Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Pool, Big Rock, Dam and a Waffle Cone

Dayle and I took our grandsons to Bonneville Hot Springs yesterday - I wanted my husband to try out the pool and the boys love to swim, so off we went.  We had a quick lunch in the restaurant and then I showed the boys the beautiful garden, another huge Magnolia was in bloom so I got a photo of it.  


They had special ketchup made in Portland, Caleb is a ketchup connoisseur and he deemed it good.  He in fact said, "It tastes like salsa but is a very good ketchup."  I had to snap a photo and Caleb photobombed it which made it even better.  Hayden is enjoying watching us.


Grandpa and the boys.


The boys were very good in the pool.. we asked them to have fun quietly as there was an older gentleman asleep in a lounge chair.  :-)  I got to do my lap swimming and Dayle kept an eagle eye on the boys who were practicing their swimming skills.  I also had fun playing in the wonderful mineral water with the boys, getting some nice watery hugs and spinning them around.


After we left the hot springs we drove a short distance to Beacon Rock State Park - I found a great spot for snapping a quick photo - down at the boat ramp.


Beacon Rock is the core of an ancient volcano.  There is a trail to the top.. want to climb it?  Me either.  LOL!


There was the most wonderful boat tied up at the dock, a "Nordic Tug", believe it or not, this is my dream boat right now.  It's got lots of room below and enclosed pilothouse.  


This is a beautiful park but every time I've been here only a few people are enjoying it.  Kind of neat that it's so quiet.  Well, once a long time ago when we had our sailboat moored in Cascade Locks, we went through the locks of Bonneville Dam to tied up at Beacon Rock and it was full of sailors from Portland Yacht Club and it was a busy time down on the docks.  


We then drove on east and turned into a road to see the Bonneville Dam spillway.


Here you can see all the electric towers that send the power generated by the dam on to the customers who use it.


Next stop?  Cascade Locks and the East Wind Drive-In.. chocolate soft-serve in a waffle cone.  


Then down to the playground at Cascade Locks Marine Park -- our boys are getting so big!  Grandpa watches them have fun sitting on the picnic bench.


Then the 25 minute drive on home.  I really do appreciate the beautiful place where we live.  A question - do you have something neat within 25 miles of your house?  Tell us!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 


14 comments:

  1. What a beautiful trip Teresa and your grandsons must have really enjoyed it. Such beautiful scenery. Yes we also have lovery spots surrounding us...both Surrey countryside and London! Hugs x

    ReplyDelete
  2. It is fun to learn more of your history with the Columbia river, Teresa, and wonderful that you have so many good memories of boating on it. The boys are growing fast! One place I want to visit again is the Philip Foster Farm near us and the end of the Oregon Trail. Thanks for another beautiful post! XX

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes!!! Our lake is 25 minutes away. Riverside State Park is even closer and Lake Coeur d'Alene is about 35-40 minutes. We do live in beautiful country up here in the Northwest don't we? I enjoyed your day with Dayle and the boys. So much fun and memories being made. You are one very blessed lady.
    I hope your 4th of July weekend is wonderful!
    Blessings,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love how you take the boys for outings. Nothing like time spent with grandparents!

    ReplyDelete
  5. How wonderful to spend quality time with your Grandsons, creating such wonderful memories. You certainly took us on a beautiful trip, you are certainly blessed living in such a beautiful part of the world. I live a couple of minutes drive from a beautiful beach and the sea which is ever changing. Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  6. So many neat spots. Your grandsons are so fun. I would love a big old ice cream cone!

    I can get to Lake Michigan shores in 10 minutes.
    I can get to lincoln park zoo in 40 minutes
    I love the Chicago Botanic Gardens. A good 30 minute bike ride away or 20 min car ride.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Teresa - it is a beautiful area you live in. Love taking our grandchildren out on trips too. we visited the beautiful Cotswolds last week not too far away as is peak district in other direction. Hugs Anne x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh this was a walk down memory lane for me... I've been to Beacon Rock many times when my kids were small... my youngest son climbed it with his dad and I have a picture of him standing on the top! yikes.... And the East Wind Drive-in.. what memories I have of there. It definitely IS a gorgeous area and I never tire of driving it. In Madras, OR we are about 10 miles to the awe inspiring Lake Billy Chinook which I did a blog post about.. it's one of the wonders of the world in my opinion.. then we are 20 miles to Smith Rocks, a gorgeous high outcropping of rocks towering above the Crooked River, and 10 miles to another reservoir called Haystack Reservoir which is a huge lake with a Mt. Jefferson view smack dab in front of your face! There are some gorgeous vistas around here that I haven't even had a chance to explore yet. Once I do, I'm going to post them on my blog!

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a lovely photo - love the first one of Beacon Rock. It would look beautiful as a postcard. You've now got me thinking about what I could show you that is within a 25km radius of where I live ?????

    ReplyDelete
  10. I appreciate your sharing all these little hidden treasures along the Gorge. I am always flying by on the way to Hermiston, only stopping for lunch at Cascade Locks. Now I want to swim and visit the park next trip!
    There are 17 world heritage sites within 25 miles of my home in Kyoto. My daughter rides the city bus to school past the Golden Pavilion every day, the lucky duck!

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a lovely day out! It looks like great fun! I am not going to be offering to climb to the top of the old volcano, but you feel free to go ahead! Hee hee!! xx

    ReplyDelete
  12. You live in a stunning part of the world, Teresa. Really beautiful. I live near the ancient university town of Cambridge in England. You've made me realise that I don't appreciate it enough and should visit it more often! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have the beach and that is fun but nothing like you have my friend.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

    ReplyDelete
  14. Nothing much around here. You truly do live in a gorgeous area.

    ReplyDelete

I absolutely love comments and thank you so much for taking time to leave me a note. :-)