All posts by paula

235-Redmond area

Smith Rock Formation

When we stayed in the Redmond area we visited a unique rock formation area called Smith Rock. It’s an area along the Crooked River gorge where there are some sheer cliffs that are very popular with rock climbers. We walked a short way to a viewpoint, but due to the steepness of the trail down to the river and up the other side we didn’t hike down into the canyon.

We got pictures of a couple of groups of rock climbers heading toward the cliffs for the day, and also some hikers across the river who were hiking on a trail. The picture of the hikers shows the how immense the cliffs are with an insert showing where the hikers are at.

235-Redmond area

Three Sisters Mountain area

While staying in the Redmond area we took a day to drive past the Three Sisters mountains, Mt Washington and Mt Jefferson and through the Belknap Lava Flow area.

It’s a beautiful area but was ravaged by a huge wildfire in 2021. Some of our pictures show the devastation of the area that burned.

The lava flow was HUGE and I was surprised by it. There were a couple of places to stop and view the lava flows and in several areas the lava flow was cut away to make the road.

One viewing area was a short hike up a hill to an ‘observatory’ which was really a rock house with windows pointing at the various mountains and then you could climb to the top and see an unobstructed view all around. The observatory was built in the 30s and there is a compass that shows where each of the mountains area that can be seen from the roof.


Here are some pics:

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234-Ainsworth area, OR

Mt Hood and Timberline Lodge

While staying at the Ainsworth State Park along the Columbia River Gorge we drove about 70 miles to the south side of Mt Hood where the Timberline Lodge is located. This is famous because the movie “The Shining” was filmed here even though in the movie it was supposed to be in Colorado.

The mountain is very pointed! The east side was blown out during an eruption in 1866. There have been at least 3 major eruptions of this volcano in the last 5,000 years and it’s current considered dormant. There are several glaciers on the mountain, the one right next to the Timberline Lodge allows skiers and snowboarders even in July!

Here are some pictures:

234-Ainsworth area, OR

Drive thru Columbia River Gorge and Cascade Locks

While staying in Ainsworth we drove along the north side of the Columbia River Gorge along WA14. It’s a beautiful area but much of it is not right along the river and very forested so we didn’t get pictures. But there was one area along a steep cliff with an overlook of the river and we got a couple of pictures.

Then we drove across the Bridge of the Gods near the Cascade Locks. The locks are needed because there were rapids so a dam was built and the locks allow boats and barges to continue along the river. While we were there no boats were using the locks so no good pics darn it! But we got pictures of the dam, the locks and the visitor center. An interesting part of the visitor center was the “basement level” where there was an underwater viewing area. And, there are salmon steps so the salmon can get upstream and downstream past the dam.

Here are some pics:

234-Ainsworth area, OR

The waterfalls along the Columbia River Gorge

While staying in northern Oregon along the Columbia River Gorge we visited several waterfalls that were within just a few miles of the Ainsworth State Park RV Park where we were staying. All the waterfalls are along the Historic Columbia River Hwy 30 which made it real convenient.


The first we visited was Multnomah Falls. It’s by far the most famous and most visited. We had to purchase a “timed entry pass” beforehand (by a few days but only $2) just to be able to park in the parking lot to visit the falls. But it was worth it! It’s really beautiful, with an easy access viewing platform just a few steps from the road and hiking trails partway up to a bridge and then a rougher hiking trail up to the top. Well, we didn’t do any of the hikes because my hip and Jeff’s knee have been bothering us. But just to see it from the bottom viewing platform was great!

Our next stop was to the Vista House at Crown Point. It’s at the western edge of where the waterfalls are and the highest point. The Vista House was built in the 1920s as a rest area for visitors travelling along the historic highway.

Next was the Latourelle Falls. It’s a straight shot from the top to the bottom! Again, it was very convenient from the road and an easy walk to the viewing platform.

Then we stopped at Wahkeena Falls. It’s also a straight shot top to bottom, with easy parking and short walk to viewing platform.

Then we drove past the Multnomah Falls that we had visited earlier in the day. The road was very congested and there was a crossing guard stopping the cars every few minutes so hordes of people could get from the parking lot to the viewing area. It made me glad that we had visited this waterfall earlier in the day. There’s also a historic lodge right at the base of Multnomah Falls.

Our last stop of the day was the Horsetail Falls. This waterfall was different in that it wasn’t a straight shot but instead made several little falls over rocks as it travelled from the top to the bottom. Due to the trees it was hard to get any shots that showed the whole fall. The pool at the bottom was larger than the others and shallower and there were families and little kids playing in the pool. As it was a hot day by this time I’m sure they appreciated the time in the water and shade.

Then it was less than a couple of miles back home!

Here are pictures:

233-Sauvie Island, OR

Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum

While staying near Portland we drove down to the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. It was very interesting to see so many airplanes from different eras all in one very large room. When we first walked in and paid admission a docent met us and I asked where was the Spruce Goose? He laughed and pointed up! The plan is SO HUGE that it looked like a wall behind some other displays and was so tall that most of the fuselage and both wings were way above our heads. I had to laugh too!

Of particular interest was a full scale model of Leonardo da Vinci’s “wings” build from his specs. I would not want to have tried flying with that contraption strapped onto my back!


There was a separate building for helicopters and the space museum. They had a replica of Sputnik 1 which was just a round ball with long antennas sticking out! Also, they had a couple of huge missiles and the lander from Apollo 11.

It was a 90 minute drive there from where we were staying (and 90 minutes back!) but it was worth it!

Here are some pics:

232-Astoria OR

Astoria, OR – the mouth of the mighty Columbia River

While we’ve driven up the coast through Oregon into Washington before, we hadn’t stopped in the Astoria area before. We learned that the mouth of the Columbia River, where the river empties into the ocean, is very dangerous and is the spot of the worst wave action anywhere in the world! There are lots of shipwrecks in the river and along the coast.

232-Astoria OR

Maritime Museum and LightShip

While we’ve driven up the coast through Oregon into Washington before, we hadn’t stopped in the Astoria area before. We learned that the mouth of the Columbia River, where the river empties into the ocean, is very dangerous and is the spot of the worst wave action anywhere in the world! There are lots of shipwrecks in the river and along the coast.

We visited the Maritime Museum in Astoria which had lots of boats and ships, either partial or whole, telling the story of the history of this area. Maps of all the shipwrecks showed how dangerous this area was and still is.

There was a lot of information about the salmon fishing and canning business, which boomed in the 19th century here. There was also a lot of information about the shipping industry along the Columbia River. The day we visited the museum we saw five large container ships moored in the river waiting to head either up or down the river.

We also were able to tour a “Lightship” which is like a lighthouse but uses a ship instead of a building on the land. The lightship was anchored in one stop along the shore and crews came and went on other boats. Each crew was about 10-12 men including a couple of officers and they spent 8 weeks on the ship and then went back to shore for 4 weeks. If the weather didn’t permit a change of the crew on the day expected, the crew just had to suck it up and stay longer.

Here are some pictures Jeff took at the lightship:

232-Astoria OR

Fort Clatsop – where Lewis & Clark ended up

While in Astoria, OR, we visited the Fort Clatsop National Historic site. This was the site where Lewis and Clark and their team spent a winter before heading back to the east coast. This was the land of the Clatsop native tribe who befriended Lewis and Clark and helped them during their stay.

The historic site includes a museum where there is information and artifacts about the Lewis and Clark stay in this area and also a replica of the fort where they wintered. It was much smaller than I thought considering there were over 20 men along with Sakagawea and her baby who lived here during a very wet winter. After four months in the area they headed back east to complete their mission.

We watched a nice video in the museum that was narrated by a member of the Clatsop tribe and told the story of the Lewis and Clark stay in this area from a native point of view. It was very interesting. We didn’t take any pictures in the museum (items behind glass don’t usually photo well). Here are some pics of the fort: