Thursday, August 25, Part 5, the fun continues with a few views and a picnic in Parkdale, Oregon

Finally we tore ourselves away from the Columbia River Gorge and headed south on Highway 35 towards Parkdale and the site of our picnic lunch.


Pulled over to take a photo of this barn, on our way for a quick visit to Rasmussen Farms.


Mt. Adams, in Washington, to the north.


Rasmussen Farms. Mama and Marsha and I visited here a couple years ago, during the Hood River Fruit Loop Tour. That time, and this time, we shopped in their store for local fruit jams and jellies. Yummy.


One of my favorite sights at Rasmussen Farms.


Mt. Hood from the highway to Parkdale, Oregon.


We've just settled in for our picnic. How nice to have shade and a clean table. We're on the grounds of a park-like area, the site of the Ries-Thompson House, which had been built in 19100.


And a nearby grove of beautiful trees--we walked over there when we had finished eating and putting everything away.


Mt. Hood--that's one beautiful mountain!


A stunning wire sculpture, "Winning Team, Amber and Clyde," by Bernie Jestrabek-Hart.

After I took this photo, we walked back to the SUV, got in and went on our way. Next stop? Timberline Lodge, at 6000 feet, up on Mt. Hood!

I missed the show, but I got the photos!

Mama and I are in the car, driving east on Everett, headed for the Steel Bridge. Our goal? Cross the Willamette River and head for Marsha's, to pick her up for the Hood River Fruit Loop Tour. My camera and Flat Stanley rest in the backseat of the Buick, safe inside a tote bag.

We hadn't gone two blocks before I spied something odd on the street in front of us. Well, not so odd for Portland because I've seen this sort of rolling sign here other times. I've even seen (and missed the chance to photograph, doggone it!) a rolling Ikea room.

"Oh," I groan. "My camera's in the back seat." Mama looks over her left shoulder and calmly states the truth: "I can't reach it."

Instantly I realize that when I stop at a stop sign, I should be able to jump out and grab the tote bag, as long as there is no vehicle right behind me. And that's exactly what I do, seven blocks later. Above you see the photo that I took a couple of blocks after that when I stop at the next four-way stop.

And here's the photo I took just before we drove up onto the approach to the bridge.



One of the things I love about Portland, among the many, many things, is being in the street in the car alongside mass transit entities--bus, streetcar, MAX--or approaching an intersection where mass transist is about to cross in front of me. At this particular intersection, here's the Buick, behind a bus. A block in front of us, the MAX lines cross the street and continues to the left, up onto the Steel Bridge.

It may sound silly that such a mundane thing as mass transit makes me love Portland, but it does.

Fall Fun, Flat Stanley Style! Part Two at Rasmussen Farms

The Sunday before Halloween, we four climbed into the Buick, picked up our friend Marsha and headed east on I-84, into the Gorge. The sun shone brightly, the leaves glowed brilliantly, and we had a destination--the Hood River Fruit Loop Tour. No cereal involved. Here's a visual clue for you.



And another one, with Mt. Adams in the distance, on the left of the barn.



I found this on the Internet: "Looking for some family fun? Take this 35-mile, scenic drive through the valley's orchards, forests, farmlands, and friendly communities. Sample delicious fruits and take your favorites home, visit a winery, experience fields of fragrant lavender, meet adorable alpacas, savor delicious baked goods, and create memories by participating in family activities hosted at Fruit Loop locations throughout the year.

The Fruit Loop is just an hour away from Oregon's largest city, Portland. Located in the national scenic area called the Columbia River Gorge, and the nation's largest pear-growing region, this is one of the few places that offers the complete experience of growing, producing, and then enjoying fruit and wine."

Our made our second stop of the tour at Rasmussen Farms. (To see the first stop go to Mama and Me from PDX.) I have to tell you up front that we had so much fun here and I took so many photos that I must save some of them for Wednesday!



This lovely couple welcomed us as we turned into the parking lot.



Pulling to a stop as this sign instructed, we informed Duncan that he had to stay in the car. It was his 14th birthday and he was not home in his cage, so he was a happy little ol' dog. (Duncan chews things when he's left alone, hence he has to stay in a cage when we cannot take him with us--it's for everyone's good in the long run.)

Flat Stanley wanted to ride in the buckboard with this couple, so here he is.



Then he wanted to check out the Rasmussen Farms' corn maze.



Then he went for a ride in Angela's cart, with a couple of pumpkins and a sunflower head.



Then he checked out the produce and the pine cones.





Then he sat down to rest a bit before going to see the creative pumpkin display which you'll get to see on ABC Wednesday!