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Cascade Cluster in the Cascades
Latourell, Wahkeena, Multhomah and Horsetail Falls, four spectacular waterfalls pummeling the sides of the Columbia River Gorge. Multhomah Falls is supposedly one of the highest falls in the United States. Wind gusts aside, by far, one of our best side trips yet.
Latourell Falls
Wahkeena Falls
Multnomah Falls
Sunday brunch at the Multnomah Falls Lodge
Road Trip Disaster #100: Wind Gusts
From Troutdale (a town just east of Portland) on I-84, we took Exit 17 to the Historic River Highway, a narrow, winding road that cuts through the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area. The road levels off near Crown Point, a vantage point that offers sweeping views of the Cascades and the gorge below. We stopped the car near the little stone house to take in the scenery. David barely had time to open his door before the powerful winds literally took it off its hinges!
It was hard to truly appreciate the trip downhill when we were worried about repair bills and the door flying off on our return trip but some warm beverages at the Multnomah Falls brought some relief.
Would Bigfoot Shop at a Premium Outlet?
Has anyone else noticed that no matter how remote, how inaccessible, how rugged the area, there is always some cheesy shopping outlet nestled at the base of every national park or scenic area? What bugs me about these malls eyesores isn’t the creepy juxtaposition or the lack of any great deals, it’s that there is never anything you’d need, in a bind, to plan a hike or camping trip in a or near a national park or scenic area. Where’s the discount sporting goods store when you need batteries or a replacement sleeping bag? The alpine outfitters when you need a cool new backpack or baselayer? Have these mall property managers not understood that I am at visiting this isolated river gorge because I’m trying to be one with nature? The last thing that’s going to tempt me is a pair of yellow, high-waisted denim dress pants with rhinestones in a size 14!
Bonnes fêtes Tiggy!
High-speed Lego train passing through our town under the Christmas tree.
Child’s play: December 2009
Mon petit Tiggy. Je m’en pame d’admiration!
Chevy Cobalt
My 2006 Chevy Cobalt isn’t cobalt. It’s cloudy-morning, wind-in-your-hair gray. And for a car sold without options, it has a lot of desirable features, like headlights that turn on automatically when you start the car, air conditioning, and a a deep trunk. The exterior is attractive and the interior design is sleek and uncluttered. And it’s so quiet, it makes David’s car seem like a city bus.
My model comes with wind-up windows and I have to manually adjust the mirrors and lock the doors. I don’t mind cranking the windows up and down but adjusting the right mirror is a pain. What’s more, the engine at times seems to struggle to produce power, but I’m comparing the Cobalt to the last car I drove, a Nissan Murano. Other cars in this class probably perform and respond just as well. The small engine does not, however, detract from the driving experience, which has been pleasant overall. This sedan suits my needs just fine.
Thanksgiving 2009
On trinque… d’abord a mon mari et la petite famille, ensuite a la bonne santé, puis a des amis, le boulot, le beau temps (quand il y en a)…a Jacques Eysette… a quoi encore ?
V, A, A, T and D family blog 