Trail Days Cascade Locks

Last night,Friday August 27th, Dave camped at Cascade Locks. He called this morning to share some of his adventure.

He loved hiking Eagle Creek Trail. Here is a web site on Eagle Creek that Dave asked me to share with you.

http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Eagle_Creek_to_Tunnel_Falls_Hike

He loved all the waterfalls. The whole area he described as magical. Heading towards Cascade Locks is a paved trail called the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. Once in town, Dave went directly to the post office. No one gets mail delivered. Everyone in town has a post office box. Dave was given his package and told that the postal worker was taking her lunch and would be back in an hour to let him forward his package to the next resupply location.

While waiting, Dave charged his camera and phone in the post office. A couple of ladies showed up to get their mail (one 94 and one 73). They spent the hour with Dave, telling him about the history of the area. Dave loves history, and enjoyed his time talking with them.

He also had lunch with Donna Saufley. She is one of the Trail Angels who open their homes up to hikers (near Agua Dulce), although Dave, Zero didn't have the chance to stay at her place. Donna was kind enough to offer the boys her hotel room to take a shower and do their laundry. They gladly accepted. They did camp at the Cascade Locks campground. It was free camping this weekend because it was also Trail Days. He's really enjoying his time there. He loved all the geese flying overhead, the barges and ships on the river, and even the trains added to the charm of the area. There are mountains on both sides of the river and everything is green, super green.

Dave described Trail Days as a mini PCT-Kick Off weekend. He said that he would spend a few hours there today, looking at the vendors, and then get back on the trail. It's after 7:00 pm but I've not yet seen his Spot. I'll keep watching. Dave did say that he wasn't sure how much hiking he'd get in today, but wanted to put in as many miles into Washington as he could. He said that Zero, Fire Marshall, and Redman were leaving today also.

The bridge that goes from Cascade Locks in Oregon to Washington is called the "Bridge of the gods". Originally, it was solid rock, a natural occurance. The river rose and it was washed away. Now here is a metal bridge in it's place. Dave really wishes that he was crossing into Canada, not Washington. I've calculated, at 20 miles hiking per day, that Dave will cross into Canada by September 20th. He'll need to get back on the trail in one or two days and then he'll complete the hike no later than October 11th. This date has changed many times, so I'm expecting that we'll adjust that too!

Dave O and Nick - Dave says thanks for the text and comment - Your support and encouragement really means a lot to him!

Trail Angel Jane