Wind Surfing to Voodoo Donuts!

Oh Boy !!!!! We’re in the land of S & S & S!

We arrived in the Columbia Gorge River (the river divides Washington and Oregon) to stay at Memaloose State Park.  Zoe and I LOVE it!!!  There was a huge field right behind the camper and it was right on the river. We could run and run and chase Frisbees and balls.  We could wrestle and play!  It was so much fun for us.

Phaedra and Zoe's Beach

A walkway down the hill, through the brush, and across the railroad tracks led to a swimming area and beach where we got to swim with Papa.  Zoe chased sticks and I ran and dug in the mud. So, while `the big mama wasn't fully mackin' some gnarly grinders' we had a great beaching time.  Oh there is joy in Mudville!  It was really nice because it was in the mid 90’s and I was hot with my winter coat.

Kite Boarding the Columbia River

Mom and Papa really enjoyed the town of Hood River. It is perched on a hill overlooking the Columbia Gorge.  They spent lots of time there watching kite boarding and wind surfing. We stayed home – boo hiss!  Mom wants to wind surf and Dad said he’d take pictures.

Oh, ya… Surprise!!! They did find a great coffee shop. We stayed home, again.

Mt. Hood across Trillium Lake

Picnicking at the TRUCK!

We spent one day traveling to Mt. Hood, a beautiful mountain about 40 miles south of Hood River. We drove through fruit farms in a great valley and were able to see the mountain the entire trip.  Each time we stopped for a picture, we got to go out!!!  We went as high up as we could to Timberline Lodge at 6000 feet. People were still skiing that day, and the parking lot was full of snowboarders and skiers. The runs are open all 12 months, but August is only open for the national ski team.  They forgot to invite Zoe and me to be their mascots!  Too bad for them!

Vista House

Old Time Highway. 

We drove back through the wheat area a little further west of Hood River. The golden fields were so inviting, but we didn’t get to run in them.  Mom said they have chiggers!  No thanks – not for me!

Multnomah Falls

Western Pacific Rattlesnakes

Our last day in the area was spent in the camper. Mom and Dad went on the Historic Columbia River Gorge Road and hiked to 5 different waterfalls. Multnomah Falls is 620 feet high and the most famous. They visited the Vista House built in 1915, which celebrates the road and overlooks the river way down below. They also saw some deer and 2 male RATTLESNAKES doing fighting for either territory or a girl friend on the road.  I didn’t miss that at all, but Mom was thrilled.

Nancy and the Kids

Then it was on to Portland to see a long time friend, Nancy. They taught in Germany with her and Anne & Dov visited with her overseas when Anne graduated from UNC. What a great person. We call her our snack friend. She brought the best snacks- lamb and duck jerky, and I even ate them before Zoe.

Portland Skyline from Washington Park

Friends from a different life!

Nancy took Mom and Dad all over Portland while we got to stay home, again. They went to Washington Park and saw the International Rose Test Garden and, also, the Japanese Garden. They went over many bridges going from one section to another. They visited downtown, old town, Powell’s Bookstore (a huge place that they needed a map to get though), and Voodoo Donuts (human snacks), plus ate at Elephant’s Delicatessen. We were only there two days so no more snacks.  At least I hope we get to swim again because we are heading for the Oregon coast and we get to see the Pacific Ocean again.

Windsurfing the Columbia

Hang Ten y’all,

"Latronic!"

Phaedra