Lyons Ferry

Traveling when I was a kid was about getting to our final destination as soon as we could. We didn't get distracted along the way much, especially since we always departed late to our next destination. I can recall beginning various trips at around 10pm... no, I'm serious. During my college years I became intrigued by "Route 66" which then followed by the Pixar Film Cars, I was eager to travel the mother road and find out about my regional history. After all, the film does talk about slowing down and how the interstates bypassed many towns and sites. It might be hard to believe that this area of eastern Washington has much history, yet that is far from the truth. There is more to this side of the state than Marcus Whitman. But anyhow.

Lyons Ferry is located at the confluence of the Snake and Palouse Rivers. People visiting Palouse Falls from Walla Walla cross this area unaware of the history this small area holds. The name itself holds on to what was once there before the vehicle bridge was assembled. It is difficult to find information online on the ferry yet from my understand the ferry worked till 1968 and operated for 108 years. It was owned and operated by E. W. Truitt and G. F. Lyons, from which I believe the name derives. The ferry still resides there awaiting its destiny, being engulfed by rust each year as it sinks. How strange it is that it help keep hundreds of cars afloat, yet it struggles to keep itself afloat without the help of anyone.

We use to go on long drives in the weekends yet as gas prices went up, our weekend trips declined. A trip back from Montana once took us 13 hours, whereas now I don't want to prolong a 9 hour trip. Perhaps it's a sign that I'm getting old and losing interest. Yet as for now, visiting historical sites in my region is as exciting as Traci at a candy shop... Funny how I was just talking to someone about this.

I retrieve the first 3 photos from wallawalladrazanphotos.blogspot.com