As side note…if you click on my photos they will enlarge so you can see them better if you choose.
Last weekend we attended our niece’s wedding in the small town of Carson, WA.
This was our view out the window in our very classy hotel room…we loved seeing the green trees and the mountains cloaked with weather…and hey…there is the Columbia River!
We stayed at Skamania Lodge…in Stevenson, WA. I highly recommend it…they have spa services and excellent restaurants for small snacks, as well as nice dinners or maybe just a relaxing sandwich at noon…we missed out on their Sunday Brunch which is famous for the food and atmosphere…next time WB. They offer a golf course, swimming and lots of great trails to hike that are mapped out from easy to difficult.
When we walked into our suite and saw the view…we instantly relaxed:)
Looking back across the Columbia River towards Cascade Locks, OR. The bridge you see is called “The Bridge Of The Gods”…it is one of the many bridges that crosses the Columbia River into either Oregon or Washington.
Looking East towards home for us…the Columbia River is a river that you respect as it is wide, deep and fast-moving. We have boated on it lots as our ranch is only about 30 miles from it…being able to make a quick drive to the river during the hot summers always appeals to you…I love boating, as long as the boat is big enough to ride out the waves with a V-Hull!
It was truly beautiful to see our niece look so very happy…you know without a doubt they are soul mates…like WB and me:)
Before we knew it, time passed quickly and it was time to head home. We decided to travel home on the Washington side of the river until The Dalles, where we crossed another bridge to reach the I-84 freeway…seeing the river from both sides is worth it, as the views on each side are vastly different.
We had quite a bit of wind on the way home and look who is out on the river…the windsurfers…they pray for windy days like this!
They fly across the river with the wind…they are true athletes and fun to watch…often we see 100’s of them on our trips down the Gorge to Portland.
I am enjoying the view but, I would not care to be on the water with the white caps…as you can see the wind is blowing pretty good…and about perfect for the windsurfers!
I was standing down there on the concrete deck when WB took my picture.
Looking West…pretty view huh?
One more view of the Gorge Wind and my flaming red hair!!! What a great hair styling job…ala natural…which I love anyway:)
Another stop for photos…we are getting closer to The Dalles and home…
The closer we travel to our neck of the woods…the Columbia Basin of Eastern Oregon…Cowboy Country…Let Er’ Buck…Yee-Haw…the less trees and green. Western Oregon receives several inches of rain a year, where we usually have around 9-10″ a year…we are on the dry side of Oregon.
Crossing back over the Columbia at The Dalles Damn…tried to grab a quick shot of the spillway…could not talk WB into stopping in the middle of the bridge so I could take pictures…geesh…he said something about cops and mumble mumble…hmmm?
And then we drove on another 100 miles into Eastern Oregon…to our home…to the North Country of Juniper Canyon…into wheat country:)
As far as you can see wheat fields…that are almost ready for the harvest of 2012!
Once we were home we had lots of petting and loves for all our animals, as they missed us…our dogs are so protective of us but so sweet to us too:)
And our horses came over to see us as soon as we pulled in the driveway…it is funny that they know the car…
And the real “Boss!” I know she missed us….right?
“Minnie….I missed you!”
Minnie said back to me “Oh sure…what am I chopped liver? Going to see the dogs first…hurumph!”
And then she took pity on me as I love her very much…”Well ok…just this once I will forgive you about the dang dogs!”
“But do not let it happen again Mom…”
“Ok already Mom….I am so glad you are home:)” Me too Kitty Girl…my Min-Min Kitty Angel:)
We had only been home for a short time when the incredible clouds rolled in for a rock and roll thunder storm…
The summer of 2012 has gone down in history with different weather and clouds such as these…
Reminds me of Wyoming weather and not Eastern Oregon where for the most part we have mild weather…with four seasons.
It keeps it interesting and keeps me grabbing my camera trying to capture the strange weather…how about you…is your weather odd this year too or is it just here that it is a bit crazy?
Hope you have a great week! Enjoy your summer with warm days and magical nights! Find time to relax and take it all in as summer will be gone before we know it!
Hot Rod Cowgirl 
Jan 17, 2017 @ 02:53:26
Hello, You have some beautiful photographs on your blog. It has been interesting looking through a few.
I am British children’s book illustrator called Ada Grey, and I wondered if I might have permission to use your wheatfield photograph of 23rd July 2012, in my work please? (You can find my books on the UK Amazon site)
Many thanks, and my deepest condolences for your recent loss.
Best wishes,
Ada Grey
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Jan 18, 2017 @ 09:18:49
Hello Ada,
Thank you for asking me in advance, I would be thrilled for you to use my wheat field photo in your work. I would love to see your publication of it when it is done.
Regards,
HRCG or Marcy
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Jul 31, 2012 @ 16:37:12
I really loved your photos. Made me feel like I was there travelling alongside with you.
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Aug 01, 2012 @ 08:44:57
Thank you so much:)
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Jul 28, 2012 @ 09:53:01
What a wonderful post and great photos that gives me a feeling of being right there. What a fun “virtual” journey! I’ve never been to that part of the country before and it sure looks and sounds appealing.
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Jul 29, 2012 @ 17:26:53
Thank you so much:) I am glad that you enjoyed it…you will have to travel to Oregon as there truly is much to see and landscapes that are beautiful:) We are in the Eastern part of Oregon, about 200 miles from the Western side of the state and Portland. We have lots of mountains and incredibly beautiful scenic places to vist that will take your breath away at times!
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Jul 24, 2012 @ 07:56:26
As always some GORGEOUS photos! What great views from your lodge room window……beautiful. No doubt all your animal family were most happy to see you pull back into the driveway – as happy as you were to see THEM! Tell Minnie that Sammy sends a BIG HUG…….
Pam (with Sam napping in his “tent”)
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Jul 24, 2012 @ 10:12:52
Thank you Pam and Sam:)
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Jul 23, 2012 @ 18:17:20
So nice pictures, Cowgirl, you no doubt had a great time. And isn’t it strange how we miss our animals after just a short time. I didn’t know even horses learn to know the sound of a car, but of course they do…
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Jul 23, 2012 @ 18:54:18
Yes I would be lost without my animals….they are so sweet and they just love us! Yes horses are very intuitive and so smart…as soon as they see us they run to us bucking and playing…it is always so cute to come home to all our pets as they miss us as we do them:)
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Jul 23, 2012 @ 18:16:01
Great shots. The Cascade trip does look relaxing (wouldn’t the water be cold for the windsufers?) May have to check out that lodge.
Minnie has quite a bit of personality! Sure she missed you
Weird weather – but you got some great pictures!
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Jul 23, 2012 @ 18:51:53
Thank you so much:) I would like to go back to the Lodge too….you could manage to spend a few days there and truly relax….most of the surfers wear those wet suits and it protects them from the cold…still looks cold to me…and no desire to land in the middle of the Columbia…now a nice boat is different. My hubby water skies and I have tried it but I like the boat!
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Jul 23, 2012 @ 16:20:15
That trip and drive were beautiful, and I loved your homecoming!
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Jul 23, 2012 @ 16:22:40
It was fun to travel the WA. side of the river as it is not freeway and you have a completely different view:) Our animals bless us so much and I always miss them when we are gone. We have a great house sitter but coming home is always a treat:)
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Jul 23, 2012 @ 16:25:05
Kush runs to the door to greet me when I’ve been away. She’s too lonely to act aloof! The cat sitter is great, but she goes home at night!
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Jul 23, 2012 @ 16:27:39
Minnie does too once she hears my voice….then it is meow meow meow….I did get a kick out of her posing on my coffee table…she is a natural for looking very catitude when we wants:) She gets so depressed when she knows I am leaving so going on trips is a challenge as I worry over her so much.
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Jul 23, 2012 @ 16:07:36
Great post. Thanks for sharing this.
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Jul 23, 2012 @ 16:14:03
Thank you much:)
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