"In his domestic administration my father had this system . . . to keep a journal and insert in it all occurrences of any note . . . A record very pleasant to look at when time begins to efface the memory of events, and very well suited to get us out of perplexity: When was such and such a thing begun? When completed? What retinues came? How long did they stay? Our trips, our absences; marriages; deaths; the receipt of happy or unhappy news . . . An ancient custom, which I think it would be good to revive, each man in each man's home. And I think I am a fool to have neglected it." (Montaigne, Book I, Essay 35 (publ. 1580))

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Oregon trip, v. 4

For this year, PJ suggested that we reprise a favorite trip - our Oregon tour - I heartily agreed - so we pretty much retraced our steps from our visits in 2012, 2013 and 2014 (discussed here).

The formula we've been following:

--fly to Portland, pick up car, drive straight to Astoria for late lunch
--three nights at Cannery Pier Hotel; day trips in the area; wander around town
--drive to Welches (near Mt. Hood) and spend two nights
--hiking (Mirror Lake, Tamanawas Falls, in-town wandering)
--drive to Portland (via Hood River); get rid of car; spend three nights
--wander Portland
--interesting lunches and dinners throughout (and plenty of brewery stops)

We added one new hike (after Thursday's lunch in Hood River) - this was a loop in the Columbia Gorge area - around Horsetail Falls - just gorgeous.

The trip (September 10-18) was delightful, as always; in fact, we both felt that we enjoyed it more than ever.  Traveling together like this never gets old.  Very good luck with weather, restaurants (including old favorites and some very good new ones), travel conditions, hotels, hikes, etc.

A few looks from 2016 (not repeating photos posted in prior years, except when I occasionally do):

Columbia River slides past Astoria; Megler Bridge; Cannery Pier out in the water.  Walking the hills.

As we return from our walk, this huge vessel is heading toward the Pacific (PJ in pink top near the hotel)

Then we step inside . . . lovely room, you feel that you open the door and step right onto the river . . . 

From that same hotel room balcony, as sun sets later that evening.

Fortunate timing gets us to the best seat in the house for sunset on Mt. Hood (at Timberline Lodge)

Tamanawas Falls amazes; the entire loop hike is quite fine.

PJ checking out Horsetail Falls (Columbia River gorge)

A view along the Horsetail Falls loop hike - we'd never quite gotten to
this classic view of the Columbia River/Oregon Trail.
PJ skittering back to trailhead (last portion of the loop tracks the old highway).  

Returning from Mirror Lake:


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