We got an early start and followed Lynne and Joel to Ellensburg. They had business and an appointment at 10:00. We decided to head home via US 97 and 2. I really don't remember climbing Blewett Pass from that side. It is pretty steep. We hardly paused in the Leavenworth, WA for all its fake, Bavarian/German charm. Getting up over Stevens Pass was nice as there was clear blue sky on both sides of it.
The road was very scenic and not crowded until we hit Monroe. There are about 5 lights in town; however, the traffic was backed up so that it was nearly impossible to get past them. I thought we'd never make it to Everett to get back to I-5 North. Eventually we did, of course, but not without a stop at Deception Falls.
On I-5 we stopped for a Subway sandwich at an Arlington exit. The next major stops were at a Fred Meyers in Bellingham and the Pilot truck stop in Ferndale. It took only 15 minutes at the border back into Canada. We got in about 5:30 PM.