Well either the Red Lion has thin floors or the guest in the room above us was a very heavy walker and an all-night walker according to Sheila, back and forth across the room; perhaps BigFoot or the Northwest Abominable Snowman.
Had a light breakfast and after a stop at the local Target for gloves, we were on the road. We stopped in Wapato, WA for the cheapest gas of the trip, $3.229/g, needed a bigger tank. For most of the morning we drove south on US-97 through the reservation of the Yakama Indian Nation. It's beautiful country, starting with farm and ranch land, acres of fruit orchards and then passing through a mountainous region before dropping back into the Columbia River Valley. At various outlooks the high mountains of the northwest are visible with Mt. Adams being the dominant peak of the area.
Stopped at a fruit stand before crossing into Oregon and picked up some apples and plums; peaches look good too, but would be a little messy in the car.
Once in Oregon we stopped at a local dining establishment to pick-up sandwiches, local as in Le Chez Subway. Occasionally a BMT (not BLT) on flat-bread is pretty tasty. We packed up the sandwiches and proceeded along the Columbia stopping in a riverside park for lunch.
With good weather before us and with a little coordination with Diane and Greg, we settled on a target rendezvous, Mt. Hood's Timberline Lodge. They had departed snow country in the Tahoe area and were well en-route to Eugene but diverted toward Bend, OR and on to Redmond for the night. We'll meet up around noon Thursday at The Timberline Lodge.
Turning from the Columbia River at Hood River we headed south and climbed the slopes of Mount Hood, an hour later entering the snow fields of the timberline drive. (BTW: U.S. Forest Service still working)
Staying over was an easy decision, the lodge was great and there were roaring fires on two levels of the lobby.
We splurged, might as well spend what we have before the Congress plunges us all into the depths of national default, and ordered up a room with a fireplace and an unlimited supply of wood.
Next came the hot chocolate and cider at the bar. As happens we were invited to sit with folks similar to ourselves in age and livelihoods. This couple originally from Michigan but having recently moved to Eugene, OR. Nothing remarkable except the the wife had lived in Hawaii when we had in the early 70's and had attended the University of Hawaii Manoa campus while Sheila had. She had also been a volunteer at the Tripler Naval Hospital, so who knows how close we might have been.
Moving on we packed into the room and headed out for views of the mountain which were spectacular as the clouds had cleared and the peak was lit with the setting sun and contrasting skies. Again in the lobby, Sheila met up with another couple, again a Hawaii connection. These folks actually lived in Mililani not far from where we had lived in the mid-70's. Dinner time and we decided to eat in the lodge restaurant, not too many choices up here. Initially it looked as if it might be a "big plate, little food" place but that proved not to be the case. Servings were over-the-top and the food was good, I again had salmon and Sheila pork loin. Good meal!
Now to the fireplace, before even starting we ordered up more wood and kindling, as learned in the Navy days of my life, one never want's to be short of fuel. It was time to light fires; a great fireplace, a great fire. As usual fires are tiring or at least contributing factors to sleep. Turning in for the night with the fire flickering, not too bad.
Good night!
SIDE NOTE: We saw an "Essential Person" today. Seems that we were following a U.S. Government vehicle, clearly being driven by a human being. Since there are only three types of government employees working, Congress, the President and "Essential Workers", we assumed it not to be a senator or congressman and certainly not the president, therefore, it had to be an "Essential Person".
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