This has been the first long-distance travel with the Gosling, the enclosed trailer in which I brought my motorcycle to Oregon. I had things in boxes, bins and loose, restrained by bungee cords, ratchet straps and nylon. Of course, we’re adding to the things that will return home with us, and I need better organization in the Gosling to fit it all in.

I’ve decided to create shelving in the vee-nose of the trailer. Compartments for the golf clubs, smoker grill, and all sorts of stuff. Two-by-four structure with plywood shelves. Of course, all my tools are at home, so I’m selectively buying ones I don’t own with which I can build the shelves.

Today, I cut the first of the 2×4 to length and created a rabbet to fit over the baseboard. Lots of hand work with a saw. I’ll be re-building muscles I lost a long time ago. Good thing I can take my time! I have six weeks …

No, not us! The road south from Hood River to Parkdale and back on the Dee Highway is called the Fruit Loop. It passes through numerous wineries and orchards, the latter growing apples, peaches and cherries. We did the loop on July 16th.

First stop was the Stone and Stave winery, which also has a lavender farm. Didn’t taste the wine, as wineries don’t open their tasting rooms until 11am or noon, and we were earlier. The lavender was just as beautiful as Provence, showing why the wines do well, too.

This was on the southward leg. We then had a wonderful lunch at the Apple Valley BBQ, and headed north on the Dee Highway. We crossed back over to the eastern leg to get to the Hood Crest winery (fantastic Tempranillo and Sangiovese!) and the Mt. Hood winery. Then, back home with the loot!

After we left the Crooked River Canyon, we struck northwest across the Warm Springs Indian reservation. The road drives straight toward Mt Hood through a combination of plains, alpine forest and temperate rain forest. Deb drove and I took lots of pictures of Mt. Hood.

We also had a look at Mt Jefferson, one of the many peaks in the area. Look at the tip to see the identifying difference from Mt Hood.

North of Bend OR is the Peter Skene Ogden State Park, where US-97 crosses the Crooked River. The river has cut a 300 foot gash in the plains, and it’s pretty impressive. Canyon is crossed by three bridges close to each other: railroad, US-97 and old US-97. Pictures are from the old road bridge.

When we drove south over the canyon, there was a company offering bungee jumping from the old road/ pedestrian bridge. No, we didn’t avail ourselves.

For the past 30 years the quilt guild based in Sisters OR have hosted an outdoor quilt show. They hang hundreds of quilts from store fronts, balconies, wires nailed into soffits and so on. Thousands of visitors come to this free, outdoor show. Debbi has been reading about it for a long while, but never thought she’d have the chance to attend. Since we’re dawdling on the left coast, we went! Here are some pictures from the show.

Of course, Debbi bought a commemorative tee shirt and carry bag!

When we visited Scotland a few years ago, we coined this title phrase, meaning that we drove over hill and dale, up and down in elevation, across broad fields of barley with lots of scenery. We did much the same on Saturday, 7/9, as we drove from The Dalles to the Sisters OR outdoor quilt show. It was not as windy as the Columbia river gorge, but there were lots of elevation changes. Nearer to the gorge, the fields were cereal grain, probably wheat. At the southerly end, we drove through the R2 Ranch, some 85,000 acres, which raises cattle (some 3000 head population), grows hay for winter feeding (about 5000 tons per year) and provides recreation near the Trout and White rivers. The fields of the R2 Ranch were also golden, but it was hay, not wheat.

When the road approaches Maupin, it snakes down to the Deschutes river, much like the road into Rosehearty (look elsewhere on this web site). Lots of adventure companies sell experiences like river rafting. The river is deeply cut into the hills. We saw one group go by as we ate lunch.

After lunch, we completed the drive to Sisters. Along the way we say welded wire barrels (squares of wire) filled with rock, and used to anchor fences and entry ways. Guess that is more permanent than building rock holders out of wood, and more permanent that wooden posts. Most of the wire fences were barbed wire with metal posts.

We passed a weather/ radar station and continued southwesterly with the Cascade mountains coming into view. It became clear that “if you water it, it will turn green.”

On this anniversary of our nation’s birth, we drove west about 30 miles, farther into the Columbia River gorge. There, tectonic uplift raised the basalt, with the Columbia river grinding its path downward through the uplift. Streams on the now table lands on either side of the river couldn’t grind their way downward as fast, so accumulating surface water cascades in waterfalls down into the gorge. There’s about 75 waterfalls in a 50 mile stretch. We visted three today, starting at Starvation Falls.

The Falls get their name from an 1884 train incident. The train rounded a curve and ran into a 25 foot snow drift. It took about two weeks to dig them out. They all survived! on food found in the train. The women cooked over coal until it ran out, then with wood found by the track. Alas, the sole pig onboard the train was completely committed to the survival of the train passengers. The train now runs along I-84.

We walked a trail which is the old US 30, also seeing Cabin Creek Falls and Hole In The Wall Falls. That’s also the path of the Oregon Trail. Hole In The Wall falls was a diversion of Warren Creek, which used to flood US 30, manmade in 1938. We saw a snake, lovely butterflies and flowers and silly tourists skidding down steep slopes in sneakers.

On the Washington state side of the Columbia river, there exists a memorial first dedicated to military people killed in WW1 from the area. The creator of the memorial decided to duplicate Stonehenge in its size and orientation, but complete. The memorial is not far from Maryhill winery, so we visited. It seems to be built of concrete, rather than discrete blocks. Here are some pictures:

For comparison, here is the original Stonehenge, on the UK Salisbury plain, from our visit in 2009. My hair has since gone white!

This past weekend we ventured across the Columbia river into Washington. We visited the Maryhill winery. Had some delicious lunch, tasted some very good wine. We joined their wine club, after verifying that they can ship to North Carolina. I especially like their Merlot (great cherry juice) and Syrah (dark cherry juice). Deb loves their chardonnay.

After lunch, we drove a bit farther east, crossed the river back to Oregon and came back to camp. Only fifty more wineries to visit!