We get introduced to the Oregon State Park system in the gorge at Ainsworth State Park. Full hookups. Just $18 per night. It's "discovery" season. That means it's off season and we get to "discover" why most people are not here now! The reason is the weather, of course. It's rainy. Not all the time, but enough to keep most folks home. The old highway through the gorge has long since been replaced by a modern interstate. The design principles of the two highways are drastically different. The old highway draped itself across the land, while the new interstate blasted, dug and filled it's way straight. Pictured here is a section of the old road.
At Bonneville Dam, we met Herman the Sturgeon. Really. He's several hundred pounds and still growing. These prehistoric things live in the river. They've a major fish hatchery at the Dam. Details of a salmon hatchery are rather gory. It's working, though, and the spawning salmon continue to return. Pictured here as well is one of the props from one of the generator turbines. This thing turned about 1 rev per second and the generator it's attached to is rated in the megawatts. That's a lot of torque!
The falls in the gorge are numerous, tall and spectacular. Joanie and I liked Multnomath Falls in particular. When coming back to our camp one night after dark, we passed, Horse Tail falls and noticed it was brightly lit. We stopped and walked down. I hesitated as I came around a turn. This women in black and chains stood in the light against a rock wall. Kinda spooky. I figure we walked right into a photo shoot for some local musician!
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