Wednesday: The “tour”. Timberline, Multnomah Falls, Crown Point and McMenemin’s Edgfield
Wednesday was the tour! We drove from the valley, up to Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood, down over to the Gorge at Hood River and on down to Multnomah Falls and Crown Point, before having dinner at Edgefield and heading home to the valley.  At this point Jill is seeing almost as much of Oregon as Sam has (next trip Jilly we’ll get you out to Bend, then you can have seen MORE than Sam unless we get him up to the lodge by then!) It was a fabulous trip (Thanks to Craig for suggesting it!) It was a perfect day for this trip… absolutely gorgeous!! 


I myself hadn’t been to Timberline Lodge in MANY years.  And in the years that I went to ski there I only went into the day lodge, so it was a treat for me to visit there again.  It’s an absolutly beautiful Lodge / Hotel.  This is the view out behind the Lodge.  Ziva was enjoying the sun! So was I because it was warm but not too hot!
Here’s a link to he history of the lodge and why it’s so beautiful: http://www.timberlinelodge.com/lodging/explore_the_lodge.php


Unfortunately for us, the area where the flags are is the best viewing area and it was close that day for renovatios (it’s a great view down the mountain). But we had an ok view from the Day Lodge while we had our packed lunches.
The outside and aerial views of the Loges were used in the movie “The Shining” and we found this nod to the film inside the lodge:



There is a tiny bar in the Lodge that’s only open in the evenings.  It’s my favorite thing in the Lodge that I’m aware of… isn’t this door fabulous?  It’s only about as tall as Gaby.

I just love Gothic design.
In due time we were headed back down the mountain. It was about 5pm and Jill leans over to me and says, “well, it’s after 5pm, I guess I can turn my phone off” her mom had been giving her a bad time about having her phone on her whole vacation (what Aunt Beth didn’t know was that Jill was expecting a call about a job she interviewed for just before coming to Oregon).  Not 15 minutes later her message notice sounded (Jill had put the phone on vibrate and missed the call) it was the job… SHE GOT IT!!!  We were so excited, she was cut off as we went through a cell hole so we pulled over for her to finish (I should have known better!!) and then she was able to call and rejoice with her friends and siblings as we made the drive to Multnomah Falls!  It was quite perfect timing (as she was calling her siblings I called Sam and had him fly down to Safeway and get a cake!! it’s nice having a second language at hand!!)

Multnomah was busy… it almost always is.  Mom, Gaby and Jill hiked up  to the bridge (you can make them out…white, red, red, on the right of the bridge there)

Aunt Ruthann and I stayed below while I fed Ziva (who was such a trooper the whole time!!)


Aunt Ruthann missed her chior practice at church so that we could go to Crown Point.  A TOTAL must see if you ask me!! Such a beautiful place to marvel at God’s creation and see the border between Oregon and Washington.



Bummer for the haze, but still worth it.  The building (I didn’t upload the photo here) is a 1920′s beauty, just a small carriage stop, but I love the building as much as the view!! Jill was very glad we went. Thanks for the sacrifice Aunt Ruthann!!!

Then we were off to McMenamin’s Edgefield where we stumbled upon the Half St. Patrick’s Day Celebration complete with bagpipes, i can’t stand bagpipes!
But dinner was good and mom gave them a tour of the estate while I once again fed Ziva McMenamin’s is one of those MUST do’s in Oregon… and there are enough sites to choose from, so no excuses if you visit the valley!!  We headed to my parents house where Sam, Dad and Vienna were waiting with the surprise cake for Jill!

It was late, and all were tired, so after cake we went home to crash!!