Oregon’s wet welcome

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As predicted the weather packed in. It rained during the night and we awoke to a damp tent, luckily no water had leaking inside. We packed up and hit the road and pretty well could see nothing of the fantastic scenery. So we put up in a church for the morning service and waited for the weather to clear. The church proved very welcoming and friendly, but it was more traditional than I am used to!
It cleared enough for us to bike part of the spectacular historic highway which weaved above the Columbia river gorge. No motorized traffic is allowed on this stretch of the road as the two tunnels make it impossible for cars to get through.
The gorge once was a raging river full of rapids, but the white man came along and proceeded to put dams everywhere and turned it into a meandering body of water.
We saw the measures that had been taken to protect the fish migrating up the river. A big ladder type corridor directs the migrating fish past the turbines so they can cruise upstream and have lots of baby fish. We could visibly see the fish swimming through the large windows. They have someone who sits in a small office and counts the fish as they swim past the last window!
We also investigated a fish spawning farm which proved to be very interesting. The farm simulates river rapids so the fish instinctly think they need to swim upstream so they jump up into different pools if need be. Anyway so through the rain we went onto Portland via seeing some rather special waterfalls along the scenic historic highway which I have posted pictures of here.

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Photos

Little Island
Looking out of the twin tunnels, we see a little island in the middle of the river.

Columbia River Gorge
Panoramic of the columbia river looking up from the historic highway

Cycling in the rain
Cycling the old Columbia River highway

Flying fish
Coho trying to jump into the upper pool but the gate is closed so it can't get in.

Fish Ladder
At the Bonneville Dam, this fish ladder creates fast moving currents and allows the fish to safely swim past the dam turbines

Horsetail Falls
One of the falls viewable from the historic Columbia river highway. This part of the highway you can drive on.

Multnomah Falls
Very large falls which is a prime tourist attraction for the Columbia river gorge area.