Horse Tail Falls, Multnomah Falls and the Columbia River Gorge.

The pictures tell the story here.  After we left Mount Hood we drove the Historic Columbia River Highway.  Because it was getting late in the afternoon and we wanted to reach Vista House at Crown Point to view the Columbia River Gorge.

We did stop to view Horse Tail Falls.

Then we traveled to Multnomah Falls.  We climbed to the mid-point of the falls and took pictures from the bridge.

On the walk up the trees were very unusual because of the moss and ferns that were growing on the bark.  They reminded you of an enchanted forest.

We continued driving to the Vista House.

House.

Mount Hood and the Timberline Lodge

The day began with slightly overcast skies, but Francie kept insisting that the fog would lift and we would be able to see Mount Hood.  Viv, Dick and myself were, I must admit, a bit sceptical.  However, we soon learned that she knew what she was talking about. We arrived at the Timberline Lodge which

I knew nothing about.  After being there and learning about the history, I am enthralled with this 

landmark.  It was built in 1937 and sits on the south slope of Mount Hood at 6,000 ft. above sea level. It was built to be used as a ski lodge and mountain retreat and is to this day an impressive structure. It was a WPA project and also utilized workers from the CCC.  They had 1 million dollars federal funding 

and additional funding from Federal Arts Funding for the furnishings and art.  They gave work to many hopeless craftsmen, artists and totally unskilled and untrained workers. The men and women who had skills or training took the unskilled workers under their direction and gave these people lifelong skills to help them become employed after the depression.  The designs were to enhance or reflect the nature that surrounded the lodge.  To this day original pieces of furniture are used.  The mammoth fireplaces and much of the art is just as it was back in the early days.  This is amazing because during WWII the lodge was left to deteriorate.  By 1955, Richard Kohnstamm rescued the lodge, was granted a lease and began to refurbish the lodge.  He is pictured in this photo below with a famous skier whose name escapes me and a handsome couple between Kohnstamm and the skier on the left.  While there we encountered a man and his mother who suffered significantly from Parkinson disease.  While chatting with them we learned that the couple with their young son were his father, mother and older brother.  His father had been a pilot in the war and survived only to be killed just a short time after the picture was taken while landing a plane. It was due to an error by the control tower.  He had brought his mother there with her healthcare providers to celebrate her 85th birthday.  We were able to get a picture of them in front of the picture.

We toured the rest of the lodge and saw a movie that depicted the history and construction of the facility.  After that we had a lovely lunch in the dining room on the second floor.  Finally we went outside and did catch glimpses of Mount Hood when the clouds would slip out of the way.  

Lan Su Chinese Garden - Portland OR

I am learning so much during my travels. One of the most important is how to say Oregon.  The o in on is a schwa sound not said as the word on.  While we visited Portland, Francie took us first to the Chinese Garden.  It is so amazing because it was built entirely by Chinese artisans using traditional materials and methods.  It is an exact replica of a 16th century home and garden of  wealthy and prominent scholar.  Scholars were very respected and could be very well paid as they rose the ladder of responsibility.  This home would reflect the style of life of a scribe who had ascended to work for the emperor and had retired.  His wives, concubines and extended family would live in the compound with him.  As it is today, it would have been located in a city and would have blended nature and the 

comforts that his wealth could provide. It is a spiritual utopia that provides peace and a soothing environment that is created by the interplay of architecture, plants, rocks and water.  The environment reflects poetry that is displayed on walls and posts throughout the structures.  The guide repeatedly showed us the theme of hide and reveal and ying and yang.  The details were so extensive that a visitor could return time and time again and still discover something new each time.  The gardens are designed to engage all your senses and are carefully designed to convey themes and lessons.  

After touring the house Francie treated us to some tea and cookies (for Vivian.)  While sitting there we listened to the young man playing this instrument.  He played both classical music and traditional five tonal Chinese folk melodies.  It was very soothing and I had some of the best tea I have ever tasted.  Some may not think it delicious, but being a fan of licorice it was excellent.  What a wonderful experience this visit was.

Scenic Travel to Newberg, OR

For those of you who don't know, one of our major goals was to come to Newberg to visit our very dear friend Francie Richey.  Viv and I both taught with her for several years and were very close friends outside of school as well. Francie decided to move to OR and has been inviting us to visit her for several years.  She has recently moved to a complex for seniors called Friendsview.  We are staying in guest accommodations until Monday and then Francie will host us at her cousin's beach house in Lincoln City.  From there our travels will continue.

She is trying to give us a a real feeling for the area and help us see as much of the area as possible. On Tuesday night she took us to the Joel Palmer House owned by her cousin Jack Czarnecki who is world renowned restaurateur and mushroom expert.  The meal was beyond description and the ambiance was superb.  Each menu item was carefully and artistically presented.  The flavors blended and enhanced each dish.  Of course mushrooms were prominently featured in many of the dishes.  Her nephew Chris, Jack's son, is currently the head chef and is running the business.  Even though he was very busy, he came out to greet us and took us on a tour of the wine cellar. I have never seen a wine cellar, but it was definitely extensive and I am sure filled with many fine wines.  Most of the wines are made right there in Oregon.  The wine that they are celebrated for is Pinot Noir.  Unfortunately I didn't think to take any pictures, but you can look it up on line if you're interested.

While traveling to Newberg we took a scenic route and found landscape that we had all imagined we would see in OR.

Crater Lake or Maybe Not

Let's say that we visited Crater Lake, but we did not see it.  We did however get to use our winter coats, hats and gloves.  The temperature at the top was about 31 degrees, with snow/sleet/drizzle.  There was a heavy fog and there was a bicycle race so part of the rim road was closed.  We made the best of it and took a ride on a trolley.  A park ranger led the tour.  He did his best by showing us the flora and fauna that included some very cute golden-headed ground squirrels.  

He told us about three types of trees: whitebark pine, shasta red fir and mountain hemlock.  They each have a role in the forest.  The whitebark pine is the hardiest and found at the highest elevation.  Their pinecones are very hard and tightly closed and are opened by the very persistent work of the Clark's Nutcracker who distributes the seeds.  These trees live between 700-800 years.  The mountain hemlocks are suited to moderate altitude because they are flexible and can bend with heavy snow and wind.  They are easily distinguished by their flopped over tops.  The shasta red fir has a red bark and lives among the hemlocks.  Finally their are the logpole pines that the loggers and Native American's treasured.

Okay here are my pictures.

 It is truly breathtaking to see the beautiful blue water(lots of sarcasm noted.)  I was very disappointed, but see what I can show you?`  We are learning to make the best of a less than perfect situation.  We tried again on Sunday, but it was just as bad.  We met some other people when we were at the Timberline Log at Mount Hood who had been there when we had.  They had stayed until Monday and the conditions were much better.