A Gorge-ous Interlude

    

Back in 1997, I lived in the Columbia River Gorge area for my first year of AmeriCorps service. Trout Lake, Washington holds a special place in my heart, as does the beautiful Columbia River. While we could have taken a more direct route to our next destination, we decided to drive through the gorge instead. It was a great decision, and all my feelings for this area came rushing back to me.

    As a bonus, an old AmeriCorps friend met us for a quick hello on the other side of the Hood River Bridge. Eileen was joyful and bubbly as ever as we reminisced and caught up on each other's lives. She gifted us some fresh cherries, blueberries, and even some of last year''s huckleberries, a true treasure. It was very short, but great to connect with her again.

    We stayed the night at a 'glamping' site in nearby Carson. After a delicious stop at a local food truck, we took in the shaggy old Douglas Firs on the property and hit the sack in the space yurt.

    The next morning found us at Bigfoot's Coffee, where we fortified ourselves for our first encounter in Interstate 5 traffic. Next stop--Mt. Rainier and some highly-anticipated quality family time.