With the passing of the Autumnal Equinox and our march into October, fall is officially upon us. October has always been my favorite month of the year. Even as a child I looked forward to fall and the fresh back-to-school activities. Its as if the heavy lid of summer has come off and everyone has more energy and a lighter step. Now is the time to get things done, finish up any last minute projects that you had slated to finish before the end of the year. The crisp days of fall beckon me to get off the beach and accomplish something before the frozen days of winter send us indoors. The promise of a hot cup of cocoa and a good book by the fire entice me to be productive and enjoy the fresh outdoor air before old man winter arrives.
This October marks the one-year anniversary of the first time I saw Grand Coulee. It’s the first change in weather that my senses recognize. Last year during this month we spent a long weekend to see what offerings the area had for us. It was a gorgeous weekend, crisp and clear, and Halloween decorations happily speckled the neighborhoods. As the weather has turned this year, I remember that weekend and the feel in the air of the same back-to-school freshness that we were to get by moving here.
Summer in Grand Coulee has a marvelous array of activities that kept us very close to home. With the coming of fall, the beach towels have been washed and stored away until next summer, but by no means are we headed indoors just yet. Festivals and fairs dot the landscape of eastern Washington almost every weekend this fall. Head in any direction from Grand Coulee and you might find a town square filled with vendors and music, parades and food. A couple weekends ago, I stumbled upon the Autumn Leaf festival in Leavenworth and a routine Saturday drive turned into an unexpected day of merriment. Heading in the opposite direction is a scenic train day trip along the Pend Oreille River. The trip takes only an hour and a half and is rumored to be spectacular. There is also the promise of a number of different Oktoberfest celebrations in various parts of the state for those with Bavarian backgrounds or simply the love of good beer.
New to me this month is the unbelievable bounty of the apple harvest. Driving near Wenatchee recently I couldn’t help but be overcome by the enormity of the process of picking nearly 60% of the nations apples. On first glance, to a newcomer, it doesn’t seem like the valley could hold that many apple trees. But the further I drove and the more I looked, I noticed apple trees growing in every nook and cranny that could possibly support a tree, and even some that seemed unlikely. There is nothing that says fall like biting into a crisp apple, the smell of a fresh baked apple pie or cool apple cider.
This fall offers many exciting day trips and new things to uncover for someone spending their first autumn in the area, like myself. But I suspect that there might also be some new things to see for those who’ve been here a long time. If long hours spent in a car aren’t appealing, there are numerous trails of every difficulty around the Grand Coulee area. That crisp fall air is perfect for a short day hike. With the quantity of fun fall activities to do in the area, there is likely to be something for everyone.
Previously published in "The Star," Grand Coulee, Washington. October 5, 2011
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