Hooray and Away (from the coast that is)

written May 28, 2015

more Poppies.....

With the Oregon Coast finally in our rear view mirrors, we headed towards the middle of the state to Salem, to visit with Jean and Dan Bissell, friends we made last November while we were doing a Habitat build in Hobbs, NM. Dan is recovering from an aortic valve replacement and we were the lucky chaperones for his first “major” excursion into public. While touring the Evergreen Aviation Museum we took a lunch break in restored, historic downtown McMinnville at the wonderful Sage Restaurant, followed by a necessary visit to the Serendipity Ice Cream Shop in the next block!! Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose is the centerpiece of the Museum, even though it is made entirely of Douglas Fir and not Spruce. Guess the news reporter that named it couldn't think of a rhyme for Douglas Fir. I'm thinkin Dougfir Gopher! Wadda ya think? It is HUGE and oh so interesting. After returning to the Museum to walk off lunch, we parted so Dan could get in a little nap!, oh yeah, me too!

Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, McMinnville, Oregon

A photo of Howard Hughes's H4 Hercules, nicknamed the Spruce Goose, housed in the Evergreen Museum

The front of the Spruce Goose inside this fabulous Museum, built to house it.

The tail of the Spruce Goose with other aircraft mounted near it.

The Cockpit

Jim and I with our friends Dan and Jean Bissell inside the actual cockpit.

Some of the original VIP seats for dignitaries and press people right behind the cockpit.

Beach balls STILL inflated from it's only 1947 flight, placed in various locations for flotation if the plane should go down.  Isn't that hilarious.  Yes, the air is the original air.

Luncheon Cafe' of course

In a building next door, the Evergreen Water and Waves Park.  See the water slides from the plane into the building - Wow!

 

We crossed on the ferry to return to the Salem area.

The Wheatland Ferry, Salem, Oregon.  We are looking down the boat launch, next to the ferry drive, in case you wondered :)

An Eagle's nest near the ferry.

With vivid thoughts of "Truck" issues still in our minds, we decided against weekend towing for awhile. So, on Friday we towed Monty to Oregon's Memaloose State Park on the Columbia River, all the time being treated to glorious views of snow covered Mt. Hood off to our right. The entrance to the State Park is out a back road off an interstate rest area. Not the easiest campground to get to, but once found, the views of the river and gorge from our campsite were incredible. Saturday we took a day-trip driving downstream in Oregon, crossing the river and returning upstream in Washington, ooing and aaahing at the stunning views, tunnels, and waterfalls. Not to mention the tons of fisher-persons covering the river and bays hoping the Chinook would find their hooks as they head upstream.

Our campsite at Oregon's Memaloose State Park along the Columbia River Gorge.

A view from our campsite to the river

Beautiful views across the river in the Columbia River Gorge.

One of many waterfalls, Horsetail

The area has a rich history in fishing and fish products being sent around the world.

A reconstructed fish wheel in a local Museum

Fishermen filled a portion of the river one day as the Chinook Salmon Season opened.

A loaded barge moving down the river.

One of a series of 5 double tunnels (auto and train, side by side) along the Washington side of the Gorge.

Our first good view of Mt Hood.

Mt. Hood viewed from an overlook in the city of Mt.Hood, Oregon

Our first view of Mt. Adams, on the Washington side.  With a flattened top it is easy to recognize.

Since we missed it while in Arizona, on Sunday we decided to finally see winter up close and personal. We drove south on the Mt. Hood Scenic Byway, following mountain streams and observing many small snow melt waterfalls as we headed towards the Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood. While at the lodge we were able to touch some snow! OK, enough winter for me. 

This past winter Mt. Hood has only received 5% of its normal annual snowfall. This area, like so many areas of the west, that rely on snowfall, is in an extreme drought condition as can be seen in another of Julie's pictures of a dry stream bed on the east side of Mt. Hood. Usually it is a wide and roaring mountain stream.

We are headed to Mt Hood and the Timberline Lodge.  You just can't take your eyes off of this beautiful mountain. It looks snow covered here but as we get closer we see how barren it really is.

 

A very dry large DRY mountain stream bed.  It normally is rolling with snow melt.

This is the extent of the stream this year, a trickle  You have to really look to even find it.

Close to the ski lodge, you can see the very tall snow poles to guide the snow plows.

Mostly barren ground this year as you near the Timberline Ski Lodge area.

 

This beautiful lodge was built by the WPA, and the craftsmanship is unbelievable. We were treated to an incredible tour of the building by Ranger Jerry Prescott. What a treat, he not only knows the history of the building, the stories of the people who built the Lodge, but he has a love for what he is doing beyond belief. If ever at the Lodge, do not pass up an opportunity to be with this man. One of Julie's pictures is of the front steps and balcony. Jerry told us this is the first May in his memory that the balcony doors could be opened, as the snow was always piled higher than the doors. The snow usually covers the building up to the windows on the second floor, but not this winter sadly.

Timberline Lodges elevation 6,000 feet, with Mt. Hood's summit 11,245

Mount Hood's Timberline Lodge front entrance and balcony above.

The precise mortise and tenon construction of the Lodge

One of many period Murals created and painted on sculpted plaster.

The workers used what was available, so the fire andirons were constructed from railroad tracks

Ranger Jerry showing us the massive, ornate door that opens to the balcony above the Lodge's entrance.

The WPA made all this original furniture, making it massive and sturdy.  It is still very functional.

Looking out a first floor window, usually covered with snow this time of year.

The Cascade Dining Room

The ornate balcony door with a boot scraper made from railroad tracks

One of many wood carvings on newel posts around the lodge.  No two are alike.

From the Timberline's balcony you can see Mt. Jefferson's summit 46 miles away.

Each evening at our campsite we actually acted like campers again. While sitting and watching the Columbia River flow by we built a campfire and just had to make S'mores! 

It was so much fun to really "camp" again.

S'mores of course!

 

The Boardman Tree Farm on Interstate 84 along the Columbia, where hybrid Poplar Trees are grown.  Sixty five log truckloads are harvested daily.

We are still on the Oregon side of the Gorge.

An enclosed barge on the Columbia.

OK, we're bad. Leaving Oregon we zipped through just a corner of Washington. No touristing here (this time). We did, however, learn something about eastern Washington. It is Iowa with hills! No kidding, just like Iowa if you see a tree - you see a house, only Washington has a few rolling hills - go figure. We have a map of the US on the Monty that when we spend at least one night in a state, we place a state shaped sticker on the map. So, not having a Washington sticker yet, we stopped for the night in Connell. Sorta reminds me of Radiator Springs in the movie Cars. They built a bypass for US-395 around Connell, so that seems to be what everyone does - bypass it. Once a thriving community, it now has one restaurant, one filling station, one bar, and lots of empty buildings! But also a great over-nighting campground just off the highway on the town side. The internet reviews of the campground were quite profound. They stated the park was nice, the manager was nice, but if you needed anything while he was gone, good luck with his grumpy, grouchy, mean wife. We found this assessment to be extremely accurate. We were having a problem with the water hook-up and Julie went to the managers trailer only to find him gone and after a few knocks his wife opened the door saying "yea, wadda ya want?" Julie told her we were having a small problem, and the answer she got was "so, wadda ya want me to do about it?! Wait till my husband comes back and maybe he can do something!" Julie asked her to please tell him we needed him when he returned. Helpful Honey said "you can just watch for him!" I guess the problem is, she was not of the "attractive persuasion", and I always thought "those people" should try to at least be nice!!!! Leaving Connell we were reminded it was breakfast time. Looking to the left we watched as a hawk swooped down to the ground with his talons outstretched grabbing about a three foot long snake out of the ditch and climbing. Needless to say the snake was not too happy about the situation, but the hawk held on and flew off into the sunrise! Cool. Julie thought it was "gross", I guess because we had already eaten! 

Crossing to Washington State

The rolling hills of southeastern Washington State

 

Next on our agenda was motoring through Spokane. What a return to reality. This is the first big "city" we have been to/thru/around/by since we left Roseville, California. Isn't it funny how quickly one forgets just how rude, self important, and in a big hurry "city" drivers are. After being in small towns for over a month where no one is in a hurry. They gladly back off and let you change lanes or enter a lane without trying to "beat" you. City drivers will do everything in their power to get in front of you and if they can't, they honk their horn, or let you know that you are number one in their book!

This day was the longest in recorded history for Julie. The Idaho panhandle is only 60 or so miles wide and we didn't have an Idaho sticker either, so it was predetermined we would overnight in the postcard perfect town of Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. It should be noted Coeur d' Alene is only about three hours from Missoula, the home of Max (2 ½ yr old grandson)! Lets just say Julie's mind was not totally on sightseeing as we walked around downtown, something we couldn't do the last time we were there. It had been on a July weekend and just about everyone in Idaho was there. This time we had the town to ourselves. Quite nice, but not if your heart is in Missoula. 

Mudgy Moose Statue, of children's book fame, in downtown Coeur d' Alene.

A float plane landing on Lake Coeur d' Alene

Beautiful Lake Coeur d' Alene

 

We finally made it through the night. Now I must first tell you that my wife is never in a hurry to get on the road. Nine/nine thirty is usually her target time to hit the road. Well, this morning when I got up, there she stood with her finger on the button to make our slide-outs slide-in! She was grinning and asked how long did I think it would take to "get out of here?"

Almost there Max!

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