Sightseeing in the Rain

Today started with a gourmet breakfast of fresh fruit (from Les's garden), poached eggs (from Les's chickens) on toast, and lamb sausage (from Les's sheep). It was some seriously good breakfast eats.

We drove to Vista House Scenic Overlook on the Columbia River gorge. Sadly it was raining, so the view was less than optimal, but it was beautiful nonetheless.

From there we took the scenic drive to Multnomah Falls, which is the tallest waterfall in the state of Oregon. They were stunning to see. Absolutely impressive:

From there, we took the Bridge of the Gods into Washington in order to visit the Bonneville Dam.

We joined a guided tour of the dam, which took us down into the heart to the turbines. With forty feet of concrete between us and the river upstream, our guide showed us how the turbines operate. Our guide told us that if all the turbines are turned on, the dam can generate enough electricity to power the city of Seattle. Color me impressed!

After exiting the dam, we entered a building alongside the river, and we could see the fish swimming upstream through glass looking into the river. Of course, neither the glass nor the water were crystal clear, but the number of fish passing by was astounding:

After the dam, we drove to the Skamania Lodge for lunch. It's built overlooking the Columbia River gorge. It was an absolutely idyllic setting. Carol even found a friend:

The blackened steelhead tacos were a big hit:

After lunch we headed back to Les and Sue's house. Les gave Carol and me a tour of his yard, orchard, gardens, and animals. For a guy who likes to grow some peas, tomatoes, and cucumbers, this was a chance to see the big leagues. The landscape was beautiful. The fruit trees had more fruit on them than I could possibly imagine, and the garden beds were overflowing with vegetables.

Thanks for the eggs, ladies:

Thanks for the sausage, guys:

I could have wandered around Les's grounds for hours, exploring the plants and animals. His set-up is a testament to what someone can do with some knowledge, planning, and hard work. It inspired me.

After the tour, we sat in the library with a beer (me) or a glass of wine (everyone else) and chatted until dinner. We had delicious turkey chili. (Sorry, no pictures. I ate it too quickly!)

Tomorrow's plan is to drive to the Oregon coast. I can't wait to see the Pacific Ocean!