In article > ,
PeterLucas > wrote:

> Cindy Fuller > wrote in
> news:cjfullerSPAMORAMA-A620CE.21361602082008@70-3-168-
> 216.area5.spcsdns.net:
>
> > Monday it was up the Columbia to Hood River and the Columbia Gorge
> > Hotel.
>
> Looks like lots of fruit tree (?) orchards around that place.

[Cindy's infamous SO responding}

Yes indeed, we saw lots of orchards. Very nice, reasonably priced fruit
in the local markets, too. The farmers in this area promote tourism
with a brochure that describes a driving tour through the roadside
stands in the region. It's called the "Fruit Loop". A little bit of
humor there, since in the US, there is a breakfast cereal of the same
name, famous for silly ads targeting children.

> > We had the prix fixe menu (his entree was steak, mine was
> > salmon). We saved the cheese and fruit course for the following day,
> > when we went to Maryhill Winery for tasting. We've had their wines
> > before, and were very impressed. The cheese and fruit were perfect
> > for dining on their patio.
>
> Nice outlook from there too :-)
>
> I wouldn't mind spending some time leaning on the 'Brunswick Bar'!!
>
> http://www.maryhillwinery.com/gallery.asp

The outdoor patio at Maryhill is very pleasant, with tables under
vine-covered arbors, and a bar overlooking the Columbia River. The
location of the winery is a bit surprising. In this area, the land
surrounding the river is very arid and barren, not what you would expect
for a farm. But there are some substantial plantings on the property,
and I could see soaker hoses between the rows. I suspect Maryhill buys
grapes from other vineyards, too

> The 2005 Syrah sounds absolutely great!!

That was one of the wines that we tasted, and we bought a bottle.

> > Wednesday we headed for Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood.
>
> Did you see Bigfoot??

No, just a few ground squirrels, elk, and deer. And lots of dead skunks
in the middle of the road.

> > We did some hiking on and around the
> > mountain, although the SO was unimpressed by the photographic
> > possibilities: "It's a giant slag heap."

I was comparing it to Mt. Rainier, which is one of our favorite day trip
destinations from Seattle. Rainier is much more photogenic than Mt.
Hood, with more variation in terrain and ecosystems. The steep slopes
and big glaciers provide stunning images. Rainier is a better choice
for hikers and shutterbugs. Hood is the choice for skiers.

--
Julian Vrieslander