Gorge day, continued

We had lunch at Solstice, in Hood River, a lovely place on the waterfront with great pizzas and salads, and then had some gelato (doing research for our Italy trip, of course). And then we played fetch and catch in the waterfront park with Jasper and each other, since no day is complete without a little baseball! It was a lot more crowded than it had been at 8 am, but it was fun to romp a little.

And then, because we're crazy/cruel and unusual parents, who have been kept in Portland on baseball fields all spring, and because no one seemed all that tired, we decided to tackle a second hike. This time we started at the Starvation Creek trailhead and headed into the coolness of the forest on the 3-mile Lower Starvation Loop. The first stop was the creek and eponymous waterfall, which did not disappoint. The kids clambered into the water, and after some encouraging, Jasper joined them.

We headed along old Highway 30 for a brief distance before reaching the next waterfall, Cabin Creek Falls - you could climb up a little slope and go under a huge overhang, next to the falls.

We kept hiking up and up, onto the ridge, from which we had gorgeous views along the river. We made it to one more waterfall, Lancaster Falls, before turning to head back toward our car.

Using logs and rocks to cross Warren Creek.

The wildflowers were in profusion everywhere - different ones on the first and second hikes, but flowers of all colors and sizes everywhere.

This part of the ridge was just gorgeous - snaking along the ridge, high above the Columbia.

The children did a great job -- there was some very minor complaining, but for the most part they were happy and willing participants in our hiking adventures, and it was really wonderful. We were on pace to arrive back at the trailhead by 6, ready to go get dinner, when we ran into trouble. The trail had washed out in this one very steep section, covered by scree. There were some big rocks and roots, and so with caution and coaching, the kids made it across just fine. But then there was poor Jasper. He tried to follow us - he was such a good pup - but he got too afraid of the sliding rocks and the sensation of falling and sliding down. And he was tired and hot and thirsty - put his head down on Steve's lap and promptly fell asleep. So there was Steve with Jasper, on one side of the gash, and I was on the other, with the kids, and the dog just couldn't make it across. We couldn't carry him and also hang on to the roots and rocks. We tried to make a harness out of a backpack, we tried to lure him into trying again with treats, but nothing worked and it was really upsetting to the children to think of losing or injuring the dog.

So poor Steve and Jasper had to backtrack, retracing our steps along nearly the whole trail - probably 2.5 miles - to circle around and meet us at the parking lot. It was late by then and we were all so hungry - we stopped for a quick dinner but still found ourselves pulling into our driveway at 8:50. But we all made it, and everyone eventually got food and water, and it turned into such a memorable adventure. We had a good, fun conversation about how sometimes the misadventures and mistakes and near disasters and small disasters make the best travel stories of all, fun to share with others and laugh about later on.

Columbia Gorge for Memorial Day

This past weekend was Memorial Day, providing not just an extra day off, but a much-needed break from our scheduled weekends. We spent Saturday getting caught up on chores and errands and house-cleaning (library, groceries, haircuts, laundry, etc. etc.) and feeling collectively grouchy. But then on Sunday, we piled in the car as soon as we were all awake and drove east along I84 toward Hood River. We were there by 8, in time to enjoy some breakfast sandwiches and coffee at the park on the Columbia River.

Our first adventure of the day was the Mosier Plateau hike, an easy 3-mile out and back with great views across the river and westward. It started by winding through an old pioneer cemetery - we stopped to read some gravestones.

This tiny stone - at Liesl's feet - caught our eye, for the simplicity of its inscription. Steve and I both liked it immensely.

The trail passed by the Mosier waterfall, apparently a summer swimming hole.

And then we started to climb up to the top of the plateau - there were steps and switchbacks through the tall grass, all the way up. We were glad to be tackling it so early, as it was a sunny day and a very exposed hike.

Coyote Wall and the Catherine creek areas across the river in Washington - both areas I've hiked with friends in past years.

Looking west, toward Portland.

I love this family photo - we're all laughing and the dog just licked Sebastian and we're on top of a gorgeous hill, all together.

We came down from the hike around 11 and headed back to Hood River for lunch, at Solstice. Part two of our day to be continued...

Sauvie Island field trip

Liesl's first grade class went on a field trip to Sauvie Island farms on Thursday, and I was lucky enough to get to chaperone them. It was a wonderful experience - the farm was really pretty and we learned a lot about bees and other pollinators, the parts of flowers, different vegetables, and the plant life cycle. We tasted three kinds of honey, arugula, dandelion greens, watermelon radish, spring onions; we weeded and watered. I love seeing my girl with her friends and classmates, and she was really excited to have me there.

I was really impressed by the quality of the teachers - their enthusiasm and knowledge and fun games.

Learning about pollinators - bees, butterflies, insects - and pretending to be bees ourselves.

We caught a bee! And then Liesl had a terrible allergy attack, caused by opening up a seed pod to investigate the nectar and pollen inside, and then rubbing her hands all over her face. We proved conclusively that she's allergic to pollen... (hand slap to forehead/parenting fail).

 Liesl and Ryder. 💜💗💜

Learning to do a plant growth song, starting from seed and developing leaves and gathering nutrients from the soil, and sprouting fruit, and raining seeds.

 Picking greens to eat.