RN: From Pendleton OR we traveled west on I-84 and stopped in The Dalles to see the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center.  The center houses a comprehensive history of the Columbia River Gorge as well as a nice trail outside with a beautiful bronze of a stag framed by the river and the hills nearby. 

Usually the winds rip through the gorge and the river is full of whitecaps, but all is still and we even can see the reflection of the other side in the water.

The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon carved out by the Columbia River that is up to 4000 ft deep.  It starts near the town of Arlington OR where the Deschutes River joins the Columbia and is 80 miles long and many miles wide.  It’s so wide that railroad tracks and highways run on either side of river, and various towns have built inside. So different from the Black Canyon!  Driving into the gorge on I-84 is completely breath-taking and awe-inspiring!

FE: The Cascade mountains are topped by a series of volcanoes, many over 10,000 feet tall. Today we could first see Mt Hood from almost 100 miles away. Here is the view from a little closer, the walls of the gorge are all formed by the lava from ancient eruptions.

We arrive in Hood River, the closest town near the wedding venue and visit Pfriem, one of our favorite brew pubs.

Usually the river here is full of windsurfers, but alas, no wind…so only the motorized are playing!

We find the VRBO home we rent and it has the most amazing view….Mt Adams to the north

and Mt Hood to the south

Time for a family get-together on the deck.