the smokin' good time continues

So, Mt St Helens was a blast! Besides breath-taking views, the rest areas offer historical information that ignite the imagination. If you guys have not been there we would suggest that you go. Pete says it's a 'lava' fun. There are a lot of Elk there as well and it's pretty easy to catch a view of them. We also enjoyed an Elk burger for lunch. Peter called it one of the best burgers that he's ever had. And it was good! Now on this wild west tour we have had elk, buffalo jerky, and fish prepared the Chinese way.

We arrived in Portland last night. And I drove into the city during rush hour. This is a big deal! I don't usually do city drive at all. I would rather park miles away and walk. So, I had a big accomplishment, of course with Peter's help navigating. Team Sailhamer working together again.

We camped east of the city, near the Columbia River Gorge. The route we took said it was the scenic byway, however, by the time we were driving on it all was dark. The first thing we noticed when we woke up was how windy it was here. But the sound of the wind blowing through tall pines is a beautiful thing. As we drove back to the highway we came across several tall waterfalls cascading down rocky cliffs right at the edge of the road. Funny to think that we drove right past and didn't see a thing the night before. We spent the morning taking pictures and hiking around. You might know of one falls in particular, the Multnoma Falls. They are the second highest falls in the US, 620 feet. We got chai tea at the base of the falls and after a photo shoot hiked the 1.5 miles to the top. What a spectacular view of the river. Looking at it and hiking the landscape brought a new understanding to the Oregon Trail. What a rough journey.

This afternoon we went to Washington Park in Portland and walked around the Japanese Gardens that stated back in the 1880s. It was gorgeous with small streams and waterfalls around shaded corners. Stone foot paths and bridges covered in moss wound their way through, showing off so many hidden gems. I looked in awe at the restful beauty and intricate detail of this garden.

Tonight we will walk around downtown Portland and then head to the coast. I've been told by several people that Cannon Beach is a must with spectacular views of the rocky coast.