They are repairing and repaving Mt. Baker Highway again. It will be mid-September before they are finished. Mt. Baker Highway is a two lane road that curves, swerves with ups and downs galore.

It is the only road to access Mt. Baker and summertime is here, so lots of hikers, kayakers, backpackers, camping enthusiasts, astronomers, fishermen, wildlife photographers and just plain tourists from BC are about to descend upon us again.

Welcome one and all, and bring your patience. The job of these WA DOT road work laborers is a long, hot, nasty, sun-scorched, dust-inhaling, throat-parching, dehydrating, physically-exhausting thing. They can only move as fast as the job allows, so please remember to smile, wave and be kind. You wouldn't want to do that job, trust me.

Thank you WA DOT road crew guys and gals. Without you, this highway would fall and break into pieces and pot holes big enough to swallow a Mack truck. You perform a difficult and demanding task that benefits everyone and yet you get little in the way of compliments, more likely third finger salutes and a lot of obscenities. But bless you, everyone of you.

-- Resident of Maple Falls, WA.