Friday, April 8
Eight weeks and two days after leaving our front yard, here we are on the home stretch. Today dawned clear and sunny. Maybe for once we'll get blamed for bringing the sunshine rather than the rain, like our California kin like to accuse us of doing – all in jest of course. How nice to return to the promise of spring and sunny days. Our waitress at breakfast told us this is the first day in two to three weeks that she's seen more than a peek at the sun, and the people here are so ready for more.
After sleeping in (since it was so late by the time we found a camp spot last night) and showering to speed the wake-up process, we drove the short distance to Cascade Locks, a little town on the Oregon side of the Columbia River and the site of the Bonneville Dam, one of many along the Columbia and also one of the largest along this stretch of the river. The Cascade Inn looked like a local favorite for breakfast, so we made it ours as well. This is the point where we decided to cross into Washington across the “Bridge of the Gods.” We paid our toll and made our way across this high steel bridge with glorious views in either direction of the mighty Columbia River winding through this evergreen tree lined gorge with towering rock walls on either side. Four lane Interstate highway 84 follows the river on the Oregon side, while the narrower Highway 14 follows it higher above on the Washington side.
If you've never seen the Columbia River Gorge, then you've missed one of God's incredibly majestic creations with awe-inspiring views from every vantage point. I'm sure there are other comparably beautiful places on this earth; this just happens to be one of them. Throughout the west we've driven through high plains, high deserts, high steppe (grassy) lands, and a few high mountain passes with dabbled with snow. Yet, it wasn't until we left Pendleton, Oregon and began to drive along the narrower deeply-carved Columbia River gorge that we came upon the rich green of forested bluffs and hillsides. The Oregon side of the gorge along the eastern portion closer to The Dalles is much greener than the northern Washington side, which gets direct sunlight creating a drier climate. As we drive in a westerly direction toward Vancouver on the Washington side, tree-lined slopes increase and the evidence of the rain the Pacific Northwest is known for becomes apparent. Trees don't grow in such abundance without moisture.
So, while we begrudge the rain when there's too much of it, and the gray skies when they hem us in for days and weeks on end, we do appreciate the beauty the rains provide. Alas, our hearts are torn between the southwest lands with their more constant sunshine warming soft-hued desert hills and plains, and the westernmost Pacific Northwest with its abundance of snow-capped mountains like Mts. Rainier, Baker, Adams, St. Helens, and Hood in Oregon and stately Douglas Firs, Hemlocks, and Sitka Spruce trees. So, while we miss the charm and warmth of the Southwest, we know we are home, if only until the next yearnings tug at our hearty strings and we get the urge for adventure and the itch to wander. For now, we've been away from family, friends and community long enough. It's time for our “grandkids fix.” Time to reconnect with family, share memories, photos, and most important, time.
After washing both the van and trailer at the hand wash in Tumwater, we arrived home at 5:20pm after driving 7,787 miles in 59 days. Wow!
Until next trip,
Pam
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