Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood and the Timberline Lodge

We spent 3 days hiking to numerous waterfalls throughout the Columbia Gorge with our friends from NJ, the Handels.  All were great hikes.....And we learned all of the waterfall classifications and have earned our PHDs in waterfall configurations.

Weather has been glorious with blue skies and sunshine everyday. 

Next we drove down to get a closeup of Mt. Hood with a grand dinner at Timberline Lodge at the 6,000 ft level.  The lodge was built in 1937 by the WPA using local craftsman.  A very incredible     structure using much of the local timber.   

Thanks to all of our blog followers and their request for a photo....So  here's one of our many pictures of Mt. Hood.  A quite stunning mountain!

  

                                                                                   



Lewis & Clark reached the Pacific and spent the winter; we're going onto California!

We arrived at Cape Disappointment, but unlike our predessors, Lewis & Clark, we would have named it Cape Wonderful.  We biked 8 miles up the coast through the rolling sand dunes.  Stopped for Ruthie to discuss the 10ft Sturgeon with William Clark, and biked back as the sun was setting into the Pacific -- got back just in-time as we hadn't taken our headlights for the bikes.

The next morning we hiked up the cliff to the L&C museum and looked out over the Columbia River as it meets the Pacific Ocean.

Next a stop in Astoria, Oregon (yep a new state), for lunch at the Cannery Cafe which was the former Bumblebee Tuna canning facility.  Ruthie had her much desired Dungeness Crab in a greens salad and Morey had Salmon Cakes.

We said goodbye to Lewis & Clark as we visited Fort Clatsop where they spent the Winter of 1805.  Must say our RV has better beds!

Ended our day and the next one in the Williamette Valley where we biked 43 miles, watched Hazlenuts being harvested, and best, checked out the Wineries.  Great Pinot Noir's.

From sea to shining sea !!



Ruby Beach



We drove to the Pacific, stopping first at Ruby Beach.  Enjoyed our lunch while we looked out our RV's window at the stormy ocean, and the rain coming down in sheets.  We both said we must come back when the sun shines (eventhough the forecast was for rain for next 2 days).

Set up camp at Kalaloch in the rain.  After getting all set, we "discovered" that the camping site was already taken, so off to another site.  It continued to rain through the night, but in the morning the sun came out and stayed with us all day!  Glad the forecast was wrong.

We got on our bikes and headed back up the road, checking out the tidal pools (2 hours past low tide and too late) and back to Ruby Beach for a spectacular view - note picture in the sunshine!

We were determined to get back to the tidal pools, so the next morning at 8am, we were walking on the shore rocks and seeing sea anemones, starfish, mussels, and much more.



Deep in the Forest

We set up camp, deep in the Sol Duc forest in Olympic National Park, where the trees are huge.  I must mention that one of our followers did comment on our term of "setting up camp" - actually it's pushing a button to level, then two buttons to move out the slides.

We hiked to Sol Duc Falls, a 6 mile loop trail ending at the hot springs, where we couldn't resist jumping in the 103 degree sulphur pools.

Eventhough we're in a rain forest, and the forecast was for rain, there was only a mist.

 

                

Time with Kathy, Mel & Family....

Spent a few days on Camano Island.  Weather has been outstanding with views of Mt. Baker everyday.

Did some touring with Kathy including a ferry trip to Orcas Island.  We picked up a picnic lunch and then drove up Mt. Constitution which towers over 2200 feet from the harbor.  Saw incredible views of the Cascades from Canada all the way down to Mt. Ranier.

On the last night we joined everyone at the Rhododendron Cafe in Bow.  Had great local wine and great food!!

What to do on a QUIET Sunday......

Woke up to a partly sunny and breezy morning, with pine needles and cones dropping on our RV sounding like rain.  We enjoyed a Sunday breakfast of eggs, bacon, and toast; and then Morey biked over to the local store and picked up the Sunday paper.  Found out later it was only the Sunday section -- guess they hadn't received the "news" portion yet!

Ruthie then picked out a biking trip based on one of those slick free tourist maps -- you know, the ones with the ads surrounding the not-to-scale map drawing.  So we took the Chiwawa Loop Road to Beaver Valley Road and then back to the State Park.  We didn't know distances or elevations.....And we are near Stevens Pass, so it is mountainous!!

What a ride! Turned out to be a 16 mile, mostly downhill (I know that this is impossible) ride.  Great vistas to see.  We knew we would be ok since if there were to be a very hilly road, it would have been called "Beaver Mountain Rd." and not "Beaver Valley Rd."

Oh, and almost forgot....Ruthie came across a pioneer family on the ride.  Think they made a wrong turn from the Oregon Trail.  We gave them directions to Portland and they headed out.

Lake Chelan to Wenatchee Lake

After many, many miles following US-2 west, we took a detour from Wenatchee toward Lake Chelan.  Along the way we saw more than a zillion apples, all getting ready to be harvested.  The once barren hills have been turned into cherry, apple, pear, peach and grape orchards.  All due to the irrigation from waters from the Columbia River.

We camped two nights at the Chelan City RV Park, where we walked into town to take the Lake Chelan "Lady of the Lake" to Stehekin; a 4 hour trip on a 52 mile long glacier lake.  Note the pictures in Stehekin, especially Morey at noon waiting for his lunch to be served!

Getting really hungry for authentic Mexican food, we found a great restaurant where Ruthie had halibut tacos and Morey had a huge enchilada. 

And then to a movie in town!!  

Today we got back on US-2 and stopped at OctoberFest (what timing!) at the pseudo Bavarian village of Leavenworth.  In the 60's the town was dying, and some bright person came up with the idea....We got mountains, looks kind of alpish....let's make our town Bavarian... And today we endured a 30 minute traffic backup getting into town.

We did enjoy a brat and Pauli Girl, before we headed out to Lake Wenatchee State Park, where we are now camped for two nights.

BLOG CORRECTION:  Thanks to our nephew, Jesse, for correcting our prior blog....See his comment.  As we've been viewing the incredible geological formations, we knew we should be consulting with Jesse; he knows his stuff !! thanks.