Algae-filled crystal clear stream.
Professional photographers
come here too!
Old Faithful teases us.
The crowds gather.
There she goes...!
Oh.. oh.. look...
Yellowstone National Park - Mammoth Hot Springs
September 6-10, 2007 -- We drove into the main north entrance to
Yellowstone National Park and arrived at Mammoth Hot Springs. I
had never thought about how Yellowstone got its name, but when I
saw the colorful mineral deposits surrounding me it was obvious.
Steam billowed into the air from the hot springs and the smell of
sulphur wafted over us in waves. The minerals solidify into
stairstep formations and drippy solid lumps.
There is a mystical quality to this area. The water looks passive
and serene, but the mist and steam drifting above the surface
belie something more sinister brewing below.
I saw a fast flowing stream
filled with bright green plant
life. it was crystal clear and
looked like it must be ice
cold. Without even
thinking I put my hand in
the water - and yanked it
right out! The water was
hot hot hot!
There are mazes of
boardwalks throughout
Mammoth Hot Springs,
some passing old defunct
springs and others skirting
pools of steaming mineral
water. The minerals harden
into all kinds of shapes, from
elaborate staircases to very
tall pinnacles. Some of the
springs bubble under vast
lakes punctuated by dead
trees. Up close the
minerals are a kaleidescope
of colors.
In some areas the minerals harden in waves, like a frozen orange
ocean. In other areas mini-waterfalls dribble minerals over an edge.
At one lookout we found a professional photographer
using a huge format camera under a draped hood. Our
quickie snapshots of anything and everything around us
seemed amateurish next to his deliberate methodology.
Other areas of the park feature
geysers as well as hot springs.
And no visit to Yellowstone is
complete without a spin past Old
Faithful.
It erupts every 90 minutes or so,
and with less promptness and
splendor than 50 years ago when
an earthquake shifted things below the surface. The
crowds gather, however, and there were several
hundred people for our showing. We were lucky and
got a big burst after the geyser teased us with a series
of smaller sprays.
After enjoying much of what Yellowstone has to offer -- but realizing we'll have to return several times to see it all --
we made our way south into Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming.
Yellowstone National Park, WY – Big Game Animals
Herd of elk in front of the visitors center.
What a rack. A local hunter standing nearby told us he was
at Yellowstone to size up his prey for when they migrate out
of the park into the legal hunting areas.
Morning flirtations
Buffalo use the roads for travel too.
Yellowstone National Park - Animals
September 6-10, 2007 - One of the most exciting
things in Yellowstone is seeing the big game
animals up close. Our first morning in the park,
after driving down from Glacier NP, we took a short
hike from the campground to the visitors center. As
we climbed up the hillside through the forest we
looked up -- and saw a buffalo on the ridge above
us. I stopped dead in my tracks, remembering the
sign I'd seen at the campground, "More people are
gored by buffalo each year than are attacked by
bears." Yikes. There had been another sign
explaining what to do in case you encountered a buffalo or bear in the park. I wracked my brain trying to remember the
instructions, as each animal required something different. Do you make noise, or not? Back up slowly or run for your life? Be
aggressive or passive? The buffalo snorted at us. Mark reached for his camera but I was frozen to the spot. Suddenly the
mammoth, ungainly beast leaped away. He moved across the impossibly steep and rocky terrain with the grace and agility of a
dancer. In an instant he was gone. We gaped at each other, wide-eyed. What a way to be welcomed to Yellowstone National
When we arrived at the visitors center we found it was occupied by
a herd of elk. It was elk mating season and they like to congregate
at the visitors center. They wandered up and down the grassy
areas as if they owned the place while the rangers waved the cars
through and tried to control the exuberant park visitors.
A huge male was seated motionless in the middle of the grass
with his harem of females surrounding him at a distance. He
barely moved a muscle as he sat in the sun. We watched him,
willing him to turn to face us. He wouldn't move, despite the
crowd of onlookers snapping his photo. Almost imperceptably he
moved his head slightly. This seemed an indication that he might
stand up and the rangers leapt into action, waving everyone
away from the grass to give the big guy room. "These are wild
animals," they explained to us. "They are unpredictable." That proved true, as the enormous elk must have decided he didn't
need to stand up afterall, and he stayed seated in the sun for another few hours.
One morning we woke up to see a young buck elk flirting with a
young female right outside our trailer window. We grabbed the
cameras and started shooting right through the window. They
touched noses and then reared up on their hind feet, pawing at
each other.
They did this for about 10 minutes, pausing to nibble the bushes
every now and then between flirtations. When the young male
leaned over to munch on a leaf we could see that his antlers were
soft and fuzzy.
Out on the park roads it
was common to see elk
and bison roaming
around. The animals
use the park roads in the
winter because it is
easier to walk through
the snow there. So they
do own the roads
afterall, and they
continue walking along
them in the summertime
too. After a while we got
used to seeing the huge
buffalos. They didn't get
any prettier, but from the
safety of the car they
seemed a little less
intimidating.
The tamed wild animals
are just one of the many
marvels at Yellowstone.
We were intrigued by the
steaming and gurgling of
the hot springs and
geysers as well.
North Cascades, WA – From the coast to the peaks
Back on American soil in Anacortes, WA.
Diablo Lake, Washington.
The only other 2007 Lynx we saw on the road in a year of
travel.
Washington Pass.
Sunrise at Washington Pass. I was still sleeping, but Mark
got some great photos.
Washington Pass looking down at the road we'd be
traveling.
Wasington Pass.
Winthrop, Washington.
One of several brew pubs.
Winthrop, Washington.
Local bike shop in Winthrop, Washington.
Fiddlers Contest.
There were groups of all types up on stage and practicing
together in the grass.
The fiddlers were all ages.
Farmer's Market, Winthrop, WA
Farmlands along the Northern Cascades.
The climate changed from wetter on the western side of the
Cascades to drier as we descended the eastern slopes.
The towns along the way are small and inviting.
We stopped in Republic, Washington and searched high and
low for the visitors center, but despite several signs on the
road, no one in town could help us locate it.
Northern Cascades, Washington
August 25-27, 2007 - We arrived in Anacortes, Washington from Victoria, BC and,
after savoring a "burger and two beer" lunch special for a total of $7.50 at a cute little
bistro, we headed out over the Northern Cascade mountains towards Idaho. It was a
beautiful drive. We stopped for photos at the magical Diablo Lake where the water is a
brilliant turquoise.
While admiring the
view, we turned
and saw there was
another 2007 Lynx
travel trailer parked
nearby. What a
surprise! We saw only a handful of Lynxes all year -- an '05
and a few from the 1990's. Where are all the others?
After climbing through the trees for miles and miles we came
across a scenic viewpoint at Washington Pass. This is no ordinary
pullout. Set back a half mile from the road there are bathrooms,
picnic tables with water spigots and a charming paved walking trail
along a spectacular ridge overlooking the winding road far below.
We took our time at this spot.
The road over the Cascades was completed in 1972, and many of
the towns along the way took that occasion to dress up a bit for the
tourists. The very cute town of Winthrop was refurbished during the
1970's to reflect its western mining heritage, and today it is a
wonderful walking town.
When we arrived we
discovered they were hosting
a fiddling contest. Fiddlers
from all over the west had
come to compete. The
kids played really well.
Music seemed to be appreciated everywhere. We stopped in another
town to pick up some goodies at the farmer's market, and a group of
musicians was entertaining people there as well.
Leaving northern
Washington we crossed into
northern Idaho where we
discovered the delightful
Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes
bike path.
Glacier National Park, MT – Mountain Goats and Lake Views
The air was still hazy.
Glacier National Park was engulfed in smoke from wildfires
just days before our arrival.
The best way to see it is to let someone else do the driving.
It is a spectacular drive up and over the mountain range.
Boardwalk hike at Logan Pass.
Hidden Lake at the top of Logan Pass
Logan Pass summit views.
A glorious day.
A helicopter and pilot stand by as medics attend to an
unfortunate tourist.
Once the unfortunate tourist is onboard, with all eyes from
the visitors center watching, the helicopter rises up and
disappears beyond the mountains.
A mountain goat lazes about at the summit of
Logan Pass.
National Park animals seem fearless of humans.
She kept her baby close by.
A "stressed" forest lined the slopes of one hillside.
Glacier National Park, Montana
September 3-5, 2007 - Traveling east from northern Idaho, we visited Glacier National Park in
northern Montana. There had been terrible wildfires for most of the summer. Rangers told us
that two weeks before we arrived you couldn't see any views in the park. Luckily the smoke had
cleared somewhat by the time we got there, but the air was still very hazy. We drove from the
west side of the park up to Logan Pass and back down again.
At Logan Pass there is a beautiful
3 mile round trip walk that you
can take to the summit. Some of
it is on a boardwalk that stairsteps
up the hillside and some is a
gravel path. At the summit there
is a gorgeous view of Hidden
Lake.
Before we embarked on our little hike we saw a lot of commotion
in the visitors center. A tourist had a medical problem. We
ventured on with our hike but stopped midway up to watch a
helicopter fly in, pick up the hapless visitor, and fly him off to the
hospital.
At the summit we watched a mountain goat and her baby munching
the grass. They wandered in and about the many tourists,
unperturbed by our presence.
Making our way back down the
mountain road to West Glacier we
spent some time enjoying our luxury
accommodations at the West
Glacier KOA. The hot tub and
swimming pool were just what the
doctor ordered to relax and
ponder the beauties of all we had
seen. Once our internal batteries
were recharged a bit we took to
the road again and followed the
very scenic south and east
through Montana towards
Northern Idaho – Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes
The Trail passes lakes, streams, farmland and cute towns.
The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes is 72 miles of paved
cycling bliss.
The Trail crosses old train bridges.
We started getting into cycling when we
arrived in Idaho.
Kellogg, Idaho is a special town that has an eclectic feeling.
St. George is popular in Kellogg, ID.
One of Kellogg's chalet homes.
It winds through the woods.
Plaques describe the ecology and history of the area.
Portions of the Trail flank a wide lake.
Muddy moose tracks!
Beautifully maintained by Union Pacific, there are rest areas
and restrooms along the trail.
The scenery is stunning.
The water is blue-green because of the high mineral
content.
We will be back.
Northern Idaho
August 26-September 2, 2007 - Leaving the North Cascades, we visited Coeur
d'Alene briefly and headed east towards Montana. In the town of Smelterville, 30
miles east of Coeur d'Alene we stopped overnight at Walmart. We noticed a paved
bike path next to the
parking lot and took out
our bikes to explore.
We soon discovered
that we were in the
middle of the charming
72-mile-long Trail of the
Coeur d'Alenes rails-to-trails bike path. We found a campground and
stayed a week so we could explore the bike path more fully. Each day
we drove the truck to a trailhead, unloaded the bikes and rode a ten
mile segment, out and back.
The valley area 30 miles east of Coeur d'Alene is one of the
richest mineral deposits in the world, and the town of Kellogg is
the heart of this area. In the 1940's it was poisoned by the toxic
silver mining process. In the 1980's the mine closed, the
railroad shut down and everyone lost their jobs. As one woman
put it, it looked like an atom bomb had gone off. A fellow who
grew up here in the 1940's said you could taste the sulphur
dioxide in your mouth all the time and the air was always hazy
blue from the smoke stacks and smelters. Rather than flee
when their world crashed in the 1980's, many townspeople
stayed. Declared an EPA superfund site, Union Pacific cleaned
up their mess by burying their toxic waste along the tracks and creating the 72-mile long paved bike path. The high school
students planted a million trees on the barren hills surrounding town in the 1980's, and today those hills are lush, the air is clear,
and the town is optimistic.
There is an artsy
flair to the town.
Someone in town
loves St. George
and the dragon: we
found them in a
sculpture and a
mural. Several
homes had an
alpine look to them,
and nearby there is
a ski area complete
with gondola and chair lifts. There is something upbeat and
offbeat about Kellogg that really appealed to us.
The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes is a gem. There are
trailheads along its length, each with display maps showing
the highlights. It passes through the historic town of Wallace,
the simple mobile home town of Osburn, the former mining
towns of Smelterville and Kellogg, and through the lakeside
town of Harrison. Some parts of the trail are busy and others
are very quiet. Mostly alone on the trail, there were times
when we shared it with cyclists, dog walkers, and inline
skaters, but there was never any congestion.
In one lonely area, far from civilization, we discovered
some moose tracks. I had been reading a book that talked
about how moose like to eat the roots of lilies, and this part
of the Trail passed a large lily pond. Some workers
painting a train trestle further down told us a moose had
been in the area for several weeks.
After a week in this
charming part of the world
we ventured on eastwards
to northern Montana and
the stunning Glacier
Northern Washinton – Magical Mountains & Trees in Sleeves
1952 Argosy Travel Trailer
At the jailhouse in Black Diamond
Black Diamond Train Depot
What a surprise -- it's Mt. Rainier!! We both gasped when
we turned around and spotted it.
Mt. Rainier.
Lots of cyclists were doing the climb up to Sunrise Point on
this beautiful sunny day.
Views from Sunrise Point on Mt. Rainier.
Mt. Rainier. The wildflowers were in bloom everywhere.
The green grass on the lower mountains looked like it had
been carefully mowed!!
Mt. Rainier in July.
Lodge at the top.
Mt. Rainier. 14,000 feet of beauty.
Mt. Rainier hangs silently on the horizon, like a painted
backdrop to every scene.
Pigeon guillemots on Puget Sound.
Sailboat on the shimmering waters of
Puget Sound.
View from the hiking trail at Flagler State Park.
Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park, Washington.
Happiness is...traveling and seeing new sights.
Washington coast.
Northern Washington
Jul 28-August 4, 2007 -- From southern Washington, we drove up to the northern
parts of Washington and the woods became thick, dark and damp. We learned that this
is "old growth forest" with treasured old trees and undergrowth. It is very beautiful, but
after a few days camped in this stuff you long for the sun!!
People camp in all
kinds of rigs, but this
one caught our
attention instantly.
Owner Dennis told us it
took over 1900 hours
of work to restore this
1952 antique to its
modern glory. He told
us his wife was very
tolerant, letting him
take a year off of work
to complete the
project.
We stopped at the town of Black Diamond, a cute town with a
historic jail and train depot. But the highlight for us was the
bakery's marionberry pie. Delicious!
For days we had driven around hoping for a glimpse of Mt. Rainier,
but there had been too much fog. As we stepped out of the bakery
we turned and were shocked to see the mountain resting quietly on
the horizon.
To get a better look at the mountain we drove up to Sunrise Point.
Others came up by bike. It looked like a hard but rewarding ride.
The next day 900 cyclists tackled three major mountain passes in
the area -- but they got a cloudy day with no views!!
Mt. Rainier. If you look really closely you can see something of a
trail which is where the mountain climbers hike up to the summit.
40,000 people hike to 10,000 feet every year, and of those 10,000
make it to the summit. You can't do it all in one day -- there is a
camp up in the snow somewhere where everyone stays overnight
on the way up and the way down. It is the tallest mountain in the
US and is the training area for mountaineers planning on
ascending Kilamanjaro and other tall peaks worldwide.
Mt. Rainier. It stands
over 14,000 feet tall. The
tallest point you can
drive to is at 6,400 feet --
which is the same height
as the summit of Mt.
Washington in New
Hampshire.
From Mt. Rainier we
traveled north to Puget
Sound and the Olympic
Peninsula. The boats and
sea life were inviting, and
the peaks of Hurricane
Ridge in Olympic National Park were inspiring.
From Hurricane Ridge in
Olympic National Park we
made our way to Port
Angeles where we
boarded a ferry bound for
Victoria, BC – A Taste of the Old World
Roads Less Traveled
This charming city comes alive with colorful flowers
everywhere.
Parliament Building.
Victoria Harbor.
Historic Empress Hotel.
Parliament Building.
There are lots of places to stroll along the waterfront.
Victoria is a bustling town.
Entering China Town with the open-air bus tour.
Craigdarroch Castle, built by a coal magnate in 1890.
Penny Farthing Pub, Oak Bay
Street corner, Oak Bay
The coast outside of Victoria.
Dirving onto the ferry from Sidney, BC to Anacortes, WA. It
was a tight squeeze, but we fit in okay.
They packed us in like sardines.
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
August 21-23, 2007 - We returned to Victoria from the upper reaches
of Vancouver Island and spent some time enjoying this very
European feeling city. The harbor is dominated by the historic
Parliament Building and Empress Hotel, and there is always a lot of
activity along the waterfront by the marina. We enjoyed the energy
and vitality of this city after the laid-back nature of the rest of the
island.
There was activity on every
corner. Street musicians,
horses and buggies, open-air
and double-decker buses,
boats and seaplanes coming
and going -- there was action
everywhere.
Wait, what country am I in?? Feels like England !!
We took an open-air bus tour, a
great way to see the city. The
tour took us out into the
outlying areas where we saw
Craigdarroch Castle, the
charming community of Oak
Bay and some exquisite areas
along the coast.
Feeling a little pressed by the impending end of summer, we
boarded the ferry once again in Sidney, BC and sailed through
the San Juan islands to Anacortes, Washington where we picked
up our road travels along the Northern Cascade mountains in
Washington.
Vancouver Island – Houseboats, Goats and Sheepdog Trials
Houses lining the docks in Cowichan Bay.
Houseboat in Cowichan Bay.
Each houseboat was unique and very cute.
Deep Bay
Deep Bay
Qualicum Beach
Coombs
Coombs
Coombs
Parksville
Parksville Beach
Ta da !!!
Look what I found. Can I keep her?
Fire rings and picnic tables at Kitty Coleman. This setting
provided many great campfire evenings with new friends.
Rigs lined up against the trees and facing the beach at Kitty
Coleman.
The view was always changing: Alaska-bound cruise ships,
fishing boats and sailboats slipping by.
Vancouver Island, Canada
August 5-20, 2007 -- We boarded the ferry from Port Angeles,
Washington to Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island. Driving onto the
ferry wasn't nearly as difficult as we anticipated, and once aboard
we were free to wander about the ferry. Port Angeles vanished in
the fog behind us and a few hours later the sun came out just as we
approached Victoria. Once in Victoria we took a quick look around
and then headed up the island to the Qualicum Beach area where
we spent several weeks.
Our sightseeing trips took us to some charming villages. Cowhichan
Bay is a tiny coastal community with lots of houseboats and homes
lining the docks. We wandered among the houseboats, intrigued by
people who live in floating houses.
Further north we visited Deep Bay, a pretty marina set against the
backdrop of the island's mountains.
Qualicum Beach is a
pretty place for strolling
and bench sitting.
We turned slightly inland
to visit the town of
Coombs, home of
several goats who live on a grass roof. We
watched them casually munching away while
tourists walked below their roof overhang.
We also visited the World Parrot Refuge in this
area, but I was so entranced with the birds
(there were about 20 sulphur crested cockatoos
in one open warehouse sized enclosure) that I
forgot to take any photos.
Parksville Beach is one of
the bigger beaches in this
stretch of coast. It is a bustling and commercial town, but the beach
entrance has one of the nicest floral displays we found on the island.
That's saying a lot, because Vancouver Island is loaded with
gorgeous flowers.
In the town of Comox we
caught an afternoon of
sheepdog trials. The dogs
were amazingly well trained
and very fast. Listening to
the handler's whistles, these
dogs would take off at a
sprint and then drop to the
ground, maneuvering a
group of four sheep around a
field and eventually (hopefully)
into a small pen.
One dog had a face-off with a
particularly cantankerous
sheep, but the dog eventually
won the argument with a
snap near the sheep's nose
and the sheep did as told.
One contestant actually got
all four sheep in the pen and
closed the gate within the
time limit. It seemed like a
miracle to me.
We chanced upon a wonderful
campground near Comox:
Kitty Coleman Beach Park.
The rigs line up on one side of
a small road, backed up
against the woods. Opposite
the rigs, lined up along the
rocky beach, is a row of
picnic tables and fire
rings. From that
vantage point you can
watch the cruise ships
headed for Alaska going
by. At night we
wandered from fire ring
to fire ring, chatting with
all the other campers. It
was a great communal
feeling and we spent
many happy evenings
with new friends while
we were there.
From Comox and Campbell River we made our way back down the coast to Sidney and
Victoria where we spent a wonderful few days before leaving the island
Southern Washington – Falling Logs
All that mudflow used to be lush forest.
Mt. St. Helens. The mudslides carved up the side of the
mountain. The mountain used to be 1500 feet taller.
Downed trees flowed downriver and wreaked havoc.
The wind was so powerful during the eruption that acres of
trees were blown over and stripped. The lumber destroyed
could have built 500,000 homes.
The Washington coast is treacherous.
Ocean Spray has many cranberry growers in this region.
This region is one of the major cranberry producing regions
in the country.
A service station.
The electric company.
Ace Hardware.
Les Schwab Tires.
A trinket shop.
The shoe store.
The motel.
The grounds of Columbia Crest were beautifully kept.
And the wine was very tasty
One of the many million roses at the winery.
Southern Washington
July 20-27, 2007 - Now that we purchased a truck in northern
Oregon, we needed to get a new cap so everything in the truck
bed would be protected from the elements. We had to wait three
weeks for the new cap, so we used that time to explore southern
Washington. Our first stop was Mt. St. Helens. We discovered it
had been spewing and sputtering since May. Steam rose out of
the top, engulfing the area and giving the barren landscape and
stories of the 1980 eruption a spooky reality.
Next up was a visit to the Long Beach peninsula. The skies were
grey and the air was damp and cold, but the area was lovely. We
walked out to Long Beach and saw more evidence of this very
treacherous coastline: a government buoy had washed ashore
into the grass. There have been thousands of shipwrecks along
this coast as well. We also learned that this is a rich cranberry
growing region. There was even a cranberry research station and
museum that showed all the crazy methods people have used
over the years to harvest cranberries.
As we drove along the scenic back roads we came across the tiny
town of Milton-Freewater. They loves frogs. Every business in
town had a frog statue out front. They were charming.
Winding back through southeastern Washington we stopped in
at Columbia Crest Winery. Their gorgeous landscaping and
buildings were a treat to walk through, and the wine wasn't bad
either!
Roses grow really well around here and many people have them in their yards.
Our travels next took us from southern Washington into the central and
Northern Oregon – Columbia River of History
Our last glimpse of the Oregon coast before turning inland
along the Columbia River
Our last day with the Toyota Tundra truck
The Toyota and Dodge side by side
Our first day with the new Dodge
Oregon is loaded with little espresso kiosks on every street
corner.
Farmhouse deep in the countryside.
Cycling along part of the old Columbia River highway that
has been transformed into a bike path.
The Columbia River's mysterious opening to the Pacific was
tracked by Lewis & Clark.
The Vista House, a monument to the pioneers built
overlooking the Columbia River Gorge in the early 1900's.
The train and highway run along both sides of the Columbia
River. We were told there are 38 trains a day, 19 on each
side.
The Vista House.
Columbia River Gorge
The paddle boat Columbia River cruises up and down the
river from Cascade Locks
Latourell Falls in the Colubmia River
Gorge.
Our lucky day. We found a patch of
shamrocks along the side of the road.
The Columbia River seen from the historic highway that has
been revived as a wonderful paved bike path.
Full Sail Brewing in Mt. Hood, Oregon.
Mt. Hood. The lush valley was filled with orchards of ripe fruit.
Driving towards Mt. Hood, Oregon
Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood. It is a charming stone lodge
built with hand tools.
Inside there are many funky nooks and crannies and funny
"hobbit" doors and beautiful wrought iron.
Marionberry pie, one of the great delights of Oregon.
Northern Oregon
July 7-19, 2007 - We turned the corner on the Oregon Coast at
Astoria and said our goodbyes to the wilds of the ocean. We
arrived in Scappoose, Oregon, a small town northwest of Portland,
and settled into the city park for a few days. While exploring the
town of St. Helens we found a truck that we knew would pull the
buggy well, a Dodge Ram 3500 single rear wheel diesel. We spent
some extra time in the area upgrading to the new truck.
One of the many charms of Oregon is its love affair with good
coffee. There are little espresso huts everywhere.
It's also a very
lush area, and
we explored
some of the
back roads.
The Columbia River was the "great northwest river" that Lewis
and Clark explored in 1805, opening the west to expansion and
the arrival of the pioneers. They traveled the river by barge,
taking the wheels off their covered wagons and placing them on
barges. Later roads and railroads were built along the river's
edge. Today the historic Columbia River Highway has been
rebuilt as a beautiful bike path along the river.
A paddle boat "Columbia River" out of Cascade Locks provides
river cruises. The highway and train tracks run right alongside
the river. While we stayed in the city park in Cascade Locks we
were constantly awakened by the trains. They passed within 100
feet of our rig, and sometimes they would arrive in the wee hours
and sit still, trembling slightly, long waves of thunderous noise
rippling up and down their many-car length.
There are many waterfalls
along the Columbia River
Historic Highway.
The Mt. Hood Scenic Byway is a glorious drive through the lush
orchard-filled valleys around Mt. Hood. At one corner of the
drive is the funky-trendy town of Mt. Hood, home of the Full Sail
Brewery and a windsurfing mecca. We happened to be wearing
our Full Sail cycling jerseys that day and stopped in at the
brewery pub for a pint.
High up on the mountain we discovered the Timberline Lodge. It
is a lovely old stone ski lodge. When we arrived there were
crowds of young kids carrying snowboards heading up the chair
lifts for a day of summertime snowboard racing.
One of our favorite discoveries in Oregon was marionberry pie.
Marionberries are a cross between blackberries and raspberries
developed at the University of Oregon. The pie is to die for. The
best one we found was at a bakery in LaGrande, Oregon.
We wandered over the river into southern Washington and along
the Washington coast as well, discovering the beauty and power of
both the towering mountains and the severe coastline.