July 20-27, 2007 - Now that we purchased a truck in northern Oregon, we needed to get a new so everything in the truck bed
would be protected from the elements. We had to wait three weeks for the new cap, so we used that time to explore southern
Washington. Our first stop was Mt. St. Helens. We discovered it had been spewing and sputtering since May. Steam rose out of
the top, engulfing the area and giving the barren landscape and
stories of the 1980 eruption a spooky reality.
Next up was a visit to the Long Beach peninsula. The skies were
grey and the air was damp and cold, but the area was lovely. We
walked out to Long Beach and saw more evidence of this very
treacherous coastline: a government buoy had washed ashore
into the grass. There have been thousands of shipwrecks along
this coast as well. We also learned that this is a rich cranberry
growing region. There was even a cranberry research station
and museum that showed all the crazy methods people have
used over the years to harvest cranberries.
As we drove along the scenic back roads we came across the
tiny town of Milton-Freewater. They loves frogs. Every
business in town had a frog statue out front. They were
charming.
Winding back through southeastern Washington we stopped in
at Columbia Crest Winery. Their gorgeous landscaping and
buildings were a treat to walk through, and the wine wasn't
bad either!
Roses grow really well around here and many people have them
in their yards.
Our travels next took us from southern Washington into the
central and northern portions of the state.