On the phone--during one of our numerous phone calls discussing important things like "Are you gettin' ready for us, Lah-neigh-yet?" and "What are we gonna do all those dayzzzz?"--Milton told me the one thing he wanted to be sure to do, visit Multnomah Falls like they had done with Mama and me back in May, 2007, on their first visit. "I want to video it 'cause Mama loved it so."
Here's how we got it done.
Lamont picked us up and drove us to the Zipcar which does not live within walking distance of my apartment. Bus distance, yes, but that sweet son of mine offered to give us a ride over there, and we jumped at the chance! The Ford Escape waited patiently on the corner of SE Division and SE Caesar Chavez/39th Avenue in a service station parking lot. We put the cooler in the back and drove over to Fred Meyer for supplemental supplies: our bottles of water and pop, some cookies, some chips, and a loaf of buttermilk bread. Then we headed east toward our first stop.
I love this natural wonder even if it's difficult to get all of it in one photo. I read online that the upper falls of 542 feet and the lower falls of 69 feet have a gradual nine foot drop in elevation between the two of them which adds up to a total height of 620 feet. Not sure I totally understand that bit about the gradual nine foot drop in elevation, and since I won't be walking up to the bridge any time soon and looking into the pool at the bottom of the upper falls, I may never understand it. And I hadn't read those facts prior to Milton's going up on the bridge, so I didn't know to ask him to check it out for me.
I had no trouble understanding the sign on the left.
A. E. Doyle, one of my favorite Portland architects, designed the 1925 Multnomah Falls Lodge, which is now on the National Register of Historic Places. A bit about the lodge that I found on the Internet: The Multnomah Falls Lodge is located at Multnomah Falls, Oregon, at Columbia River Mile (RM) 136. It was built in 1925 as an overnight rest area on the Historic Columbia River Highway. Originally the lodge had dormitories and four rooms for the overnight stays.
Then I found this up-to-date information on the building's Web site: Thank you for your interest in an overnite stay at the Lodge. Unfortunately, the building was origionally construsted as a day lodge only, and does not offer overnight accommodations.
Available for public viewing, the Lodge houses a U.S. Forest Service interpretive center, an exceptional gift shop, , snack bar, espresso cart and public restrooms on the plaza level. The second floor accessed by Stair or elevator is home to the restaurant lobby and dining rooms, spectacular patio dining in suitable weather, cozy lounge and bar area.
Ah, the joy of the Internet, where anyone can post anything. I'm pretty sure we ought to trust the building's own Web site as factual.
I managed to get it all in one photo! Amazing accomplishment, and I didn't have to stand on my head. My camera has one of those viewer thingeys that rotates so that you can hold your camera in out-of-the-ordinary places, so I wrapped the strap tightly around my wrist and held the camera outside the railing, with the viewer thingey tilted so that I could see what the camera saw. Neat!
Milton on the bridge, wide shot.
Milton on the bridge, close shot.
The best buds, ever!
One last look, for Mama.
Then we headed for the SUV.
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