Oregon trip
Wed. July 23.
An early start at 4:15 so we could be at the airport for check in and leave on a 7:00 flight. Everything went smoothly. No delays. Got our Budget rental a red Ford Flex with all kinds if gadgets and displays. Checked in at the HI Express in Troutdale. Went downtown, very cute lots of bronze sculptures. Went to DiPompello for dinner. Casual family dinner place. Portobello ravioli. Yum!
Thurs. July 24
Historic hwy 30 Columbia River Gorge
Bridal Veil Falls did not see
Observation Loop great views of the Columbia River
Wahkeena Falls
Multnomah Falls
Cascade Locks for Lunch pizza and a local draft beer
Hood River aiming for Cathdral Winery but ended up at Mt. Hood Winery did a tasting of five wines bought four bottles. Clouds broke and finally saw the peak of Mt. Hood from the north. Drove to Government Camp. Ate at the Huckleberry Inn. Diner style. BLT and lentil soup. Stayed at the BW.
Friday July 25
Drove over to the Skibowl then 6mi. Up the mountain to the Timberline Lodge. Where the Shining was filmed. Stopped on side of the road to FaceTime Steve. Explored the inn took lots of pics. Watched the skiers way up the slope.
Drove down to hwy 26 and headed south to Redmond. At the bottom of the mountain drove down to Trillium Lake which reflects Mt. Hood. Postcard perfect!
The scenery changed dramatically as we came down into canyons dry reddish hills. Indian reservation with casino at Warm Springs. Stopped in Madras for gas-you can't pump your own in OR, kind of makes the higher prices worth it--then dinner at the Black Bear diner. Good ole burger fries and a huckleberry milkshake. Next stop was Smith Rock very poplar with rock climbers. Crooked River cuts through it. Saw some horseback riders. Beautiful.
Exhausted when we got to hotel. Went to Safeway to pick up drinks and snacks. Too tired to eat the Chinese food. Slept ok.
Saturday July 26
Redmond to Sisters
Souvenir ornaments fudge taffy
Walked around downtown
Saw tree trunk sculpture of Indian woman. Great view of Three Sisters (early settlers called them Faith, Hope and Charity) on 242 driving to the observation pt. Climbed the Dee Wright observatory to view lava fields and mountains. Mimi made it all the way! We've been lucky to have so many clear days. Took the long scary roller coaster trip to Albany. TOOK. FOREVER. Checked in at another BW and got a little turned around getting to the Kinkleys. Enjoyed visiting with Bill, Ann, kids and grands. Their veggie garden has so many huge plants and we enjoyed some that evening. Had dinner with all their family. Spent the night in Albany.
Sunday July 27
Up for mass at St. Mary Church. Changed and checked out and met Bill and Ann at Novak's Hungarian Restaurant for lunch. So great to have time with family. Then off West to the coast hwy 20 to the 101 Pacific Coadt Hwy. stopped at Ona Beach, mom bravely walked the path, bridge and finally the sand down to the waters' edge, the only time she got on the sand. Next was Waldport where we checked the visitor center and learn some coastal history and some boring stuff about bridges. Through Yachats a hilly funky resort town to Cape Perpetua where we got a sandwich and saw Devil's Churn cook's Chasm didn't see anything spectacular because it was low tide but still impressive. Back north to Newport stayed at BW Agate beach with ocean front room. Cold! 64 but very windy. Walked to ocean dipped feet in. Immediately started to feel them cramp. Ouch! Huge beach with white and some black sand magnetite from ancient lava I'm guessing.
Monday July 28
Had breakfast at the BW restaurant-got the special for $5 each-pork cutlet eggs and taters. The fog hung very low over the ocean and inland some making a kind of eerie scene-sunny then, not. We drove a short way to Yaquina Lighthouse which is a U. S. Star park. This matters because Mimi was able to buy the lifetime Golden Pass that she has been wanting for a while. There is a museum/visitor center giving a good history of the site. The peninsula juts out a mile and at the tip is the lighthouse, one of 8 or 9 still in use on the Oregon and the largest. We were able to see its light from our hotel room the night before. We didn't have a ticket for the tour but that was ok because the wind was whipping in at about 30 mph, nearly knocking us over as we walked around taking pictures. Further north on 101 we went to the Depoe Bay Area to see the Devil's Punchbowl. We were there at high tide, but unfortunately even at that point is was not up high enough to create the effect. But the trip was not a waste because we were able to watch a pod of gray whales feeding just yards away from the lookout point. Major highlight because seeing whales has been on my to do list, but I'm not sure I'd want to do it in a boat. It was nearly 3:00 so we continued on to Tillamook and the touristy yet tasty cheese factory. The 101 from North of Lincoln City takes a turn inland through a pretty valley area where many dairy farms are located. I enjoyed this because the fog disappeared and the temperature warmed up. At Tillamook we said goodbye to the sea and started toward Portland. The temps went from low 60s to 90's. I drove through some serious rush hour traffic, but found our hotel without difficulty. I was so exhausted after all the driving. We managed a light dinner at Shari's Restaurant (local chain--had to have a slice of marionberry pie) then straight to bed.
Tuesday July 29
Slept in, a little. Left the Clarion around 10:00 with our first stop at The Grotto. It is the National Shrine of Our Sorrowful Mother, maintained by the Servite priests, brothers and nuns. Hewn into the cliff there is an outdoor chapel that faces the grotto with the Pieta. We took the elevator up the cliff about 100 ft. to the upper gardens. Beautiful, peaceful, restful. We made the loop then went back down for noon mass at the indoor chapel. It was nice to just sit and be with Jesus.
The other must-do for Mom was the experimental rose garden at Washington Park near downtown Portland. We drove the long way down Fremont Ave. and we're able to see some great neighborhoods as we went from NE to NW. Once we arrived, the smell was incredible! Thousands of roses in every size shape and color. Now I understand why Portland is called Rose City.
A trip to Oregon requires a brew pub trip. Dozens to choose from and we picked a great one on 11th St. -Deschutes Brewry. We both had the Deschutes River Ale, homemade pretzel and soft beer cheese, and a salad, mine with steak and mom's with grilled salmon. So satisfying! We took the through-town route back to the hotel because I did not want yo do the interstate at rush hour again!
Now we have packed up our things and souvenirs and are ready to go home.
I look forward to being able to return someday.
