June 17 – 23, 2012 “Mt. Hood and Columbia River”

The 100 mile trip northwest from Crooked River to Welches was very windy, and contrary to what some believe about tag axles, we were pushed around quite easily on the two lane highway 26 by the broadside 35 – 45 mph gusts; granted, not as bad as the Suncruiser, but bad enough to be very diligent while driving the winding road. We arrived at Mt. Hood Village RV Resort about 2 pm, and were assigned site 41. (Click on any image to enlarge)

As you can see from the picture above, it is very green around the base of Mt. Hood for one reason; rain and / or snow, which we had for the next two days, almost non-stop. It gave us some time to do the necessary housecleaning, laundry and catching up on e-mails. Lucky for us, by the third morning, the sun gods decided to smile upon us, and our cabin fever was broken; off for the short 15 mile drive to Mt. Hood.

TimberlineLodge at Mt. Hood is a mountain lodge on the south side of Mount Hood in Oregon, about 60 miles (97 km) east of Portland. Built in the late 1930s, this National Historic Landmark sits at an elevation of 5,960 feet within the Mt. Hood National Forest and is accessible through the Mt. Hood Scenic Byway. It is a popular tourist attraction, drawing more than a million visitors annually. It is noted in film for serving as the exterior of the Overlook Hotel in The Shining.

The lodge was constructed in 15 months between 1936 and 1938 as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project during the Great Depression. Workers used large timbers and local stone, and placed intricately carved decorative elements throughout the building. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Lodge on September 28, 1937.

We continued on Hwy 26 as it loops around Mt. Hood, as it connects with Hwy 35 for the trip northward through the fruitful valley to Hood River. There we picked up I-84 westbound for the short drive to the dam.

Bonneville Lock and Dam consist of several run-of-the-river dam structures that together complete a span of the Columbia River between the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington at River Mile 146.1. The dam is located 40 miles east of Portland, Oregon, in the Columbia River Gorge. The primary functions of Bonneville Lock and Dam are electrical power generation and river navigation. The dam was built and is managed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Electrical power generated at Bonneville is distributed by the Bonneville Power Administration. Bonneville Lock and Dam is named for Army Capt. Benjamin Bonneville, an early explorer credited with charting much of the Oregon Trail. The Bonneville Dam Historic District was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1987.

Despite its world record size in 1938, the original Bonneville Lock became the smallest of seven locks built at different locations upstream on the Columbia and Snake Rivers; eventually a new lock was needed at Bonneville. This new structure was built on the Oregon shore, opening to ship and barge traffic in 1993. It is large enough to handle a tug with five barges, with a 60 foot ascent or descent, depending on direction of travel.

Take the time to view the 3 part video on Bonneville Lock and dam on You Tube Video below.

Back in the car, and after a short drive we arrived at a waterfall as magnificent and memorable as any in the country. Visiting Multnomah Falls, a 611-foot-tall roaring, awe-inspiring cascade of icy water, lets you experience the power and beauty of nature up close and with ease. From the parking area off of I-84, a 5-minute walk is all that separates you from the exhilarating spray at the base of the falls.

WOW……….all that in one LONG day. We were totally exhausted, and couldn’t wait to get back “home” for happy hour around 7 pm; a little lot later than usual. By the time we ate and showered it was time for the sandman to arrive. Tomorrow is another day.

OK, I consider myself a patient person; usually. But two more days of rain? Moss is starting to grow where the sun doesn’t shine, and that is NOT a good thing, because it’s on me! Oh well, Mother Nature wins again. From here we will move to Portland, and hopefully some drier weather, down in the valley.

Thanks for stopping by, until next time, take care and stay well…………….