Columbia River Gorge/Eugene, Oregon

3.25.09 - In spite of the loud bar scene across the street, I get a great night’s sleep. I get up, throw on some clothes and head downstairs to Stumptown Coffee Roasters off the lobby. A cup of PG Tips tea and a mixed berry brioche help me with fuel I need to jump right into some work. As I work, I discover that the walls here are a bit thin. The couple next door deserve credit for their enthusiasm - and endurance.

Four hours of work later, I grab a shower in the all-glass, in-room shower, get dressed, and check out.

I stop by the Black Rooster on the way to the car for a sandwich. It is a two-inch high meal of fresh goodness. Good stuff. I pass Powell's Books on the way to the car, another Portland landmark. It’s a bookstore a full block long.

Multnomah Falls above, Powell's Books below

I’m driving to Eugene, Oregon to connect with DecembeRadio on the Join The Tribe Tour tonight. I take a side trip drive east from Portland along the Columbia River Gorge as far as Hood River. I hope to be able to cross over somewhere south to pick up I-5 to Eugene.  It is gray, cloudy and misty to raining. It’s a bit surreal and attractive, even though it would be great to be able to see more. I stop at the beautiful Multnomah Falls for a few quick photos and one other overlook.

Columbia River Gorge

At my crossroads stop in Hood River, I seek the advice of a gentleman at a fly fishing shop. Can I go south from here across Mt. Hood to Eugene? The verdict:  Probably not the best idea with the snow they’ve had. There’s no other choice but to go back west to Portland and take the interstate. I stop by the coffee shop Ground for a tea and a made-in-Hood River Blissful Brownie. Wow. Super sweet and dense, but very good.

Hood River above, Ground coffee shop in Hood River below

It’s a beautiful drive to Eugene, about three hours from Hood River, mostly down I-5. Tonight’s show is at the McDonald Theater. It’s apparently an early 1900’s movie house converted to a theater. A black and white photo in the lobby shows the big promotion of a Charlie Chaplin movie that played here. Some of the guys and I grab a quick but excellent dinner at Burrito Boy on the same block of the theater. Later that night after the show, a follow-up dinner at another Burrito Boy puts the cap on the night.