Concrete, WA Population: 712

Yesterday I waved goodbye to the Emerald City once again and made my way back to Orcas Island to start my new job. On my way to the Anacortes Ferry, I made a slight detour East on Highway 20 to the small town of Concrete, WA. I won’t lie to you, I had no idea this town existed until I saw it on a television show. I thought it looked like a charming place and I wanted to see it for myself. Concrete is a very lovely town, surrounded by the Skagit River and nestled in the Northern Cascades. As you pull into town, you’re greeted by a giant silo structure welcoming you. The town proper is just one small main strip with a few old buildings. The High School is built on an overpass so that you can essentially drive right through it. The highlight of the trip for me was the Lower Baker Dam and the lake it holds back, Lake Shannon. I stood on the overlook of the Dam for a good 30 minutes just listening to the water and a group of Eagles that were swooping and diving below me. Then I drove up a very rough road to the lake above, passing by many roadside waterfalls on the way. I walked around the lake and was soon joined by a local woman and her two scraggly dogs. I was only there for a couple of hours, but it was a great little road trip in a beautiful place.