A Most Perfect Day and I 'did a very bad thing'

I am very tired. I had a most wonderful day.

We four women – sis-in-law, Linda, niece, Karis, daughter, Toni, and I, piled into my gas-guzzler and headed east. We drove up Highway 26 just past Government Camp and sped up the road to Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood.

The day was excellent. We ended up having lunch in the bar – the only place with a view of the mountain. We shared wonderful turkey, tomato, etc, sandwiches and hot chocolate with crunched up English toffee sprinkled on the thick whipped cream while watching snowboarders and skiers swooshing down the mountain. Thus satisfied, we made the decision to continue to wrap our way all around the mountain.

We turned left on 26, continued until the cut-off for Hood River, and then took another left to the north. The weather was perfect. Warm, breezy, blue sky. We had a wonderful view of Mt Adams in front of us and Mt Hood in the rear view mirror. We kept driving until we reached the Columbia River. We took another left onto I-84 towards the Columbia River Gorge. We watched birds fly and the whitecaps on the river while we continued to chatter the entire trip.

We stopped at Cascade Locks and had our traditional ice cream cone. After wiping up all of the ice-cream drips, we got back in the car and back on I84 to make our way to Bonneville Dam. We had less than an hour before they closed access to the dam itself.

I tootled across the road to the guard station (post 9-11). When I stopped, the guard said, “You’ve just done a very bad thing.” My tootling was at 30 M.P.H. and the limit was 20. It sounded like he had said that before. He told us we only had a half an hour so I slowly sped across the locks, up the side of the power plant and on to the parking lot.

What should be blooming in the planters but beautiful lupin? I saved a sniff until we came back. We hurried to the fish-counting floor where we watched many Chad make their way up the ladder. I did not see any salmon. I saw that they have been coming through but it is early for the June run.

We then went outside to look at the top of the ladder – to watch the Chad sneak over the cement steps of the ladder. Salmon are much more exciting since the really jump from one level to the next.

By this time, it was time to head back to the car. I went to sniff the lupin while the others took pictures. Unfortunately, Canada geese had been there first and had left, ahem, signs of their presence. Magnificent birds but magnificently messy, too. We then drove down off the dam and went over to the hatchery.

We saw rainbow trout by the hundred, and salmon fingerlings by the thousand in holding ponds waiting to go off to make some fisherman/woman very happy. We stopped to look at Buddy, the huge sturgeon, and his friends and feed the rainbow trout in the trout pond.

Then it was back to the freeway until I was able to switch to the old road to the falls. We passed several cool spots and stopped at Multnomah Falls. While taking pictures we decided to take a walk to the bridge. Unfortunately, I left my bifocals in the car so coming close to the side of the pathway or to the railing on the bridge was a concern. I have no depth perception and tend to get vertigo without my glasses.

The result of that is that I have a terror of falling and pitching myself over something. I made it across on two feet (I’ve been known to crawl) and up the path a bit to get some great shots. When we got back down, we stopped at the gift shop then got back on the road.

We slowed for Wahkeena and Latourell Falls, pointed out Shepherd’s Dell and Bridal Veil and finally arrived at Crown Point.

Normally, I drive this road from the West and hug the inside next to the rocks and grasses and safe stopping. From the East, you are hugging the edge of the road with guard-rails that don’t make me feel protected at any cost and the view straight down to what lies below wasn’t on my ‘gotta see’ list.

At Crown Point, Toni stayed in the car to see if anyone wanted to join us in town for Pho. The wind was wonderfully brisk and we walked and were blown around while taking pictures and saying ooooooh a lot. These Texas gals did the Titanic ‘flying’ at the bow thing as they leaned into the wind with their arms reaching out. It was exhilarating to be out in the wind but it was wonderful to get back into the car.

We then went around to Women’s Forum State Park to show them where they take the most beautiful shots of the Gorge.

My normal spot to get back to the freeway was closed because of slides so we went the long way through Corbett, down along and over the Sandy River at Stark Street and came back up to civilization.

We met my son-in-law at the restaurant and had wonderful food. I had Sesame Chicken. This is going to be a repeat item.

We got back into the car as the evening sky was at my favorite point – from dark blue through green at the horizon – and came home. Sadly, they will leave Portland in the morning. We all need our rest tonight after a long, perfect day.

Zee Cannon Beeeeech

We brought our laptop (that is really sad...) so I though I would share a couple of photos. The first is at sunset last night down on the beach; the second is from our balcony this morning. A little virtual vacation for you. Can't you smell the salt sea air and hear the squawking of the sea gulls?

The last one is of Bob working on a puzzle. They were giving them away at the Radiation Center when we were there yesterday. Not only did his PSA go down a wee bit but we got a puzzle to boot. The best thing about the puzzle is that it is one that has already been put together and they put large chunks of it back in the box. That makes putting together 1000 pieces much easier on a two-night stay.

We're on our way out to take a walk on the beach then go to lunch at Dooger's. They have the best clam chowder!!! It is a white-type but it has a flavor like none other.

Talk to you later
Kathleen

Happy Anniversary