During this trip, I started in Seattle, and drove to San Francisco. I didn't set out with a specific itinerary, and this is one of the places I visited without a plan to. I actually didn't even know it existed until I saw a sign on the highway. I had driven through the state of Washington, and found myself at the Columbia River Gorge area in early afternoon.

My intention was to drive to see Multnoma Falls. I have been there before, and thought it was beautiful, so that was where I was headed. Angee and Matt had been there a week before, and had warned me that traffic was horrible, and the place was too busy, but I tried anyway. I found they were right. It was a Saturday, and it seemed that everyone in the Portland area was headed to the falls. Traffic was backed up , the exit was closed, and in general, it didn't seem fun. So, as I was driving, I saw a sign for the Bonneville Lock & Dam National Historic Landmark, and decided to check it out.

As I entered the Visitor Center, I was happy to find a Ranger giving a tour, which had just started. He gave a great description of the Lock and Dam, with exhibits that showed how it worked. The group then walked outside to see the fish ladders and to the "new" power house. The power house was completed in the early 1980s. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was a P&H overhead crane! I wonder if my dad had anything to do with its design??? Could be, the timing would work with his career - but I have no way of knowing. Regardless, it made me think of dad and smile.

The tour ended at the power house, and I went back to look at the fish ladder a bit more, and some of the underwater windows that they use to count the numbers of fish that pass through. It was an interesting spot, and I am glad that I stumbled across this place.

#Oregon