TRIP TO PORTLAND OREGON

We got a week off for Thanks-giving.  At the beginning of the week, I took a trip to Oregon to see my friend Joyce Cerimele.  I figured, somehow, that Charlie and I would drive up the coast to see Glenn and Krysty.  It was becoming increasingly clear that would never happen.  Flights up there are only 3 hours and that gives us more time to spend with them.  The only way I would get to see Joyce and Frank would be to go there directly from LA.  So that's what I did.

Joyce and Frank were amazing hosts - now they'll get invaded by us some more!  The first day we went to the Portland River walk.  Portland sits on several rivers - the Willamette (pronounced with an accent on the Will- kind of Will ah met) and the Colombia River.  The Colombia River is the dividing line between Washington and Oregon.  I knew very little of this (except the last fact) before I got there.

Joyce and Frank along the river.

We then went to the Portland rose garden.  Apparently, Portland is known as the Rose City.  The trees were at the end of their coloring in the fall - but still beautiful.

The next morning, after a relaxing start, Joyce and I drove to Multnomah Falls.  What a gorgeous spot!

I walked up to the second level of the falls.  The trail up there is seen in the photos above.

It rains a lot in Oregon, and the trees show the results

At the risk of sounding a little Sarah Palinesque, we could see Washington from the trail.  The mountain above is in Washington across the Colombia River.  The photos below are of the Colombia River gorge.  It's a huge river, and the gorge looks almost like an ocean scene.

My last day in Oregon, Joyce and Frank drove me around the countryside.  Lots of apple farms and nut farms.  We stopped at a nut farm and I bought the best filberts and walnuts I have ever tasted.

Then I flew home.  A great trip!

Thanks Joyce!!