9-3-19 Leavenworth, WA

Leavenworth was established during the days when the railroads and logging were the ticket.  That was way back in 1880.  Eventually, the logging industry and the railroad business began to dwindle.  The townspeople got together to figure out how to turn things around and save their town from complete impoverishment and ultimately, abandonment.  They chose to try tourism.  In 1960, they put their heads together and collectively agreed to transform the face of the town into “little Bavaria.”  Together, they rolled up their sleeves and got to work and created the masterpiece that we see today.  It is as if this little town were lifted in total out of Bavaria and dropped into central Washington.

Typical architecture and decor
in Leavenworth.  These are
my people!

View from the upper patio
at Gustav's

Bavarian Lodge

The distillery - every town
needs one of these.

Gustav's patio

V

The "Maipole"

The town "festhalle" - basically,
where they all party

Rob in "little Bavaria"

I don’t know if the population of Leavenworth in those days was predominantly German or if, later, the transformation of the city attracted a large number of German folks.  Either way, many of the shopkeepers and townsfolk have the appearance and the accent of the German people and many of their restaurants, events and festivals reflect their customs including the traditional dress, music and delightful food, beer and wine.  Heavy and fattening, to be sure, especially when washed down with the requisite hefe, but altogether wunderbar!  Almost all of the buildings are done in that gingerbread house motif, banks, gas stations, real estate offices and, yes, the check-in office at our park.  We are parked at Icicle River RV Park, down in a “canyon” surrounded by (small) mountains covered with tall trees.  Alles ist sehr schön.

The Icicle River RV Park office

Is this too cute, or what?!

Rob lived in Germany a few times as a child and a young adult and I, Krauser, come from 100% Kraut stock.  It wasn’t a far leap for us to become submerged in the atmosphere immediately.  Early dinner at The Rhein Haus, lunch at Gustav’s and dinner at King Ludwig’s involved brats, sauerkraut, wienerschnitzel, schweinschnitzel, pom frits, sauerbraten, blaukraut and spätzle.  Strudel for breakfast, obviously.  We have been fortunate on this trip to rendezvous with friends as we passed through or near their town.  Friends since we were 13 years old, Edwina and Bud met us for lunch in Raleigh.  Friends since my Madison days in our early 20s, Mustang Sally and John had dinner with us in Delavan.  The rendezvous in Leavenworth was most unexpected, though.  Tim and Sue, rv travelers and friends since we met in a park in 2008, are out and about on their Summer trip, too.  We happened to cross paths here in Leavenworth for part of just one day.   We met for dinner at King Ludwig’s.  It is really very nifty to meet up with friends along the way, renewing the ties that bind.

Prosit from Leavenworth, WA!

Back in 1986, Rob and I took a trip to Bavaria.  We brought back a Steinbach nutcracker.  Collecting a few of them became a bit of a hobby of mine and up until now, I had five that I always proudly display during the Christmas season.  For more than 30 years, I have been searching for a chef.  No particular reason for that other than that I love to cook so I wanted a chef.  I found a Steinbach baker but it just wasn’t the same.  Every time I would see a Christmas store somewhere I would poke my head in to continue my quest, later to learn that they are not being created anymore.  The Steinbach family has closed up shop.  Kris Kringl is a Christmas shop in Leavenworth.  As a matter of course, I dropped in and to save time, asked up front if they have any Steinbach nutcrackers.  “Yes!” she said, “All of these, behind me, and some in that glass case.”  Not expecting much, really, I glanced around and my jaw dropped.  After 30+ years of searching, there in the glass case stood Axel, my Steinbach nutcracker chef.  We learned that this nutcracker was created in a series by the sixth and last generation of the Steinbach family to do this work and it is serialized and autographed by Herr Steinbach.  I nearly cried.  Axel joined the DeLaMare family and is safely tucked away under my bed.  Once again, Rob has hit the jackpot with his choice of campgrounds:  doing time in Leavenworth.  Washington, that is.

Meet Axel Steinbach DeLaMare!