paulina and east lake

Day 285 – Cascades Lakes Highway

Day 285 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Sparks Lake

The skies were clear in Bend when I headed west into the Deschutes National Forest via the Cascade Lakes Highway.  Once I got into the mountains; however, it was a different story:  overcast and misty.  I can only imagine the beauty of Sparks Lake in the sunlight.  I rounded the bend and came across a golden prairie, perfectly flat like a parking lot, situated in between the evergreen covered mountains. 

It was such a stark contrast that it was simply remarkable despite the poor weather. At first, I didn’t even see the lake, only a narrow stream which wound through the meadow.  In fact, when I stopped to snap a photo, a placard claimed the Ray Atkeson, a professional photographer, felt this was the most stunning landscape in Oregon.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
mount bachelor

Day 284 – Mount Hood – Columbia River Gorge Loop (Part 4)

Day 284 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Barlow Road Tollgate

We awoke to another dreary day which kept me from any hikes first thing in the morning.  Just along the highway, we made our first stop at the reconstructed Barlow Road Tollgate.  Opened by Sam Barlow in 1846, this passageway was the first toll road on the Oregon Trail. Prior to the opening, pioneers had to convert their covered wagons into rafts and ride the rapids of the Columbia River.  Travelers paid 25 cents to pass through the gate and meeting the toll man was even a social occasion as they hadn’t seen anyone for miles.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
view from ponytail falls

Day 280 – Mount Hood – Columbia River Gorge Loop (Part 2)

Day 280 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways
Bonneville Fish Hatchery

Another great day in the gorge!  Our morning started out at the sturgeon fish hatchery.  I was expecting to take a walk to some sort of tank; see a giant, prehistoric looking fish; and then leave…a fifteen minute stop or so.  I spent an entire hour there!  One area was historic and included several old white buildings, one of which operated as an egg incubator house.  The Bonneville Fish Hatchery incubates 15 million eggs to the eyed stage.

The hatchery purchases half a million pounds of feed to nourish 10 million fish annually.  Fish is the main ingredient in the food which also includes proteins, fats and carbohydrates.  Fish may be tracked in a variety of ways, but Oregon hatchery fish are tagged with a coded wire in their snout and have their adipose fin clipped.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
columbia river gorge

Day 279 – Columbia River Road (Part 2) and Mount Hood – Columbia River Gorge Loop

Day 279 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Ice Cave in Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Another wonderful day in the Pacific Northwest!  After a quick snapshot of Mount Adams, I took a short jaunt west from Trout Lake to explore an ice cave.  I expected to be taken on a guided tour, but instead found myself alone in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.  Beneath the evergreens by a picnic area is the entrance to a lava tube.  The cold air from the winter is trapped inside the cave forming an ice pool with stalagmite ice crystals poking upward from the floor.

Based on the information board map drawing there are two ice pools, a natural bridge, a crystal grotto, a crack room, and a few pits.   I only explored the first ten feet of the 400 foot cave as I was alone and had no intention of falling on ice and sharp lava in the dark!  I also followed a path above ground which led to the crack room and the pits.  Had I had the proper equipment and a partner, I would have liked to see the crystal grotto.  I bet it would be fantastic especially closer to winter time.  The weak beam on my flashlight just barely illuminated the area from a distance, but neither my eyes nor my camera were successful in focusing on much!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
paddle wheeler on Columbia River

Day 278 – Columbia River Gorge

Day 278 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Today I headed inland along the Columbia River on the Washington-Oregon border.  I spent my time on the Washington State side and stopped to enjoy the panorama of Oregon’s wooded hills and of the powerful river that lay at the foot vertical cliffs from Cape Horn Viewpoint.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
view from cape kiwanda

Day 277 – Oregon Coast Highway (Part 3)

Day 277 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Fort Stevens State Park

I found a campsite last night at Fort Stevens State Park which didn’t make my scenic drives book. The campgrounds were enormous: 550 sites.  It was like a small city. Before I left the park this morning, I enjoyed some of the sites; the first being the wreck of the Peter Iredale. 

There is nothing special about the wreck of the Peter Iredale.  It was simply a ship that had sailed 28 days from Mexico that was bound for Portland to pick up some cargo.  Strong winds and rough seas forced it onto the shore where a portion of the ship remains today and has become a popular tourist attraction and hence its fame.

Just inland from the beach is Coffenbury Lake.  The tranquil lake, nestled in the trees, is stocked with trout and a popular fishing location for campers.  Petey and I took a short walk along its shore before turning north to Astoria.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
family photo

Day 276 – A Day in Portland

Day 276 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Horse Friends

So I spent Saturday evening and the majority of Sunday with Casey, Ross, and their two wonderful children, Griffin and Claudia.  The connection, as usual, is from the horse show days.  Casey competed in jumpers while I rode hunters.  Casey’s husband Ross owns his own software development company with another partner and enjoys cooking (more about dinner in a minute).

Griffin is a SMART fifth grader who likes Lego Robots and recently required an emergency room visit for stitches after a bicycle accident.  Claudia, a bundle of energy, is a first grader who plays tennis and enjoys showing off the latest fashion.  Three non-matching, colorful socks, one tied around the knee, was my personal favorite.

For dinner Ross prepared a mouth watering meal;  flavorful steak on the grill, a medley of vegetables from their garden, a tomato and mozzarella salad, potatoes, and
stuffed mushrooms.  Needless to say, I was in heaven!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
hoquiams castle

Day 275 – Travel Day

Day 275 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Hoquiam’s Castle

I had planned the morning to visit Hoquiam’s Castle and Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge before heading to Portland to visit some friends from my horseback riding days.  Both attempts turned out to be a bust.  Hoquiam’s Castle was built in 1897 by a timber tycoon named Robert Lytle.  It is a twenty room mansion, turned Bed & Breakfast.  I suppose I could have wandered into the lobby and looked around, but oddly I felt like taking a full-blown house tour to change things up on this dreary day.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 274 – Olympic Loop (Part 4)

Day 274 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

I left the mountains and headed for the coast this morning.  We took a brief drive through La Push, Washington for a view of the harbor before returning to Second Beach, one of many beaches in the Olympic National Park which seemed to encompass the entire western peninsula of Washington.  I really can’t imagine basking in the sun on Second Beach.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
wildflowers on hurricane ridge

Day 272 – Olympic Loop (Part 3)

Day 272 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

We spent the year anniversary of my journey in Olympic National Park.  After a year, I’ve obviously learned quite a bit about nature, geology, history, and geography; but I’ve also learned a few things about myself, Petey, and Scout (when she was with us) that I didn’t know.  I’ve met a variety of kind individuals and feel very rewarded for them to have shared part of their life with me.  My journey has been interesting, fun, and at times both lonely and challenging. 

Amazingly, after a year of traveling to the lower forty-eight states, I still feel like there is so much more to see in this nation and that I will need to revisit many places at more length. Olympic National Park is a good example. I simply sampled a few short trails in different areas of the park.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!