Mary Ann and I were the first ones' up. Mindy asked to sleep a while longer. While I exercised Mary Ann headed out on a walk down Columbia St towards the river & town. Just a few minutes behind, I darted out the door for my run by 7:10am. Compared to the weather at home, it felt like spring. It was close to 40 degrees. That made for a great run. I especially look forward to my first run each visit. The air has an unmistakably pleasant earthy smell. And given the number of visits that I’ve made, the track is a very familiar one – one that I can practically close my eyes and see even now as I type from back home. My typical trek takes me up town through Ester Short Park where I always tap the bronze statue of a young girl handing an old man a rose, and then finally making my way down along the nicely appointed water front where I find my turnaround point at the Ilchee (Moon Girl) statue. The round trip is guesstimated to be about 5.5 miles. It’s a wonderful run each time.
Others were up and milling around by the time I returned. I can’t recall for certain who was and wasn’t yet awake. In the end it mattered little. I was much looking forward to my first cup of coffee having set it up just before heading out the door.
The coffee was good. We were surprised to see Columbus making national headlines all the while we were out in the PNW. It made the national news on two fronts – the weather and then some national cheerleading competition. Mindy received a call at 3am PST from her teacher pal, Keri. Neither of us answered the call, but figured it to be about schools being closed. Mindy confirmed that to be the case. Mindy soon phoned the kids too who were spending the day with their daddy, who took the day off work.
We had made loose plans to eat breakfast and then for Mindy & I to head to Council Crest while others prepped for our four day trip to the mountains. Those plans changed some. We decided instead to pack up and all leave together making a brief detour to Council Crest Park (the large hill overlooking Portland where Mindy & I tied the knot last year). We showered up, loaded the vehicles, and departed Glenn’s at 10am PST.
We made it to Council Crest with little trouble. The weather was much warmer and sunnier than it was a year earlier. We all took advantage of the view, each of us snapping a handful of pictures. Mindy & I embraced and kissed at the very spot where we exchanged our wedding vows and then piled back into our vehicles destined for Tom Shepherd’s place in NE Portland.
We arrived at Tom’s place before 11:30am. We didn’t stay long, just long enough to use the facilities and load up his gear. We were on our way up the pristine Columbia River Gorge. It didn’t take long at all to make our way east on highway 84 to the gorge. Our first planned stop was Multnomah Falls, a scenic waterfall fed by mountain run off dropping some 620 feet – a spectacular site indeed.
We climbed to the stone bridge overlooking the bottom tier of the falls, collectively deciding that the hour long hike to the top might place our arrival into Government Camp in jeopardy. And besides, we hadn’t yet eaten a meal. Everyone was hungry. So, after about 45 minutes at Multnomah we agreed to move on and stop next in Hood River for lunch. That’s located at the junction of Rt 84 & 35, I believe. It was about 30 miles up the road.
The views along the way up the gorge were nothing short of spectacular, but with hunger mounting, food was first and foremost on my mind. A short time later we exited Rt. 84 into Hood River, a windsurfers’ paradise due to the ever-present gorge winds. Within in eyeshot we spotted two or three brew pubs. We ultimately settled on Full Sail’s brew pub over looking the mighty Columbia. The brew pub was on the second story in a modern looking facility clad in steel but also appointed with lots of natural wood. We were seated by the window providing us with a pristine view of the surroundings. Everyone, like me, was a bit giddy over the fun weekend ahead. We each ordered our personal faves. I, of course, ordered up one of their specialty IPA’s. I was hopeful that it would pack a powerful hoppy punch. It did! Eventually we ordered some food. I had their half-pound burger which featured local, Mount Shadow meat topped with applewood smoked bacon. It was nothing short of exquisite!
Before leaving, we bought a couple six packs to-go, a t-shirt for Mindy, and a couple logo’d pint glasses. Soon we were on our way to Gov’t Camp Lodge, reported to be just 25 miles up the road.
Coming from the gorge, we approached the Timberline area from the opposite direction that we usually take. The sunny skies back in the gorge and in Hood River were history. Just as pulled into Government Camp (at the foot of the Timberline Lodge ski area) it began to snow fairly heavily. I took my paperwork to the office to check-in and get keys while the others shopped the general store for some hand to mouth provisions. Thus far our plan was executed flawlessly. We were into our room, condo #1, just before 5pm. Every one took the same bedrooms we had last year.
We spent the evening lazing around the condo ultimately deciding not to attempt any night skiing given the somewhat late hour. It was after 6pm by the time we were settled in. Instead, we sat around the woodstove in our comfy clothes sipping some quality brew while watching Talladega Nights on the 42” flat panel. Most of us were in bed even before 10pm save for Glenn & Tom S. They ventured Charlie’s, the pub directly across the street from our condo and at the foot of Ski Bowl, another ski slope. Everyone wanted to wake feeling refreshed come Saturday morning.
Others were up and milling around by the time I returned. I can’t recall for certain who was and wasn’t yet awake. In the end it mattered little. I was much looking forward to my first cup of coffee having set it up just before heading out the door.
The coffee was good. We were surprised to see Columbus making national headlines all the while we were out in the PNW. It made the national news on two fronts – the weather and then some national cheerleading competition. Mindy received a call at 3am PST from her teacher pal, Keri. Neither of us answered the call, but figured it to be about schools being closed. Mindy confirmed that to be the case. Mindy soon phoned the kids too who were spending the day with their daddy, who took the day off work.
We had made loose plans to eat breakfast and then for Mindy & I to head to Council Crest while others prepped for our four day trip to the mountains. Those plans changed some. We decided instead to pack up and all leave together making a brief detour to Council Crest Park (the large hill overlooking Portland where Mindy & I tied the knot last year). We showered up, loaded the vehicles, and departed Glenn’s at 10am PST.
We made it to Council Crest with little trouble. The weather was much warmer and sunnier than it was a year earlier. We all took advantage of the view, each of us snapping a handful of pictures. Mindy & I embraced and kissed at the very spot where we exchanged our wedding vows and then piled back into our vehicles destined for Tom Shepherd’s place in NE Portland.
We arrived at Tom’s place before 11:30am. We didn’t stay long, just long enough to use the facilities and load up his gear. We were on our way up the pristine Columbia River Gorge. It didn’t take long at all to make our way east on highway 84 to the gorge. Our first planned stop was Multnomah Falls, a scenic waterfall fed by mountain run off dropping some 620 feet – a spectacular site indeed.
We climbed to the stone bridge overlooking the bottom tier of the falls, collectively deciding that the hour long hike to the top might place our arrival into Government Camp in jeopardy. And besides, we hadn’t yet eaten a meal. Everyone was hungry. So, after about 45 minutes at Multnomah we agreed to move on and stop next in Hood River for lunch. That’s located at the junction of Rt 84 & 35, I believe. It was about 30 miles up the road.
The views along the way up the gorge were nothing short of spectacular, but with hunger mounting, food was first and foremost on my mind. A short time later we exited Rt. 84 into Hood River, a windsurfers’ paradise due to the ever-present gorge winds. Within in eyeshot we spotted two or three brew pubs. We ultimately settled on Full Sail’s brew pub over looking the mighty Columbia. The brew pub was on the second story in a modern looking facility clad in steel but also appointed with lots of natural wood. We were seated by the window providing us with a pristine view of the surroundings. Everyone, like me, was a bit giddy over the fun weekend ahead. We each ordered our personal faves. I, of course, ordered up one of their specialty IPA’s. I was hopeful that it would pack a powerful hoppy punch. It did! Eventually we ordered some food. I had their half-pound burger which featured local, Mount Shadow meat topped with applewood smoked bacon. It was nothing short of exquisite!
Before leaving, we bought a couple six packs to-go, a t-shirt for Mindy, and a couple logo’d pint glasses. Soon we were on our way to Gov’t Camp Lodge, reported to be just 25 miles up the road.
Coming from the gorge, we approached the Timberline area from the opposite direction that we usually take. The sunny skies back in the gorge and in Hood River were history. Just as pulled into Government Camp (at the foot of the Timberline Lodge ski area) it began to snow fairly heavily. I took my paperwork to the office to check-in and get keys while the others shopped the general store for some hand to mouth provisions. Thus far our plan was executed flawlessly. We were into our room, condo #1, just before 5pm. Every one took the same bedrooms we had last year.
We spent the evening lazing around the condo ultimately deciding not to attempt any night skiing given the somewhat late hour. It was after 6pm by the time we were settled in. Instead, we sat around the woodstove in our comfy clothes sipping some quality brew while watching Talladega Nights on the 42” flat panel. Most of us were in bed even before 10pm save for Glenn & Tom S. They ventured Charlie’s, the pub directly across the street from our condo and at the foot of Ski Bowl, another ski slope. Everyone wanted to wake feeling refreshed come Saturday morning.
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