Sunny, breezy, clear, 45 degrees
Miles 385,
gas $4.19
Travel time 6
hours with stops.
Day 6 of our
road trip to Alaska. La Grande OR Best
Western Plus has nice clean rooms and easy access amenities, large pool,
whirlpool and first floor room. Large
breakfast selection and good quality.
Located just off I84 in pine covered rolling hills, logging and sawmills
in the area. Pines are so dense, no
wonder license plates use them as logo.
More snow fences and chain-up signs as we climb. Finally descend on 6% grade with run away
truck ramps. A wide valley is a
spectacle of a patchwork quilt of various types of crops. We pass through the Umatilla Indian
Reservation, home to the Wild Horse Casino.
Then pass Pendleton, made famous by Pendleton Woolen Mills. Also signs for rodeos. Further on high winds start to push the car
around; there are warning signs of dust brown-outs for 40 miles. We come alongside the mighty Columbia River;
the Snake River empties into it up river.
The Washington state border is the other side. There re wind turbines everywhere, in both
states, lining the river; the wind if relentless and affects driving. Up ahead is our first, and likely only, view
of Mt Hood at 11K feet. The clouds clear
and we get the full view. It is a live
volcano that is dormant for now. This is
also earthquake country. There are three
main dams on the river; tugs boats are pushing barges up the river against the
wind with white caps. A Columbia River
cruise ship is also moving up river.
There are vineyards in the area and Lewis and Clark Train
continues. Old Rt 30 (same as Ohio) runs
parallel. We stop along the road for
Horse Tail Falls, it is long drop of narrow surging water. The gorge becomes more scenic as a National
preserve. Large monolithic rock faces
and dense pine forests. Although a pine
beetle seems to have killed off a lot.
We enter
Portland and it is a fast and furious drive through the middle of the city;
maybe a new ride at Cedar point? The
Willamette River (think Pinot Noir) runs through the center of the center and
joins the Columbia. We don’t see any
Portlandia characters. We take Rt 26
through hilly area of small farms and pine tree logging. There is moss growing on the trees so we know
we are close to the ocean; coastal rainforest.
We stop at Canon Beach noted for large rock formations in the water and
as a tourist town of cute shops and themed dining. We stop at Public Brewery for a beer. Oregonians know how to make good beer. The ocean is very agitated with high
waves.
We arrive in Astoria about 3PM, this is an
international port and long history of fishing and trade. The Hampton Inn is newer hotel sitting
alongside the Columbia. There is a pool,
whirlpool and exercise room. Our room is
huge with a balcony overlooking fishing trawlers, cargo ships and Pier 39; it
is the oldest pier in the area that was home of Bumble Bee Tuna. It is a long wooden plank entry. It houses Roque River brew pub and various
shops. Glad we are stopping for 2 nights.
We drive out
to Dory and Donn’s. Old friends from
Alaska. Their home is beautiful with
prolific landscape gardening. It sits
high on the hill facing a tidal slough as part of the ocean. The view in the distance is a range of
mountains. Donn puts in his boat locally
and fishes in the slough. We tour the
house, have a delicious dinner, and join in lively chat.
We return to
the hotel. A walking path in front the hotel follows the water’s edge. The male sea lions that did not get to mate
were left behind as the females went south to birth. They are congregated on the docks in the marina
and are so loud we hope we can sleep. We
also had a brief glimpse of an ocean otter.
Dory and
Donn picking us up after breakfast for a tour around the area. The night is cool and the temps won’t likely
get out of the 60’s tomorrow.
Nighty
Night.
