Our Travel Blog
We walked around the top of a volcano at the Newbury National Volcanic Monument, a very old volcano with its lava field flowing out and around, cool “holey” rocks, and a fire tower on top. The views were amazing and the crater was huge. And, it is only one of several in the area. I can’t imagine what it was like when they were all actively blowing off steam:)
We are on one of our last hikes in the Columbia River Gorge and are climbing steeply to Ponytail Falls. We come around a switchback and pass a family heading down. Their small child is in major meltdown. We move a few yards up the trail and spot a small stuffed bear hanging precariously below the trail over the gorge. I look back and through hand gestures with the mom understand the reason for the meltdown. I get a good hand and foot hold, and using the backpack as an extension Melissa scrambles down to rescue the stranded bear! We broke all of the rules of rock climbing anchors (sorry Chris B. you would have been pissed!), but sometimes you need to do the right thing.
In November of 1921, Charlie Sadilek was returning from goose hunting when he and another gentlemen took refuge in the Old Columbia River Highway twin tunnels during a snowstorm. For 9 days the stranded men cooked geese and camped out waiting for the road to be cleared. Today while hiking the old road, we found a stone carving they left in one of the tunnels. A cool piece of history preserved.
It’s the first hot day here in Washington and we needed a cool spot to cool down! So down we went into another lava tube. The Guler Ice Caves on Mt Adams are smaller than Ape Caves, but hold their ice all summer. We were the only ones there, no cell coverage, and the ice cave was iced over inside so we didn’t go to far in cuz it was very scary, well Darrin was scared…I wasn’t🤣.
Who knew Devil’s Tower’s cousin, Beacon Rock, lived in Washington! We stopped by to visit today and climbed to her very windy tippy top!
My friend Gary Meffe has just released his first fiction book about a small Vermont town:
“I am very excited to announce today the publication of my new book—my first novel—entitled The Wizard of Odd. A Vermont Tale of Community Devotion. Almost four years in the making, the book is being published by Green Writers Press of Brattleboro, VT. It has been a labor of love and a major focus of my life for the last several years and I would be very pleased if you would consider getting a copy and having a read. Please go to the book’s website—garykmeffe.com—which has detailed information, including a book description, author endorsements, book club information, and several ways to buy the book. It also has a short essay in my Blog section on my transition from scientific to fiction writing, called From Science to Fiction: Learning to Lie to Find a Truth; this might be of particular interest to my scientific friends and colleagues. You can pre-order the book now from your local independent bookstore; publication should be in about 10 days or so.”
Darrin has his hat back!! Reblocked, washed, new lining, new headband, new ribbon and a bit bigger to fit his umm…brainier head…and it is just like new! John Penman at The Penman Hat Company did a fabulous job erasing 7 years of constant wear. I will now be able to find Darrin in a crowd again. Thanks John!
of the photo! An easy hike to Mirror Lake gave us a great photographic angle for pictures of Mt. Hood.
While heading from the coast to the high desert we spent a few days exploring the Columbia River Gorge. We really didn’t know anything of the gorge other than it was the place to be for kite surfers! Come to find out it’s primarily known for the waterfalls. We had a fun, full day hiking into the various falls. We even dunked our heads in one to cool off from the hike in; just the head, too many around for a real dip!
My Grandfather liked to go for “drives”. Kids in the back, adults in the front and off we’d go (an era before car seats and seatbelts). Up and over, around and about, this way and that through the hill country of northern New Jersey and Pennsylvania we went. Today, driving the Old Columbia Gorge Highway in Oregon reminded me of those trips, the twisty road, the old concrete bridges and guardrails, and the beautiful scenery. I think my Grandfather might have been traveling with us in the backseat enjoying the “drive”.
