Keizer, Oregon to Walla Walla, Washington – 10/23/2014

OCTOBER 23, 2014 (Thursday)

The drive today is to Walla Walla, Washington, approximately 300 miles (about 6 hours). We opted to drive to Pendleton, Oregon and go up to Walla Walla as we had never been that way before. Nice drive going along the gorge and seeing Multnomah Falls. We debated going to the falls but with Michael’s knee acting up, and the weather being so rainy, we decided not to this trip.

We left Keizer and headed North, through Portland.

Every time we pass through Portland Edie tells me how she wants to live in an apartment her for a few months. We'll see. — Every time we pass through Portland, Edie tells me how she wants to live in an apartment here for a few months. We’ll see.

We then headed east on Interstate 84, up the Columbia Gorge.

We left brother John’s at around 11:00 AM. We stopped for lunch along the gorge at a place called CharBurger, in Cascade Locks. CharBurger was the place Michael and his family used to stop and eat on their way to see family friends, Scotty and George, who lived in Rufus. Mamaw (Michael’s mother) loved the Karo pecan pie. Michael got a turkey club sandwich, and I got some chili and a salad. I also asked for the Karo pecan pie and was told they had pecan pie. I said okay, hoping it was the same. Everything was plentiful and good. We felt Mamaw with us there. Michael said the restaurant seemed larger than he remembered, but the things on the walls and on the shelves were very familiar to him.

Since I have memories, I remember stopping here. — Since my earliest memories, I remember stopping here.

Edie's half of the pecan pie. — Edie’s half of the pecan pie.

Headed out of Cascade Locks, a fun piece of art.

We stopped for a bathroom break and gas at Milton-Freewater, Oregon. We got to our hotel around 4:30 PM. La Quinta Inn. Walla Walla is such a fun little town with many wineries and wine tasting places. Would love to come back and explore one day. The La Quinta Inn was nice, clean and relatively quiet. We left for Tami and Thad’s around 5:15 PM. What a beautiful and huge home they have. Thad is a contractor (among other things) and built the house himself. Just spectacular. Tami had made a wonderful dinner of pasta, bread and salad. Was so nice catching up and seeing them again, and seeing Maddy and Dash. We also got to meet Maddy’s boyfriend when he picked her up to take her to the haunted corn maze.

Strange sky as we left for Tami and Thad's. — Strange sky as we left for Tami and Thad’s.

We left around 9:00 PM. Such a nice visit. That was our day. Hope yours was great!