Westward Ho!

Road Trip!  Day 1, Richland, WA - Portland, OR

This morning (Friday, May 15) we started our first post-retirement road trip!  It took about ten miles before we both realized our roof top carrier wasn't going to work quite the way we expected.  At about mile 100 Bob actually said "I made a mistake."  Most of the time a wife wants to hear her husband basically admit he was wrong but today I found myself saying "it will be okay honey."  My insight into retirement is that some good ideas may turn out to be more frustrating than they are worth.

We are camping on part of this trip and gosh, you have to take a lot of stuff on a camping trip!  Our car is completely full and we decided that the only way it was going to work was to pack a roof top carrier with some of the equipment. 

Carrier on top!

Loaded car!

We didn't realize the carrier would create so much noise that we couldn't carry on a conversation.  The first two hours of the trip were driving across the Columbia River Plateau, straight into the prevailing winds, on I-82/84 going west toward Portland, OR and we knew we couldn't drive for nearly a month like that.  We actually talked about stopping at a rest stop and completely rearranging the car, filling it to the brim, and returning the carrier to REI in Portland.  REI offers an unconditional guarantee so no worries, bugs and all!  But then the wide open spaces of the plateau narrowed as we entered the Columbia River Gorge and began driving the curves protected by the hills and cliffs.  Suddenly the noise level quieted several decibels and we realized everything was going to be okay, at least for the rest of today's drive.

The Columbia River Gorge is considered a National Scenic Area, and is truly one of the most beautiful drives in the Pacific NW.  columbiarivergorge.info   It has snow-capped mountains, basalt cliffs, forests, waterfalls, charming communities, and boardsailing competitions.  Something for everyone!

Multnomah Falls, OR

Mt. Hood, OR

Of course the jewel of the Gorge is the Columbia River itself.  Formed by lava flows and carved by glaciers, home to many Native American tribes, explored by Lewis & Clark, settled by Oregon Trail pioneers, and industrialized by hydroelectric dams, the Columbia remains an impressive site.  It forms the natural border between OR and WA, and reaches a mile wide in many places.  Those of us who live in the Pacific NW simply call it the River, and do so with a great deal of respect. 

Just past the town of The Dalles, OR is the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center.  gorgediscovery.org   Packed with history, photos, interpretative displays, videos, and a nice cafe, the museum is very interesting and well worth a stop for first time visitors to the area.
  
The biggest dam along the Columbia is Bonneville, just upriver from greater Portland, nwp.usace.army.mil.  In addition to providing hydroelectric power, the River is navigable via a series of locks, and the fish ladders allow the salmon to migrate.

Bonneville Dam

                                                                                                                      

Fish Ladder

Can you see the salmon?

Bonneville Dam and Cascade Locks have an impressive visitors center (tours available) and recreation opportunities.  If you find yourself in the Gorge, the dam is definitely worth a stop!

Picnic grounds at Bonneville

Rain in the Gorge

Springtime Rhodies

Today was intentionally a short day's drive.  We wanted to go to Portland to do some shopping, specifically at the Apple store and also REI.  Still debating about returning the rooftop carrier, we decided to go to Apple first and purchase a new mouse.  Again, technology has passed us by and we got a track pad instead of a mouse.  

We then headed over to REI where they are having their annual members' sale.  Should we or shouldn't we return the carrier?  After some debate (really, where will we put all that stuff?) we decide to keep the carrier and hope to get better at packing it, cinching it down, and knowing the next several legs of the trip won't be out in the middle of wide open spaces or against the wind.  Again, REI does have that unconditional, no questions asked, bugs and all return policy!  The trip wasn't without a purchase . . . shoes, of course!  I think Bob is feeling better about "his mistake" and we both know that retail therapy (especially shoes) does help!  Spending the night in a Fairfield Inn on the west side of town . . . we'll start camping tomorrow!