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Published: July 22nd 2009
Greetings from Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in Cascade Falls, Oregon! I am writing this blog while "fancy camping" in a KOA campground sitting at the picnic table while Phil is building a fire. This is our 14th state in 13 days!
We got up from our campsight this morning to take a look around. We had no idea what it looked like since we got in so late last night. Not too bad. Nice sights, not crowded but with antiquated hookups! A quick shower in the RV and we were on to Mt St Helen's National Monument. Up and up another mountain. We are so impressed with this RV. She just keeps on keepin on-up mountains and down mountains!
Mt St Helen's was just amazing. I know I keep saying that but what an awesome country we live in and what amazing work by God! It was a little eery reading all the stories of survival and death caused when this volcano erupted in 1980. I think it was like 57 people died. The observatory we were at was so close to the mountain and it is still smoking at the top- an active volcano. You could
see the path the devastation took and how still today there are so many dead trees and landscape around it. We ran into a retired geologist who grew up in the area. He took a flight out the night before the eruption not knowing it was going to blow the next day but also knowing that it was getting close. He took pictures of it from the air. The next day the whole top and half the side was gone. He pointed to the valley and told us that the road used to be down there but was now under about 900 ft of debris! They built a new road in and built the visitor's center for people to see how it is now. You coud see that the earth recreates herself though. Trees are growing and there are even wildflowers there now. We saw a neat memorial to the people who died and saw some great exhibits. Another great stop!
We are now at the KOA in Cascade Falls, Oregon in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. We got here about 4:00, set up camp and then took the scooter into the little town and park area.
We stopped at the market and improvised by carrying the beer home on the scooter. I'm sure we were quite a sight! We had a nice steak dinner on the grill tonight and cooked up some of the zuchinni we got at the road side stand. Phil's looking for someone to bs with but everyone seems to have gone to bed early. We miss Jennifer and Travis from the BLM campground in Montana! I think there is a lot of things to tour here but we may just get up in the morning and head to the coast. The Pacific Ocean awaits and I am sooooo excited!
Phil-Hey Alan, Kathy, Paul & Sherri. As I sit here by the campfire enjoying a cold beer i can't believe that we have come so far. I can;t wait to show you ALL the pictures and footage of our trip. Maybe we can get together and spend about 5 hours viewing and me describing our trip!!!! Don't worry, I wouldn't do that to you! Hey Paul, we went thru Bozeman, Whitefish, and Missoula, MT. Places that JM and JB have sung about. Don't fret, I have postcards to fill out and send
in keeping with the Peevy's of Reston tradition. I hope all is well, more later. Love Phil
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July21 Mt St Helens,WA to Columbia River Gorge,OR 001
Kathleen
non-member comment
I'm so jealous!
Hi Lori! I'm a member of Curves. I've been following your blogs and I'm sooo jealous. Looks like you guy are having a great time. Enjoy and be safe! Looking forward to your next entry. Kathleen