Day 9 Oregon - Boardman, OR
Boardman, OR
Took it a bit easier this morning and left at 10am. First stop was literally 5 minutes down the road at the Tillamook Cheese factory. We did a self guided tour of the factory followed by lots of cheese tasting. Then about 2 minutes further down the road we stopped at another cheese tasting place. Yes, we like our cheese. Full of cheese and ice cream ( forgot to mention that part) we drove east. It was about 1 o'clock and we thought we had better stop somewhere for lunch. With no rest areas showing on the map we pulled off the highway and parked up next to what looked a pumpkin field. Turns out we had also parked up next to a model aircraft airstrip and there were people there flying their planes. While we sat and ate our lunch we were treated to our own private air display. The open space also gave Ryan the opportunity to try out his own model helicopter which Katherine had given him for his birthday. Back on the road, we drove through Portland and onto Multnamah Falls, stopping off first at an observation area on The Historic Columbia River Highway. The Multamah Falls were beautiful and even better than I thought they would be. Up the road again we stopped at the Bonneville Dam to look at a fish hatchery for Salmon. We stay there for a lot longer than anticipated because we all found it so fascinating and such a lovely setting. A bit further along the I84 we took a short detour over the Bridge of the Gods so we could say we had been to the state of Washington. By this time it was about 6 pm so we had McD's for tea at Hood River, We were wanting stay in Boardman tonight so we made a concentrated drive to get there. It was the first time we have driven at night. Lydia was asleep by the time we got there/here. Mike and I are now sitting outside at a picnic table in the dark having a beer while the kids sleep and Katherine reads in bed. Can't tell what the tourist mecca of Boardman looks like but will have a better idea in the morning light. Till tomorrow then.