We drove to Bonneville Dam to decide if this would
be the destination for our family motorhome outing. Bonneville has a fish ladder and fish-viewing windows and history displays and
turbine tours. It has a big beautiful lock.
Bonneville also has a long narrow
street that twists and turns across the front of the dam before reaching the
parking lot. The ranger said the length and weight of our motorhome would be no
problem. Big tour buses zip in and out all the time. Still we decided not here
this year.
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| Mouth of the Columbia River |
We drove to Astoria and Cape Disappointment. Next time Roger and I will come earlier and stay later. Maybe we'll camp in Warrentown or Seaside. Or we will commute from Fairview. We will be back.
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| Observation deck at the South Jetty, mouth of the Columbia River |
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| Columbia Maritime Museum in Astoria |
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| Bridge of the Gods in Cascade Locks |
Another day in search of the perfect ride, we went to Cascade Locks. Hurray! This
will be the 2013 family drive--from our home base, Portland Fairview RV
Park, for a quick picnic and playtime in the Cascade Locks park, and
then hop back in the MH, and return to Fairview.
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| The Columbia River at Cascade Locks |
Several days later we all enjoyed our family motorhome ride to Cascade Locks. After parking on the main street near the entrance to their community museum and marina, we shared apple slices, cheese, crackers, fresh cherries, coffee and cookies in the motorhome. Then we all walked under the railroad bridge to the park and explored. What a beautiful and windy place!
We spent an afternoon at The Grotto, The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, in Portland. This gorgeous and peaceful retreat is an international destination. Thank you, Janet, for recommending this visit for us.
Our motorhome improvement this year is sunshades for the front windshields, door,
and driver window. Now that the sunshades are snapped in place, our cats
can see what's happening out the front window all day long. They (and
we) can watch vehicles drive by, people walk their dogs, or an
occasional bird flitter by; but nobody can see inside the coach.
These black shades give us 90%
protection from UV rays. Because they snap on the outside of
the windows, they reduce the coach's interior temperature by about 10
degrees. Besides lowering our A/C use, the shades make the MH
roomier because we don't need the front opaque shade closed in an
attempt to reduce heat from direct sunshine. From the street at night
you can see the glow of overhead lighting and shadows, but you can't
distinguish people or any activity. Do these sunshades work? Yes. The
temperature is not elevated near the front windows. They are
one-way shades. And so now another item to add to the Ready to Travel
list: Unsnap the shades, roll them up, and stow them along with the
windshield wiper covers in their carry case when we are ready to travel.
Several days later we all enjoyed our family motorhome ride to Cascade Locks. After parking on the main street near the entrance to their community museum and marina, we shared apple slices, cheese, crackers, fresh cherries, coffee and cookies in the motorhome. Then we all walked under the railroad bridge to the park and explored. What a beautiful and windy place!
We spent an afternoon at The Grotto, The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, in Portland. This gorgeous and peaceful retreat is an international destination. Thank you, Janet, for recommending this visit for us.
Our motorhome improvement this year is sunshades for the front windshields, door,
and driver window. Now that the sunshades are snapped in place, our cats
can see what's happening out the front window all day long. They (and
we) can watch vehicles drive by, people walk their dogs, or an
occasional bird flitter by; but nobody can see inside the coach. 
