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Published: June 19th 2008
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We are now in Missoula, Montana, but let me bring you up to date on our adventures since our last entry. We traveled north along the Oregon Coast and then followed the Columbia River Gorge east. We stopped in Hood River which is the sail and kite boarding capitol of the US. When we arrived it was quite cold and very windy, but the next morning it was beautiful. We visited the local historical museum which was quite interesting and then spent a good part of the morning driving the "Fruit Loop." This is a beautiful 35 mile loop drive through the Hood River Valley area with great views of Mt. Hood. The valley is full of orchards and wineries. There are numerous produce stands/stores and wine tasting spots along the route. We were a little early for the fruit, but did get a chance to taste some good wines. We also stopped at an alpaca farm and yarn shop. They had just been sheared so were very skinny with big puffy (non-sheared) heads. They looked like space animals. Their yarn is wonderful - very soft. Bought some to make a sweater for David and one for me. Almost bought a
spinning wheel, but resisted the temptation. The day started out calm, but by early afternoon is was again quite windy which makes it such a good spot for sail or kite boarding. Spend part of the afternoon watching the boarders. They are very skilled.
The next day we headed east and then north to Richland, WA to visit our good friends Tom and Ila. Ila and I have known each other since our internship in Boston. Tom was a friend of David's at MU and Ila met him when David and I started dating. We haven't seen them in over 15 years so it was great to visit with them. We visited some local wineries for wine tasting, took a tour of a fascinating facility designed to detect and monitor gravitational waves. Would take too long to describe here, but very interesting. David will give you the details when we see you. David and Tom also went kayaking on the Yakima River. Ila and I went to a Sacajawea Interpretive Center and a fabulous yarn shop. We also did a lot of talking. Spent Father's Day weekend with them. We had such a good time we have made tentative
plans to meet them in southern Idaho at the end of July/early August before we head south for Nevada.
As I said, we are now in Missoula, Montana. The weather is gorgeous and so is the scenery. I attended the University of Montana here so I always like to come back (in the summer). They had a very unusual snow a week ago, but it is beautiful now. There are great bicycle paths along the river and up Hellgate Canyon. The river area was just junk when I went to school here so great to see the redevelopment. We bicycled about 9 miles yesterday along the river and into Hellgate Canyon. We also climbed Mt. Sentinel just behind the campus. They have a large M on the hill. It is a short walk up - only 3/4 mile, but the elevation increase is 620 feet so it is pretty intense even though done as switchbacks. I never climbed to the M when in college, but feel good that I was able to do it 42 years later. Amazing view of the entire valley when you are up there. We ended the day with dinner at our favorite eating spot in the area - Guy's Lolo Creek Steakhouse. Nothing like some good Montana beef for dinner.
We plan to visit Lolo Hot Springs today and bicycle in the Fort Missoula area. Tomorrow we head to Great Falls. Adios from Montana
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