Multnomah Falls

The drive East from Portland is Columbia River Gorge-ous (pardon the pun!). The Oregon Scenic Route is 80 miles long and follows the river the whole way. The Columbia River is the fourth largest in North America, is over 1200 miles long, and produces the most hydroelectric power. One of the highlights of the drive along the Gorge is Multnomah Falls with its 620 foot drop. The stone bridge was crafted by Italian stone masons in 1914. Now with Multnomah Falls, we've seen the tallest (Yosemite Falls) and the second tallest waterfalls in the U.S.

A Moose of a Goose

The world's largest wooden airplane, the Spruce Goose, resides in li'l ole McMinnville, Oregon. The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum was the vision of Capt. Michael King Smith, an award-winning pilot and a remarkable young man. The Spruce Goose was designed during World War II to transport troops and cargo across the Atlantic. Because materials like steel and aluminum were critical to the war effort, the "flying boat" was made of laminated wood. The plane took so long to design and build that the war had already ended. The only time it ever flew, it was piloted by Howard Hughes on a test flight and was airborne for just one minute! It was built, housed, and displayed by different groups (including Disney Corp.) in the Long Beach, California, area until 1990 when custody was awarded to Evergreen. Although the restoration and current facility were not complete by 1993 when Capt. Michael King Smith died in an auto accident at age 29, his family and Evergreen Aviation continued to support the project until the vision became reality.

Majestic Mt. Hood

The drive out Highway 26 from Portland to Mt. Hood National Forest provides glimpses of Mt. Hood around every curve. Rising over 11,000 feet, it's actually hard to hide. Beautiful Mt. Hood has snow year-round and you can find snowboarders and skiers there all summer long. Lifts run from Timberline where there is a wonderful old lodge built in 1937 as part of Roosevelt's WPA efforts. The view from the 6,000-foot elevation is spectacular, encompassing most of the Cascade mountain chain. Especially for us Florida flatlanders, it's pretty impressive.

Picturesque Portland Parks

Washington Park's 400 acres in the West hills of Portland is one of the most beautiful settings anywhere. On a clear day like we had today, you can see Mt. Hood, downtown Portland, and the Willamette River. To the North, you can see across the Columbia River into Washington and over to Mt. St. Helens. We spent the afternoon strolling among the 7,000 rose bushes at the International Rose Test Garden, through the tranquil and authentic Portland Japanese Garden, and on the grounds of Pittock Mansion 1000 feet above the city's skyline. Another picture-perfect day. . .

Seaside Scenes

It's hard to pick out just a few pictures from all the gorgeous scenes we've experienced. And it's almost impossible to take a bad picture. But here are a few of our favorites as we bid the Oregon coast adieu.

Astounding Astoria

Astoria is as far north as you can go on the Oregon coast. It's where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. From atop Coxcomb Hill, the 360 degree vista is stunning. The Astoria Column on Coxcomb Hill rises another 125 feet and has 14 murals etched into the concrete to commemorate the westward sweep of discovery and migration. What an awesome place to conclude our travels along the beautiful Oregon coast.

Cheese, Please

You can't go to the northern Oregon coast and not stop and sample cheese at 100-year-old Tillamook Cheese. Of course the ice cream isn't shabby either! There's a new kid on the block, Blue Heron, that specializes in Brie and also offers wine tasting. So between the two, we've come home satiated and stocked up.

Sea Life

This has been a great time of year for finding lots of wildlife along the Oregon coast. From seals, to sea lions, to gray whales, to otters, and of course all kinds of birds. Some of the animals we sought out, while others, we just happened upon. The seals were discovered when we pulled off the road high above the Pacific to enjoy a beautiful vista. We heard the seals "honking" as we stepped out of the car. They were so plentiful you could not see the rocks they were lounging on, and the racket they were making was almost deafening, yet laughable. The sea lions we sought out. We went to the worlds largest sea cave, which is north of Florence. You can see hundreds of sea lions outside on the rocks or you can take the elevator 200 feet down and peek inside the huge cave and see hundreds more. Who needs TV when you have this kind of entertainment.

Let There Be Light

Oregon has nine historic landmark lighthouses along it's 300 miles of Pacific coastline. We've been to five so far and should see the last four as we journey northward. The local communities seem to take great pride in their history, as the lighthouses are well maintained and some continue in operation even today. I don't know what it is that draws me to these lighthouses. Perhaps it's that they are in such beautiful locations, perched high on the cliffs overlooking the channels they protect. Or perhaps it's the reminder that we always have a light to show us the way.

Dune Buggies

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is fun for the whole family, especially if you like riding ATV's. With forty miles of coastline and dunes as high as 500 feet for your playground, there's a challenge for every level. Across the street from our RV park is a county campground that's inexpensive and very popular with young families. There are WAY more ATV's than RV's! For the less adventuresome, there's always the beach, just a short trek over the low dunes. The southern Oregon coast is a great place for the outdoor enthusiast!

River Rats

The allure of the Rogue River is compelling. We spent our last day in the Crater Lake area exploring the river in and around Prospect, where we're staying. We tromped down trails to several beautiful and powerful waterfalls. We walked along the Rogue River Gorge. We took the National Park trail to Natural Bridge. We even took Buddy down the trail from the RV park to the river. I'm so in love with this scenic river which begins at Crater Lake and ends in the Pacific Ocean. Another of God's magnificent works. . .

Crater Soup

Contrasting the beautiful, sunny day we had on the Rogue River was our misty, overcast afternoon at Crater Lake National Park. The six-mile wide, 2,000-foot-deep lake was formed when Mt. Mazama erupted and collapsed into itself and it is the deepest lake in the U.S. Only a small portion of Rim Drive (the 33-mile road that circles the lake) was open due to still being closed from snow. The temperatures barely reached a high of 40 degrees. While we couldn't experience the full vista of cliffs rising 2,000 feet above the lake, the view was still very beautiful, almost serene in the hovering mist.

Where the fruits and nuts are. . .

No, not California; we're outta there. I'm talking about Harry and David in Medford Oregon. We took the factory tour, and although it's their off-season, lots was still going on. We saw toffee made, truffles prepared, cookies decorated, and "gift towers" assembled and wrapped. A vast amount of the operation continues to be done by hand, taking special care in selection of each piece of fruit and how it's presented. We made selections from Harry and David's Country Village store after consuming the samples we got at the conclusion of our tour.

Rogue Rapids

We took the "senior's" version of a white water raft trip on the wild and scenic Rogue River in Southern Oregon. Translation: Our guide did all the work! The movie The River Wild with Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon was filmed in nearby Hellsgate Canyon and on other parts of the river where our trip took us. It was a beautiful day, about as good as it gets in Oregon--sunny, 80 degrees, calm. We saw some wildlife (deer, osprey, turtles), but mostly just enjoyed a serene (albeit wet!) outing on a gorgeous, untouched river.

Napa Nosh

We're all fixed up and on our way again, but as true foodies, we couldn't leave the area without commenting on some of the good eats. From picnicking under a canopy of trees and surrounded by the scent of roses in a winery garden to four-star gourmet restaurants, the choices for dining are almost as endless as the opportunities for wine-tasting. Just a couple that left lasting impressions are Napa Valley Grill in Yountsville and Rutherford Grill in Rutherford. The presentation of the entrees looked like works of art. You hesitated to mess them up but were glad you did! On the menus there were enough traditional offerings to appeal to me, but also more adventuresome items for Drew's taste. At Rutherford's Drew had Bangers and Mash. Now how often do you find THAT in a restaurant?!

So many wineries. So little time.

As long as we are stuck in Napa (aw darn) we've tried to make the best of it by visiting more wineries. The quest is never ending, as are the wineries. Three stand out because of their uniqueness.

We loved the way Sterling Vineyard's wine tour was laid out. You begin with an aerial tram ride up to the Mediterranean style winery and tasting areas. There you begin a self-paced walking tour with tastings at various points along the way. There is a beautiful outdoor terrace overlooking the length of Napa Valley to the South, and a lovely patio in another section that towers over the Valley facing North. On the quarter-hour, eight bells toll, sending the sound throughout the area. Castello di Amorosa "the castle" Winery is an authentic replica of a 12th century Tuscan castle. There are 107 rooms, 8,000 tons of hand-squared stones, a drawbridge, mote, dungeon, and lots more. Despite the grandiose facility, the castle produces only 15,000 cases of wine which is sold only at the winery. V. Sattui also sells their wine exclusively at the winery. They have the only gourmet cheese and deli shop on premise and you can take your picnic selection out among their two acres of beautifully landscaped grounds to enjoy.

So many wonderful wineries. We tried to do our part. Next stop? AA.

Napa Neighborhood Charm

Yes, we're still in Napa, CA. We had some wind damage to the canvas on our RV and are awaiting parts. Not a bad place though to get stuck! It has given us time to stroll around the charming town of Napa and enjoy the lovely restored bungalows and houses, of which there are many. We're also exploring the cute neighborhood shops and cafes, enjoying our extended time here.