To Portland, Oregon
My friend Merrie asked me to spend some time in Oregon with her so that we could plan the trip that we are going to take to Spain together this coming October. She warned me about all the rain now in Oregon and suggested that perhaps I should come later in the year, so when it rained and rained and then rained some more, she didn’t feel sorry for me. I had never been to Oregon before and was very excited for a chance to visit it, so even the threat of many rainy days didn’t deter me from traveling to Oregon in March. I flew up to Portland from Burkank via Southwest Airlines, arriving mid–day. We went out that night for dinner at Jake’s in downtown Portland.
To Portland, Oregon
Jake’s
Merrie asked one of the valet parking guys why the inflatable crab was put on top of the restaurant. He said it was to draw attention to tomorrow’s celebration of St. Patty’s Day. Neither Merrie nor I could make the crab––St. Patty’s Day connection. My first impression of Jake’s was that it sure looked like a McCormick & Schmick’s restaurant. Actually, McCormick & Schmick’s restaurants look like Jake’s, as Jake’s had been bought by Mr. McCormick. He rescued a poorly performing Jake’s and then he and Mr. Schmick fashioned the McCormick and Schmick’s restaurants after the Jake’s makeover, copying both its interior and its menu.
Jake’s
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
I considered this to be a working vacation and we spent the next two days working on the details of our Spain trip––good days to do this as it rained and rained and then rained some more. But we did go out to visit one of Merrie’s friends who has been to Spain several times to pickup some travel tips. By Saturday, the rain let up and we went off to view the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Today, I was warm enough wearing a turtleneck, heavy cotton sweater, heavy Irish wool fisherman’s sweater, and a down parka.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Another view of the Scenic Area. Merrie is especially proud of this area, as when she was working for an Oregon congressman (who is now an Oregon senator), this was one of the projects that she did much work on. The Scenic Area designation controls the amount and kind of development in the area so that it will retain its natural setting. Photo: Another view of the Scenic Area.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
The State of Washington is on the other side of the Columbia River.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Our next stop in the Scenic Area was the Latourell Falls.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
The road that we took through the Columbia River Gorge––photo taken from the Latourell Falls.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Another view of the bridge in front of Latourell Falls.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Our next stop was at Wahkeena Falls.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Multnomah Falls, our next stop, had a restaurant and we ate lunch here.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Multnomah Falls––it is the second highest year–round waterfall in the United States. You can hike up the hill to view the falls from the pedestrian bridge seen in the photo.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
People on the bridge.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Next stop, Horsetail Falls.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
At the bottom of Horsetail Falls.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Scene along the highway through the Gorge.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
On the highway.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Rock formation at Mitchell Point. There is a hiking trail up to the top of the rock.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
We didn’t hike up to the top of the rock, but I did get to take this photo of the Columbia River Gorge from a viewpoint that we were able to drive up to.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Along the highway.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
We were now in an area called The Dalles, which is the terminus of the famous Oregon Trail. Here, the Columbia River was too treacherous for the covered wagons to cross, so most of the early pioneers coming west on the Oregon Trail settled on this side of the Columbia. Nowadays, there is a bridge over the Columbia River connecting the states of Oregon and Washington.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
We are now on the Washington side of the Columbia River, looking over at Oregon.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
The rocks on the left of the highway reminded me of desert terrain.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Entering farm land.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
This sign told us that we were traveling on the famous Lewis & Clark Trail, the route which these explorers took to reach the Oregon Coast.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Stonehenge
Our next stop––Stonehenge. Yes, this is really its name. Sam Hill, a weathly entrepreneur, built the Stonehenge here to honor the soldiers from Klickitat County, Washington State, who lost their lives in World War I. It is said to be a full–scale replica of the Stonehenge in England. Sam Hill was a Quaker pacifist, who was told, mistakenly, that the original Stonehenge had been used as a sacrificial site, so he constructed this replica to remind us that “humanity is still being sacrificed to the god of war.”
Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Comparison of the photo of the original Stonehenge that I took on my trip to England and the photo I took of Sam Hill’s Stonehenge.
Stonehenge
Stonehenge
One of the memorial plaques on a pillar of Sam Hill’s Stonehenge.
Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Inside the circle. From these photos, it looks like the day has become very nice and sunny––actually, here at Stonehenge, it was freezing cold (20 degrees would be a close estimate) and very windy.
Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Inside the circle.
Stonehenge
Stonehenge
View from inside the circle.
Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Another view.
Stonehenge
On The Road
On the road from Stonehenge to our next stop.
On The Road
Maryville Museum of Art.
Our next stop, the Maryville Museum of Art. The building housing the museum was built by Sam Hill as his personal chateau. Its construction was started in 1914.
Maryville Museum of Art.
Maryville Museum of Art.
You can just about make out the top of Mt. Hood in this photo, taken from the grounds of the Maryville Museum. Look above the clouds. Mt. Hood, in the Cascade Mountain Range, is Oregon’s highest peak––11,239 feet high, and is one of the five volcanoes in Oregon.
Maryville Museum of Art.
Maryville Museum of Art.
The museum has a very good art collection but we arrived here just before it was to close. But we could walk around the Outdoor Sculpture Garden. One of the sculptures.
Maryville Museum of Art.
Maryville Museum of Art.
Sculpture in the woods.
Maryville Museum of Art.
Maryville Museum of Art.
Two sculptures in front of the Maryville Museum.
Maryville Museum of Art.
Maryville Museum of Art.
And another sculpture.
Maryville Museum of Art.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
We stopped at a lodge on the Washington State side for dinner. View from the lodge.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
A Washington State/Oregon sunset. Before going back to Merrie’s house, we stopped off so that I could meet one of her delightful daughers. Merrie really treated me to quite a day!!!!
