2 competing espresso stands, 20 feet from each other, in the same parking lot
EVERYTHING is in bloom 
The western end of the Columbia River Gorge 
This waterfall is over 600 feet highI have neglected to mention the overwhelming number of drive-up Espresso stands in Oregon. It seems that every parking lot, supermarket and, many gas stations have an espresso stand, the size of a large walk–in closet, on their property. Mostly, they seem to be owner-run operations, competing with the dozens of others in town. As we drove the RV through the mountains on a secondary highway, we stopped at a combination realty office/espresso stand on the block long main street of a tiny village. $5.00 bought two excellent lattes and a Danish. Look out Starbucks!!!
Today we drove east through the 80 mile long Columbia River Gorge to the windsurfing capital of the world (self proclaimed) near the town of Hood River. We have seen television coverage of the windsurfing here, with the surfers jumping standing waves in the gorge, in screaming wind conditions. Our luck …….. there was only a gentle breeze blowing today so, the surfers must have been in the numerous “surfing pubs”. A surf shop owner gave us the old “Ya shoulda been here on the weekend. It was wild!!”
The gorge itself is picturesque with dozens of waterfalls, some up to 600 feet high, pouring down the walls, seeking the Columbia River. The road runs along the top of the gorge, down the steep slopes and then back up again. Here, our timing was good, as the waterfalls are all running at, or near, their spring maximum water flow. The Cascade Mountains further east, which drain to the Columbia, still have major snow-pack on their summits, with Mount Hood standing out (when you can see it through the clouds). Oregonians are justifiably proud of their surroundings.
Today we drove east through the 80 mile long Columbia River Gorge to the windsurfing capital of the world (self proclaimed) near the town of Hood River. We have seen television coverage of the windsurfing here, with the surfers jumping standing waves in the gorge, in screaming wind conditions. Our luck …….. there was only a gentle breeze blowing today so, the surfers must have been in the numerous “surfing pubs”. A surf shop owner gave us the old “Ya shoulda been here on the weekend. It was wild!!”
The gorge itself is picturesque with dozens of waterfalls, some up to 600 feet high, pouring down the walls, seeking the Columbia River. The road runs along the top of the gorge, down the steep slopes and then back up again. Here, our timing was good, as the waterfalls are all running at, or near, their spring maximum water flow. The Cascade Mountains further east, which drain to the Columbia, still have major snow-pack on their summits, with Mount Hood standing out (when you can see it through the clouds). Oregonians are justifiably proud of their surroundings.
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