White River Falls

After breakfast at Molly B's Diner in Tygh Valley and a morning of tidying up the cabin, we drove a few miles to take a walk at White River Falls State Park. We've trekked down to the old hydroelectric plant at the bottom of the White River canyon several times before, but I think this was Ole's first time walking on his own. He was very excited.

The old power plant is very photogenic--I took about a zillion photos the first time we hiked down.

Even the graffiti down here is nice.

Then it was back up the hill and homeward bound. O made it all the way back up, too, with just a few boosts and prods.

We stopped to catch our breath and take in the falls.

In a tent

We took our first camping trip of the summer last weekend. It was a quick trip to Columbia Hills State Park near The Dalles, less than an hour and a half from home, but Alex and I were keen on seeing the petroglyphs there. We even signed up for a guided hike! But first we hit the lake for some fun. Well, they did. I hovered around the shoreline.

Splash!

 

Run! He's right behind you! Run!

Watching a colorful freight train in the distance.

The park was pretty open and grassy, but it held a few surprises:

On our hike we learned about petroglyphs (carved in stone) and pictographs (painted images) found in the Columbia River valley. Many were removed and relocated before the Bonneville Dam raised the water level dramatically in the '50s. Others, higher on the cliff walls, remain today. How old are they? Well, our guide was vague..500ish years old.

Our guide Dylan

 

Our motley crew of explorers wove through the valley, complete with parasols.



Here is what we came to see: Tsagaglalal, also known as "She Who Watches". Uncommon in that it is both a petroglyph and a pictograph, She Who Watches is thought to represent the death and disease brought by early white people. Dylan told the Native American tale of the female tribal leader who promised to watch over her people forever. She was warned that the coming white people would never accept a female leader, and after a ferocious multi-day battle with a tricksy coyote, was smashed onto the cliff wall and defeated. There she remains today watching over her people. (It was much better the way Dylan told it).

I think we tired out poor Ole. He hitched a ride on the way out.



Then it was back to camp for a little rest and relaxation.

 

 

 



 



Back on the bike

We're back to our loveliest summer tradition--the after-dinner bike ride down our country road. The blackberries are nowhere near ready yet, but every ride we talk about how we'll pick them when they're ripe.

There are lots of opportunities to get off the bike when we ride:

To show off road rash.

To get a boost above the tall grass.

To show Dad the geocache we found in the crook of this tree. It's a plastic severed foot--it had me a little nervous the first time I spotted it.

The shadows are getting long. It's time to head home.

One last look at that view. What a beaut!