September 26, 2007

My Oregon Trail (Part One)

Well, it's been two weeks since we got back from our week-long vacation in Oregon and I'm just now getting around to posting some pictures! We had a wonderful time at Mom & Bill's. Plenty of R&R&R (rest, relaxation and, of course, reading) and a ridiculous amount of clam chowder consumed at a variety of restaurants. Mm-mm-good!

We've been to Depoe Bay several times, but this trip we decided to play tourist and do a bit more sightseeing than usual. We arrived in Portland very late due to mechanical difficulties with our connecting flight from Dallas. Fortunately, we had already planned to spend the night in Hood River, putting off the 2 1/2-hour drive down to Depoe Bay until the following day. We spent that first day exploring the area around Hood River, stopping at various fruit stands along the scenic "Fruit Loop," followed by a lovely drive up to Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood. Thanks to our wonderful tour guides (Mom & Bill), we saw some beautiful country that we might otherwise never have taken the chance to see.

All in all, the weather was gorgeous during our entire trip, actually getting rather hot one afternoon as we wandered around Newport. And yes, I bought books. I'll post a separate entry for the bookstores visited once I complete my photo essays. Enjoy! (Reminder: Click on pictures for full-size viewing.)


The Columbia River (Hood River, Oregon)
View from our hotel balcony


Our first stop along the Fruit Loop in Hood River County

Mt. Hood in the distance






Lavender Valley, Hood River, Oregon

We just missed the harvest, but we did get to meet
one of the world's mellowest black labs ever!
Click on the link above to see a picture of Max.





9 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:28 PM

    We have GOT to go back to Oregon sometime soon. I loved the pictures and long to be there. You went at a great time of year. And I don't even like clam chowder, but I miss it up there.

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  2. Yay! More lovely photos! It's so fun to travel vicariously through you. You've had a great summer for vacations! :)

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  3. Great pictures-makes me want to go!
    -Jen

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  4. Anonymous7:02 AM

    What amazing scenery. And, I really love the pic of the tractor in the field of flowers. So cute.
    Can't wait to see more pics and of course hear about the bookstores you visited!

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  5. Now these are some familiar sights :-) Great pictures!!

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  6. That's a beautiful place, Lesley. I'm pretty sure I've seen that lavender place on tv. That must have been fun. Thank you for sharing your photos.

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  7. Kay - It was a great time of year. The leaves were just beginning to turn in the valley, yet it was nice and warm (actually HOT!) for a few days. I'm sure you do miss it there. You were in Portland, right?

    Nat - You're so sweet. I'm glad to oblige. ;)

    Jen - Thanks. It's a great vacation destination, that's for sure!

    Iliana - I like that picture, too. That was a neat farm we visited. Bought some green zebra striped tomatoes there. They had lots of fruit, but the grounds were what impressed me. I could easily live there!

    Bookstores & purchases coming soon!

    SuziQ - You are so lucky to live in Oregon! Glad you enjoyed the pics.

    Kookiejar - It is beautiful, isn't it? Sure makes it tough to come back to the Midwest...

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  8. Les, I love the bouquets of lavendar! What a wonderful thing to see and smell! Lavender is always a special fragrance to me, from my childhood as well as a special sachet someone sent me last year which hangs on my bedside table.

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  9. Bellezza - That little room with the drying lavender bundles smelled so good! I wish we hadn't just missed the harvest. I'll bet the fields looked beyond stunning!

    How funny! I have a little sachet of lavender hanging on my bedpost! ;)

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