Parque Natural Mexiquillo

6.30.2012

RVing is and Adventure



Head across the Astoria-Megier Bridge to Long Beach, WA. The bridge spans 4 miles at the mouth of the Columbia River. On the Oregon side the bridge rises to 197 feet above the river allowing ocean vessels to pass under on their way to Portland.



I picked up some of Rick's best. He smokes delicious salmon every summer. He is a must stop for me. Summer in the northwest means smoked salmon and oysters.

















Passing through Raymond, WA, I spotted the Carriage Museum. What a little gem. Carriages were the ultimate status symbol of the day. If you owned one, you not only had to buy the carriage and horses, but employ a driver, couch men, stable hands and have the space to house it all.


This Phaeton carriage still has the original wicker body. It was considered a ladies carriage.


This wagon was the panel delivery van of the day. Some were closed in and others open like the one below. 


This is heavy duty Road Couch was used to transport the English mail. The mail had priority, but if room remained they would carry passengers. They often traveled at night when there was less traffic on the roads. They were phased out when the trains began transporting the mail.


You are looking at the Porsche of the day. This small carriage was pulled by two horses. The power to weight ratio was right up there. This was an owner driven rig and often used for racing. The seat in the back is for the couch man. He was there to clear the road of debris and take care of the carriage.



North of Raymond it became really adventuresome. I pull off for a break and the rig would not start again.  Some electrical problem, the starter motor won't even click when I turned the key. I had no cell signal, but was saved by a good samaritan who pulled in. His phone had a very weak signal and I was able to call road side service.  Gabe, the tow truck driver, spent an hour with his meter trying to find the problem. I was towed 68 miles to Brazel's Performance RV in Centralia, WA. I got here at 10 pm. Friday. Now I wait until Monday when they open. I am happy to be towed to Brazel's as they have a great reputation.  If the rain stops I will explore on the Honda. 



6.26.2012

Columbia Gorge


I took the old hi way through the george. Beautiful scenery on a story day.

The morning view.














I drove the original hi way built in 1917. This is one of the original tunnels that is too small for todays vehicles. The road is narrow, but du able. I met another class A rig and we had 6 inches between our mirrors as we passed.













Lichen



















Multnomah Falls. Until 1917 tourists traveled by rail or river boat to visit the falls.






As I passed through Portland I stopped at Pok Pok for lunch. Both Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and The Best Thing I Ever Ate recommended the chicken wings. The were great.


Stopped for the night west of Portland. (45.74987, -122.84339)



6.25.2012

Discovery Center






















Starts with the prehistoric















Tusks and teeth

These guys have been around since the dinosaurs and are still in the Columbia.


Pioneers came to The Dalles and then rafted their wagons through the gorge to Oregon City





Looking west into the gorge




Camped in the gorge on the river (45.69108, -121.84135)






6.23.2012

Gone Fishing Again


Went Walleye fishing in the Columbia this morning. Tom's son Tommy, caught the first fish. A Sturgeon. He was too short, about 3 feet, to keep. They have to be between 4 and 5 feet.


Tommy caught two Walleye later and I caught three more like this one. Another great day fishing. Thanks Tom and Tommy.



Bar-B-Que


Tom got a new barbecue for Father's Day. It is called the Big Green Egg. Tonight he is cooking two different tri-tips. He injected one with a Cajun sauce and the other with worcestershire sauce.We all agreed that the tri-tip injected with the worcestershire sauce was better tasting. Both were very tasty.



6.22.2012

Gone Fishing

Gone Fishing

Heading up the lake at 45 mph with Tom (r) and his brother Ted. We are on the Snake River which is now lake after lake impounded behind a series of dams. We are above Little Goose Dam. Tom worked on building Little Goose and we both worked on Grand Coulee Dam when we were in our twenties.




We saw otters swimming, bull snakes slithering, steelhead leaping and caught small mouth bass all day. This was my first bass fishing experience. What a lot of fun. 


Osprey  nest

He had paddled down from Clarkston, WA, about 60 miles


Headed home. Ted and Tom, thanks for a great day fishing.


6.18.2012

Out in the Forest

Prineville, OR

Relaxing in the Ochoco National Forest (44.37153, -120.38926)


Taking a walkabout


Found the resting place of someone's beloved dog


Headed down the road following in Tioga &  George's tire tracks. I have followed George's blog from the beginning, always interested in all the new places he visited.  Now I get to be a vagabond. Thank you George for blazing the trail


Camped on the John Day River near Spray, OR (44.81351, -119.87499)


It was hot on the John Day, so I am headed for higher ground

 What a difference a few thousand feet makes. (44.97575, -119.71574)


Down out of the mountains into the wheat and windmill country. I am headed for the my friends Sherry and Tom"s place in Kennewick, WA