Northern Oregon in the snow and the rain

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We were expecting a warm, often wet, passage north through the North West corner of America, what we got was some freak weather and a record for the latest snowfall ever. It has been snowing then raining since last Saturday. I was going flying and had arranged for a day as a guest with a club based at Sutherlin. We looked in on the field as it was only a mile off Interstate 5. The picture says it all, an inch or so of snow and all sensible flyers were tucked up at home.

We tucked up that night and listened to the rain beat down on our roof. We drifted on up the coast next day and watched big surf roll in while we walked Charro in the brief intervals between squalls.

Back inland we drove into the temperate rainforest on the westerly slopes of the Cascade mountains to visit the biggest state park in Oregon, a place called Silver Falls. It was raining hard when we arrived and raining when we left. However during a short break in the relentless precipitation we managed to visit the two most impressive waterfalls in the park. The park allows dogs on some trails but not the main waterfall trails so Charro got left behind and we set off for the falls. The hike took us through some Jurassic landscape. The trees were not just dripping with moss, they were inches deep in it with ferns growing like leaves from the twisted branches.
We were able to walk behind both falls.









Perhaps the best bit for us was getting back to our home and curling up in comfort with Charro acting as a foot warmer.






We left earlier than we planned because of the rain and headed to another Oregon park called Champoeg. Charro got his walk but it looked like his joints were hurting so he hopped on to his trolley and enjoyed the rest of the promenade by the Williamette river to Butteville [real name!] in style.

We visited the Saturday craft market in Portland and got stocked up at WalMart which was a lot easier on the kitty than some other stores we have had to use recently. It really is cheaper there.

Mount Hood was next on the itinerary as I needed a fix on the white stuff. After a days skiing in soft snow my legs were sore but it was worth it. I understand what they mean by Sierra Cement snow conditions now.






We followed the Lewis and Clark trail back into Portland stopping at the Bonneville dam [ in the rain ] and then looked in to the fish hatchery [ in the rain ] where we met Herman. Herman is a 10 foot long 450 lb white sturgeon and as usual Carol was able to coax him to come and speak to her through the glass. He is only a stripling as sturgeon go as they can reach 20 feet and weigh 1500lb.







After a day spent in the rain it finally let up and Charro was able to have a walk in a park in the Columbia gorge with scud cloud lifting from the hill sides and California sea lions playing in the water.





We are in Vancouver, the one in Washington not Canada, at the moment in the rain again. Everyone we speak to says this is not typical weather, it should be warmer and much dryer.

Mount St Helens is next on the agenda although we might stay somewhere next to a vet for some time if Charro gets wobbly again.