Sort Hop, Skip and Jump into Oregon

Hi zz's, Short day today with only one zig over to the Mt St Helens vistors' center which is in a Wa State Park and charged $5 to see the museum and movie--but we paid it, willingly. The museum is a earth science teacher's dream when teaching volcanology and the movie capturing the horrendous eruption is remarkable. This eruption was considered and is considered a SMALL eruption--I cannot imagine it or anything bigger. Nature sure is daunting. The ride today was on Interstates but traffic moved well and the sun was out. All in all a nice drive with the Kalana River flowing nearby for several miles. The names of the Indian tribes out here are so unfamiliar to me. Many reservations all along Puget Sound in Washington. As we neared the Columbia River and the Gorge crossing we could see Mt Hood in the distance. Another of the Cascades and another of the volcanoes in this part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Arrived in Troutdale Oregon at 130 having covered about 135 miles. Our purpose for stopping here? Tad's Restaurant --famous for chicken and dumplings, though we NEVER get that. Maybe I will tonight, since I'm not sure I'll get back here again, But then, maybe not. Hard to believe the eruption of Helen was almost 40 years ago. I'd been out visiting friends just two years before that. Dad had come out to California in the 20's just after Lassen had erupted. Now, that is almost 100 years ago. Strange, the concept of time. Well, will let you know about Tad's tomorrow. Barbzig and KatZag