{"id":833,"date":"2016-02-21T18:33:50","date_gmt":"2016-02-21T18:33:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/?p=833"},"modified":"2024-08-25T21:19:47","modified_gmt":"2024-08-25T21:19:47","slug":"2016-2-21-north-by-northwest-wintery-oregon-days-housesitting-exploring-ph5kc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/?p=833","title":{"rendered":"North By Northwest: Wintery Oregon Days Housesitting &amp; Exploring"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"833\" class=\"elementor elementor-833\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7a2f71 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"b7a2f71\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3b0698 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c3b0698\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\">My heart was pounding louder than a big bass drum. I stepped up to the counter positive the immigration officer could hear the <strong>THUD THUD<\/strong>. We had arrived in Dallas on route to Portland and this was the moment of truth. We had used 87 days of our 90 day visa allowance on our first stay in the USA. Would three weeks in Costa Rica be enough to reset the clock? We had heard horror stories of people being held or denied access. It wasn\u2019t the thought of not being in the US that had us so nervous, but the fact that we would be letting people down.\u00a0<\/p><p class=\"\">Julie waved her passport at the automatic machines and was granted instant access. Trembling with fear, I stood in front of the nicest, most charming immigration officer we had met. Welcome to the USA and Happy Thanksgiving. <strong>YES!<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ffec4b3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ffec4b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/sunrise_over_vineyard_oregon.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1951\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/sunrise_over_vineyard_oregon.jpg 800w, https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/sunrise_over_vineyard_oregon-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/sunrise_over_vineyard_oregon-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">sunset over the vines<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8609821 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8609821\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The north west of the USA would be home for the next two and half months. After a bus ride from Portland, first stop a house sit in Eugene, Oregon. A week long stint looking after several rescue animals. To be precise &#8211; 2 dogs, 4 cats, 1 very old parrot, 2 rams and several chickens. Our host, Barbara, lives on an 8 acre vineyard. On our first afternoon Barbara took us for tastings at two of the vineyards she has supplied grapes to. A great start to the week.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f8c0e76 elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"f8c0e76\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;columns&quot;:2,&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:&quot;1:1&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;grid&quot;,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:2,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151205-130854.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"f8c0e76\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"20151205-130854\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTk1MCwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cLzJjaGVja2luZ291dC5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTZcLzAyXC8yMDE1MTIwNS0xMzA4NTQuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiZjhjMGU3NiJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151205-130854.jpg\" data-width=\"800\" data-height=\"600\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151205-192600.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"f8c0e76\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"20151205-192600\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTk0OSwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cLzJjaGVja2luZ291dC5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTZcLzAyXC8yMDE1MTIwNS0xOTI2MDAuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiZjhjMGU3NiJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151205-192600.jpg\" data-width=\"800\" data-height=\"533\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e2cce2e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e2cce2e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\">Barbara\u2019s home is full of books, puzzles, DVDs and a running machine. No getting bored here. For a birthday treat for yours truly, we booked tickets to watch the local college basketball team, Oregon Ducks v Fresno State. Not quite a full house but still plenty of atmosphere helped by the energetic cheerleaders and marching bands. The Ducks hung on to win 78-73, the crowd went quackers.<\/p><p class=\"\">After spending so much time in warmer climates, the cold of Oregon took its toll. I spent a couple of days in bed with a severe case of man flu. I did manage to drag myself out for lunch at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.papassoulfoodkitchen.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Papas Soul Food Kitchen<\/strong><\/a>, who serve up good wholesome southern fare. Instead of a birthday cake, Julie baked a delicious blueberry pie. Went down a treat with a scoop of the local ice cream.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e7af038 elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"e7af038\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;columns&quot;:3,&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:&quot;1:1&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;grid&quot;,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:2,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151130-174845-4.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"e7af038\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"20151130-174845-4\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTk0OCwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cLzJjaGVja2luZ291dC5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTZcLzAyXC8yMDE1MTEzMC0xNzQ4NDUtNC5qcGciLCJzbGlkZXNob3ciOiJlN2FmMDM4In0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151130-174845-4.jpg\" data-width=\"750\" data-height=\"563\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151130-154800.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"e7af038\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"20151130-154800\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTk0NiwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cLzJjaGVja2luZ291dC5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTZcLzAyXC8yMDE1MTEzMC0xNTQ4MDAuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiZTdhZjAzOCJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151130-154800.jpg\" data-width=\"450\" data-height=\"600\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151202-125126-3.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"e7af038\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"20151202-125126-3\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTk0NywidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cLzJjaGVja2luZ291dC5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTZcLzAyXC8yMDE1MTIwMi0xMjUxMjYtMy5qcGciLCJzbGlkZXNob3ciOiJlN2FmMDM4In0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151202-125126-3.jpg\" data-width=\"750\" data-height=\"750\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64441e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"64441e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Unfortunately, on Barbara\u2019s return, we found a hole in the roof of the chicken coop. Some chickens and a duck had fallen prey to local wildlife. We were gutted.<br \/><br \/>Next, time to explore with a road trip. With record-breaking rainfall in the area, we skimmed down the Oregon coast, back up the freeway to Portland and along the magnificent Columbia River Gorge.<br \/><br \/>Our first stop was the charming town of Astoria. Decked in all its winter finery. We checked into the resplendent <a href=\"http:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/us\/commodore-astoria.html?aid=1277226&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Commodore Hotel<\/strong><\/a> and were offered a turntable and some vinyl for the room. Politely declining, we did take them up on the offer of a free beer tasting.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-408f216 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"408f216\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/commodore_hotel_astoria_oregon.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1945\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/commodore_hotel_astoria_oregon.jpg 800w, https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/commodore_hotel_astoria_oregon-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/commodore_hotel_astoria_oregon-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">chic digs<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c79bd84 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c79bd84\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\">In need of refreshment, we wandered the streets until we found <a href=\"http:\/\/www.himaniic.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Himani Indian Cuisine<\/strong><\/a>. A cavernous venue with just one waitress (it was a quiet night), complete with a baby strapped to her back. The tasty curries were just what the doctor ordered.<\/p><p class=\"\">After dinner, our next stop was purely for research purposes. We popped into one of the new kind of stores that have opened up throughout Oregon. After completing a simple questionnaire and providing proof of ID, we were granted entry to the back store, an Aladdin\u2019s cave. Hundreds of sweetie jars filled the shelves full of pot with groovy names such as Dr. Who and Lamb\u2019s Breath. Pot or weed or ganga or grass or broccoli (yes broccoli) has been legal for personal use in Oregon since July 2015. It\u2019s legal to buy, carry and use, all within strict limits and if you are over 21. Washington, the neighbouring state has raised more taxes through legal sales of marijuana than it knows what to do with. Research completed, we giggled and weaved our way back to the hotel.<\/p><p class=\"\">We had only the one night in Astoria, but it\u2019s certainly somewhere we could happily return to. The rain dampened our desire to climb up the Astoria Column.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c0d501e elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"c0d501e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;columns&quot;:3,&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:&quot;1:1&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;grid&quot;,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:2,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151208-232633.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"c0d501e\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"20151208-232633\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTk0NCwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cLzJjaGVja2luZ291dC5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTZcLzAyXC8yMDE1MTIwOC0yMzI2MzMuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiYzBkNTAxZSJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151208-232633.jpg\" data-width=\"400\" data-height=\"600\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151208-095324.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"c0d501e\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"20151208-095324\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTk0MywidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cLzJjaGVja2luZ291dC5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTZcLzAyXC8yMDE1MTIwOC0wOTUzMjQuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiYzBkNTAxZSJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151208-095324.jpg\" data-width=\"450\" data-height=\"600\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151208-232049.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"c0d501e\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"20151208-232049\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTk0MiwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cLzJjaGVja2luZ291dC5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTZcLzAyXC8yMDE1MTIwOC0yMzIwNDkuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiYzBkNTAxZSJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151208-232049.jpg\" data-width=\"800\" data-height=\"533\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2336091 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2336091\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The following day we hugged the coast or what we could see of it through the driving rain, passing through several super cute seaside towns. We stopped to dive out between showers to take a few snaps of some rusting Kombis at the side of the road.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-00f6591 elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"00f6591\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;columns&quot;:2,&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:&quot;1:1&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;grid&quot;,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:2,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151208-125950.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"00f6591\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"20151208-125950\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTk0MSwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cLzJjaGVja2luZ291dC5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTZcLzAyXC8yMDE1MTIwOC0xMjU5NTAuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiMDBmNjU5MSJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151208-125950.jpg\" data-width=\"800\" data-height=\"600\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151208-125751-3.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"00f6591\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"20151208-125751-3\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTk0MCwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cLzJjaGVja2luZ291dC5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTZcLzAyXC8yMDE1MTIwOC0xMjU3NTEtMy5qcGciLCJzbGlkZXNob3ciOiIwMGY2NTkxIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151208-125751-3.jpg\" data-width=\"800\" data-height=\"800\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-97fea89 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"97fea89\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We arrived at Lincoln City and found a nice motel style lodge, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/us\/the-coho-oceanfront-lodge.html?aid=1277226&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Coho Oceanfront Lodge<\/strong><\/a>. The best rate was only available online. So I stood in the reception jumped on booking.com and then showed the receptionist the booking confirmation. This is the modern world. Our room offered impressive views of the wild coast. Not much to do other than watch the waves pound the beach.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-605c369 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"605c369\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/lincoln_city_coastline.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1939\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/lincoln_city_coastline.jpg 800w, https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/lincoln_city_coastline-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/lincoln_city_coastline-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">wild pacific coast<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-de59f2a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"de59f2a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Heading further south we stopped at Depoe Bay. This is the centre for whale watching in the area. From mid-December through to late January, thousands of whales migrate from the cold waters of Alaska down to warmer climes of Mexico. Given the weather, all that was on offer was the waves crashing through blowholes in the rocks.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76602bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"76602bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/oregon_coastline.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1938\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/oregon_coastline.jpg 800w, https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/oregon_coastline-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/oregon_coastline-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ab8f22 elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"8ab8f22\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;columns&quot;:2,&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:&quot;1:1&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;grid&quot;,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:2,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151209-115529.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"8ab8f22\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"20151209-115529\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTkzNywidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cLzJjaGVja2luZ291dC5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTZcLzAyXC8yMDE1MTIwOS0xMTU1MjkuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiOGFiOGYyMiJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151209-115529.jpg\" data-width=\"800\" data-height=\"600\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151210-154729.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"8ab8f22\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"20151210-154729\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTkzNiwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cLzJjaGVja2luZ291dC5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTZcLzAyXC8yMDE1MTIxMC0xNTQ3MjkuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiOGFiOGYyMiJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151210-154729.jpg\" data-width=\"800\" data-height=\"533\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f511c06 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f511c06\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We could not head any further south as the road was closed due to a shooting. Only in America. So we headed inland and up to Lake Oswego, just south of Portland, to catch up with a fellow New England Patriot nut. Becoming buddies through a Patriots Facebook page, we met up with Chester who runs the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.oswegogrill.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Oswego Grill<\/strong><\/a>. We had a blast, talking football and enjoying a delicious meal. We were blown away when Chester picked up the bill. A very generous gesture.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-30a5509 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"30a5509\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/patriots_elite_buddies.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1935\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/patriots_elite_buddies.jpg 800w, https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/patriots_elite_buddies-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/patriots_elite_buddies-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">we have 4 Super Bowls, looking for a fifth<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d37b14 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d37b14\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The wild weather continued as we headed through the Columbia River Gorge, keeping away all but the hardiest of hikers. We jumped on the historic highway 30 and made our way to Hood River, stopping at Latourell Falls to complete the two-mile loop walk. The scenery is simply breathtaking; moss covered trees and waterfalls at every turn. The low cloud seeped through the valley creating an eerie atmosphere. There is little wonder that the gorge is the number one thing to do when in Portland.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b9f4ef4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"b9f4ef4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;columns&quot;:3,&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:&quot;1:1&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;grid&quot;,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:2,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151211-152328.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"b9f4ef4\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"20151211-152328\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTkzNCwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cLzJjaGVja2luZ291dC5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTZcLzAyXC8yMDE1MTIxMS0xNTIzMjguanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiYjlmNGVmNCJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151211-152328.jpg\" data-width=\"400\" data-height=\"600\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151213-131117.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"b9f4ef4\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"20151213-131117\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTkzMywidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cLzJjaGVja2luZ291dC5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTZcLzAyXC8yMDE1MTIxMy0xMzExMTcuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiYjlmNGVmNCJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151213-131117.jpg\" data-width=\"800\" data-height=\"533\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151212-091201-2.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"b9f4ef4\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"20151212-091201-2\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTkzMiwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cLzJjaGVja2luZ291dC5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTZcLzAyXC8yMDE1MTIxMi0wOTEyMDEtMi5qcGciLCJzbGlkZXNob3ciOiJiOWY0ZWY0In0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151212-091201-2.jpg\" data-width=\"750\" data-height=\"750\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8de04b8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8de04b8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\">Hood River is another charming town glistening with winter lights. Dinner was at a funky pizza restaurant called Solstice; most likely the best pizza we have had in a year.<\/p><p class=\"\">Day two in the gorge, we set off to tackle the Eagle Creek trail. A ten kilometre walk through lush forest. The torrential rain had created hundreds of small waterfalls, with water cascading over our heads as we trekked up a narrow path.\u00a0 Soaked through and with squelching boots we decided to turn around halfway at Punch Bowl waterfall. A nice warm soak in the bath beckoned.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad9277b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ad9277b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/eagle_creek_trail_columbia_river_gorge.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1931\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/eagle_creek_trail_columbia_river_gorge.jpg 800w, https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/eagle_creek_trail_columbia_river_gorge-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/eagle_creek_trail_columbia_river_gorge-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e1f0651 elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"e1f0651\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;columns&quot;:3,&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:&quot;1:1&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;grid&quot;,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:2,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151212-142505.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"e1f0651\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"20151212-142505\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTkzMCwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cLzJjaGVja2luZ291dC5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTZcLzAyXC8yMDE1MTIxMi0xNDI1MDUuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiZTFmMDY1MSJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151212-142505.jpg\" data-width=\"800\" data-height=\"533\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151210-113030.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"e1f0651\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"20151210-113030\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTkyOSwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cLzJjaGVja2luZ291dC5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTZcLzAyXC8yMDE1MTIxMC0xMTMwMzAuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiZTFmMDY1MSJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151210-113030.jpg\" data-width=\"450\" data-height=\"600\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151212-133603.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"e1f0651\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"20151212-133603\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTkyOCwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cLzJjaGVja2luZ291dC5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTZcLzAyXC8yMDE1MTIxMi0xMzM2MDMuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiZTFmMDY1MSJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151212-133603.jpg\" data-width=\"400\" data-height=\"600\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3b893f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e3b893f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/river_columbia_river_gorge.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1927\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/river_columbia_river_gorge.jpg 800w, https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/river_columbia_river_gorge-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/river_columbia_river_gorge-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b92d5ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b92d5ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>At the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gorgediscovery.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Columbia Gorge Discovery Centre<\/strong><\/a>, we learned about the two guys that feature on most of the road signs. Lewis and Clark explored this region on behalf of President Jefferson in the early 1800\u2019s. By chance, we also enjoyed a live raptor display with several rescued disabled hawks and an owl.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d21a1c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8d21a1c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/owl_dalles_discovery_centre.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1926\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/owl_dalles_discovery_centre.png 400w, https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/owl_dalles_discovery_centre-225x300.png 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">It's a hoot in here<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c1ec375 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c1ec375\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Oregon is an interesting and diverse state. Rugged coast-line, fantastic forests, gob-smacking scenery, great tasting wines, laid back locals and enough rain to fill an ocean. As modern day explorers, we loved retracing some of the steps that Lewis and Clark took.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dec5b86 elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"dec5b86\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;columns&quot;:3,&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:&quot;1:1&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;grid&quot;,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:2,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151127-081824.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"dec5b86\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"20151127-081824\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTkyNSwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cLzJjaGVja2luZ291dC5jb21cL3dwLWNvbnRlbnRcL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTZcLzAyXC8yMDE1MTEyNy0wODE4MjQuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiZGVjNWI4NiJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/2checkingout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20151127-081824.jpg\" data-width=\"750\" data-height=\"563\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div 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