 by C.E.Robinson

Not exactly risk everything and go for broke. It’s more like determination to get there on highway I-90 packed with cars heading to eastern Washington over the past long Memorial Day Weekend.

The Robinson, Kukal, and Hallak families love Sagebrush Country. In fact the Kukals, own a cabin there, surrounded by rolling acres of sagebrush. The Robinsons, Kim & Ted, purchased an acre of sagebrush nearby. The Hallaks, went along for the ride, and family fun time.

 

 

 

Boat in tow, they traveled to Sagebrush Country and took in Banks Lake’s water beauty and warm, sun-filled days.

 

 

Then went on to enjoy their sagebrush properties at the first-rate hideaway, Rimrock Meadows in Douglas County, Washington. Of course the entrance to Rimrock Meadows was on Sagebrush Drive, about a 24 minutes drive from Ephrata, WA, via Sagebrush Flats Road.

 

IMG_1506

Rimrock Meadows

Rimrock Meadows lies on the eastern slopes of Washington’s beautiful Cascade mountain range and is located about 16 miles Northwest of the small town of Ephrata in the heart of Washington State.  Wenatchee, the largest nearby town, is about 40 minutes away and Jameson Lake, renowned for its great fishing, is about a 20-minute drive from Rimrock. The property is located on the edge of Moses Coulee, one of the most beautiful areas in Central Washington. Grand Coulee Dam is about an hour’s drive and there are numerous other “natural wonders” in the surrounding areas such as the Columbia River, Soap Lake, Moses Lake, Whisper Lake and Lake Chelan. Rolling wheat fields grace the areas surrounding Rimrock Meadows.”

http://www.rimrockmeadows.com

Rimrock Meadows – P.O. Box 1195 – Ephrata, Washington 988823 –  (509) 632-9800

You get the point. Sagebrush is noteworthy, and dominates this blog post. You’ll know a lot about it if you read more than the first four paragraphs. I can promise you a riveting read! Overall, sagebrush hints of romance in Zane Grey’s Sagebrush Western Books, it’s medicinal, animals eat it, and its clean scent makes you feel healthy and alive. Don’t confuse it with rolling around, dry spindly, bramble-like, no foliage tumbleweed. Sagebrush is sage-green, and stays put.

Sagebrush Steppe

Of course there’s more to the sagebrush look. Sagebrush steppe is a type of shrub-steppe, a low rainfall natural grassland characterized by the presence of shrubs, and usually dominated by sagebrush, any of several species in the genus Artemisia. Shrubsteppe communities form the western landscape of open sagebrush plains, rimrock, and tumbleweeds, and historically dominated the landscape in eastern Washington. Some of the many species of wildlife that inhabit shrubsteppe can only be found there. Greater sage grouse, sage sparrows, sage thrashers, and pygmy rabbits depend on sagebrush and are termed “sagebrush obligates”. A host of other birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects are found primarily in sagebrush-steppe or other shrubsteppe communities.

 

 

A Must See – Moses Coulee Canyon

Moses Coulee is a beautiful canyon in the Waterville plateau region of Douglas County, Washington. This water channel is now dry, but during glacial periods, large outburst floods with discharges greater than 600,000 m3/s (21,000,000 cu ft./s) carved the channel. With its Ice Age flood carved, steep-walled coulees, its pothole lakes, dunes, haystack boulders, waterfalls and scablands—this area is home to a rich and fragile mosaic of rare living things. Between the shrubs and grasses grow a profusion of wildflowers, including sulfur lupine and the vibrant bitterroot, long a favorite food harvested by native peoples.

Glacial Impacts

Illustration of the glacial impacts showing the events leading to the formation of Moses Coulee

Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1367583

About C.E.Robinson

Christine Elizabeth Robinson, a former nurse practitioner ventures into the world of fiction to write books. Published in May 2022, THREE YEARS OF HER LIFE, a historical fiction, comes from her love of researching family history. A background as a published poet, experience in writing fiction, non-fiction and screenplays, is an advantage in her writing career. Christine lives in Southern California. A sequel to the debut book, THE NINE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED, in progress, will be available in Spring, 2024. The plot explodes and the characters evolve, moving forward. Even their victories create conflict and consequences. http://cerobinsonauthor.com
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59 Responses to Sagebrush Country or Bust

  1. lbeth1950 says:
    June 1, 2018 at 3:13 pm

    It must have been wonderful.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • C.E.Robinson says:
      June 1, 2018 at 3:19 pm

      Thanks so much, Linda! It was quite a trip for them. Eastern Washington has a hidden beauty, and they found it, and sagebrush properties at Rimrock Meadows. Christine

      Like

      Reply
  2. Teagan R. Geneviene says:
    June 1, 2018 at 3:45 pm

    It looks like a happy time. Thanks for sharing it with us, Christine. Hugs!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  3. greg-in-washington says:
    June 1, 2018 at 3:50 pm

    Love eastern Washington high plains desert. Was in Yakima 2 weeks ago. I go there to warm up and dry out. Scenery is gorgeous.. Thanks for more photos. I am going back soon!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  4. Dan Antion says:
    June 1, 2018 at 4:34 pm

    I’ve been through that area several times. Thanks for jogging some wonderful memories.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  5. Lynz Real Cooking says:
    June 1, 2018 at 6:06 pm

    Thanks for sharing! This area looks so familiar as I am from Spokane Wa. Love it

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  6. Jodi says:
    June 2, 2018 at 2:58 am

    So beautiful

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  7. Almost Iowa says:
    June 2, 2018 at 7:46 am

    Always loved the sagebrush country, oddly, I liked it best in winter.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • C.E.Robinson says:
      June 2, 2018 at 10:37 am

      Thanks, Greg, for your visit and comment. It’s probably beautiful in the winter. This area is pretty remote, so not sure it’s an easy get to, and get around. It’s prime snow country too! Have a great weekend. Christine

      Like

      Reply
  8. Julie Holmes, author says:
    June 2, 2018 at 2:18 pm

    These are wonderful pictures, Christine! My hubby and I drove through to Seattle years ago. I remember the stark difference in the landscape between eastern Washington and the western part of the state once you cross the mountains. Personally, I like a lot more green, but the steppe and the desert have their own beauty.

    Have a great weekend!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • C.E.Robinson says:
      June 2, 2018 at 9:34 pm

      I agree, I like the green too. I’d stop at the mountains and find a nice rustic cabin on a peaceful lakefront with lots of trees and walking paths. (sigh) Nice to have choices in WA. Not to forget the islands! Christine

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. D. Wallace Peach says:
    June 2, 2018 at 4:39 pm

    It’s amazing to me how different eastern and western Washington are (same as Oregon). Beautiful country with such character, Christine. The lake looks wonderful in the midst of all that dry sage. 🙂 Great photos!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  10. Jacqui Murray says:
    June 21, 2018 at 12:25 pm

    That is my type of land, Christine. Maybe a few amenities, but not many. As long as I have books.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • C.E.Robinson says:
      June 21, 2018 at 1:39 pm

      Jacqui, thanks so much for your visit and comment. That area of Sagebrush Country is beautiful and quiet! No cell phone service or computer use in the brush. I’d need books too! Im following you. Amazing amount of valuable information on your blog. You’re so talented. (chuckling) A 5 minute lunch and a two minute dinner. Yep, you’re busy! 😊 Christine

      Like

      Reply
  11. Sartenada says:
    June 21, 2018 at 10:40 pm

    How wonderful photos. I am very glad that You presented this area and I had possibility to see it thru Your beautiful photos. Blogs are windows to another people’s world.

    Have a wonderful day!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • C.E.Robinson says:
      June 22, 2018 at 9:33 am

      Thank you for your visit and comment. Happy to see you here. Sagebrush Country in Washington state is quite a beautiful area. Glad I could present it to you and other followers. Christine

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • Sartenada says:
        December 19, 2018 at 12:56 am

        Hello Christine. I returned here, because I remembered the Sagebrush word. I have read nearly all books written, by Zane Grey and it was mentioned in some his books.

        Do You know Zane Grey?

        Liked by 2 people

      • C.E.Robinson says:
        December 19, 2018 at 10:23 am

        Yes, Zane Gray is a favorite! The wide open plains, beautiful for story settings! Thank you for your visit and comment again. 🎄🎶📚 Christine

        Liked by 1 person

      • Sartenada says:
        December 19, 2018 at 9:50 pm

        How nice to read this! Many thinks that he writes only Wild West, but when continuing reading, man notes, that he writes about human heart and justice, describing at the same time natures beauty etc. I have near all of his books and I have read them thrice during my life. I started reading this book: Wildfire. Have a good day!

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Julie Holmes, author says:
    July 1, 2018 at 12:12 pm

    So cool to see the contrast to the temperate rainforests of western Washington. I prefer lots of green, but the steppe has it’s own character. Thanks for sharing these with us, Christine!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. Sartenada says:
    July 2, 2018 at 11:33 pm

    Amazing sceneries in my eyes! I enjoyed seeing and I felt like being there when admiring York beautiful photos. Thank You.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  14. Robert Matthew Goldstein says:
    July 3, 2018 at 4:30 pm

    Sagebrush Country looks beautiful and alien to this city boys eyes. Thanks for sharing it.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  15. Galit G. Balli says:
    July 5, 2018 at 9:29 am

    It looks amazing, omg 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  16. The Hook says:
    July 8, 2018 at 5:32 am

    The words, “beautiful desolation” come to mind…

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  17. C.E.Robinson says:
    September 29, 2018 at 1:37 pm

    Thank You for Your praising comment of this post. I remembered that You loved Zane Grey and Sagebrush. Here is my comment, but which failed when trying comment:

    I had to return to this post, because I noticed Zane Grey’s Sagebrush. I love Zane Grey and his western books. I have the book which You mentioned in Finnish ” Purppurarinteiden ratsastajat”. I have nearly all books written by Zane Grey! I read them from time to time and enjoy “visiting Old Wild West”. Next year I will start to read them again.

    Here is the post in which I tell a little bit about Zane Grey.

    Native Indian life

    Have a good day!

    Comment by Sartenada — September 29, 2018 @ 11:38 | Reply

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  18. The Hook says:
    December 9, 2018 at 12:40 pm

    These shots are worth a second look – especially in December in Canada!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  19. Holistic Wayfarer says:
    December 16, 2018 at 10:08 am

    Great photos, as always. Hope it’s been a good season, C.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  20. Silent Hour says:
    January 6, 2019 at 6:48 pm

    Now this is a landscape that can be a novel character!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  21. Dalo 2013 says:
    April 6, 2019 at 3:50 am

    Beautiful country ~ beautiful photos! Reminds me so much of my hometown in Pendleton, OR (Eastern Oregon), and I always take I-90 from Seattle to Pendleton when I am back in the States. Your photos of the landscape, and beautiful family, makes me miss home 🙂 Thank you for this post, and very happy I stumbled upon it today. Take care, Christine, and wish you a wonderful spring.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • C.E.Robinson says:
      April 6, 2019 at 3:13 pm

      Randall, thanks so much for visiting, and for your comment. I wondered what country you were in, maybe China? When was your last visit to OR? It’s a beautiful state & your hometown in the eastern part seems more country, and peaceful living. Have a thriving spring. Looking forward to more of your photography! 📚🎶 Christine

      Like

      Reply
      • Dalo 2013 says:
        April 7, 2019 at 7:48 pm

        I was in Pendleton this past Christmas, and will return in August for a few weeks as well. It keeps calling me back 🙂 Wishing you well too, Christine, take care.

        Liked by 2 people

      • C.E.Robinson says:
        April 7, 2019 at 7:55 pm

        Randall, you should go back to your hometown roots & family often! I’ll be in Kirkland & Camano Island, WA in August to visit my sons, granddaughters & great grand kiddies. I’ll wave in your direction. Enjoy! 📚🎶 Christine

        Like

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