April 29 - Beaverton, Oregon to Kennewick, Washington  -  Cloudy day, small amount of rain, 13 C - headed out around 10 AM to avoid the heavy traffic - Portland  large city, freeway through middle of city, much like the 400 and Gardiner in Toronto, old buildings and impressive new structures. Took I-84 through the Columbia River Gorge - scenery was magnificent and the Columbia River was huge - trees on hills - coniferous and deciduous everything lush and green, very windy so the river had white caps, saw barges on the river, hydro dams, beautiful large waterfalls - hundreds of feet high- beside the interstate

  The further east we drove the landscape became more prairie like - arid looking, no trees, just tumble weed (yes a large one hit the car) sage brush, low grasses, bare rock cliffs and surprisingly vineyards, orchards and grain fields.  There are huge irrigation sprinklers everywhere so you get a patchwork effect on the land - dark green, light green, orchards, vineyards, arid beige ground and rocks.

Photo above shows barges on Columbia River, bridge we crossed to get from Oregon to Washington, orchards and vineyards, railway line - almost got blown off cliff while taking this.

So off again tomorrow wending our way home - the Red River is cresting in Fargo on Wednesday - so hope we can get through the flood zone :)