Road trip to Hood River, OR!

What a great way to start another road trip. Actually, this isn't my car. But when I stopped to take photos on the empty road, all of a sudden about 20 cars materialized from both directions and slowed or stopped. I guess they thought it was my car. Very embarrassing.

Anyway, Dave and I were on our way to Hood River on the back roads of western Washington. Most of the scenery looked like this (above), with clouds obscuring Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Hood. We had to make due with scenery like this goat ...

and a lot of tall evergreens.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

After hours of gray skies, we made it to the other side of the Cascades and everything was lighter and much drier. Instead of tall trees, there were giant wind turbines.

Then we entered the magnificent Columbia River Gorge and everyone was happy.

Hood River, OR, is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. Lots of bicyclists, sailboats, a seaplane or two ... 

but the BIG sport here is harnessing the tremendous winds that come through the Gorge. Windsurfers (also called sailboarders) and kiteboarders (also called kitesurfers) flock here to whip across the water with the wind.

Windsurfer, or sailboarder, on the Columbia River.

Kiteboarder, or kitesurfer, on the Columbia.

Everywhere, we saw these bright poppies dancing in the wind.

Have a colorful day