Portland and the gorge

despite the reputation of ‘being weird”, Portland has been an incredible place to visit. I finally got my elk burger and some fantastic ice cream at the salt and straw- a famous institution of great ice cream with flavors like pear and blue cheese and chocolate zucchini bread. We popped in the biggest bookstore ever called Powell’s, which is a full block big. Rooms are colors, multiple doors to enter and exit and walls of books. I could not find my way out. We hit that place twice.
Spent the day at Mt St. Helens and got quite a history lesson on the explosion and aftermath from a ranger from New York. My take away- how quickly life returns after devastation.
Our final day was spent at the Columbia River gorge at the butt crack of dawn. Worth it- we got to Multnomah Falls at 815 am and within 2 hours, it looked like New York City at New Years.
We headed to Larch Mountain, where you can see 5 mountains at the top. I would like to tell you all the names but the mind is going. I remember Hood, Rainer, and Jefferson. Karen and I followed a 1951 Buick Roadmaster up the mountain ( at 20 mph), with 2 elderly gentlemen we ran into on the path to the top. Come to find out, one is an 85 year old Native American, who gave us nature info up the 108 steps to the top. We ate wild huckleberries and he shared the names of the moutains in his native tongue of Wasco, part of the Chinook tribe. His father lived to 118 and froze to death. hmmm....that really sucks. Then he shared a song at the top of the mountain and gave us tribal blessings for safe travels. Highlight of the trip.
On to Timberline Lodge, where you are literally at the base of Mount Hood. The lodge had a party going on, with a mix of aging baby boomers in tie dye everything and the millennials, who have thrown themselves down the mountain on bikes or snow board. Yep- snow boarding on mount hood in August.
Last stop was bridge of the gods, from the movie Wild. What a great 2 days. On the road again tomorrow.
Mileage so far around 3500. Have to check.