THE PEONIES
A few weeks ago I posted up a picture of a pink peony blooming in the yard. Karen mentioned that white were her favorite and I promised a picture of our white ones when they bloomed.
The rootstock of our pink tree peony is sending up shoots of its own this year too. They are pink but with white centers.
THE WATERFALLS OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE
We'd made arrangements to drive the Columbia River Gorge on Sunday and visit/hike a few waterfalls with some friends we don't get to see often enough. It was a great day.
We started off picking them up in Portland and having a late breakfast at Back to Eden Bakery. We picked up a few yummy things to take along and off we went down I-84 into the Columbia Gorge.
Soon we exited onto old Highway 30 - a scenic byway. Vista House at Crown Point is a major tourist destination. We stopped just before it to get a view of the Gorge.
Vista house can barely be seen to the right on Crown Point, a promontory in the gorge. Here is a closer view.
Back in the car to Vista House - construction was started in December 1916. For the story of Vista House click this -----> LINK.
Once again in the car and a few u-turns later we were heading west down the twist and turns of the old Columbia River Highway. This road is a perfect motorcycle road, that is unless you get stuck behind slow moving tourists.
Next stop was Latourell Falls.
Then we stopped at Bridal Veil Falls for a wee hike.
The next and last stop was Multnomah Falls. There were so many people here that I didn't take many pictures. I didn't get the full falls and bridge, but mostly pictures of the upper falls. We did hike the 1.25 mile/11 switchback trail to the top. Surprisingly we weren't even sore the next day.
View from the top of Multnomah Falls
The river plunging over the edge to become Multnomah Falls.
I stopped to smell the wild roses on the way back down.
We made our way back down, stopped by the gift shop to have a peek and had some snacks back at the car. By the time we drove back to Portland it was close to 6 pm and sustenance was needed. Our friends took us to a wonderful little vegan bar called Sweet Hereafter for some awesome pub food. Thank you again you two - you know who you are.
Troubadour's Buffalo Soy Curl Baguette
My Eastern Bowl - tofu, broccoli, avocado and peanut sauce over brown rice
I didn't get a picture of the raw vegan strawberry cheesecake but it too was delicious. Soon we had to drop our friends off and head home. Brad had to work Memorial Day Monday so the alarm would ring at 4 am. We managed to get home by 9:30 and in bed by 10:30. It was a long but awesome day.
For some reason I don't think the pictures of the waterfalls turned out as well this time as they did when Meg and I went hiking. I think because these waterfalls were so much higher and the clouds and cliffs were darker.
- Au Revoir
"There are big ships and small ships, but the best ship of all is friendship." - Author Unknown
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omg! the food, the flowers, the scenery! excellent!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I am inclined to agree.
DeleteTrobairitz:
ReplyDeleteThe last time I was at Vista House and Multnomah Falls I was riding my Kymco X500Ri Maxi-Scoot. It was during the height of tourist season and it was very hard to find parking. I remember a road coming down into the Gorge with many twisties and switchbacks.
Your food looks delicious, I love Tofu & broccoli. I also love your forest shot with the bridge and green moss. I am a sucker for Green Moss photos
A day spent with friends is "priceless"
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
That sounds like it was a while ago. There were certainly a lot of people there on Sunday too.
DeleteWe definitely have a lot of green moss here this time of year. I love seeing it, but it never looks quite as vivid in pictures.
I too like the photos of the waterfalls (and the food pics too). I'm looking forward to being down there again in a couple of months. I'm planning on going to the BMW rally in Salem and we are having another family reunion just about a mile west of Vista House again. I think that this must be the 10th time in the same location.
ReplyDeleteIt is cool you are coming to the rally in Salem. Are you flying, driving or riding? We'd love to meet up with you if you have time. We have a spare bike now too......
DeleteFlying down on the 18th and returning on the 29th. There are a couple of days between the rally and reunion and I was planning on contacting you two sometime about meeting up.
DeleteSweet! Definitely let us know what days you are free and we'll cross our fingers Brad isn't teaching.
DeleteI love the gorge and the falls! We have been there several times, and it reminds us very much of the river Rhine in Germany before there were castles and towns. Also, the colours seem special in this area. What a nice outing.
ReplyDeleteI think I must visit the Rhine in Germany to make an accurate comparison. yes, I must, someday. It is on the keg list. Too many things to fit in a bucket, I've had to increase it to a keg, then comes vat......
DeletePS: The food platters look yummy!
ReplyDeleteIt was very good. I think we will be back again. Our friends introduced us to a little section in Portland that has a lot of vegan eateries.
DeleteBeautiful pictures! I love peonies, I have some deep crimson ones blooming in my yard. I think I want to plant some white ones, I think they are absolutely stunning. You need to put a food warning on here, I am starving!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love peonies too. I am wondering why we only have the two plants in the yard. Only so much room I guess.
DeleteSorry, no food warning, although it is making me hungry too.
Some of the photos you took are the same ones I took back in 2006 when I rode along the same highway. You keep riding through the gorge and you get to Maryhill, WA for the Stonehenge and Art Museum.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone stops at the same places and takes the same photos. The road draws us in.
DeleteThe Stonehenge Memorial was on the to-to list but we didn't have time. It was 70 miles further down the Gorge. We'll have to save that for a weekend moto-camping trip.
Your tofu looks fried. Is it?
ReplyDeleteThe Columbia River Gorge is one of my favorite spots. Even in the middle of winter it's beautiful. Lovely photos, and wild roses...nothing smells more like a rose than a wild one.
Oregon always provides grand scenery. Beautiful mossy bridge scene and beautiful photo of it,too!
It didn't specify on the menu that it was fried. It tasted more like it was baked then coated in the nutritional yeast. It wasn't crispy.
DeleteI forgot my hat in the car so not only was it raining, I was one soggy girl. Notice there are no pics of me.
Wild roses are one of my favorites. I don't know why we don't have any in the yard. I'd love to line the back wire fence with them and I am sure the deer would love it. It always reminds me of driving through Alberta. It is their provincial flower.
Brandy
ReplyDeleteThose photos are gorgous. Amazing stuff!! Everything is just so green.I think my favourite is the one of the bridge or maybe the water fall. Ah gee's I can't pick a favourite there all to good.
Thanks Steve.
DeleteI've seen pictures, I know you have lush greenery in Australia too. Mind you I think your dry spells might be drier.
Brandy, the first thing I thought about when I saw the wild roses was Alberta and the awesome smell riding through some sections of the province.
ReplyDeleteI loved my ride through the Columbia River Gorge - missed the falls cause I was on a mission - but I remember how beautiful it was early in the morning. I may have to go back!
Since my visit to Portland (under-construction-land, as I recall) I have seen so many episodes of foodie shows featuring great spots in the city. I wish I knew then what I know now.
Thanks for the peony photo - the white ones smell so wonderful. I have some pink ones coming to bud ... soon!
Ha, under-construction-land. Did you know that Oregon's State Tree is the traffic cone?
DeleteIt's true - in the touristy shows in Florence they have t-shirts that show the traffic cone as the state tree. I think construction is even listed as a season in Oregon. With as crappy as some of our road surfaces are you'd never know it though.
DeleteI think they just like to put up construction zone signs and throw out a few cones so they can collect double fines...
DeleteGreat pics! Love the waterfalls and the lush, green bush.
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrew. Oregon is pretty green until about August or so. Then the forests still stay that way, but the grasses go brown.
DeleteTrobairitz, we were in Portland in March and loved, loved, loved it. It's a great place for foodies. I much prefer the west coast in so many ways. Regrettably, all we can do is visit.
ReplyDeletePortland is a foodie destination. I guess we just appreciate good eats. Good thing it has a high number of walking/hiking trails and gyms to balance it.
DeleteI've never been to the Eastern seaboard, only as far as east Montreal and that was in January of 2001 and it was -35˚C . I still loved the city and hope to go back when it is warmer weather one day.
Your peony photos are breaking my heart!! I want! Columbia River Gorge is definitely on my to-do list!! I need to find a marathon in your "neck of the woods" next year!
ReplyDeleteI believe both Portland and Eugene have marathons/ half marathons each year. Our little town of Corvallis usually has a few half marathons I think.That would tick Oregon off on your map.
DeleteCome on over the food and scenery is wonderful. When you do book it, let me know as we'll definitely have to plan a meet up so can be there to cheer you on.
Those peonies are gorgeous and what a view of the gorge! Lewis and Clark must have seen that view too on their trip to the mouth of the Columbia, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine what Lewis and Clark saw all those years ago. One day I want to go to the Lewis and Clark museum just to see all the memorabilia. There is even a wagon train museum in Oregon City.
DeleteEverything is still so green. We are pretty much dry and parched over here in California. Great pictures of the flowers and the falls, I have been there before, but one of these days I would do a full loop of the Columbia River Gorge. Thank you for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteA full loop on two wheels would be a good thing if you can avoid a lot of I-84. High winds and bad traffic on the interstate. Highway 14 across the river in Washington is usually the preference or the scenic byways.
DeleteI supposed Cali will be parched for a few more months. Some days we envy that dryness though believe me.
I have done part of I-84 and part of Hwy 14. I got lucky with traffic or the lack thereof in both sections. I will keep in mind any tips you may have on avoiding the traffic patterns.
DeleteEye popping spectacular! All of it!
ReplyDeleteI've got to travel out west sometime to see those sweeping vistas and gorgeous waterfalls!
And of course I love the flower shots!
Thank you for a delightful post...
You are most welcome Deb.
DeleteThis country has so many great states. How are we supposed to find time to visit them all. There are so many in the mid-west and back east that we would love to travel to too. Maybe one day we'll go on that two-wheeled cross country tour......
I think I remember Latourell Falls from our family vacation out there many years ago (45?)...I know we came home along the gorge.
ReplyDeleteOur one peony plant hasn't bloomed yet, something I mentioned to mom on the phone last night, most likely due to our late and cool spring. She remembers the plant in the yard when she was a little girl, early 30's that would have been. It continues to do well even with our lack of proper care.
Great trip Brandy!
The Gorge is a tourist destination and I-84 and major east/west thoroughfare so many people either drive by or stop at the falls.
DeleteAll that snow delayed the peony this year. A few more days/weeks of warm weather and it will be bursting with blooms. It sounds as though the peonies have a long life if one has been in the yard that long. Some plants seem to peter out after 5 or so years.
I'm a total sucker for water beads on flowers. Nice.
ReplyDeleteI suspect I know who your friends are, and if so, indeed they are two most wonderful people.
~k
Did you see Kathy, aka ToadMama's post with all blooms and water beads? They are absolutely stunning. Here is a link: http://toadmama.com/2013/05/dripping-wet/
DeleteAnd I bet you do know who I am talking about. They are a little shy so I respected their privacy and didn't plaster the interweb with photos.
I miss hiking. I don't get out as much as I once did but after seeing your photo's I've decided I've needed to start again.
ReplyDeleteWe lhave long stretches without hikes then get back into it more too. It just depends on the weather and what else we have planned. I love getting off the beaten path and exploring nature.
DeleteOf course you'll see some of the paths and wonder if you could scoot down them the same way hubby wonders how the dual sport would do on them. Mind you, we usually only hike the "no motorized vehicles" allowed trails. But he can dream.
You aren't supposed to negatively critique your waterfall photos when someone else has come along reading and loving the photos... :) I, at least, like them. hehe
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great day out and sightseeing. The white peony is gorgeous!!
Thanks Lori. You're too kind. The white peony is a pretty one. Still thinking of planting more if I can find room.
DeleteGreat photos, food, and a very fun time. When are we going to do it again?? ;)
ReplyDeleteAnother trip to the west coast, eh?
DeleteIndeed
DeleteThe veil of mystery has been lifted!! It was a great day. Thanks so much for letting us know you were in the area. Definitely need to do it again.
DeleteStunning waterfalls Brandy!! I think those pics look awesome and evey bit as good as your other ones.
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling pretty envious at the moment, there's just nothing round here that quite measures up to that, and I haven't had a proper hike in years I miss wandering through the bush.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful day out, the peonies are just gorgeous and the food is making me hungry!
Thank you Brenda. We had to drive 90 miles north to Portland and another 35 down the gorge to get to the waterfalls, not super close, but at least they are out there.
DeleteToo many people at the falls, but we had a great day.
Utterly stunning photos! Makes me wish I was there. I hear we're headed for some flat land, so no chance of that greenery or waterfalls where we're going. **sigh**
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely ride that must be. . .
Smooches,
Sash
http://www.SashMouth.com
Hey thanks for stopping by.
DeleteYou may be heading into the flatlands, but you trump us all with your 6-month trip.
Just think of all the sights you'll see. I've been enjoying following along.
Fantastic pictures. Most have been nice to ride through such beauty.
ReplyDeleteWe were in the Subaru that day but the road would be great on two wheels. If only we didn't have to do I-5 and I-84 to get there.
DeleteThanks for stopping by.