More difficult was leaving our dear friends who have become such an important part of our life. I don't know when we will be back, but there is no doubt we will return. Betty and I love them and care for them deeply.
Since the Retirement Lifestyle and Oregon in Pictures post last week, we added a few more exciting memories to our trip, and hundreds of new pictures to our hard drive that I'd love to share with you.
The Columbia River Gorge stretches 80 miles from the far eastern edge of the Portland metropolitan area along the Columbia River. It forms a boundary between Oregon and Washington and contains some of the most dramatic scenery of our trip.
Overlooks nearly 800 feet above the river, numerous waterfalls, and hiking trails though beautiful forests kept us enthralled for a full day. Here are just a few of the photos Betty took on that special day.
Occasionally the fog won! |
The weather was cool with enough sun and clouds to make a day perfect for exploring and photographing.
Earl and Barbara Torris looking happy in Cannon Beach |
Blogging friend Tamara Reddy and husband Mike just happened to be in Portland during our visit. They were in the midst of a 52 day RV trip through the Pacific Northwest that you can read all about on Tamara's blog.
We arranged to have dinner together to turn virtual friends into real ones. Several hours later, after a meal and conversation around a fire pit we all felt like we had known each other for years.
The three weeks just flew by. We already miss our friends, the cool weather, green trees, and exciting city of Portland. It was a tremendously satisfying retirement vacation that cemented our growing love for Portland and Oregon. A special thanks to Retire in Style blogging buddy Barb Torris and hubby Earl, Galen Pearl for not just writing about her 10 Steps To Finding Your Happy Place but living it every moment we are with her, and, of course, to the Human Dynamos, Mike and Tamara Reddy.
Now it is time to get geared up for our next RV trip: the California wine country around Paso Robles, the beaches near Pismo Beach, and the desert beauty near Palm Springs.
Goodbye Pacific Northwest - Hello California.