The Tour ~ Pendleton to Portland

Although we truly enjoyed the cowboy town of Pendleton, Oregon, I was looking forward to heading out to Portland.  Just over 200 miles away we had friends and family to visit there.

Along the way we drove by a tree farm.  Miles and miles and MILES of this tree farm.  I have to admit I was amazed.  I took dozens of pictures.  I only included a few in this post…but really it was incredible to see.

Although I had been through the Columbia River Gorge as a teenager, I did not remember the dramatic landscape. Cutting 4000 feet into the Cascade Mountain Range, The Gorge runs about 80 miles along the boundary between the Oregon and Washington States.

 
The area generates significant electricity from both wind and water.  I am intrigued by the shapes of various powerline towers, hence the photos.  We made several stops along the way, reading various historical landmarks. 

Salmon fishing humans have lived in the Gorge for 10,000 years.  It has been the well traveled route for American Indians,  Lewis and Clark, steamboats, railroads, freight haulers, and
The Teamster’s Five-O Tour.

One destination just outside of Portland was Multnomah Falls. 


Jeff, of A Word In Edgewise, had first suggested we stop there.  Coincidently DOT (Dad of Teamster) also thought we would enjoy Multnomah.  They had visited the falls on a previous trip and remembered it fondly.

Multnomah Falls was beautiful indeed. It is the second tallest year round waterfall in the nation, dropping 620 feet. We hiked up to the midpoint bridge to get the full effect.  By our clothing, it was obvious we were riding a motorcycle.  The gear can be a conversation starter with other riders.  It also causes some rather disconcerting stares.  The Teamster is kinda badass with his shaved head and shades.  However, I look rather dorky…not scary or mean. But still we get the looks.

Once in the Portland area we repeated our established routine, to find a bar or diner to have a little snack and fire up the laptop to surf for
accommodations. 
 
We settled in the Oregon City area at a little place right on the river.

(again…photos by both me and The Teamster)