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Published: September 7th 2008
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Portland
This was after we left. The line had let up, as it got closer to lunchtime. Alright, the moment you all have been waiting for (or at least since the last blog), the Voodoo Doughnut. As an avid viewer of both the Food Network and the Travel Channel, anyplace that has been featured on both must be worth a visit. We left Mt. St. Helens at around 10am we took Interstate 5, south to Portland, Ore. Not having any other actual destination in mind while visiting Portland, we got a good overview of the city by driving around looking for parking for an hour. Naturally, upon finding a parking spot, it began to rain! Luckily, we have a handy-dandy pocket umbrella (thank you mom!). We walked to Voodoo Doughnuts before all else. Apparently, everyone else has seen the television programs featuring this place, because the line was literally down the street. You are probably asking yourself, "Self, what is up with these doughnuts?" Well, not only are the doughnuts, themselves, good, but it is the combinations of toppings and flavors that has created a buzz. Here is a little sample of the different doughnuts to tantalize the tastebuds. How about the Bacon Maples Bars (a maple long john with actual strips on bacon on top-supposed to taste
Portland
It is Voodoo Doughnut. And yes, that is underwear hanging above the food we are about to eat. It's just that kind of place :). like pancakes and bacon) or the Tangfastics (cake doughnut with vanilla icing and Tang powder on top). There is also the store's namesake, the Voodoo Doughnut, which is a raised doughnut shaped like a person , filled with red jelly (for blood, mwahaha), and a pretzel piercing the doughnut man's stomach. Now you can pierce your enemy with a pretzel or simply bite off his head. Not able to make a decision we bought 3 different kinds. Oh, and for anyone who wants to get married in a creepy doughnut shop, they're your place. Doughnuts and coffee for all your guests after the voodoo wedding! Following our doughnut experience, we were able to get a good look around Portland. It really reminded us of Denver (when it's gray and rainy), actually. The little taqueria truck on the corner of 3rd and Stark St. was awesome (I preferred the chicken on a corn tortillas). Gracias Francisco's Taqueria! After our tacos was when we dug into our doughnuts. Super sweet! They made our cavities sing! Having a lot of ground to cover in order to get to Yellowstone, we said goodbye to Portland and its doughnuts.
We crossed back over into
Portland
Here is the blurry list of all the doughnut delicacies that await you (once you stand in line, down the street, for 30 minutes). All I can say is, don't ask on some of them. Washington and joined up with Highway 14 East. The Columbia River Gorge was a nice 80 mile drive through the Cascade Mountains. In 1986, Congress designated it the first National Scenic Area. Not only did Lewis and Clark describe this area in their journals, but it was also the last part of the Oregon Trail. We got to see all the windsurfers who flock to the Columbia River near the Hood River, as it creates a natural wind tunnel in the gorge, causing it to be dubbed the windsurfing capital of America. We also visited the Columbia River Gorge Interpretation Center. It followed the creation of the Columbia River Gorge through the action of the advancing and retreating glaciers formed throughout the numerous ice ages. But it also followed the cultural history of the area, from explorers and settlers to native peoples. There were artifacts and tools, as well as a huge fishwheel for harvesting the amazing numbers of salmon in the river (which quickly led to their near extinction as they were overfished) and a gigantic stationary steam engine. Our next stop were the Dalles, well-known to anyone who used to play Oregon Trail back in the days of
Portland
This is the display case that shows which doughnuts are still available. Notice the Fruit Loop covered one or the ones on the plate on the lower shelf, they are vegan doughnuts. A little something for everyone. the 5" floppy-disk. Basically, it's just a town along the Columbia River with a dam; very unlike they portrayed it in the computer game, where your wagon would overturn and your entire party would drown, in Oregon, almost to your destination. We didn't stop, but did shake our fists as we drove through and crossed back into Oregon.
Next stop along the route was a place where Cody wanted to go, because of their fine woolen products: Pendleton, Oregon. When we crossed over into Oregon, we got on Highway 30 and followed it into Pendleton. We were going to take a tour of the woolen mill, but it was closed, and they wouldn't be giving tours on Monday, because of the holiday. We also noticed that in two weeks the Pendleton Roundup was happening. Again, perfectly bad timing! So we got a hamburger and drove on. Next state, Idaho. As nothing was nearby on our route to Yellowstone, we pulled an almost all-nighter on our drive through Idaho. I wanted to stop and buy some potatoes at 3am (as that seems a quintessential thing to do in Idaho), but Cody was asleep and I didn't want to wake him.
Portland
This one is for you mom. The Captain Crunch Doughnut. "Aye, Aye Captain Crrrunch. Mmmm, you're making me hungry." At around 4am, we stopped just east of Idaho Falls for a couple hours of sleep at a rest stop. We were definitely starting to see a change in weather, as Sunday night, sleeping in the car, it was in the low 40s (quite a difference from Death Valley).
Heya Booboo, you know what next time is? We're a gonna get us some a picanick baskets at Jellystone (I mean Yellowstone).
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