We could not have asked for a more beautiful day today! The morning was a bit rugged in terms of temperature though – early morning stretch class managed to survive 38 degree shivering and eagerly came inside for breakfast. We boarded our buses at the Hood River marina and headed in different directions. One group journeyed into the Hood River valley, a lovely area of mixed forest and agriculture known as "the fruit loop." We stopped at the Draper Girls Country Farm for a really fun time – petting baby goats, photographing ice-covered dahlia blossoms, swinging on a board swing, and sampling apples, pears, and cider. The other half of the group went to the Western Antique Airplane and Automobile Museum, which has a jaw-dropping spread of old cars and airplanes that are fully operational. The docents who guided us through are the folks who have repaired and driven/flown the museum pieces – a great way to experience the place. Many of us walked around town before lunch to experience downtown historic Hood River.
After lunch we watched a few wind surfers flying around with a stiff breeze, and enjoyed our naturalist's geology talk. Then we hopped back onto our buses and zipped off to Multnomah Falls, the tallest waterfall in Oregon and certainly one of the coolest waterfalls in the country. Exercise enthusiasts trekked at high velocity up to the top of the falls while those inclined towards natural history strolled through the forest and photographers snapped photos. Once back on the ship we transited Bonneville lock and are now headed west towards Astoria.
