Saying Goodbye

We have been putting off the inevitable as long as we could. It was time to leave our friends behind and start our journey back east before the white fluffy cotton starts falling from the sky and causes Road Hazard to become a real danger. Spending time with Hossein, Maureen and the girls has been terrific. The evening singing and dance shows that the girls would put on for us will be missed as well as to hear their laughter and see their smiles. I never did like saying goodbyes.

While in Portland I have to admit that I have learned a few things. In a previous blog I mentioned the recycling practices performed here. There is a reason that their football team wears the color green. It's the way everyone thinks here. Green is in. Green is Oregon. I expect to see Al Gore jump out from behind a tree if I mistakenly put an item into the wrong bin. Thanks Maureen for educating me on recycling and now making me feel guilty when I don't.

Wednesday morning, as we packed up and prepared Road Hazard for the asphalt trail, we said our goodbyes to our latest friend we made along the way. Pete and his wife Sarah were staying next to us in the campground. We would sit and talk some evenings and exchanged stories of being full timers. I shared the blog with him and he shared something very valuable to anyone who enjoys camping and RVing. He created a web site that locates and reviews campgrounds around the country. I invite my friends that have "Hazards" of their own to explore his website and contribute. It's a free site so check it out!

http://www.askerv.com

The road out of Portland took us along I-84 which runs along the Columbia River. The calm water twisting and reflecting the tall mountains that frame the river.

At one point in our journey the sky started to turn a funny color. It almost looked like it was gray clouds but there was something different. When I looked at the sun through this cloud it surprised me. An eerie red ball in the sky took the place of what should have been the sun. Then Reta reminded me that there is a forest fire burning out of control in the Southeast corner of the state. This must be the smoke from the burning timbers. Sure enough, when we stopped at a rest stop an hour later I noticed the front of the RV was covered in ash as if someone had taken the ashes from a fire place and thrown it against RH.

A loud rumble and shaking of the RV would indicate that a truck loaded with trees would pass us on the way to the lumber mills. Tree farms line the highway for miles. Cedar is still a big dollar industry as it was hundreds of years ago when these cities were first started in this corner of the country.

Finally, arriving at our home for the night I took a second to relax with these wooden coins the campground gave us. Our journey will continue early in the morning as we continue to push east.

Reaching New Heights

Still in Washington State we decided that we needed to explore one of the two famous mountains near Seattle. We decided to go explore Mt. Rainer since we had done Mt. St. Helens a few years ago. Mt. Rainer is only 50 miles from downtown Seattle, as the crow flies, so when you are in the city you can see this huge presence of rock looming in the background as you walk about town. The closer we got to Mt. Rainer the more impressive this huge rock became. We were very fortunate that the day was better than can ever be expected in this part of the country, where clouds are the norm. We entered the Park and started our slow gradual accent to the highest point that you can drive by car called Paradise.

Along the road were tall pine trees that covered any view of the valley below. Once in awhile the trees would open up to reveal an incredible sight. In the picture above we stopped to take our first look at the mountain from within the park. This little creek is running low today but in early spring when the snows begin to melt on the mountain this creek turns into a big nasty river. You can see how wide it becomes. The mountain is rich in iron and the red rocks are tinted from the iron in the water.

We spotted another run off that was running pretty fast and full. Here the water ran a milky white from all the ash washing down the mountain. Hundreds of years ago this mountain was an active volcano and it spewed lava and ash for hundreds of miles. Today the ash is still being eroded away by the snow melts. How do you like the bridge? It was only 12 inches wide and when you stood in the middle it would sway and bounce. The spray of the river would lick your feet as you bounced across.

When we were walking back to the truck we both commented on how many places this little truck has been since we started this trip. What was once used for mulch around the house has become a world traveler. I'll even forgive it for cutting loose in the beginning of our trip!

Once we arrived in Paradise we were so enchanted with the area that we decided to check into the lodge and spend an evening high up in the mountain. Sitting at 5,600' with views all around. We checked in and decided to go for a short hike to take advantage of the beautiful day. Who knows what the weather would be like tomorrow.

Along this trek we encountered more wildlife than we have seen anywhere else. We saw Wombats (like gophers but bigger), Deer, Chipmunks and even Black Bear.

Here we are in the beginning of September and we were still walking on snow! Some of the trail was covered by snow and at one point we had to walk up a hill that was slanted sideways. One slip and you would find yourself about a hundred feet downhill.

What was a short hike turned into a long 5 mile trek with over 1,500' of vertical climb. We were so excited about the sights we were seeing that we just kept going until we climbed to the highest point allowed. Anything higher required a permit for back country camping. In the picture above we are at 6,400' and at the base of a huge gorge that the snow melt has created. Waterfalls seemed to be all around us as the snow continues to melt. We sat in this spot close to an hour just taking in the sight. Watching the waterfalls cascade over the tall cliffs and quickly disappear under the blanket of snow below the falls, only to emerge downstream somewhere. While sitting here we could here rocks being cut loose off the cliffs and crashing below. The ice is shifting with the water and melting happening all around these glaciers and you could hear the cracking and popping of these huge chunks of ice colliding and pressing against each other.

Take a look at the slide show to see the incredible journey we took. Mt. Rainer is a spectacular place to be. Days can be spent hiking and enjoying the sights along with the local residents that graze the hillsides. One of the highlights of our trip!

Northern Exposure

With Road Hazard still siting in the shop we decided that we should take a short trip up to Washington. The reason Road Hazard is still there is really a benefit to us. We put it in the shop to have a leaky jack fixed. We knew that it would take some time for them to locate the leak and that they would want the RV for several days. You might be asking why? Free Storage! It's in a safe place and looked after. It will get fixed and in the mean time we can stay at our friends house and visit other places.

The first place we stopped to explore was Olympia, the State Capital. Here we found a Capital building that looks like the one in DC. This one is sitting atop a big hill it overlooks the blue waters of Capital Lake unlike the one in DC that overlooks just buildings.

We were fortunate that the Farmers Market was going on when we arrived by the waterfront and we walked around smelling the different foods, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and flowers. It would be terrific to live near a place like this and be able to pick up all these fresh items.

We continued north on I5 and came to Seattle. Fortunately for us the sun has followed us for the past couple of days. We first went to visit another, more famous, Market. Pike Place Market. Sitting along Elliot Bay and nestled in the downtown district with only a short walk to both the Baseball and Football stadiums.

Your sense's are overwhelmed by the sights, sounds and smells you encounter as you zig zag through the crowds. You need something to eat? Most likely you'll find it here and it will be the freshest you've ever had. Need a good cup of coffee? You can go to the coffee shop that has started all the buzz around the country. That's right...Starbucks.

You'll notice that the original store had a slightly different logo. When they went national they had to "tame" the mermaid and hide the, how should we say, the puppies. The store is packed and it's standing room only. Not big enough to hold the comfortable seats and couch's you'll find at the one in your neighborhood.

On our trip around the city we found Pioneer Square. This square was the birthplace of Seattle. It all started right here. The first stores, the first fire that wiped out the city and the first rebuilt buildings to start up the city again. With the water being so close, this area was prone to flooding from the tides everyday. After many years they finally decided to build the city up to prevent water from washing out the streets. When they did this it also created an "underground". What was the first floor or main entrance to a business was now the basement or underground. With all these tunnels it became a breeding ground for the vices of booze, gambling and women. We took a tour that took us underground to see these tunnels and were told of the rough beginnings the city went through to become this emerald it is today.

With the sun starting to hide for the evening, behind the islands in the sound, we had dinner in Des Moines. It is about 1/2 hour south of downtown Seattle. Quiet and small it felt to get away from the hustle and bustle of a big city, kick back and have a cold one. Good way to relax before the busy work weeks starts.

Across the Bridge

Today we ventured over the bridge into Vancouver, Washington. A big green steel bridge connected the two river banks. Its tall green structure looked like a pile of Pick Up Sticks with so many beams crossing over each other.

At around this time we had to find somewhere to eat so we decided to try this place we had both heard of, Burgerville. I have to say this is the best burger I have ever had. I tried the Tillamook Cheeseburger. If you have never had Tillamook Cheese before than you haven't had cheese. This is sent down directly from the gods. This is "Fast Food" but the exit strategy...not so much. Let me explain. Here, tucked in the northwest corner of this mighty country sits these people that live among big lush green forests. They don't see much sun because of the almost daily dose of clouds mixed in with rain in many months of the year. They take to other indoor activities one of which is called recycling. Now, don't get me wrong, everyone recycles but they have taken it to the next level.

They have the usual bins in the restaurant for Plastic bottles but I had to take a picture of this! Once the line of people left, who waited patiently in line to discard there leftover "Fast Food" meal, I managed to take this picture with out too much attention. Now listen carefully, the Blue Bin is for your plastic and paper, Black Bin is for waste and the Green Bin is for leftover food only. Amazing to see people patiently picking their bundles of waste apart to put into the appropriate bins. The Bin Nazi was hovering nearby to ensure that one didn't throw a french fry into the wrong color bin. Like children we were rewarded with a "Good Job" upon exit. It's a good thing that they are doing here, don't get me wrong, but where is this going to end?

After a big meal like that, one usually has to, how should I put this, make room! Hey where's my privacy around here!

No, stop it. We visited Fort Vancouver which was a prominent Fort along the river and was a major hub in the fur business and of Oregon. The Hudson Bay Company was headquartered here around the 1830's. I was checking out their restroom facilities of their time. Not very good. A bucket of ash to "flush" the waste into the hole. The bad thing, I didn't see a toilet paper holder in there. I don't want to know what was used, if anything.

Today the buildings have been rebuilt to replicate the busy center and give us an insight into the way life used to be. A trading post stands filled with furs, blankets, baskets, gun powder and so many other items that would be used in everyday life. Indians and trappers would trade their hunted furs for necessary supplies. The furs were bundled up and shipped back to England for the growing interest in fur. In the picture above I am holding a wolf. If it had fur it was trapped and sold.

After a great experience at the Fort we headed into town to find a Sports Bar. It is after all the first game of the new NFL season. The best part the game started here at 4 in the afternoon. In time for Happy Hour specials. To make it better, my team, The Washington Redskins were playing.

With a huge screen surrounded by 8 smaller ones around it we sat and watched the Skins lose their opener. It's a long season so I'm not too worried about it.

Day of Falls

Oregon is filled with many natural wonders that seem to be around every corner. Along Interstate 84, which follows the mighty Columbia River, there are tall cliffs that end at the river's edge. Called the Columbia River Gorge it is home to numerous water falls. The tallest and most famous in this area is Multnomah Falls. The water cascades 620' and this makes it the second tallest in the nation, only to follow Niagara Falls.

The trail takes you over two bridges that lead you around a twisty path that snakes up the along the cliff to reach the top of the falls. Being the most famous it is packed with people trying to take their snap shop of memories to take home. The views from the top are breath taking as you look out over the river below.

The small circular platform sits at the waters edge for you to watch the water disappear over the edge.

We decided to go explore a few more waterfalls since this area has a least 6 more within a few miles. We drove on Route 30, which used to be the old highway before I-84 was built. Here the two lane road winds around the mountains and tucked back away from the road are beautiful homes that must have incredible views.

Latourell Falls was our next stop (picture above) and it was less crowded. The sound of water hitting the rocks below along with the cool mist in your face took you to a calm oasis where you could just feel your body relax. Even with the sun hiding behind the clouds the colors around the falls seemed intense.

The next falls we stopped at is called Bridal Veil Falls. After a short hike down the dense forest trail we came to the base of this two combo falls. Another place of nirvana and to think that they are less than an hour from the busy city. To be able to escape the hectic schedule of everyday life and drive a couple hours to the coast or an hour to the mountains is something that I am not used to. They tell me that on a clear day you can see 5 mountains; Mt St Helens, Mt Rainier, Mt Adams, Mt Hood and Mt Jefferson. If only the weather were nicer in this area it would be a great place to live. If only...

Coast of Oregon

With summer quickly winding down we decided to check out the Oregon coast while the weather was still cooperating. Our friends, Hossein and Maureen, joined us for a quick trip to Cannon Beach. It's a little less than 2 hours from Portland. Amazingly the fog was still following us on the coast but it did break a few times to revel the sun. As we strolled along the beach with our feet in the gentle surf we were amazed by the views along the coast. Tall cliffs dumping into the blue water. The water is ice cold and any minute you expect to see penguins come floating by on an iceberg but the locals don't seem to mind. I guess not knowing that true beach water is around the mid 70's like, you would find in Florida, they seem happy to be splashing around in this cold water. The blue lips just make it part of the experience.

This big mound of rock sitting in the surf is called Haystack and seems like it was dropped while someone was sculpting the coastline. Standing 237 feet above the water it is home to many birds, including tufted puffins, gulls, and cormorants. On our visit the hazy fog gave it a mystical appearance.

We have known our friends from when they lived in Maryland and have remained close despite the distance. We are catching up and also reminiscing on past days with much laughter and cheer. If only Oregon were warmer this would be the place to be.

The town of Cannon Beach is cute small town America. With its one main street lined with colorful flowers that fills the air with its sweet nectar, small shops and restaurants. The busy street is filled with people out with their families enjoying the last few days of warmth before the cold settles in.

The evening was spent around a fire sharing stories until our sides were hurting from laughter. Our first guests to spend the night in Road Hazard! I think they enjoyed the experience and to make sure they had an understanding of how our lives have been the last 9 months we insisted that Hossein drive us back to Portland the next day.

I could tell he was a bit nervous in the beginning but as he tackled the winding road through the mountains he became a little more relaxed as the miles clicked on. By the time we reached Portland the color had returned to his fingers from squeezing the steering wheel so hard.

Road Hazard is in the shop today and we should have it back in a couple of days as they figure out why the jacks are still not working correctly. There's always something.

Dark Side of Portland

For the last week we've been touring the different area's of Portland with our friends. I haven't been able to update the blog as I normally do because we are always on the go. In the evening, after their kids go off to bed, we have time to sit down to talk and laugh. We are staying here with them as Road Hazard is in the shop getting its routine maintenance done.

Reta and I did sneak off to downtown Portland one day last week. We went into the Northwest part of town called Chinatown and Pearl District.

Along this part of the city the river separates Portland in half. Several bridges connect the two sides. Each bridge is different from the other in appearance and the way it is constructed.

We took a tour that explored the underground of Portland. Underground with both meanings. Literally, underground in the tunnels that connect the different buildings and figuratively with the underground world that was once so prominent years ago in this area.

The tunnels, most of which have been blocked off, used to dissect the city and was used to transport people and other illegal activities between buildings. "Shanghai" is a term used for some of the activities that took place. People would be sitting in a bar and the next thing a trap door would open and they would end up through the tunnels and onto a ship to work for extremely low wages. Some considered it slavery because of the conditions. They wouldn't return for many years, if they were lucky.

We also toured the Chinese Garden that sits in the middle of this busy metropolis. The calm of the water and the beauty of the flowers transports you to another world of serenity.

We enjoyed a nice cup of tea while we took in the relaxing atmosphere and reflected back on our days activities.