We left Lori and Mike's place Monday morning for another fairly short day (250 some miles) on our way to the Boardman Marina and RV Park where I'd reserved a spot for the 3rd time this year!    However we decided to avoid I-5 and the traffic and the out-of-the-way skirting of Portland for the overland route through farm country and up to the south side of Mt Hood National Forest via Highway 26 and 35.   We drove in grayness to the mountains where the clouds got heavier and lower as we climbed.  I was consoling myself that it was a pretty drive and better than the freeway even IF Mt. Hood itself was socked in.    I'd never gotten the chance to really see Mt. Hood in my Oregon travels but lets face it, we don't control the weather.

Apparently my little "Karma Devil" was still out to lunch and the Karma Angels shown down and as we drove up Highway 35 it came into view with a super large parking area that was all but empty!   Yayyyyyy (can you see my stupid grin?).

The gray soil and water you see there is the beginning of the White River.   Glacial soil that follows this river through the Cascades (I've seen it previously) and yes, is always white (okay gray but who's picky).

Just as we got ready to pull out some clouds rolled over for effect! We arrived at Boardman late afternoon and enjoyed a lovely sit down along the river with a great view from our camping spot.   As I took the poodles off for a walk around the to the marina area I looked across the pond behind the jetty to see guess what?

A great blue heron.....

...and a lovely white Great EGRET!    No lie and the sun was actually shining towards it.   All that work to get egret shots in the basin and here was one right here at the campground.   So I hustled the poodles back to the trailer, grabbed the big camera and hoped at least one of the two would still be there.  Yup great way to end the vacation!

Then we were treated to a glorious sunset over the river!

We made the long haul (525 miles) home on Tuesday, leaving before 6 a.m. Oregon time as we knew we would lose that hour going home.   The trip went really well with the exception of one WA semi-truck driver who was intent on plowing into two exiting cars and trying to sideswipe me pulling into the left lane of the interstate when the right lane ended.   I was LIVID!   A**hole you know it and of course I also knew that chances were good we'd pass him up on the passes.  We did and I was intent to stay ahead of him before we got to Lookout Pass where I knew there was one lane traffic all the way to the top.  HA!   (Okay so the little Karma Devil may have taken over my body for a few hours there on I90!)     

I think I heard my truck give a big ol sigh when I finally unhitched the trailer and parked it in the carport.   Using that extra vacation day, Mom and I pulled all the stuff out of the trailer, did laundry, rinsed off mats and screens and cleaned bugs off the top front of the trailer.   

It was a super vacation and to recap our tour here is the map - 2000+ miles all total and 4 states, friends, family and amazing country.    So looking forward to next year with my family and exploring interesting places - yes, it is already in the planning stages so Kent and I can get our vacation time off requested at work.