The Mighty Columbia

The Bridge of the Gods

Don't know what all the fuss was about, I thought Ainsworth State Park was great.  On one walk alone this morning I counted 9 bunnies and 5 chipmunks. It doesn't get much better than that!  Sure, the vitamins were rolling off the table this morning and we had to jump up into the coach from a running start, but that's all part of the adventure isn't it?

Cascade Locks

Kathe and Jim didn't sleep well last night because they were worrying about how they were going to get out of the tight spot we were in without damaging the coach.

The Ranger Lady said that she couldn't believe we actually got into the space in the first place. We managed to squeeze out this morning by moving one big rock and tying back the wild rose bushes with bungee cords. Sigh of relief!

Anyway,we have moved on to tamer pastures, the KOA in Cascades Locks, Oregon.  It's civilization with a dog park, free pancake breakfast, and of course trains running all day and night.  We are only 9 miles down the highway and right on the Columbia River.

Native American Fishing Platforms

Kathe and Jim went exploring this afternoon. First, they took a drive across the historic Bridge of the Gods, a cantilevered  bridge that crosses the Columbia River.  Indian legend speaks of a natural bridge that once spanned the river and when a landslide from the North Shore blocked the river it created the Cascade rapids.

The Cascade Locks were completed in 1896 to tame these rapids and improve navigation on the Columbia River. The Locks were subsequently submerged in 1938 when the Bonneville Dam was built and formed Lake Bonneville.

Part of one of the Locks is still above the water and is a great fishing spot.  Native Americans can fish with nets from fish platforms that hang down into the river.  White people are forbidden to use these nets and these platforms are handed down in Native American families for generations,