Riding the Dunes

Rosey acting up

Sept 21/14   Weather was misty and cool about 64 when we started moving around in the morning.  Cloudy and grey.  This is true Oregon weather according to their tourism department ` "You've heard the old joke that people in Oregon don't tan?  They Rust!   Or if you wait outside for a bus, you'll grow moss on your north side!! "

So instead of riding the Harley today we decided to slip down the road just a couple of miles and see if we could take a ride in the Dunes.  By the way there 42 miles of Sand -  Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area  .     We walked up to see the dunes from our campground and thought it looked like the Sahara desert!!!    Wow.   It took us by surprise how huge it is.  When the wind is blowing the sand moves 2 to 3 feet an hour so you can get lost quickly.   

dune buggyin!

awesome ride

miles and miles of sand

We walked into Sandrail Tours at 11 a.m. and they had a buggy leaving right then we could get a ride on.... sounded great.   What a roller coaster ride for 10 miles in half an hour.   We were laughing so hard but you had to clamp your mouth shut to keep the sand out.   Ha ha.   What a blast!

racing up and down the dune

King of the Roads

Sept 18/14 Weather  77, night 54   The sun is covered in smoke from nearby forest fire in Estacada, 4000 acres.  Oddest feeling while being somewhere we have had.....  You feel somewhat threatened since you can physically see the smoke in the sky.  As the crow flies it is about 30 miles from our camp. 

Looking straight up at the Sun covered in smoke

From Cascade Locks we head West on the "King of the Roads"; historic hwy 30 the Columbia River Scenic byway.  It is such a treat to ride an old 1913 road (narrow still but repaved) at the end there is series of what’s known as “figure eight loops” that gracefully wind down toward the river.  The journey is along the Gorge with roadway white picket fences or stone guard walls that were typical of the highway’s exquisite craftsmanship in those days.  

along the hwy

Historic Hwy 30

Lancaster;  the engineer that designed it "did not want to mar what God had put there".   The wonderful thing is that Oregon has saved it and built the Interstate separate from this great road.   So at 25 mph you just cruise back in time and take in all the overlooks of the Columbia River Gorge and the many (7) waterfalls, as well with many hikers and bicyclers! 

Multnomah 2 Tiered Falls

Rosey at the bottom of Horse Tail Falls

The jewel at the end of it is a 1918 rest stop observatory -   The Vista House at Crown Point .   By far the fanciest rest stop we have had the pleasure of using!!!

Can you imagine driving up to The Vista House in 1918???

Vista House - all marble and stained glass inside

View from Vista House 733 feet above the Columbia River Gorge

Hoodwinked in Hood River, Columbia River Gorge Ride

Sept 17/2014   Weather  70's today, sun can't seem to break out of the smoke covered sky.  night 58.
We took a loop ride along the Columbia River Gorge today heading east on I84 to Hood River then crossed the bridge to the Hwy 14 in Washington and back to Cascade Locks, Oregon.   

Billy had the French toast with Whipped Cream, Rosey the Dungeness Crab Omelet

In Hood River we found a great diner Bette's Place to have a late breakfast which is how I hoodwinked Billy (he will do anything for French toast and whip cream) into my stop at another quilt shop.  Finishing our meals I mentioned a walk around the block so I could pop into the local quilt shop.

Oh oh,,, guess I was a little too long in the quilt shop

Actually we found Hood River to have a neat downtown, lots of little outdoor stores, boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants and micro breweries.

Apartment building with the main door open, How quaint?

Nice ride back along the gorge ....

scenic hwy 14 right on the gorge

and across the bridge to Cascade Locks. 

Bridge of the gods

Herman the Sturgeon is not a Fish Story

Sept 16/2014  Weather 75 sunny, night 55
We are over the state border in a quaint little town called Cascade Locks on the Columbia River, about 30 miles east of Portland, Oregon - camped out at the KOA.  Tip:First thing we learned was that we needed to pronounce it  Or - a - gun.   Billy and I are often saying we are headed to Or - a - gone  next and right away the person will say "your not from here are you?"  

Bonneville Dam & Locks & Powerhouses

We are just down the road from Bonneville Dam which was constructed in the early 30's to help with navigation and harness the power.  When we checked in the camp host said "you should go see it, it's really interesting and free".  Why not? 

Fish Ladders

Once we walked through the history and short films on the construction of the dam and so forth we also became aware of  the critical effect on the the salmon and steelhead spawning. 

Below the ladders you can view the Salmon charging up stream

As part of the dam the US Army Corp of Engineers also constructed intricate fish spillways and fish ladders that they navigate from one side of the dam to the other.

Fish Hatchery- elegant old buildings - surrounded by rearing ponds

US Army Corp also financially assisted the on site fish hatchery built in 1909.   The hatchery incubates eggs, hatches, rears them in ponds, and spawn the adults as well.  All are released back into the Columbia River, Coho and Chinook Salmon,  Rainbow Trout and  White Sturgeon.   Do you know about the Pacific White Sturgeon?  Well this was a surprise to us - they can grow to 20 feet long, over a 1000 lbs and live till they are 100 years old!!!  River Monsters.  Are you ready to meet Herman?

Herman is 70 years old, 10 feet long and 450 lbs

Side view of Herman in the Fishtank