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 :-)