Closing the loop

 

 

Easy day through the Eastern Washington scenery.

 

 

Stopped at a fruit stand with its own orchard in Wenatchee.  Apricots, peaches, plumbs, and Ranier cherries.  Loaded up with more than we could eat, then ate a lot.

 

2026 Summer Trip Map Link

 

Kyle and Alexis

 

 

I think I may have missed sending this out at the end of June, the reason we’re here in the first place.

 

It was a very nice venue.

 

 

 

 

I don’t have any actual wedding photos because I was practicing not being annoying and let the wedding photographers do their job.

 

Here is a picture of part of our hoard, though, including Tom and Kathy.

 

Some couples.

 

Elise and Teigan.

 

Conner and Brian doing whatever it is they’re doing.

 

It was a good time.  Even for Kyle and Alexis (not pictured).

 

Driveabout

 

 

Columbia River Gorge.  Northeastern Oregon.  Southeastern Washington.  Potholes State Park by Moses Lake for the night.

 

2026 Summer Trip Map Link

 

Wonderful rural scenery.

 

Rolling hills, rivers, crops.

 

 

Even a marina.

 

Different from what we see from Interstate 90.

 

We liked the state park too.

 

 

 

Evening light.

 

Morning light.

 

The waterfall day

 

 

There are a lot of waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge.  Googled them.  Sorted them down to four that did not require steep hikes:

 

Latourelle Falls

Multnomah Falls

Horsetail Falls

Starvation Creek Falls

 

Went to the first one.  Darn.  The parking lot was full and people were circling, clogging up the road, lurking for spots.  Not for us.  We got through the traffic backup and went to the next one.

 

Darn.  Same thing.

 

Okay, there is a pullover in the center of the freeway going eastbound for the next one.  From there we can walk through an underpass and see the falls.  Oops.  The parking lot is so full, they closed the exit.

 

One hope left, 20 miles east, away from the most popular spots.  Starvation Creek.

 

Pulled into the parking lot.  10 cars.  Looked around.  4 people.  Cool.

 

Nobody actually starved at Starvation Creek, but they did have a grand adventure.

 

A short trail to the falls.

 

 

But wait, a short walk down a trail to another waterfall.  Cabin Creek falls.

 

 

Another stretch of trail to Hole-in-the-Wall Falls.

 

Jesse took a selfie while we were there.

 

A good waterfall day.

 

Deschutes River State Park for the night.

 

2026 Summer Trip Map link

 

 

Morning view.

 

Sweet.

 

Another visit

 

 

Elisa and Solomon.

 

They both got the entire day off work to spend with us, and we made the most of it.  Of course they were charming, as always.

 

We finished off the day by driving east out of Portland, after rush-hour traffic to the Columbia River Gorge.  Along the way, Mount Hood peeked out.

 

2026 Summer Trip Map Link

 

Settled in for the night at Ainsworth State Park, at a wonderful site; just like state parks are supposed to be.

 

Easy walks for my rehabilitating leg.

 

 

No boat trailer?

 

 

No problem.

On the water, drive your boat over the lift and it picks you up.

 

Then the fork lift picks you up even higher,

 

 

…and puts you away up on a shelf!

 

 

Meanwhile, we’ve moved on.  We’re at Paradise Point State Park down by Oregon for the night.

 

2026 Summer Trip Map Link

 

 

It’s not as nice as it looks.  It’s right on the freeway, so it’s really loud.  No problem.  We’re moving on tomorrow morning.

 

Along the way.  Mount Ranier makes an appearance.

 

 

 

The small town of La Conner

 

 

Rainbow Bridge.

 

Deadliest Catch.

 

Judy says if she were a boat, she’d be a tugboat.  Or maybe a little working boat like this.

 

And what a nice spot for a park and waterfall.