Roaring Falls

Season's Greetings my friends!  I have some fun photos of Multnomah Falls and the Lodge to show you today.  My friend Shirley and I volunteered yesterday and enjoyed our time even though it was chilly and raining.  We have been having record rains, flooding and mudslides/avalanches and it's been devastating for many people.  Our beach communities flood when so much rain comes at once.  When the falls is this full, there can be as much as 7,500 gallons per SECOND going over!  It was roaring!

But let's start at the beginning of our visit to the falls.. we had our lunch and then I took a few photos of the interior of the lodge as it looked so charming all dressed and lit for the holidays.  This is the great room, it always has a crackling fire all year long.

This is the newest addition to the lodge, the Falls Room, where you can dine and watch the waterfall at the same time.  

There was a Christmas tree in 3 places.. this one was pretty.

Shirley and I both took turns walking up to get a close view of the falls while the other ran the visitors center answering questions.  To the right of the falls is a second little waterfall that was quite full.

I took a video of the falls so you could hear it, just click on the center arrow.  :-)

The Benson Bridge.

A bit closer to the bridge.

As I walked back to the lodge I glanced back to the falls and enjoyed seeing the lantern lit.

I heard a train engine approaching so I quickly turned my camera on.. it's a blur as it was moving fast.  The train passes directly in front of the lodge!  For those of you who don't know, my husband Dayle was an engineer for Southern Pacific Railroad and then it was bought by Union Pacific RR from whom he retired after 31 years of service.

The center where we volunteer is on the left, the gray doors lead inside.  The lodge was lit up but the lights weren't showing much as it was still light outside.

We closed down the center at 4:30 pm as it was getting dark!  I snapped this photo from my car window and I do apologize for the fuzzy image, but it still looks pretty.

This is a photo we got the other day at Dabney State Park.. I wanted to show you how high the Sandy River is.. and the boat ramp is all filled in with sand which has washed down from upriver!  This river flows from the snows and rivers of Mt. Hood.

I want to thank those of you who've seen of our flooding troubles here and wished us well.  We're fine and all of our family members are fine.  But many in our state are dealing with terrible flooding and we've lost people when trees have crashed into their homes.  I hope the waters retreat and people can get their homes and businesses back.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)