So. Morning came on day seven. I wanted to bottle the air. The mountain, hickory smoke, and lake smell was heaven. We walked down to the Wallowa Lake Lodge and had breakfast. We were there on opening morning for the season. The tourists would not arrive for another month so really it was perfect. Not many of the places open on the lake, but also we were alone. We had the German pancake with the Marion berry syrup. I would gladly drive the five hours to this lake tonight just to have this pancake in the morning. Yeah, it was that good. The view of the lake from the dining room at the lodge was peaceful and even Henry was quiet and reverent (of course the coloring book helped).
We set off exploring after breakfast. We did a fun hike along Hurricane Creek. Henry threw loads of rocks in the water. B and I relaxed and listened to the rushing water. We headed into Joseph after for some lunch. We stopped by the Jennings Hotel. B and I supported the Kickstarter for this wonderful renovation some months back. Greg, the owner, is still fixing the place up room by room. It is coming along so beautifully and B and I cannot wait to schedule our next getaway there. Consider scheduling a nice getaway here in the off season and really sink into the beauty of the Northeast Oregon. B and I fell in love with this town and the Wallowa Mountains and have been daydreaming of moving there ever since. It is one of the few places I have found in my travels that already feels like home the minute you show up. Somehow it remembers me.
Leaving Joseph the next morning on day eight was hard. I was not ready to go and I was also ready to be home after such a hurried pace. We had another long day of driving ahead. The drive through the Columbia Gorge(#6 on the list) was refreshing. The landscape changes so much from east to west. I kept thinking of this quote as we drove along the river for two hundred miles or more.
“Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world’s great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.
I am haunted by waters.”
― Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It and Other Stories
After reading up on and visiting so many historical sites in Oregon. I was struck by the rich history here. The beautiful history of the native peoples are the harmony in the way they lived with this wild land. The history of settlers, desperate and persevering in the journey west. Would I have been strong enough?
We arrived early evening at Memaloose State Park. Set up camp and had a nice dinner by the river. It was too hot for a fire, but once the sun went down the breeze and the view was worth it. That night we all slept like the dead and awoke to the blazing sun on day nine.
After a quick breakfast, we headed to Rowena Crest. May is when all the wildflowers are in bloom so I wanted to get this hike in now and early before the day really heated up. Turns out we were too late for the heat. By about fifteen minutes in we were already sweating and wondering if we should turn back. The view at the edge paid off though and I am glad we pushed through. We had planned on doing another hike, but instead headed for the air conditioned Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center. Henry and I spotted a big bull snake on our way in and the center lady came out to move it out to the grass(not without Henry getting to touch it first though). At the end of the day we headed into Hood River to cool off and have dinner at one of the restaurants near the water.
Day ten started early. We headed up toward Mt Hood(#7 on the list). Lots of slow driving in order to really enjoy the view. We made our way around the mountain and stopped at Trillium Lake. It was a clear day so the Hood was really showing off. There was a guy with this amazing lens taking shots and video of Hood. He let us take some looks and even let us use the lens for a few close up shots of the mountain. Henry of course threw more rocks in the water and talked to the ducks. We made the rest of the drive home in quiet. Henry fell asleep and B and I were lost in thought. This trip was such a beautiful experience and the perfect way to celebrate forty years of living.
Blakes On The Road 