Our Oregon Trail

We've been loafing in Oregon for the past week.  The temperature has been in the high 50s/ low 60s (or around 16 C).  What a beautiful state.  It is very green-lots of trees and leafy growth.  Moss grows everywhere-along the rock face on mountains, up tree trunks, along paved surfaces (roads and sidewalks).  So much moss grows that they have to shovel it off sidewalks and roads. 


Moss grows on a rolling stone here.  That's moss on the pavement and in the tree.



The mountains are always within sight and many are snow topped.  Road signs warn of "snow zones" where chains are required even now in April, and some higher elevations roads remain closed still.



Scenic river overlook, with snowcapped mountains in the background



Compared to the cost of living in California, Oregon is a bargain state.  There is no sales tax so it is shopping heaven.  Three outlet malls later we can prove that! 

The more you shop, the more you save!

Camping fees are cheap at $16 a night and that includes full hook ups.  In California it was $35 per night with no hook ups.  Gas is 50 cents a galllon less than in California and here in Oregon it is illegal to pump your own-they have gas attendants at every pump.  Al is in gas heaven.

In California, dogs weren't allowed on trails, even on a leash.  Here, in Oregon, dogs are welcome.  Sid was happy to be joining us on our hikes.  We felt such a relief to be able to walk a trail without worrying about any local predatory wildlife that we had to beware of in other places, like javelinas, rattlesnakes, bears and mountain lions.  We were carefree, happily hiking away.  Then, we saw the warnings, "Oregon is Black Bear Country," and, "Oregon is Cougar Country." Great.  We read the guidelines for living with these wild beasts.  First, keep pets indoors at dawn and dusk.  Dawn isn't a problem; we're not up then.  Hmm, we had Sid tied up outside at dusk at one campground.  Won't do that again.  Didn't mean to troll for cougar. 

We spent some time in Portland.  It's a pretty city, right on the Columbia River.

Al in Portland, overlooking the Columbia River



Sid in Portland, enjoying the park



We drove along the scenic route which hugged the mountains, without actually driving into them. There were a series of three waterfalls; the highest one is 542 feet. 




First of three waterfalls



We stopped at the state-run Bonneville Fish Hatchery.  You are probably thinking, "Really?  You stopped there?"  Yup, and it was interesting. 
This place has been hatching salmon, trout and sturgeon for over 100 years.  They have a huge sturgeon, Herman, in a viewing pond.  He's over 70 years old, weighs over 450 pounds and is over 10 feet long.  There were millions of fish here, all destined to be released into inland waters.




Fish hatchery-statue, not real salmon



It was a tough day for us-this is the point where we had to turn east, and head for home.



Looking west, heading east