Jul 14, 2014

 

The thumbnail shot is of Mount Hood which we spotted yesterday and loved that we were getting closer and closer as we retraced the steps of the emigrants. 

 

We headed out early and steadily climbed up into the Tygh Valley to retrace the trip of the emigrants on the Barlow Trail to Oregon City where they could register their land claims so even if they peeled off before that final destination if they wanted to claim their free land they had to somehow make their way to Oregon City to do that.The ride was through gently undulating to quite steep ascents and descents and sweeping corners with miles and miles of wheat ready to harvest until we got into the Mount Hood National Forest when the wheat was replaced with cedar forests. In sight of the forest we called in to see the White River Falls which were impressive.

 

This is a shot early in the day looking at Mount Hood from afar.

 

And one getting close to up close and personal as we trekked the Barlow Trail.

 

We enjoyed a deliciously cool and fragrant ride through the forest and decided to head to Timberline Lodge which we visited in 1998 when we were in Portland. Not surprisingly this is right on the timberline on Mount Hood and there were heaps of people visiting today including many people who were skiing and snow boarding. This time we climbed up the stairs to go in the front door, last time we walked in off the snow which was over 12 feet deep. This is one of a number of Lodges which were built after the great depression as a means of developing the infrastructure and giving a living wage to many people, craftsmen and artists who built and furnished the buildings. 

Check it out::

http://www.timberlinelodge.com/lodging/?keyword=hotel%20mt%20hood&gclid=Cj0KEQjwopOeBRC1ndXgnuvx8JYBEiQAq4RPtzva8S6z_5ofszE-1NrOzLcoezg2NXZv4_bV1QifbGMaAv1l8P8HAQ

 

We visited the final Oregon Trail Interpretive Centre in Oregon City which we had visited in 1998 which was where our interest started. We were intrigued to hear that the Centre was closed through the GFC and only been reopened for a year.

 

The map of the trail.

 

And the sign to make it official.

 

We caught up with an old friend Max Keogh who moved to the USA some years ago and told us where to find the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum where the 'Spruce Goose' is housed and having seen a documentary on it we headed off there and were blown away with the plane and the sheer scale of it.  Here we are under the wing of the huge timber plane.

One of the museum buildings. Wish we had  more time available to check out all that was on offer but we really only came to see the Spruce Goose. We could easily have spent all day there.

Check it out::  

http://evergreenmuseum.org/the-museum/aircraft-exhibits/the-spruce-goose/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Nights Accommodation:

 

 

Cousins Country Inn, 2114 West 6th Street, The Dalles, OR 97058

Good decor and well maintained building and surroundings, huge number of rooms in 4 separate buildings. No elevators but not a drama. Comfortable bed. Good sized room and good amenities. Included parking and wifi with a discount on biscuits and gravy in the morning, west country fare but not for us. On the outskirts of town but on-site saloon and full restaurant so no walking for dinner. Yay. Great food and good value as is the accommodation.