Washington State 2024 - Cathlemet

 My brother, niece et.al live in an incorporated area outside Cathlemet, a town of 500 people. We were there 2 summers before for my niece's wedding. This tiny town is the seat of one of the smallest counties in the state, population around 4400 and the only incorporated town in that county. I live in a city of 3 million, give or take a couple hundred thousand,  the experience of visiting Cathlemet is something of a culture shock for us. 

There is a short main street anchored on one end by two large, lovely victorian homes. There is a small hotel dating from the 1920's, where we stayed on our previous visit, a Mexican restaurant and a vacant 2 story building which originally contained a bar on it its lower floor and, as some town lore goes, a brothel on it's second. There is the miniscule art deco styled courthouse, a bar  and grill and a few businesses, including a small grocery store. It sits on the Columbia river. A historical marker indicates that Lewis and Clark traded for fish with the native tribes at this point during their exploration of the American west. We spent a leisurely morning on the day of the wedding walking and bird watching along the river as it flowed lazily by.

My niece lives in a sprawling house a short distance away from the main street. They are slowly renovating it. Her husband is a contractor, he estimates it will be a 10 to 15 year project. Their wedding took place on their lawn and after the perpetual Washington rains began was moved to a tent set up behind the house. My brother lives a mile from her, it would be our first opportunity to see his home where we would be staying during that part of the trip. 

As we flew west I looked forward to enjoying my mother's egg noodles, a holiday staple growing up. She has long since passed however they've become a family tradition now handed down to a 3rd generation. I have been too long without them.