I made reservations over two months ago for McMinamin's Edgefield Inn. We counted the days until our three day weekend arrived. We had attempted to stay before but it is a very popular place for events and therefore difficult to reserve a room. When I made the reservation I knew we had a furlough day but had not noticed that the weekend followed St. Patrick's Day.
We took our time packing and getting ready to leave on Friday morning. It is such a luxury on a non-work day to take your time. Feel like an extra cup of coffee, decide to change your shoes, maybe eat a piece of toast? All things that the work day makes tricky if not impossible. Part of the secret to excellent time off is allowing yourself to slow your pace and relish the small stuff. Finally we seemed to be ready to mutter out the door and head north to Troutdale. As always we had enough electronics to stock Best Buy. GPS, check; smart phones, check: DS, check; Kindle, check: not to mention thermometer, watch, and flashlight. I'm not sure why we need all this but we seem to and we do use most if not all. When we got married we would take a map, a clock, a flashlight and occasionally a compass. Over the years we added a thermometer and a calculator. All the rest of the stuff has been within the last few years. Oddly enough the smart phones have cut back the need for the laptop. The other essential for all trips is a swimming suit. You just never know when you might wish for one and their are no good substitutes. Shorts and t shirt are too heavy and underwear is not really suitable after you are about five. There is nothing more sad than missing a water opportunity because you forgot your swimming suit.
We knew we were too early for check in so we decided to take in Bonneville Dam as long as we were within a few miles. Rod had never been to see it and I felt an engineer should see stuff like that so off we went. It was pouring down rain the entire time we were there but we had new rain hats so we braved the downpour to take a good look at the fish ladders. No fish were attempting to climb the ladders. In the viewing windows inside we could see a few tails in one window but on the whole it was pretty anticlimactic. We watched a short film about the dam and how it was proposed by Roosevelt. I always enjoy looking at the pictures of the Columbia predam. It is interesting to imagine the river running wold and free but also hard to imagine the Northwest without hydro power and flood control. Although interesting in concept a dam is pretty static and we decided to head downstream and take in the waterfalls along the old Columbia River Highway. The Columbia River Highway was the first paved road in Oregon, paved to promote tourism rather than business oddly enough. Nobody ever takes new technology seriously, it is always seen as entertainment and not something serious people could ever use for a practical purpose.
This has been such a wet month that the waterfalls were in full force. We stopped at several but the pouring rain was somewhat of a discouragement from much exploration. Onward to McMinamin's for further adventures.
Upon arrival I realized that St. Patrick's was still being celebrated with enthusiasm. The sound of bagpipes was the first clue, Irish stew and soda bread for lunch provided a second. We wandered around the grounds after lunch, watched a bit of Irish dancing by some young girls, settled into our room and decided to try out the soaking pool. We have lived by many hot springs, used quite a few hot tubs in our day but Ruby's soaking pool was bar none the best yet. Designed as a basic figure eight with various squiggles along the way it was very pretty, easy to find a corner to call your own, and a temperature that was just perfect. As with any place on a McMinamin's property there was sculpture, interesting lighting and plants to entertain the eye as well. We spent a blissful hour there paddling from place to place and only left because of hunger and pruney fingers.
Anyone who knows us knows that we are appreciative of good food and dinner provided us with some excellent taste treats. Smoked salmon salad with citrus dressing, grapefruit and avocado as garnish to start, tea soaked duck with slaw and won tons as dinner and dessert sampler to finish. Nothing to do after that than take a stroll around the grounds and head for bed.
Saturday morning dawned wet as every other day this March but we were undeterred. After a simple breakfast and some coffee we decided to stroll over to the Pub Courses and sign up for a tee time. Along the way I took pictures of some of the signs of spring; daffodils, budding trees and small green leaves on the various shrubs. We were prepared for rain but the sun came out just as we took to the course. The course is a 12 hole par 3 and perfect for someone who has never done more with a golf club than play miniature golf. Rod has played but not for a long time. He actually did rather well and I considered any hole scored less than double par a victory. We had a lovely time, the course meanders around the edge of the property and provided restful views for the eye as well as a mild physical challenge for the body. When we were finished we headed inside to have a bit of lunch. Just as we were seated the skies opened and the rain poured down. After a good ale, sandwich and salad rolls a nap was in order. After the nap we could not resist a second trip to the soaking pool. My co-worker John who is from Rwanda invited us to a celebration of his country. The event was in Portland. We had a very enjoyable evening watching dancing, listening to music and best of all sampling Rwandan food. Rwanda is a beautiful mountainous country and I can see why John refers to it as "My Country". He is obviously proud and maybe a bit homesick. A bit of dessert back at Edgefield and the day came to a close.
Unfortunately all trips come to and end and this one was no exception. We took our time getting ready to leave, oranges, muffins and coffee in bed while reading the Oregonian. Showers and packing and we could not stall any longer. Check out, set up the GPS and back on the road to home. It was a lovely weekend but time to go home and tend to cat and fish, begin to give some thought to the week ahead and add this trip to the memory book.
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