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Florida, United States
June and I retired in June, 2004 and travelled for a year on our boat from Lake Michigan to Florida, then North on the East Coast through Canada, back to Southern Lake Michigan. It was the most amazing trip we have ever taken and one that will be tough to beat. We settled in Florida in the fall of 2005. On April 3rd, 2011, we departed in our Motorhome for the "BIG 2011 PLAN" We've now completed an 18,000 mile, 6 month drive from home in Florida to Northern California, North on the Pacific west coast to Seattle. From there to Alaska - with returning stops in Spokane, Washington - Oregon, Yellowstone, and other sites - then to Fort Wayne, Indiana to visit family, then back South to Florida and home. We have now traded in our motor home and purchased a new 5th wheel travel trailer and truck to continue travelling as long as life will allow. We will keep you informed as much as practical on our new site: www.Rainwatertravel.blogspot.com

Sunday, August 7, 2011

8/1 - 8/5 Mt, St. Helens, WA to Cove Palisades State Park, OR

It's August already! Four months and it seems like only yesterday we pulled out of the driveway. 

8/1 - We drove around to the South side of Mt. St. Helens to a place called Ape Cave.  The cave was formed a couple thousand years ago from a lava flow which left a bubble - the cave. It was first explored by a group of boy scouts who called themselves the Ape troup - so the cave was named after them.

Ape Cave entrance



8/2...... Today we started our exploration of the Columbia River Gorge. The Columbia River separates Washington and Oregon and the views are breathtaking. We stopped at a State Park and discovered hundreds of people wind surfing. We were told that this area is considered the premier spot in the USA for wind surfing. The natural effects of temperatures from the ocean and wind currents clashing from the desserts in this gorge create these winds that wind surfers crave. We stayed and watched for a couple hours.








They shouldn't tempt me this way....

Columbia River

Columbia River

Coulmbia River

Moving on down the road we spied Mount Hood - As we got closer, we saw a sign to the Timberline Lodge which is a National Historic landmark at 6000 ft. on Mt. Hood...



Mount Hood
Mt. Hood at 6000 ft. from Timberline Lodge

Cove Palisades State Park, Oregon is where we camped 8/4.  Oregon has lots of great places to see and visit - So many we can't see them all on this trip... We'll just have to come back next year.
Cove Palisades on the Dechutes River
Beach scene on the Deschutes River

Nearby Smith Rock State Park is reported to have the number three rock face in the world that attracts rock climbers.  A number of climbers were scaling these sheer cliffs while we were there. 
Smith Rock State Park

Look Close - Rock Climber at Smith Rock State Park 
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