11th June
I woke to find that last night’s mystery allergic reaction had, thank goodness, completely cleared up. After ransacking the Hampton Inn’s breakfast bar, I jam my belongings into the Adv and head south on the 195. I’m planning to stay with Jorge & Sheila Carbo this evening – another pretty long day at just over 400 miles. At least the weather’s looking a little better, the skies are clearing to the south and, although the road is wet in places, there’s little chance of rain.
I’m travelling through an agricultural landscape – low rolling hills which are divided into large fields, most of which seem to be devoted to growing cereal crops. It’s a bit gusty today, so the local cropdusters…
…remain on the ground. The guys that fly these have my respect – the job’s often poorly paid and very dangerous – flying continually a few feet above the ground for hours on end.
The road is well surfaced and, with long sweeping bends, it’s tempting to go much faster than the posted 60mph limit – but I cruise along with a reasonable margin of speedometer error, enjoying the scenery…
Soon, I’m crossing the Snake River at Central Ferry– which, bridge spotters will be pleased to see, has been replaced by a bridge.
The hills are purple with spring flowers, looking a little like heather…
I come into Dayton, which boasts a very presentable Victorian courthouse…
…as well as a School Bus…
I bet the wheels of this bus go round and round…
Soon I’m riding along the southern bank of the Columbia River – the weather has warmed up and the conditions are just about perfect…
I stop for lunch at Sharps Corner…
…the device just in front of the Adv is a giant smoker – preparing giant swathes of cow & pig for the locals tonight – didn’t half smell good…
I cross over the Columbia and travel west towards Portland. I’m in Washington, which has a 65mph limit on the excellent single carriageway I’m using – the same limit as the divided freeway I can see across the river in Oregon. The river is obviously a main artery of commerce in the area – there are railway lines and major roads on both sides, many bridges plus a good deal of shipping…
I make good progress into Portland, crossing by the Hood River Bridge. The toll is 75¢ - I can’t believe it – I’ve only got a $20 note. Without batting an eye, the toll collector gives me nineteen $1 bills, held together with a paperclip, and a quarter. That’ll teach me…
I get to Jorge & Sheila’s at about 1715. We’re soon out to a local Mexican restaurant, where I buy them dinner (actually, I went to the toilet and, by the time I’d got back, they’d left…
).
Another good day
I woke to find that last night’s mystery allergic reaction had, thank goodness, completely cleared up. After ransacking the Hampton Inn’s breakfast bar, I jam my belongings into the Adv and head south on the 195. I’m planning to stay with Jorge & Sheila Carbo this evening – another pretty long day at just over 400 miles. At least the weather’s looking a little better, the skies are clearing to the south and, although the road is wet in places, there’s little chance of rain.
I’m travelling through an agricultural landscape – low rolling hills which are divided into large fields, most of which seem to be devoted to growing cereal crops. It’s a bit gusty today, so the local cropdusters…
…remain on the ground. The guys that fly these have my respect – the job’s often poorly paid and very dangerous – flying continually a few feet above the ground for hours on end.
The road is well surfaced and, with long sweeping bends, it’s tempting to go much faster than the posted 60mph limit – but I cruise along with a reasonable margin of speedometer error, enjoying the scenery…
Soon, I’m crossing the Snake River at Central Ferry– which, bridge spotters will be pleased to see, has been replaced by a bridge.
The hills are purple with spring flowers, looking a little like heather…
I come into Dayton, which boasts a very presentable Victorian courthouse…
…as well as a School Bus…
I bet the wheels of this bus go round and round…
Soon I’m riding along the southern bank of the Columbia River – the weather has warmed up and the conditions are just about perfect…
I stop for lunch at Sharps Corner…
…the device just in front of the Adv is a giant smoker – preparing giant swathes of cow & pig for the locals tonight – didn’t half smell good…
I cross over the Columbia and travel west towards Portland. I’m in Washington, which has a 65mph limit on the excellent single carriageway I’m using – the same limit as the divided freeway I can see across the river in Oregon. The river is obviously a main artery of commerce in the area – there are railway lines and major roads on both sides, many bridges plus a good deal of shipping…
I make good progress into Portland, crossing by the Hood River Bridge. The toll is 75¢ - I can’t believe it – I’ve only got a $20 note. Without batting an eye, the toll collector gives me nineteen $1 bills, held together with a paperclip, and a quarter. That’ll teach me…
I get to Jorge & Sheila’s at about 1715. We’re soon out to a local Mexican restaurant, where I buy them dinner (actually, I went to the toilet and, by the time I’d got back, they’d left…
). Another good day
