|
Disneyland California and West Coast Trip Reports Trip Reports |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread | Display Modes |
28 Jul 16, 07:24 AM |
#1
|
Guest
|
It's all set in (Yellow) stone - Day 14
Day 14 – 14/7/16
The Fruit Loop Today starts with a glorious sunrise over the Columbia River Gorge: It’s 5:31 precisely and I have slept like a log. Yet another comfy bed. Let me tell you more about the Columbia Gorge Hotel. This is an autumnal shot (not mine) which shows the rear of the building and the Wah Gwin Gwin falls: The rooms have a louvred door which you can close and lock from the inside whilst leaving your main room door open. Open the bedroom window and you create a perfect draft through the room. You have relative privacy if you don’t talk to loud. It was an early form of air conditioning – and it works! This is a library picture to illustrate what I mean: The hotel also has an elevator that only the staff are allowed to operate. It is an original. Darrin has woken and coffee in hand he works his way through his daily emails. How did business ever survive without these dratted things? We take breakfast at 9. The view across the river is so inviting: We both have orange juice and coffee. I opt for a Rancher’s omelette. 3 eggs filled with chopped bacon, sausage and cheese. Darrin has “Eggs Benny” which is his usual Benedict but with smoked salmon added: Also, he chooses the healthy bowl of fruit and, as usual, I have to eat the water melon which he can’t stand. Lana is arriving at 10a.m. She has decided we should take the Hood River County “Fruit Loop”. This is a 35 mile loop of “orchards, forests, farmlands and friendly communities” according to the leaflet: Lana takes us to her place of work. She is the book-keeper at Horizon Christian School. The kids are still on their summer holidays so its nice and quiet with just a few admin people around the place. We pop into the gym. Why are American school gyms so better designed than ours? They have those seats that push back against the wall when not required. (Library picture) I doubt we will manage the whole route as it is a fairly hot day but our first port of call is Hood River Lavender Farm which is on the delightfully named Straight Hill Road, “conveniently off Highway 35” claims the leaflet! This place has over 70 varieties of lavender and Boy! the owner knows her plants. The scents are intoxicating but we are glad we don’t have our sister in law along. She can’t stand lavender. You also have magnificent views of Mount Adams – “the flat one” and Mount Hood – “the pointy one” as we decide to distinguish them. Mount Adams is in Washington State: Mount Hood is in Oregon: You'll note how low the snowline is. Apparently last winter they had really heavy falls of snow. On a previous visit we went to Timberline Lodge which is a hotel 2/3rds the way up Mount Hood. They were still skiing in July! The lavender farm has handcrafted products for sale such as soaps, oils, drawer perfumers etc. and we chat with the owner for quite a while. She is very interested in English Lavender so we enlighten her about Norfolk. We also discuss Provence in France and how L’Occitaine became a global company. We must have spent a good hour here chatting, listening to the buzzing bees and taking in the beds of glorious shades of purple. We are all a bit thirsty and so Lana guides us to the Apple Valley Country Store and Bakery: Here we enjoy Huckleberry Milkshakes on the porch. (Huckleberries are like bilberries – a small blueberry). We also spend time looking around all the craftwork they have for sale. We end up buying a table runner for us and a stitched trivet for Mother. Along the road various farms have fruit stalls. It wasn’t until our last visit to Oregon that we realised what a massive fruit growing area it is – cherries, peaches, apples, huckleberries (of course) and dozens of other fruits. All delicious. Time for some wine we think. Darrin is doing the driving so will only be able to taste and spit whereas Lana and I can enjoy the fruits of the vine to the full. She has chosen the Cathedral Ridge Winery because of the many awards that it has won. It was named winery of the year by Wine Press Northwest and when you taste its Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Merlot (we have a long discussion about how that should be pronounced – with a French inflection say I), Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Riesling. So plenty to choose from. We pay for two flights – one red, one white. I wish restaurants in the Uk did flights of wine. It’s a beautiful warm day with a light breeze and you can purchase a charcuterie plate of meats and cheese with biscuits which we share in the orchard sat under an English oak tree. I remark how far we have come. Back in 1992 on our first American trip we used to buy the Oscar Meyer “Lunchables” with its plastic ham and soapy cheese and salty biscuits. This is way nicer! Before leaving Darrin pops back into the shop area and purchases two bottles of the Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2007 (Medal winning). We’ll enjoy those in the evenings on the remainder of our travel. Make note that there are 7 other wineries we didn’t visit! Save those for another time. It’s a lazy afternoon and Lana suggests we pop down to the Hood River itself. Paddleboarding seems to be all the rage these days. You stand on what appears to be a surfboard and paddle you way up and down river. The area we are at is set back from the main river’s flow like a lagoon and there’s loads going on. We grab cold sodas and sit and watch the energetic folk on the water. I am really topping up my tan. Don’t worry, I have Factor 50 on! Wind surfers, height surfers, swimmers – they are all out today. We think how our nephews would enjoy all this – they were born by the Fowey river in Cornwall. Our next port of call is the Gorge White House where we have tea on the terrace. How I wish we had a porch at home. I’d just love sitting enjoying the evening breeze. Darrin shakes me from my Scarlet O’Hara daze. We buy some cherries which we split with Lana because it is quite a large bag. We return to the Columbia gorge Hotel so we can all freshen up ready for dinner tonight. This is to be at the Stonehedge restaurant. (That’s hedge as in bush not henge as in stones!) This place is located in the forest in the open air and it is a wonderful setting. There is has a very old Labrador who wanders around and nobody seems to mind. We all choose crab-cakes with slaw for appetisers. Lana has ravioli again, as does Darrin but this time it’s with crab. I choose a filet mignon with mushrooms and broccoli. To finish it’s a Chocolate Semi Fredo for Dar and Chocolate Ganache for Lana. I enjoy a cappuccino with an Amaretto on the rocks. To the rear of the restaurant area is a kind of ampi-theatre where they are presenting Shakespeare’s “As you like it”. Apparently, you can book a dinner – theatre package and its very popular. I peep over the hedge to watch an excerpt of the play. It has been a most pleasant evening – in fact a most agreeable day and it is time to almost say our farewells. However, it won’t be too long before we see Lana again. She hits our shores in October wanting to see castles! I have a few lined up. We return to the hotel where bear hugs are exchanged and a few tears. Lana has a half hour drive back to her home on the other side of the river. It’s been great to see her again but as we have a fairly early start tomorrow we need to get some shut-eye. We wave her off from the hotel entrance……………… INDEX - http://DIBB.in/11766690 Edited at 01:03 PM. |
28 Jul 16, 07:42 AM |
#2
|
Imagineer
Join Date: Jul 14
Location: The Tiki Room.
|
Geoff. That was a totally different type of day and nice too. I would have to keep away from a Winery. Couldn't be doing the driving and trust myself to spit the wine out
Some very interesting wines there I have to say. Wonder what that 2007 wine was like? The Stonehedge restaurant looked excellent. I like the idea of crab ravioli - different. I bet you have a full itinerary for when Lana visits!
__________________
"PAGING MR MORROW, MR TOM MORROW..." ''I drink Wine and know things'' DVC Owners at SSR since 2003. Multiple annual visits to America since 1976 Edited at 12:41 PM. Reason: Spelling |
28 Jul 16, 07:48 AM |
#3
|
|
Imagineer
Join Date: Jan 09
|
I am really enjoying your report - and wanting to go to Yellowstone! Those photos above of the mountains are fabulous and the houses with the porches are stunning - reminds me a bit of New Hampshire in that respect.
|
|
|
28 Jul 16, 09:48 AM |
#4
|
|
VIP Dibber
|
This brings back some great memories of the Fruit Loop! We loved Apple Valley too. You had the perfect weather too - we didn't get to see Mount Adams because of the cloud. We did the Alpaca Farm too - never try to take a selfie with an Alpaca!
__________________
Index to all trip reports here https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/sho...3#post15913083 Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip Florida 2017 New England Road Trip 2019 Florida Road Trip 2022 Canada/Pacific NW Road Trip 2022 Cyprus Chill week May 2023 Road Trip California & Arizona 2023 |
|
|
28 Jul 16, 11:40 AM |
#5
|
VIP Dibber
|
Sounds like a nice relaxing daywith some nice food and wine
Joan
__________________
|
28 Jul 16, 12:07 PM |
#6
|
|
VIP Dibber
|
my sort of perfect day-as long as DH was driving.
we loved Columbia Gorge area but only had a couple of days around there
__________________
JANET 1995 OKW/1997 Villa/ Gulf /2000 Villa/Rotunda /2002 Villa/Rotunda/2004 Southern Dunes/ AMI/2006 West Stonebridge/2007 Bradenton/2009 Sandy Ridge/2011Sandy Ridge/ AMI /2012SSR/2012Esprit/2013 SSR/2013 2wks AMI/2014 AMI/2015 OKW/2015 AMI/2016 AMI/ Bonita Springs/2017 2weeks Bellavida/2018 AMI/2019 Bonita Springs and Universal/2022 Gulf Coast Hurricane Ian/2023POFQ Edited at 12:43 PM. |
|
|
28 Jul 16, 12:28 PM |
#7
|
|
Imagineer
|
What a wonderful relaxing day. How nice that your friend is coming over to see you and you can show her our lovely country too.
|
|
|
28 Jul 16, 12:36 PM |
#8
|
Guest
|
We will be taking her to Edinburgh and Paris but she doesn't know that yet.
|
28 Jul 16, 12:40 PM |
#9
|
Imagineer
Join Date: Jul 14
Location: The Tiki Room.
|
__________________
"PAGING MR MORROW, MR TOM MORROW..." ''I drink Wine and know things'' DVC Owners at SSR since 2003. Multiple annual visits to America since 1976 |
28 Jul 16, 12:44 PM |
#10
|
Guest
|
|
|
DIBB Savings |
AttractionTickets.com
Get £10 off each Disney Ticket with the code ATDIBB10 Get up to £50 off per room at Disney or Universal with the code DIBBHOTELS |
theDIBB Blog |
Guests can book their 2025 Hotel and Ticket package early to enjoy Free Dining &... Read More »
The iconic 1900 Park Fare restaurant is opening its doors once again at Disney’s Grand... Read More »
One of the the five worlds found in Epic Universe, How to Train Your Dragon... Read More »
|
theDIBB Menu |
Exchange Rates |
US Dollar Rates
Euro Rates |
DIBB Premium Membership |
Did you know you can help support theDIBB with Premium Membership? Check out this link for more information and benefits, such as... "No adverts on theDIBB Forums" Upgrade Now |