ST HELENS to ONTARIO : Head ‘em up and move ‘em out- –
Friday – – – We have a plan! We are leaving home this morning at 7.30am. OK, it is actually 8am when we start the car, put it in gear and depart for the unknown! Kylie’s poor little four wheeled friend is packed to the hilt with water, munchies, clothes, cameras and bags which takes up a lot of room but there is still room for us!
We did not have brekkie before we left as we were all keen to get going so we head for – yep the Golden Arches. The usual fare of muffins, hash browns and juice and we are off down the highway heading toward Portland.
The sun is out and the skies are blue – but I am still not able to see Mt Hood or the other mountains. I reckon it is just a story they tell the tourists and use cardboard cut-outs!!
Fighting our way through morning traffic we venture out onto the highways which are nothing like the highways back in Oz. So wide – about 8 lanes and it takes a bit of getting used to driving on the other side of the road, especially when there are dirty big trucks that frighten the bejesus out of you. Tyler is driving and Kylie is in the back seat having a nap and I am up front taking photos. It has begun!
After driving along the historic and extremely scenic Columbia River highway and admiring the river and lots of scenery we hit our first stop – Multnomah Falls. These falls are supposedly one of the most majestic stops on the Columbia River Gorge.
There are many more falls but we are only stopping to see this one today. We manage to find the car park and it is lovely in the sun but when we get into the shade of the falls the air is cool and fresh.
We take lots of photos and movies and then Kylie and I decide to head up to the little bridge which is about half way up. Tyler does not come with us – he is going to stay down the bottom and take our photo!!
The falls are certainly amazing and it would be wonderful in Winter with all the snow and the water frozen solid. We make it to the bridge and stay there for quite some time mesmerized by the falling water. We spy Tyler and give him a wave and then leisurely walk back down, stopping every now and again to look at the flora.
There is a Restaurant and souvenir shop so we have a look and get, what is to be, the first of our souvenirs. Kylie and I are also in need of a caffeine fix and Tyler – his Dr. Pepper. We get our coffee and Kylie orders mine in an insulated souvenir Oregon container that I can keep as a constant reminder of this visit and then it’s time to hit the road again and head for Baker City and the Historical Oregon Trail Interpretive Centre.
What a change of countryside – Portland is very green with lots of dense forests but after our rest at the falls – we encounter high mountains with hardly any cover and then it changes to open farm land and grassland. For lunch we stop at Stanfield and have Subway – very healthy. It is then back to the journey – I am in the back still snapping away and Kylie is driving. After a lengthy drive we arrive at the Oregon Trail Centre about 4pm – so we are on schedule.
HISTORY LESSON: One of the main overland migration routes during the 19thCentury – pioneers travelled the Oregon Trail in covered wagons from the Atlantic in the East across to the Pacific in the West to settle new territory.
The wagon trains proceeded 3,500 km through the territories of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. It took about 6 months and many died on the journey but that did not dissuade others from following in their footsteps.
Young children were given chores to do and there was no spare room for any luxuries. Lots of belongings were cast aside during their journey and animals and humans had to weather many storms and rivers and many, many hardships. Once the first transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869 the use of the trail diminished as it was slowly replaced by the railroad.
Here’s Tyler and me on the trail! Not the original one – but maybe you can see the tracks in the distance. A very interesting place of early American history. Outside the centre we could not see very far due to the amount of smoke from the bushfires (or as they say here forest fires), however, we could make out a few of the well worn trail marks.
After spending about 1 and a half hours looking at the displays and trying to appreciate the hardships of the early settlers we get back in the car and head towards our first night’s accommodation – Best Western, Ontario, Oregon. We find the place without too much trouble.
It is about 8pm – and we are now on what is called Mountain Time. We have lost an hour. Our room is 214 on the second floor and is very comfortable, although a pile of hay and a pillow would have looked good as we are bushed. Partly unload the car for the night’s stay and decide to go to Denny’s for dinner which is nice and close and within walking distance. Am not very hungry but I manage a grilled chicken breast salad.
After dinner we go back to the room to relax and book a wake-up call for 5.30am. K & T are just thrilled with that and I think they are beginning to realise that it is going to be a l-o-n-g trip!
Highlight of the day: Multnomah Falls