SUNDAY, AUGUST 24

SUNDAY, AUGUST 24:

     Another beautiful day.  We drove down the Gorge (Columbia River Gorge) about 60 miles,  flanked by the Lower Cascade mountain range on both sides of the river.   First we made a pit stop at Multnomah Falls.  Since Bill hadn’t seen them when Lynn & I were here the other day, he and I did a quick walk up to the entrance. 

                                                                        

      Then we stopped at a lookout spot a ways further down.  Every time I see this river, I simply cannot get over what a deep beautiful blue it is.


                                                               

We simply have nothing like this in the way of rivers in Missouri (nor, I think, in the entire Midwest).  Our lakes may occasionally be this color, but not our rivers by any stretch.  Time almost stands still when we stop to just watch and enjoy this magnificent Northwest  river.  And, to add to our enjoyment and fulfillment is another “bridge” tying things together:  the fact that this river originates high in the Columbia Icefields between Banff and Jasper, where we loved spending time earlier in our trip.  Seems like a long time ago now!  The Columbia traverses down through British Columbia, into northeast Washington state, and continues to course southwestwards, eventually being joined by the Snake River and then forming the border between Washington and Oregon and of course empties like a fire hose into the Pacific.  

     Continued on a few miles to a small area called Hood River.  This is a well-known windsurfing area.  In fact, it’s called the Windsurfing Capital of the World.  The summer wind currents go upstream through the gorge, and of course the water current is flowing downstream, and so, John explained, it creates perfect conditions to windsurf across the river.  John used to be an avid wind surfer, but stopped many years ago.  He may take it up again in retirement.

     At first, there were no windsurfers out, only paddle boarders boarders and others out enjoying the beach and beautiful day. 

 

Soon the wind picked up, however, and they started showing up!   It was a lot of fun and so relaxing to just watch them.  Some had clearly had more practice than others! 

                                                Trying to get on:

                                                          Made it!!

                                                     Out with the big dogs:
 

 

     Getting towards late afternoon, so we left and stopped at a funky place down the road to get a beer.  Enjoyed a lot of laughs there, especially as I came out of the restroom describing a “pithy” sign they’d hung there. 

     Drove home on the Washington side of the gorge.  More beautiful glimpses of the river.  We’d of course heard of the Columbia prior to this trip, but had no idea of its history and its significance to this entire region, not to mention its beauty.  Every time I hear its name now, I’ll remember it with a special fondness.  I’ll always associate the Columbia now with our time spent in the summer of 2014 with Lynn & John.

     Went to John’s for dinner again – a scrumptious smoked salmon & trout salad.  John again prepared a simple, delightful dessert – really good vanilla ice cream topped with apples sautéed in a brandy sauce.