Since the hotel had a continental breakfast, we saved our muffins, but ate the rest of the bananas and drank up the juice. However, all I had from the hotel was a bagel, as there really wasn't anything else left.
At 9:11, we headed off through the Willamette Valley, which, we learned last night, rhymes with "dammit". (Now, I have to say that in my head to be able to pronounce it correctly!) We saw lots of agriculture, including vineyards. We took advantage of a rest area on I5 to take a 9 minute break at 9:56.
We were parked outside of the State Capitol at 10:25.
The meter accepted a credit card, so my husband paid for 1 hour and 40 minutes. Unlike some other capitols, there was no security to pass through to enter. We were just in time for the next tour, which included just one couple besides ourselves. The tour guide had actually moved here from California. He told us that Salem just became the second largest city with about 300,000 residents in the city and suburbs. The Willamette Valley lies between the Coast Range and the Cascade Range. 90% of the population of Oregon lives within 10 miles of the valley. Wow! There is 1 representative for the entire eastern third or so of the state, because there are so few people there.
The top of the capitol isn't really a dome, even though it looks like one from inside. The thirty three stars here represent the fact that Oregon was the 33rd state.
Below the rotunda is a large brass version of the state seal.
The four corners of this space each have a painted mural that depicts the history of the settling of the territory. Two of my pictures that turned out well are the one depicting Lewis and Clark and the one depicting the arrival of the first white woman (!).
Grand staircases on either side of the entry lead to the House and the Senate on opposite sides of the capitol. First, we visited the house, with its carpet of trees, which are the state tree, the Douglas Fir. Around the top of the room are names from Oregon's history.
The other couple had to depart for the dome tour, but we continued on to the Governor's Office. The part we visited was the ceremonial office, with its exhibit of Oregon art, a moon rock and the desk, where the governor does the ceremonial signings. The guide had each of us sit at the desk with paper and pen for a photo.
We moved on to the other end to the Senate chamber with its carpet of Chinook salmon and wheat. More historic names encircled this chamber.
After the tour, the guide asked where we were headed next. When we said Mount Hood, he pulled out a map to show us the route and told us about the Timberline Lodge there. He said, we could eat there and it was worth visiting. I then visited the very nice gift shop, where I found pins, myrtle tree ornaments and a couple of gifts. I also had a nice chat with the clerk, a grandmother originally from California.
Outside, I took time for pictures of the engravings behind the flat statues and of the Oregon Pioneer, the gold guy on top of the Capitol.
We left at 12:05 and drove around the block to see Willamette University. Since we were getting hungry, we thought it would be a good idea to find some place to eat before getting back on I5. As we neared the interstate, we saw a family restaurant, which seemed pretty good on Google. We had to drive a long way "around the block" to be able to get to an entrance. However, while waiting at the light to turn back onto the road it was on, we saw a diner across the street, that looked very interesting. It was good on Google, so we headed over to Rock N Rogers, the Pink Cadillac branch.
It was very old school inside with Elvis stuff on the walls and old ads under plexiglass on the tables. There is nothing like a diner shake, so I ordered the chocolate one. The Junior size sounded too small, so I got the $5.99 one. Not only was it incredibly thick, but the mixer cup that came with it filled the glass two more times! There was a bit of a mess on the first refill as the thick part bubbled up and over the edge of the glass. But, it was delicious!
We decided to split our meals and planned on splitting a berry pie for dessert. We got the hamburger with fries and the Avocado Chicken Breast Salad, 1/2 portion.
If that is the half portion, I'd hate to see the full portion. Suffice it to say, we were way too full for the proposed pie.
The restroom was on the outside with the key kept at the counter and attached to an empty picnic ketchup bottle!
At 1:25, we were back on the road. I think the grape vines and signs for vineyards got to my husband, because he decided it would be wrong to leave the area without visiting a vineyard for a tasting. So, at 1:55 (2274), we pulled into the stone parking lot of Aurora Colony Vineyards near Canby off Exit 278 of I5. The vineyard was on one side of the parking lot. On the other was the vaguely barnlike tasting room. The guy behind the counter was a chef, who rented the kitchen from the vineyard owner, who had in turn bought the vineyard from the family of the chef a while back. My husband tried 3 reds, the limit for free tastings, and really enjoyed them. I just asked for the sweetest wine he had. I would have been fine with that, but he poured another white and finally made me a lavender mimosa! Now, there's a unique drink. He evidently created it on a dare and makes his own lavender syrup. When you get the glass up for a whiff, it's as if you were about to drink soap. I was glad I tried it, but I don't need to ever again.
At the the guy's suggestion, we went out the back door to look at the grounds. They have a big amphitheater, where they host music events, and a chapel for weddings.
There are beautiful flowers and flowering trees. And, we were thrilled to see our first good view of Mt. Hood.
At 2:32, we were back on the road. At 4:24, my husband pulled over for a really good picture of Mt. Hood approaching. The beautiful sky really accented it.
At 4:30, we found a rest area on Route 26. This area evidently gets a lot of snow, because the roof was very steep and warned of falling snow and ice. Inside, there were even coat hooks. Nearby was a ski lift.
We were back on the road at 4:39. Just 11 minutes later, we found a pullout on the road leading to Mt. Hood. Ahead of us was a great view, including the tall sticks that were guides for snowplows.
To the south, we could see Mt. Jefferson and other snow-capped peaks.
At 5:02 (2345), we found a parking space in the busy lot near Timberline Lodge, which is at 5,924 feet. We first looked in the day lodge and found out the lift up the mountain had stopped running at 3 pm. There was a gift shop that was open there, but nothing else. We took the elevator up to the parking lot level with the lodge.
The lodge had been built by the WPA in the 1930's. Inside, it was just what you'd expect of a ski lodge.
The restaurant was not open, but the Ram's Head Bar was and had food. We were seated by the big window with the best view of the peak, which is 11,239 feet high.
I asked what the bar was on the window. It is there to help it hold against the 120 mph winds they can get up there in the winter. The peak is actually about 3.5 miles from there, I believe.
As might be guessed, the food was interesting and creative. My husband ordered a Blonde Ale for $6 and I had water, which I thought would be better for dealing with the altitude. We chose two items to share: Cypress Grove Fromage Blanc Deli Sandwich, which had red wine fig jam, thin slices of apple, mixed greens, red onions with a cucumber, grape & farro wheat berry salad for $15 and Apres Ski Fondue in a Cast Iron Skillet, which was a blend of melted raclette, fontina & white cheddar cheeses with
cream, roasted garlic & Mt Hood Brewing Co.'s Ice Axe IPA served
with Fuji apples, potatoes, cornichon, cipollini onions & artisan
bread for $18.
Okay, I will admit the sandwich was odd. It was worth trying, but probably not getting again. But, the fondue? It was amazing- simply the best fondue I've ever had, including in Switzerland. I cannot think of adequate words to describe sitting in front of that window with that scene outside and eating this food.
We could see part of a wedding reception through the window, but thought it too chilly up there to be having that outside and in those dresses. There were folks out on the trails, but we decided not to go on them. Instead, we did a bit of exploring of the lodge. We found a kind of museum with the history of the lodge and the preserved room of furniture that FDR used when he came to the dedication. There were models of the early furniture and schematics. We watched the terrific film about the building of the place and the remodeling. People who were unemployed because of the Depression learned to be carpenters, seamstresses, weavers, iron workers, etc. This really interesting bench was in the room with the film.
The gift shop in the lodge was much smaller than in the day lodge, but it did have some beautiful canisters, that didn't go with my kitchen, unfortunately.
When we went back to the car at 7:39, it was positively nippy. We soon found ourselves driving along the Columbia River and I got some beautiful shots.
At 8:56 (2404), we stopped at the 7-Eleven gas station near the Hampton Inn, where we'd stayed when we first arrived and would stay tonight. Gas was $2.599 per gallon and we got 9.937 gallons. Since we were within 5 miles of the airport, this would meet our rental agreement.
Just 2 miles down the road, we pulled into the Hampton Inn at 9:08 (2406). The clerk actually recognized my husband. This time, we were given a room on the second floor. Before showering, I did the final repacking of the bags.
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