Sunday morning Day trip
left at 11:15am | Return 6:20pm
Trip took ~7 hr 5 min
Traveled ~ 181.9 miles
Away we go! Wes, I and Bailey Bean on the road!
Well, I have to admit I was not too impressed with the weather this morning. All week they have been reporting an 84* day on Sunday...
So we stayed home and worked on the yard Saturday which was just a gorgeous sunny day and opted to go on our drive Sunday when the weather was suppose to be even nicer!
Well... guess who woke up to rain pounding on the roof. Yep, I could hardly believe my ears, I jumped up, ran to the door and swung it open, and to my dismay it was not only raining, it was pouring!
Well, those who know me, can picture my lip sticking out and pouting all the way back to my chair, where I logged on to the internet to verify this was just a fluke and the sunshine was really on the way. Wrong. 20-40% chance of rain for the next 10-days, how can this be? They have be raving about this weekend all week, announcing this is the nicest 3-days we were going to have since October 2009.
So... next question, are we still going to go? After a long depressing morning, I decided rain or shine we were still going to go and have a beautiful drive. So we did.
On the road, headed down the Columbia Gorge into Cascade Locks.. so far so good. We made it down the road and over the toll bridge ($1) "Bridge of the Gods" which crossed the Columbia River, then headed straight east to Stevenson, Washington. Before long, the clouds started parting and rays of sunshine started to emerge, which we could feel though the window like a warm blanket wrapped around us. Yippee! This road trip is turning out to be a great decision.
We really didn't know where we are going, other that we are attempting to make a loop from the Columbia Gorge to Mt. St. Helen's, from following voice directions from a friend at work.
Well, we made it though Stevenson, a nice little town then on to Carson...oops missed that turn-off, well after a quick u-turn we are back on track. Headed through Carson and onto Wind River, all the time winding though the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
We came across some campgrounds, all dry camping spots the nicest park was at Paradise Creek, campsites butted right up to the river. What a beautiful location, we could just see ourself later in the summer with our lawn chairs sitting at the rivers edge and our feet danging in the water while we fished.
Following Wind River Hwy we headed into 6 miles a windy twisty roads...oh poor Bailey, he just couldn't take it anymore and lost his breakfast all over his cage. After a quick stop to clean up the car, we were off again....
Wow, all of a sudden we came around the corner and there was Mt. St. Helen's and a beautiful view point.
We stopped, gasped at the beauty, took a few pictures and were back on the road.
Next stop Ape Caves near Cougar, Wa., we finally make it to the caves and found out we not only had one problem, but two.
Problem 1, we didn't bring a flashlight..... (so we thought)....
Problem 2, we had Bailey with us and no dogs were allowed in the cave.
So Bailey and I hung out at the car and Wes headed down to the caves to see what he could see without a flashlight.
Well, during our wait, I started cleaning out the car and low and behold!! I found a flashlight. Oops.. to late now...sorry Wes.
Problem 1, we didn't bring a flashlight..... (so we thought)....
Problem 2, we had Bailey with us and no dogs were allowed in the cave.
So Bailey and I hung out at the car and Wes headed down to the caves to see what he could see without a flashlight.
Well, during our wait, I started cleaning out the car and low and behold!! I found a flashlight. Oops.. to late now...sorry Wes.
