09 August 2014

Eastward Bound: Columbia River Gorge, Part II

As I have mentioned the terrain in the eastern portion of the Gorge
 is much drier then in the western part.
 
 
We saw lots of wind turbines in this area...
I know there's some controversy associated with them, but I really enjoy seeing them.
 
 
Several bridges cross the Columbia along the Gorge--
at Cascade Locks, Hood River, The Dalles
and here at Biggs Junction.
 
Not far from the other side of this bridge you can find a replica of
Stonehenge and the Maryhill Museum.
And continuing up Highway 97 would bring you to
central Washington State and the Yakima Valley, Cashmere
 (home of the Applets + Cotlets Candy Factory),
Leavenworth, Lake Chelan and on into the interior of Canada.
We did this trip many years ago...
 
 
Always the river...
wonder what my forefathers thought of this area.
The drive seems long even today in a car,
but with wagons and on foot--
I can't even imagine.
Glad we were making the trip in an air conditioned car.
I guess I am pretty spoiled:)
 
One thing I would love to share with my ancestors is to see the river as it was then--
when the Celilio Falls still roared and the Cascade rapids were still wild.
I've seen photos and film footage...
but they only left me wanting to see the real thing.
Alas, that was before my time :(

 
Look! More wind turbines...
so LOVE my zoom lens:)
 
 
Besides history, I find geology interesting.
Perhaps because one of my ancestors worked in mines?

 
Yea! We made it...
past the Cascades,
past several bridges,
past some agricultural areas,
past lots of wind turbines on the ridges,
canyons,
waterfalls,
three dams,
towns and cities.
Now it's time to leave the river and move on
and
UP
into the Blue Mountains
and NE Oregon
(one of my favorite places).
Are you ready?
 
Blessings,
Aimee
 
Links:
Columbia River Gorge
(more info about the geology, history, etc. of the area)
 Stonehenge + Maryhill
Celilio Falls and the tribes
 

9 comments:

Betsy said...

Again, it's a comfortingly familiar group of photos and I'll be making this same drive home next week. It is such a beautiful drive and I'll miss it when Mandy moves next month. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings,
Betsy

moonstruckcreations said...

What an absolutely awe-inspiring countryside. Coming from the UK it is so hard to imagine the huge spaces in the US, but your post and photos helped a lot to get some idea!

Helenxx

Linda W. said...

I also love driving through the eastern Gorge. My hubby and I were at the Maryhill winery last weekend for a concert. Your photos are fantastic!

Louisette said...

Wonderfull cascade and landscapes, greeting from Belgium

Lorrie said...

Beautiful vistas of the Columbia River Gorge. Wind turbines are rather elegant looking, I think.

aimee said...

@Betsy~
Prayers for a safe drive back home. I am missing my out of state family too. It is a difficult adjustment. God bless.
It is amazing how much the landscape changes in our state within a few hours of time...lots of variety:)
Blessings,
Aimee

@Helen~
It is fun to hear the reactions to our varied landscapes in the Pacific NW:) You are right -- it is awe inspiring and very open, especially east of the Cascades. Hope you enjoy the remainder of my little trip that will take you even further east. Have a great week!
Blessings,
Aimee

@Linda~
Thanks! I am happy you liked them. It was fun taking photos there:)
What a beautiful place for a concert--hope you both had a great time!!
Blessings,
Aimee

@Lorrie~
Thanks! I am happy they turned out well despite being taken through the windows of our moving car:)
I agree--I find wind turbines quite elegant and love to take photos of them. In NW Oregon we have a few here and there, but in central and eastern Oregon there are a lot more.
Blessings,
Aimee

aimee said...

@Louisette~
Thank you for your visit and comment! I am so happy that you enjoyed the photos of my Oregon:) Wishing you a fabulous week!
Blessings,
Aimee

Anonymous said...

I agree Celilo makes me wish I'd been around in an earlier era. I actually did see the Native Americans fishing on the one trip to Portland we took when I was a child...the dams came in later. But of course as a kid I didn't appreciate what I was seeing.

aimee said...

@Sallie~
It is one of many reasons that make me wish I lived in an earlier time. How awesome! I wish I could have seen that too--but, as you said, I probably wouldn't appreciate it as much as I would now--
Blessings,
Aimee
PS: I didn't post it because it didn't turn out very well but it looked like some kind of longhouse approximately where Celilio is.

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