A Day on the Columbia River

We drive by, drive over, look down upon and live around the Columbia River.  It's the view from our restaurant windows, the draw for our tourism, the moderator of our weather and the source of much of the livelihood of The Columbia River Gorge.  Seldom do most of us have an opportunity to really experience it, to see what the river sees of us. 

Yesterday, on a November day that could only have been a gift from the weather gods, a couple of us got to become part of the river for just a few wonderful hours - courtesy of an avid angler with a small but capable fishing boat.  After putting in at Hood River, we motored toward The Dalles, going slowly to absorb every beautiful thing.

Some reflections:

• The river appears amazingly clean.  There was little of the litter of daily life along the river. 
• There are very few places suitable for launching a boat due to the almost verticle banks along much of the river in The Gorge - resumably a product of the scouring action of the Bretz Floods.
• Very few Gorge  restaurants are actually "riverside"  The Windseeker in The Dalles, the deck of the Hood River Inn in Hood River,and the Crab Shack near Stevenson, Washington are notable exceptions.
• The landscape as viewed from the river is unbelievably powerful:  The basalt cliffs and hanging valleys, landslides and alluvial fans, synclines and anticlines, the surprisingly varied fall colors of the deciduous flora, and above all Mt. Hood peering down on the river from totally unexpected directions. 
• Many Canada Geese seem reluctant to leave The Gorge, and there were still many mallards floating along the shores.  A lovely Blue Heron, thin, elegant, awaited the arrival of his next snack as though frozen in place.
• The trains and highway traffic that run along the river distract very little.  Their movement catches the eye but the sounds are pretty much lost in the movement of the river, the sighing of the breeze and the purr/growl of boat motors.
• Lewis and Clark were HERE, saw much of this as it still is.  Goosebumps.
• Barges are REALLY BIG when you're sharing the water with them.
• What impacted most, was the total peace one feels on the river.  Brought down to a level with it, moving with it, hearing it gurgle, swish and slap, breathing the river smell of it, all else seems so far away, so impossibly foreign and irrelevant.  The river is an ancient, living, moving, breathing force, and all we can be is that "litter of daily life" carried along by it for the blink of an eye.  Aaaah, the insignificance of us!

If you've never spent a day on the Columbia, do it NOW!, lest you forget and never trace the shadows of its islands and its shores.  It is bucket-list worthy!!!

For additional sightseeing tips, go to http://www.travelthegorge.com/what_to_do.asp

Links of Interest

Windseeker Restaurant
Hood River Inn
The Crab Shack
Friends of the Columbia River Gorge
Riverkeepers

A truly "grand" opening in the Columbia Gorge, August 13, 2010

New businesses open every day, but seldom is there an opening as "grand" as the upcoming Grand Opening of Taste of the Gorge in Husum, Washington, in the Columbia River Gorge.  Yes, it's a small restaurant in a small community, but the people involved and the message it sends, make it truly special. 

Taste of the Gorge, which has been "softly" open for the last three weeks, occupies the dining space at the Husum Hills Golf Course - a very pretty public course about 4 miles up WA-141N along the White Salmon River from Highway 14, just west of the Hood River Bridge.  The restaurant is airy, open and comfortable, with the wonderful energy that restaurants have when their REAL purpose is serving great food and pleasing their guests. That energy is rare, but not surprising here.  The owners, Regan and Paula Schindler, have been responsible for creating happy customers throughout The Gorge for decades.  

(Here comes the "grand" part.)

Regan and Paula and many of their staff were casualties of the economic tsunami that has washed across The Gorge over the last 2 years.   Regan, chef for Hood River's Columbia Gorge Hotel during its award-winning years, had lost his position as chef for Cooper Spur Restaurant when the resort closed earlier this year. Paula, probably the most photographed employee of the Columbia Gorge Hotel, had lost her long-time position when it closed in January of 2009.  Both  had been revered by owners and customers alike, and both were symbols of good people losing good jobs through no fault of their own.  That they have turned past losses into a "win" for themselves and their employees, and for the customers lucky enough to get a table, shows all of us that it can be done, and done well!

Taste of the Gorge celebrates its Grand Opening Friday night, August 13th, 2010, from 5-9pm.  The restaurant will be open from then on for lunch and dinner, from 11:30am - 8:00pm, every day of the week except Mondays.  Contact information and directions follow below:

TASTE OF THE GORGE
820 SR-141
White Salmon, WA 98762
509-493-4450


From I-84:
1. Head northeast on Hood River Bridge toward WA-14 W 0.5 mi
2. Turn left at WA-14 W/Lewis and Clark Hwy 1.5 mi
3. Turn right at Washington 141 Alternative N 2.2 mi
4. Continue onto WA-141 N 1.8 mi

Additional Columbia Gorge dining options can be found at TravelTheGorge.com

On being away from The Gorge

One thing the Travel the Gorge Team is known for is...travel.  What a concept.  And recently we honored our name with a short trip to Edmonds, Washington.  Edmonds is a waterfront town of about 40,000 people north of Seattle.  It IS a lovely city with a vibrant arts community, small churches, graceful older homes and the Mukilteo Ferry dock.  We had fun.  We rode the ferry, did their Thursday night art walk, ate in their restaurants, bought artisanal cheeses and perused used books. It is a town very much worth visiting.  But, this being a blog about The Gorge, Edmonds is actually NOT the subject here.

The Team has a lot of miles under its collective belt, and we've found that travel is as much about the place you left as the one you went to.  Travel for us is very often about comparisons.  We figured this out over a bottle (who are we kidding here) of wine on a rainy Edmonds night in a little French Cafe.  Our musings:

We missed the sound of the wind teasing at the windows and rustling the trees.
We missed great white mountains appearing suddenly at a turn in the road or out a random window.
We missed the keening of coyotes in the distance and the instinctive answering yips of family dogs.
We missed the crystal air, so clear that the whole Gorge is a High Def  'ViewMaster' slide. 
We missed bumping into so many people we know at the grocery store that we have to plan extra time into our errands for socializing.
We bristled at streets FULL of cars and missed the many courtesies of Gorge drivers.
We had to GO somewhere to take a hike.
We missed the roasted garlic at Stonehedge Gardens and the biscuits and gravy at Cousins and the pizzas at Solstice. 
We found there are churches that aren't attended by people in jeans.
We got truly angry at having to pay $7 to park at a Hospital - yes a Hospital.  Like you really wanted to go there in the first place.
There are a lot of places in the world that don't have waterfalls, or rivers, or vineyards, or orchards, or fields of wildflowers, or trailers with great Thai food.

Dang, it's nice to be home!!!

For more great dining options, see www.TravelTheGorge.com/dining

Murder and Wildflowers in the Columbia Gorge

You can find beauty anywhere, if you look for it, and you don't have to look hard to find it in the Columbia Gorge today.  This week the sun came out (it's that yellow presence in the sky that hurts to look at), the wildflowers are saying thank you by blooming they're colorful heads off, and the river is deep blue watered silk with lacy edges, instead of grumpy grey metal.  What's not to love about The Gorge?

This week something else came out, too - the identities of those charged with the murder of Jerry Cranmer at the Vagabond Lodge in Hood River last September.  Claudia D. Escoto, 19, Marlene Zarate, 20, and Jairo A. Vicente, 23, all from White Salmon, Washington, just across the river, have been arrested and indicted for the murder and burglary.  From the news release, it appears the threesome took a good man's life for a measly $300.  Now compared to a good man's life, we think any amount of money is measly, but to put a bullet in someone for the price of a cell phone shows a contempt that is hard to wrap one's head around. 

Maybe the worst part for The Team, especially as we stand here in The Gorge amidst the innocence of wildflowers and the grandeur of creation, is to think that the perpetrators of such an act have walked among us.  That they were here in our yard and we failed to see them for what they were.  It was somehow easier to believe that people so lacking in humanity came out of the anonymous stream of cars passing us in the night and oozed back into the current to be drawn to another light in the darkness.  But no.  They were of us and among us and they were us...  As much a part of The Gorge as the wildflowers. 

 

Photos by permission USDA Forest Service

On the Philosophical Side

The TTG Team just had a near-miss and nothing else seems quite important enough to blog about.  One of our team members, actually not "just" a member, but the revered "Team Guru", went into septic shock following the emergency removal of his gall bladder.  We didn't know what septic shock was - heck, we pretty much didn't know what the gall bladder was, until a visit to Wikipedia.  50% of the people who suffer toxic shock die from it, and that's 50% of EVERYONE who gets it.  That isn't counting people such as The Guru who have underlying health problems.

With septic shock, infection enters the blood stream, which carries it to every organ in the body, and they start shutting down.  The blood vessels, "trained" to enlarge in an infected area so more blood goes to the boo-boo, enlarge throughout the body and the blood pressure drops to nothing.  The whole body just kind of quits and lots of people die.

The Guru's surgeon didn't expect him to last the weekend - and he's still here.  Vitals are up, eyes vaguely open, ventilator gone and blood pressure holding its own.  The ICU staff calls him Cat Man, because he must have nine lives.  We just call him mean, nasty names for scaring us so badly.  He still has a long way to go and a lot of hospital food in his future, but he's still with us and we're grateful beyond bloggy words.

So, where are we going with this?  Hug your Gurus every day.  Hug your wordsmiths and your boardheads and your fishing guides and your epicures.  A team is the sum of its members and becomes a whole new total if it loses one.  It can still be a team, but not the same team, and we like ours just the way it is. 

Oh yes...and Prayer Works!!

Get Mugged at KV Ceramic Studio

Another Columbia Gorge tidbit from the Team at http://www.travelthegorge.com/

At 1082 Tucker RD (a continuation of 12th street if you're coming from the north) - on the heights in Hood River - between a small apartment building and a garden center- hides a very special recreation destination for the crafty among us.  Ken and Verna, lord and lady of this quiet little kingdom, greet each visitor by name.  If they knew you were coming, your customary chair is ready and your personal treasures are set out ready for your continued attention.  A supply of cold sodas (diet Coke, a must) are in the frig.

It feels like home, if your home is warm, friendly, and your tables are surrounded by shelves and shelves of paints, glazes, greenware, bisque and wonderfully created ceramic and glass decor.   Everything is here for the amateur or crafting pro to make personalized gifts for friends and self, spend a few rainy hours keeping kids busy and quiet, or throw a party where everyone makes the same thing differently.  The possibilities are delightful.

Last Saturday the Team spent two noisy hours creating our own personal versions of ceramic travel mugs.  We had seen the mug at the KV Ceramics booth at the Hood River Blossom Festival and decided we just had to do this.  There was another table full when we arrived with 3 generations of the same family each painting merrily away at their own levels of ability.  (We also had very diverse levels of competence - which doesn't matter a bit.) 

While at the studio, take a break to look at the truly lovely selection of handcrafted gifts at their adjoining Gorge-Us Gift Shop.  Ken creates some very unique glazed ceramics and pottery and their daughters have obvious talent with fused and etched glass.  You can call ahead (541-386-4664) to reserve a table or a whole party, but just dropping by is also totally acceptable.

Good River is Good Food

When a Team member needs you, you drop everything and go.  So Sunday, when our Team member in The Dalles called to say she needed us to help her celebrate a friend's birthday, we gathered ourselves together and sped to her assistance.  We are nothing if not self-sacrificing.

Mosier is the perfect setting for the Good River Restaurant.  The natural wood structure sits on a small rise just off the main road through town, surrounded by a naturalized garden, big trees and shaded patios.  The restaurant isn't big, seating maybe 25-30 people in a sunny room with large windows and hardwood floors.  A full-service bar occupies one corner of the room providing intimacy to its customers without impacting the experience of the dining guests.   Then there's the food...

Every group has one.  You know, Mr. Excitement - the guy who always orders the same thing?  Here, it's the Mosier Pizza.  Pears, bacon and bleu cheese with tomato sauce and a crisp, crisp crust.  We tease him for it, but everyone has a bite and we strongly recommend it.  Then there's the fries.  Hand cut and cooked just right.  A large order comes with their battered fish (Haddock).  While the fish is good, we do think the serving could be larger, but we have yet to leave hungry so we forgive them.

Sunday Brunch sounds a bit daunting, but their Sunday Brunch menu is acutally a combination of choices from breakfast and lunch, so you can have as large or small a meal as you like.  And since the words "Sunday Brunch" and "champagne" are almost synonymous, there are good champagne options.  We had (several) Mimosas.  We especially enjoyed their Spinach and Mushroom omelette with a slightly spicy chipotle hollandaise sauce. Just enough egg to wrap up the goodies, tender and flavoful.  The Heuvos Rancheros is hearty and robust with enough guacamole to keep it moist. 

In an effort to say something less flattering to keep things authentic, we would suggest that the server remove used utensils and replace them with new ones for the different courses.  Currently guests are asked to "hold onto" their dirty silverware which they then have to set on the bare tabletop.  The restaurant certainly seems successful enough to afford sufficient flatware to save their guests this rather embarrassing and uncomfortable process.

All-in-all, what more could you ask for?  A good river, a good restaurant, good friends and a good day!!

For more great dining options in the Columbia Gorge see www.TravelTheGorge.com/where_to_eat.asp

Lasagna and tiger prawns and Barbera, oh my. Ristorante DiPompello

Another tasty tidbit from the team at TravelTheGorge.com.

Ristorante DiPompello is a rare find in these days of franchised food and multiple-location restaurants. Independently owned and very personally managed, DiPompello is reminiscent of small, family-run European eateries.

The DiPompello experience begins at the sidewalk with seasonal al fresco dining. It's location in downtown Troutdale lends itself beautifully to outdoor seating, with wide well-maintained sidewalks connecting art galleries, antique shops, specialty stores and a nice variety of small restaurants. But this book is too good to judge just by its cover. Wander in. Return the warm hello. Follow the rich scents of Chef Saul Pompello's seafood entrees to the back of the dining room, past the Italianate murals to the window wall overlooking the Columbia Gorge to the Washington foothills. Order a bottle of Barbera to go with the complimentary bruschetta that magically appears.

At this point, the team would usually mention a couple of dishes we enjoyed and leave you to your own devices. But we've eaten here too often to list just a few. So here goes:

Must haves:
Sautéed Tiger Prawns and Mushrooms with fresh basil and garlic
Caprese Pompello
Sautéed Fresh Mussels
(...and these are just appetizers.)
Our favorite entrees:
Chicken Piccata
Seafood Risotto
Our favorite sandwich:
Meatball Sandwich (ask for extra Marinara)
Favorite Pastas:
Lasagna - a classic
Gnocchi alle Bistecca - in a rich, tangy burgundy sauce.

Are you running out the door yet?  Follow all of the above with their Tiramisu. It's not homemade but it is wonderfully moist and not overly sweet.

Buon appetito!

Prego. (You're welcome)

                                                                  Ristorante DiPompello







              

That Amazing, Electrifying Converter Station

Another highly charged thought from the team at http://www.travelthegorge.com/

On an otherwise barren hill southeast of The Dalles, overlooking the Columbia River and Mt. Hood, sits a complex worthy of Star Wars.  One of the least known "attractions" in The Gorge, the Celilo Converter Station positively hums with power, the power that lights the stars in Hollywood and Los Angeles.

Celilo is the northern end of the nation's longest and biggest direct-current power line, known as the DC intertie.  In the spring and summer, it converts excess alternating current generated by the Bonneville Power Administration grid - such as The Dalles Dam, The Bonneville Dam and the Columbia Gorge wind turbines - into direct current and sells it to the Sylmar Converter Station in California.  This reduces California's dependence on fossil fuels and helps pay for the Northwest's federal dams and transmission system. In the winter and at night when California plants generate more electricity than the Golden State needs, they return the favor.

Most of the Eugene Starr Complex, of which the converter station is only a part, is conductor cables, control grids, arc valves and surge arresters, but there is also a very modern meeting center with soaring ceilings, sweeping stairways and a glass wall overlooking the world.  Extremely effective security staff  make sure the building and its vital purpose are respected around the clock.

Since "911" tours of the facility are no longer conducted, but look up to the east from highway 197 south of the Dalles to get a glimpse of this unsung modern marvel.  For more information call 541-296-3615.
(Information taken from Bonneville Power Administration publications.)

Shirley's Tippy Canoe Floats Our Boat

Along the bank of the Sandy River northeast of Troutdale, Oregon, the Tippy Canoe has been welcoming wanderers since the 1940's.  Once a run-down roadside bar, today's Tippy Canoe is a warm, clean, classy dining destination.  The sprawling dining room encircles the open bar with richly panelled walls and truly amazing wood and metal sculptures of the Columbia Gorge's much revered salmon and other artsy touches. Out back, beneath giant Douglas Firs, is a huge - and we mean HUGE - outdoor seating area with polished stone tables and benches.

This weekend, the TTG Team descended on Shirley's and were received as though we were their best long time customers, possibly relatives.  Our server, Deanie, offered us our choice of table anywhere in the dining room and we chose one looking out over the open-air seating.  Absolutely the farthest table from the front door - no problem.

Shirley's is pretty much famous for seafood at dinner time, but we were there between breakfast and lunch and had our choice from both menus.  Yes, there are oysters, and halibut, and shrimp and just about any seafood you can name on the menu, but we opted for major comfort food.  The patty melt was ample and tasted and looked just like God intended.  The crab omelet was full of fresh crab - Dungeness, of course, and the chicken fried steak, the size of a dinner plate, was crisp, hot, and served with a plenty of rich country gravy.  The Team, being who they are, shared a bottle of Kendall Jackson chardonnay for $30, a reasonable price, if not the cheapest in town. 

If lots of good food, welcoming staff and surroundings aren't reason enough to visit "The Canoe", then go there for the drive.  We took I-84 toward Troutdale, took exit 18 south along the Old Columbia River Highway to Shirley's then followed it east past Vista House and The Gorge waterfalls.  Sundays don't get much better.

Tippy Canoe Back Dining Room

                                              Tippy Canoe Outdoor Seating Area

Everybody's Brewing Beer

Well, not just everybody... Everybody's Brewing in White Salmon, Washington, however IS brewing beer, great beer; with 16 beers on tap, at least 9 of them their own.  The rest are from other local brewers so you'll always have a regional pour. 

But beer isn't the only thing going on at Everybody's.  The truly cozy pub is located on the main drag in White Salmon with a great view of Mt. Hood.  Food and beverage service is casual and friendly, with good seating both indoors and out.  Everybody's opens at noon every day, serving a good variety of starters, entrees and salads, with some kid's options thrown in just to make sure there's something for everybody.  The TTG Team really enjoys their sweet potato fries, the Mediterranean plate and the pulled pork burrito, but everything we've ordered has been flavorful, ample and fun.

Yes, the menu is fun and eclectic - but you haven't heard the music yet.  In just a few visits you could sip suds to the strains of bluegrass, reggae, western and/or punk folk music.  There's always something new going on at Everybody's, and everybody's going.

Another valuable insight from Travel the Gorge

Innsitting isn't a "sit-in"

Another "must-know" from the Team at Travel the Gorge

It sounds like the ideal job, especially for those of us who love the bed-and-breakfast or country inn experience. Innsitting: You go to a lovely inn, serve an easy breakfast, visit with the guests, sightsee during the day, then back to the inn to welcome the night's guests. Right?? Way wrong!! This little-known occupation is not for the faint-of-heart.

B&B owners have huge investments in their inns. They have their own style, ambiance and standards. Most of them are at their inns every day of the week, month in and month out. But everyone needs a break now and then, even when they're passionate about their business. This the necessity leading to the invention of the Innsitter.

Not so surprisingly, the Columbia Gorge has its very own innsitter, though often too busy to actually sit an inn in The Gorge. KC's Innsitting is based in Parkdale, Oregon, but KC is more often found in Hawaii, or Colorado, New Mexico or the Oregon coast. KC, along with her husband Kirk, a retired firefighter and EMT, goes wherever a quality inn needs quality interim care; and that care is much, much more than just sitting at an inn.

Before reporting for their engagement at an inn, KC's Innsitting has researched the area - its weather, attractions, tourist activities and events. KC knows the style of the inn, how much the innkeeper usually interacts with the guests, the extent of the usual breakfast, the housekeeping standards, the check-in-and-out procedures, and any lodging software used by the inn. On arrival, she has to "become" the innkeeper, running the inn and pampering the guests as the innkeeper would, assuring that each guest has the experience to which they're accustomed. When the innkeeper returns, she and Kirk pack their bags and move on to "become" another innkeeper in another state, with a different style of inn and different procedures.

Obviously not a job for just anyone, but KC isn't just anyone. She's exceptionally bright, warm, organized and flexible. She is, however, just another exceptional person who calls The Gorge home.


The Travel the Gorge Team

Arch Erected at West End of Columbia Gorge Historic Highway

another exciting Gorge update from http://www.travelthegorge.com/ 


The Troutdale Centennial Arch, a 68-foot long arch resting on two basalt piers has been erected at the west end of the Columbia Gorge Historic Highway.

The following is exerpted from The Gresham Outlook, Mar 16, 2010 article titled "ARCH RISES ABOVE DOWNTOWN TROUTDALE

..."Orchestrated by Bremik Construction and Columbia Wire & Iron Works, the seamless operation belied four years of conceptualizing, planning, fundraising and controversy leading to the monument – a bona fide “Gateway to the Gorge” at the entrance to downtown – becoming a reality.

Among the scattered onlookers taking in the event, perhaps no one felt more relief and joy than Rip Caswell. The renowned sculptor initially conceived the arch concept and sculpted the two 7-foot-long bronze trout – appropriately twisting upstream toward the Columbia River – that grace the support structures on either side."

..."Max Maydew, a key arch fundraising coordinator, beamed with excitement as he gazed up at the 22-feet high arch. Its top letters boldly proclaim “TROUTDALE” with “Gateway to the Gorge” just below.

“I couldn’t be more pleased,” he said, noting how the span fulfills Caswell’s vision of framing downtown and Broughton Bluff above the Sandy River. “It’s just a beautiful piece of arch work.”

Along with his wife, Cheryl, a board member of the Troutdale Historical Society, Maydew developed the north side of the downtown business district in the late 1990s. The historical society raised more than $100,000 in private donations to build the arch, originally planned to mark the city’s centennial celebration in fall 2007.

After a promising start, an economic downturn slowed donations to a trickle. With a colorful balloon arch standing in during the 100-year bash, the City Council considered – and ultimately adopted – a plan to fund the remaining $258,000 from city parks funds.

“It was a struggle,” Maydew recalled. “We raised as much money as we could, well over $100,000. City Council had to put it over the top.”

..."A ceremony to celebrate the Troutdale Centennial Arch will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 7, as part of the First Friday Art Walk.

Things to know

Facts about the Troutdale Centennial Arch spanning Historic Columbia River Highway
• Approximate total cost is $363,000
• Composed of three pieces, the center arch weighs 12,000 pounds, is 68 feet across and rises 22 feet above the roadway
• Columns are decorated with Columbia River basalt rock built on micro-pilings buried as deep as 25 feet
• Built-in lighting will illuminate the two metal support sculptures with 7-feet trout; additional lighting can be added
• It’s designed to withstand winds up to 110 mph and 3 inches of ice
• A gas-sealed time capsule will be installed in the south column to be opened in 2110
• A plaque covering the capsule will include those who donated $1,000 or more to the arch

Arch credits

• Original concept and artwork: Sculptor Rip Caswell of Rip Caswell Sculptures of Troutdale
• General contractor: Bremik Construction Inc.
• Architect: Michael McCulloch
• Structural engineer: Bob Grummel
• Fabrication: Columbia Wire & Iron Works, Swan Island in Portland

Contributions for the arch are still being accepted through the Troutdale Historical Society by calling 503-661-2164 or visiting troutdalehistory.org.

Copyright 2010 Pamplin Media Group, 6605 S.E. Lake Road, Portland, OR 97222 • 503-226-6397

HIghway 14 Construction and Closures

Another travel update from http://www.travelthegorge.com/

Extensive highway construction is scheduled for the spring and summer of 2010 on Wahington's Highway 14 between the Bridge of the Gods on the west end and the Hood River Bridge on the east end.  There will be on-going highway closures and travel lane restrictions continuing intoSeptember, as crews clear potential rockfalls from cliffs above the highway.

While there will be a lot of work done near Dog Mountain, the Dog Mountain trailhead parking lot and trail will be open unless blasting is scheduled.  The highway itself will be closed from 4-6 p.m. weekdays through June 14, then more frequently through Sept. 2.  Delays of no more than two hours are expected and can be avoided by crossing to I-84 on the Hood River Bridge or the Bridge of the Gods.

Frustrating but necessary.  Visit WSDOT for traffic alerts and updates.

Your TTG Team

In Neutral at 10-Speed

another frothy cup of wisdom from http://www.travelthegorge.com/

Just as there are different types of coffee, there are different types of coffee spots.  Some are amped up and noisy,  the place to go if you need to get your motor running.  Others offer just the basics - a quick hello and your "usual" handed through the window.  The 10-Speed Coffee Roasters, located on 13th Street on the Heights in Hood River and on the flats in Mosier, offer great coffee and a whole lot of mellow.

The Hood River 10-Speed is right off the sidewalk at a busy corner.  But step inside and the bustle outside becomes just a bit of white noise.  Low lighting, the hiss of the frother, and rich coffee smells provide a soothing backdrop for a latte with a long-time friend or a new one at the next table - or just to enjoy a few moments alone with your newspaper and a good pastry.

The 10-Speed in Mosier,  just 5-miles east of Hood River, sits off by itself, a cozy cabin with a roomy parking area, indoor and outdoor seating and a lot of peace and quiet - AND an eclectic breakfast and light lunch menu with local wines and beers available.  Walk in for the first time and you feel as though you've come home.  No pomp or pretense, just a warm welcome, a great cup of coffee, good food, and some friendly conversation if you're in the mood. 

Oh, and take home some of their yummy coffee to brew at home!

The TTG Team

For a complete listing of Coffee spots in The Gorge, visit http://www.travelthegorge.com/coffee.asp

A Day Not Fishing in the Columbia River is a Day Wasted

A few fishy thoughts from the Team at http://www.travelthegorge.com/

Fishy can be a good thing!  Fish smell fishy. The gear from your last fishing trip smells fishy and reminds you that it's time to get back out there...and now's the time.  The spring Chinook salmon run is underway in the Columbia River, in what may prove to be record numbers.  The "Springers" are considered some of the best eating fish found in North America and are known as good fighters on the hook. 

One of the Team's best spring fishing experiences was with Glenn Summers of RiversbendOutfitters in The Dalles, Oregon.  Glenn has been around for about forever, and knows every angle - pun intended - about fishing in The Gorge.  He's wonderful with first-timers - even made the Team's klutz feel like a fisherman - and he's a great storyteller.  Glenn's equipment is meticulously cared for and he has a real gift for combining adventure with safety. 

The fishing season in The Gorge lasts into the winter, depending on your fish of choice, and it would be wise to book your outing now.  Glenn is highly thought of and books up fast.

The TTG Team
Find other great outdoor adventures at http://www.travelthegorge.com/outdoor.asp

Stonehedge Gardens - not just for special occasions!

Another epicurean tidbit from the Team at http://www.travelthegorge.com/

As of this writing, Stonehedge Gardens is probably the finest "fine dining" in The Gorge.  Yes, there are fancier buildings and more expensive menus, but Stonehedge Gardens, a Hood River icon for over 25 years, offers unfailingly flavorful fare in an environment that sets the standard for warm and cozy.  Low lighting, a gently crackling fire, rich colors and yesteryear decor are embraced by banks of windows looking out on their lush northwest gardens.  Owners, Mike and Shawna Caldwell, are on site most nights along with a highly-trained and accommodating staff.  Many of the servers have worked together for years and service is is seamless and friendly. 

For locals, Stonehedge is the first restaurant that comes to mind for a truly special occasion, but that is a crime against the customer.  To save this pampering experience for a few have-to occasions a year is a waste.  Prices are very reasonable and the staff is as welcoming when you come in for an appetizer and a drink as they are when you're there for the BIG event. 

Stonehedge Gardens
3405 Cascade Avenue
Hood River, OR
541-386-3940

Sawtooth Roadhouse is Cutting Edge

More pithy ditherings from http://www.travelthegorge.com/

Just kidding there – but the Sawtooth Roadhouse IS a very pleasant place for some good food and good company. Just in front of the old Hanel Mill site, on Highway 35, 9 miles south of I-84, the Sawtooth gives you an excuse – if you’re the type who needs one – to drive this National Scenic Byway into the foothills of Mt. Hood. The views of Mt. Hood and upper valley orchards would be reason enough for the drive; add a great lunch with warm service to the trip and you’ll become a regular.

The TTG Team feasted here on what could have been a dreary Friday. Skies were overcast, Mt. Hood appeared fleetingly, and it was too cold to want to get out of the car. But the lure of fresh-baked lasagne, an authentic Reuben and crisp-crust pizza was inescapable and we ended up sitting in their cozy bar, being waited on by the owner and regaled by the chef.

It’s hard to define exactly what about the food sets the Sawtooth apart from standard roadside fare – it’s an unexpected mix of California fusion with northwestern cowboy that really works. The Thai Pizza was full of oriental flavor and crunch, and the potato soup – not two things you would expect to find on the same menu, was rich and full-bodied with bacon and onion. Beer and wine were reasonably priced.
It isnt always obvious that they are open for lunch most days of the week. You might want to call first - 541.354.2511 - just to make sure they’re ready to welcome you.

The TTG Team
For a complete directory of dining in The Gorge, go to www.TravelTheGorge.com/casual.asp

Columbia Gorge Wineries Passport Weekend

Another bit of "wining" from the Team at Travel the Gorge

Your passport to a great wine time in the Columbia River Gorge can be found at the Columbia Gorge Wine Region website.  The Passport to a World of Wine in 40 Miles, is a great opportunity to visit Gorge wineries, experience Gorge dining options, learn a little bit about wines - and Gorge wines in particular, and take advantage of specials on wine purchases and lodging. 

The official Passport Weekend is april 9-11, 2010, but there are fun wine happenings earlier in the week, too.  Nora's Table at 110 Fifth St in Hood River is offering a six-course, six-wine gourmet experience Wednesday evening, April 7th,  and the Columbia Gorge Community College (541.506.6011) is presenting a class on the affects of Gorge Geology on local wines at Mt. Hood Winery, at 6:30 on Thursday April 8th. 

For lodging, the Columbia Cliff Villas, The Dalles Inn, The Lyle Hotel and Mt. Hood Hamlet Bed and Breakfast are all offering specials or discounted rates for the weekend.

This is historically a lovely weekend in The Gorge and a good time is had by all.  So come Gorge yourself.  Your wine cellar will thank you!

The TTG Team

Sorosis Park, The Dalles, Oregon

More insightful comments from the team at http://www.travelthegorge.com/

No, it wasn't named after a liver disease of a different spelling.  According to the Historic The Dalles website, the name has a much more elevated origin:  Sorosis is from the Greek meaning “a multiple fruit formed from many flowers.” The word "soror" means "sister" in Latin.

This park by any other name would be as delightful.  At "the top" of The Dalles, this 15-acre park is the town's largest  and includes a spacious picnic area, playground with a massive climbing toy, tennis court, frisbee golf, and a walking trail around its circumference.  There is a well-tended rose garden with benches overlooking the valley and there are some huge shade trees obviously grown for shady napping. The Veteran’s Memorial is on the overlook point. 

On a recent outing, the TTG Team experienced much of what the park has to offer.  The path is gently sloped and great for dogs.  Poop bags are located near the west-side parking lot for anyone taking a last minute walk with their best friend.  Squirrels abound, children and families are playing and wayward frisbees from the park's excellent frisbee golf course create endless temptations. - so it's even more important to keep your barking buddy on a leash.

One of our team members had never been to the park inspite of many years in the area.  If you've also overlooked it, Spring is near and Sorosis Park would be a great place to welcome it in.

The TTG Team

For great sightseeing possibilities in The Gorge visit http://www.travelthegorge.com/sightseeing.asp

A Spot That Should Be Hot

Another  pithy posting from http://www.travelthegorge.com/

The Windseeker Restaurant down by the port in The Dalles, Oregon is a too-often-overlooked treasure.  A new chef has come on board recently and we expect good things.  However, what is already noteworthy is the location, the view, the outdoor seating, the ample free parking, and the restaurant's proximity to The Dalles' Riverfront Trail.  Prices for local wines aren't bad either!

On a recent sunny afternoon in the Gorge - yes, sun in winter - the Team and a friend or two took a Saturday walk along the mostly-level  Riverfront Trail. Starting in the SE corner of the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center parking lot (leave one car at the Windseeker if you only want to walk one way), the River Walk takes you along not quite 4 miles of the Columbia River, through Taylor Lake Park, along the back of the Google Campus, to the patio at the Windseeker Restaurant.  You share this gentle walk with river birds,  a few power walkers and polite cyclists, and a whole lot of pretty. 

Our destination was an excellent bottle of Cathedral Ridge Chardonnay and assorted appetizers on the Windseeker's garden patio.  The owners have taken great care with their garden of indigenous flowering trees and perennials, rose bushes, Dutch bulbs and water elements.  The fenced patio offers ironwork tables and springy ironwork arm chairs.  The elements are hard on them, but they are comfortable and kept as clean as being outdoors permits. 

The best thing about the Windseeker is just being there - at the edge of the river, looking over at low basalt cliffs and greening hills.  Amtrak's Empire Builder follows the north side of the river, and the occasional freight train moves across the view.  Seagulls announce the arrival of a loaded barge headed downriver and pleasure boats move languidly out of the way.  There is seldom much wind in this protected location and the sun warms your shoulders much more often than west-of-the-Cascades dwellers would believe.

The TTG Team strongly recommends this experience - and a groundswell of local support to make this a really hopping spot.  You'll thank yourself!  For a complete listing of casual dining in The Gorge, go to http://www.travelthegorge.com/casual.asp. 

Keeping the Old New

It's hard to find something more current and with-the-trend, than a new boutique brew house, and a new one, Clock Tower Ales, has just opened in The Gorge.  What many of us find really special about this new endeavor, is the building in The Dalles that Mark Powell chose to spend a fortune restoring/remodeling for the purpose.  Most recently the Masonic Lodge, this venerable structure began life as the Wasco County courthouse and jail.  (The last public hanging in Oregon took place in its courtyard in 1905.) It also passed a number of years as a mortuary and a funeral home - to say nothing of surving 125 years of minor earthquakes, weather extremes and changing tastes.

The macabre aside, the building has been beautifully restored where possible and remodeled tastefully where necessary, to create a rich and warm atmosphere for imbibing the frothy cold stuff.  At the corner of Union and Third Street, The Clock Tower is downtown convenient with plenty of parking in the area.  The Travel The Gorge team strongly recommends treating yourself to this not-so-guilty pleasure!

For more great brew pubs in The Gorge, visit http://www.travelthegorge.com/brewpubs.asp

A sunny day in The Gorge

Where else can one sit at their computer - slaving away, of course - with a view of snow-covered Mt. Adams out one window and the cloud-capped silhouette of Mt. Hood out the other? When the sun shines in The Gorge, there's no place in the world we'd rather be.

For our supposed isolation on the east slope of the Cascades, The Gorge seems to be pretty central to world news. Olympians are training on Mt. Hood. Unmanned aircraft manufactured in The Gorge are mapping the globe and helping to keep our service men and women safe. As national law-makers are passing laws to reduce taxation on business to stimulate jobs, the voters on the Oregon side of The Gorge have made news by helping to pass legislation to burden every Oregon corporation, large or small, with additional taxation. A four-year veteran of the Bingen-White Salmon police force made the national news, charged with child-molestation and incest. And bipartisan talks are underway in Oregon to create a land swap to protect more of Oregon's amazing natural resources.

No, we aren't perfect in The Gorge, but we certainly aren't the invisible bumpkins of rural myth. Sadly, the IPOD was invented elsewhere, and the grammys won't be coming to Hood River soon, but small-town America is very much alive - struggling along with the rest of the county, but still vital and busy and involved. And darned proud of ourselves!!

For great suuny-day adventures in The Gorge visit www.TravelTheGorge.com/outdoor.asp