So, Naoto and I decided to drive to Seattle for Christmas, and stop at various natural wonders along the way. The trip started with an allday drive from Alameda, California to the Columbia River Gorge area near Portland, Oregon. We stopped at Jack's Ranchhouse eatery along the way and saw a beautiful mountain and ate biscuits with sawmill gravy.

After a harrowing drive along the Columbia River through sleet and snow and windy road, we arrived at Cascade Locks. We had a reservation at the Best Western Bridge of the Gods. I was expecting a kind of Wagnerian Bridge with a few blonde, fat sopranos scattered here and there, but what we got was a misty, evergreen bridge (connecting Oregon and Washington) in a pink-lit dawn.

Columbia River Gorge is an awesome place. The two days we spent there were a misty sojourn into another, strange world: Oregon.

Why don't we hear about Oregon? It's like the whole state is trying to avoid notice. I never even knew the Columbia River Gorge existed. There were hardly any tourists, because it was winter, but the area was still breathtaking.

Also, Naoto and I found out you can't pump your own gas in Oregon. They have all these fresh-faced, flannel-clad yougsters at every gas station who come out and pump your gas for you. This strange law is due to fire prevention legislature passed who-knows-when. Anyway, it was strange.

Naoto and I are big fans of waterfalls. We've spent alot of time hiking around the Bay Area waterfall extravaganzas, and we were thrilled to discover that there were waterfalls scattered here and there along the Columbia River.

There were so many falls, I mean COUNTLESS. I don't think I can include all of them here, it would take forever to load. Let's just say that it takes a whole day to see all of them. Here I am at Horsetail Falls. If you hike a little ways above it, you get to see Ponytail Falls.

Somebody in the state park service has a sense of humor.

The best falls by far was called...ah, wait a moment...it's on the tip of my tongue...dang it! I totally forgot the name, but it sure was cool falls. It's the second tallest falls in the Northwest. There was all this spray and all the tourists' dogs got shiny, wet coats. (oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, all Oregonians have big, shaggy, happy dogs that they take with them everywhere.)

One could see this falls from below, or take a short hike up to a stone bridge and feel the heart-shaking roar from up close.

After the falls, we went back to the Bridge of the Gods Hotel and got into our JACUZZI!

The Jacuzzi was right inside the room. We even watched t.v. while we sat in it, enjoying the feel of the jets against our waterfall-weary soles.

The next morning we got up bright and early so we could continue our sojourn towards Seattle. We stopped just outside of Portland at what claimed to be THE original pancake house.

Naoto ate sausage, I ate a Dutch Baby. Before you think we are cannibals, let me explain that a Dutch Baby is like a plate sized basket made of crispy-textured pancake. Evidently its eaten with lemon and powdered sugar.

I can't imagine why I haven't come across this heavenly treat before. Isn't my father inordinately fond of Northern European pancake-like treats? Am I not descended from Pennsylvania Dutch stock?

What's going on here?