Wauna Point hike
Another hike that starts at Eagle Creek trailhead takes you to the top of Wauna Point. This is a hike about 4 miles long, and gains about 1,100 feet in altitude. Along the way, you can see the Columbia Gorge, and from the top you get an excellent view of the Bonneville dam and Cascade Locks.
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- There are some very big trees up here
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- This fell shortly before we got here. Glad it wasn’t later
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- Flowers are starting to grow here too
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- A view of Bonneville Dam and the locks
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- Getting close to the top
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- At the monument at very top
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- A view to the East
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- Enjoying the hike back
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- And over Eagle Creek suspension bridge
Leach Horticultural Gardens
Located in the middle of Portland, OR the Leach Horticultural Gardens are a popular spot. They have well over 2,500 of native and local plants on display, and it makes for a cool and pleasant walk through the many trails. And, if you have a camera, well….
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- Spring flowers
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- Some flowers are small and dainty….
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- And some are larger but more subtle….
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- Some are in-your-face color swatches.
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- One of the many ferns, just uncurling as it grows
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- Some leaves even get into the color act
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- And then of course there are the true beauty shots.
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- One of the many trails through the gardens
Eagle Creek to Punchbowl Falls
This hike is considered one of the most scenic in the NorthWest. Starting about 40 miles from Portland, it follows Eagle Creek along many falls and scenic lookouts. If you keep going, you will end up in Mexico, as it ties into the Pacific Crest Trail. We hiked the first 5 miles today and had a great hike.
There is so much to see and to do in the NorthWest! We look forward to many other similar hikes while we are in the Portland area.
Start of the trail, alongside Eagle Creek
Some of the trail is scenic, but easy, walking....
... and some require waterproof boots ....
... and some require a careful step.
Metlako Falls, on the way to the Punchbowl
Finally, a top down view of Punchbowl Falls
A dramatic view from the bottom of the Falls
Spring flowers, like this Shooting Star, are coming out in the spring
Hood River Mountain Hike
Did our first hike of the year, and had a great time. This area of the country has some beautiful (and challenging!) hikes! We found this hike on the Portland Hikers website, and it looks like there will be many more to come.
Our hike today was wonderful. The climb up was a bit of a stress, our flat land legs just aren’t used to it — yet. But we look forward to many more hikes to come.
The first mile is uphill, through the trees
Looking north - that's Mt. Adams with Mt. Rainier (left) peeking over the hills.
And here's Mt. Hood, viewed from Hood River Mountain summit
I call this image "Black and White, in color"
Flowers are just starting to appear
Multnomah Falls
Fruit orchards are all over the place in this area
California Railroad Museum
In the 1830’s, four Sacramento businessmen funded the building of a railroad to the gold mining districts. This was so successful, and profitable, that soon they were building railroads all over the west coast, and eventually linking them to form a transcontinental rail system. This fundamentally changed the way this country grew.
Not only did the rail lines allow for easy travel to the west coast, it opened up the east coast markets for California produce. It was a fundamental reason why the west had the highest population growth rate ever recorded.
The story behind this venture was more fascinating than fiction. Climbing over mountains, descending through valleys, and in extreme cold and heat made for difficult going. It was considered the most difficult engineering feat of its time. To commemorate this, the California Railroad Museum was built where it all started, in Sacramento.
You can easily spend a day here, it is a wonderful exhibit. We recommend it to anyone visiting this area, even if you’re not a train buff.
The very first steam engine. This is number 1, the original.
Engine number 1 was built on the east coast, then had to be broken into small pieces that would fit in a boat hold. It was then shipped around South America, and 7 months later was re-assembled in Sacramento. It worked for quite a few years until newer, larger engines were built that could be transported by the new rail lines.
Very well restored
Some of the work resembles art
The largest locomotive ever built, with 6,500 HP power
Old Sacramento
Since we’re parked near Sacramento, we decided it would be great to visit the Old Town. And, it was. It has been restored and is now a highly visited tourist destination. We actually found a restaurant that served Indonesian food!
We toured a museum and learned more about the history of the area. FYI, this is where the gold rush started in 1840’s. This changed the way of the west forever.
This was also the western terminus for the Pony Express, which originated here. The other end was in St. Joseph, MO near St. Louis. Over 120 riders covered 650,000 miles and only one rider and mail bag was lost to the Indians.
The Pony Express was short lived, as the railroad arrived and took over. Sacramento was a major station in the development of the West.
The original Linotype machine used to print the Sacramento Bee
Early agricultural equipment
Boardwalk in Old Sacramento
More restored buildings in Old Sacramento
Statue commemorating the Pony Express
Friends in Laguna Niguel
We were fortunate to make new friends during our last cruise. Linda and Rainer Romeike live in Laguna Niguel, close to our travel route. So we stopped and visited them for a few days. We truly enjoyed their hospitality, and the time they spent showing us around their part of the world. And Linda is a great cook….
We found a very nice camp site in Casper’s Wilderness. Although we were only 7 miles away from the madness of LA traffic, we might as well have been in the back woods somewhere. The best of both worlds. A nice diversion from our dash across the country.
After this very pleasant visit we drove to Bakersfield, about 180 miles away, of which 100 miles or so were on Los Angeles highways. LA is definitely a car lovers dream…. especially if you like traffic.
Linda and Rainer, our friends and hosts
The beach, viewed from Balboa Island
One of the +/- $8MM homes on Balboa Island
Easter decorations on Balboa
Keeping the landscapers busy on Balboa Island
A tall ship moored at Dana Point
On a hike in Caspers Wilderness Park --- look there!
Traffic on the way out of LA
Ahhh, San Diego…..
Weather: Perfect. Sunny, dry, 76 degrees. And, all in one morning:
Starbucks: Sit outside, read our books, sip a coffee.
Eclipse chocolate: hand made, best chocolate in the Universe. Thanks Stacy and Dallas!
Trader Joes: Yummy foods, and Two Buck Chuck is still $1.99 a bottle.
Pho: Some of the best Pho we’ve ever had.
Wonder what the rest of the day/week will hold in store?
Hand made, best chocolate EVAH!
Too bad this picture is so blurry....
Simply put, a great food shopping experience.
A very nice Pho place, great ambience and food.
Best steak in the USA?
About 35 miles from El Paso, in the middle of the desert, is a working ranch named Indian Hills Ranch. They raise their own cattle, and opened a restaurant 40 years ago. Meat is cut fresh every day, on the ranch. It has been recognized by People magazine as the best steak in the country. The restaurant seats 600 people, and on a typical weekend there is a 2 to 3 hour wait.
The ranch as been used for quite a few movies. There are sets from various movies that are available for view. Als, there are animal pens, hosting a variety of different species. All is free to dinner guests. An interesting place to stay — and eat.
Since we were passing by El Paso anyway, we thought we’d stop by for dinner. What made this especially attractive was free overnight parking. Sure, no utilities, but hey, it’s free! So we drove up, navigated the somewhat difficult and curvy drives, and parked. What a great place to spend some time! It is sunny, dry, about 72 degrees, just about perfect.
Our spot in the sun. High up on the mesa.
Our motor home, in the theme based parking lot
Entrance to the restaurant
Inside the restaurant
Time to dig into this steak!
Where the buffalo roam....
Pro soccer in Dallas
True, profesional soccer is not a mainstay sport in the USA, but it is increasing in popularity. Daughter Tanya, who plays indoor soccer n a ladies team, got us extra tickets to attend the FC Dallas opening match agains the Chicago Fire. Had a nice dinner (loud fans!) and a short stroll to the stadium.
The stadium is sponsored by Pizza Hut. It is a new stadium, well done, very fan friendly. There was a reasonably large crowd, cheering on the local team. Very upset when a favorite layer was red carded and kicked from the game. Dallas survived to a 1 – 1 tie.
We had a lot o fun and may even go back to next weeks game.
Waiting for our drinks, and food....
Walking into the new Pizza Hut stadium
Some of the action....
More action in front of our goal
We were treated to a very nice moonrise over the stadium
Laninga's Travel Blog 