As I mentioned in our previous post, after we left the Cruisers’ Rendezvous, we took our RV to Hood River, where we parked in the driveway of Liz Kinney, a relatively new friend of ours and a long-time friend of Roberta & Michael Hilbruner, who also parked beside us. <\/p>\n
Atmospheric pressure differentials east and west of the Cascades create a wind tunnel effect in the deep cut of the gorge, generating 35 mph winds that make Hood River and other locations in the Gorge popular windsurfing and kitesurfing locations.<\/p>\n
On July 24 Mike and Roberta took us on an extended road trip down along the Columbia River to show us some of the more easily-accessible waterfalls, a mere smattering of the over 90 on the Oregon side of the Gorge alone. The gorge holds federally protected status as a <\/span>National Scenic Area. Its nearness to populations and its spectacular scenery make it <\/span>a popular recreational destination.<\/span><\/p>\n Our trip down the Gorge terminated at Crown Point. Looking eastward from the Point we could see a prominent ridge. Roberta and Mike were celebrating their wedding anniversary while we were there, and they told us the story of how Mike had cajoled a very reluctant Roberta into crawling out onto the ridge, where he then surprised her by proposing marriage. She was so nervous that she got the giggles, but when she finally composed herself she assured him that “of course” she would marry him.<\/p>\n\n\t\t