tourism and television

[vaznetti]

I took today off, and the B.H. and I went for a drive up the Columbia River Gorge, which is unbelievably gorgeous. I'd forgotten how impressive it is. I also learned that I'm very out of shape, because the hike up to the top of Multnomah Falls was just about the limit for me (granted, it's a climb of over 600 feet in a mile, so it's not exactly an easy stroll). I need to start exercising. But it was a beautiful day for a walk, and the views were amazing--it was wonderfully clear, and the trees were turning a bit, in that limited West Coast way, and the river itself is something to see even without the cliffs on either side. The scale of it caught me off guard, after all those years in England. How nice to be dwarfed by the landscape.

Our local video store managed to come up with the first four Farscape DVDs, so we came home to another two episodes--it's remarkable how many of the themes of the show get an airing in the first few episodes. (The replication of characters, the messing with John's head--even Crichton the resistance leader gets taken out for a spin. Aside from the premiere, I think that Throne for a Loss is my favorite of the early episodes, sheerly for the quality of the bickering.

Tomorrow, it's back to the paper. And the job applications I've put off all week. And I need to order books for next term, too.

ETA: The "Halloween costume generator" quiz told me to be Darth Vader. This amused me greatly.

Comments

[fourteenlines.livejournal.com]

The Gorge is beautiful this time of year. I've never been to the East Coast, during the autumn or any other time of year, so I don't have a basis for comparison. But there's something about the quality of light when you're driving east into the Gorge on a sunny autumn afternoon that's...incredibly energetic and peaceful at the same time.

Have you driven the Washington side yet? It's...a very different drive. 2-lane state highway, for one, and you're not along the river for most of it. But it's very picturesque and there's this one point where you come around a curve and you're on the edge of a cliff. They call it Cape Horn, and you can park in some little turn-outs and look down on Beacon Rock, I-84 on the other side of the river, and this whole mind-boggling tableau. You can see for miles.

Same thing with Vista House. When you're at Multnomah Falls, if you drive back on the Historic Columbia River Highway (it'll take about twice as long) there are a couple of places you can stop for some really spectacular views. You can then follow the signs and get back on 84 in Corbet or keep following the road. Just after you pass Tad's Chicken & Dumplings restaurant, there'll be a bridge to cross the Sandy River. That'll take you through Troutdale - which is kind of a neat little city - and put you back on the freeway right by the outlet malls.

[vaznetti]

Have you driven the Washington side yet?

Not since I was sixteen and drove back from Montana with my Dad--I'm planning a trip out to Maryhill some weekend soon, to see the museum and the miniature Stonehenge. We might do it as an overnight. (Stonehenge, Mt. St. Helens, which was still covered in ash, and lunch at Jake's Crayfish are my three Pacific Northwest memories of that trip)

Yesterday we drove out on the old road and back on I-84--I thought about going back on the Historic Highway as well (because I kind of wanted to stop at the observatory again, despite the fear that I might get blown off the edge and fall to my death), but on I-84 you get nice views across the river, and I was pretty sure I'd get lost in Troutdale, again. Troutdale did look cute, although by the time we got to the cute bits we were so please to be heading in the right direction that we didn't stop.

[cassandre.livejournal.com]

That trip does sound gorgeous, and incredibly relaxing. Makes me want to get out and see a bit of Wilderness - something I haven't done for ages.