Portland and the Columbia River Valley

At our campground outside Portland heavy rain tattooed our motorhome most of the day, but we wanted to explore the city, and Nancy found several activities for us. 

Powell's City of Books is one of the biggest bookstores anywhere in the world - acres inside, with new and used books mixed together - and a huge counter where people go to sell their books to the house.  I found a cheap copy of a coffee-table cookbook from La Mere Blanc which was too expensive for my blood when I dined at that Michelin three-star restaurant in France many years ago.

We walked through the Portland Museum of Art, which had a number of lesser works by famous artists - Degas, Monet, Renoir, Picasso, and others.  What I will remember most about it was the confusing layout and the difficulty we had in finding an exit.

Dinner at Gracie's Restaurant in the Hotel deLuxe was our first night out on the town since we left California.  Delicious small plates in an elegant room.  Our favorite course was Pork Belly Crostini.  Jealous?

The next morning we headed for Washington wine country, driving along the Columbia River, which is incredibly beautiful, especially with the leaf color changes at this time of year and a sprinkling of snow on the peaks.

The weather cleared, and we pulled into a lovely campground in Boardman, Oregon which was almost completely empty.  We chose a campsite overlooking the Columbia River.  There was a hiking and biking trail that followed the river, and Nancy and I mounted up and got some much needed exercise.