Girl in the Gorge

Today I called my mother to tell her I am NEVER moving back to Idaho. Though I generally reserve absolute modifiers for only the most extreme situations, it seemed necessary to explain my reasons for wanting to become a permanent Oregonian. I was on my way back from a glorious walk on the sands of Canon Beach, having taken a slight detour on my way home from an AmeriCorps conference in Seaside, and realized that the drive back to Hood River would only take three hours. As if Hood River itself does not provide enough fantastic recreational locales, the Pacific Ocean is a mere Sunday drive from my new home. One need not forget the sunny slopes of Mt. Hood just thirty minutes from my house, or the lazy Columbia River 7 miles from my front door where I can sail, surf, swim, or sunbathe on any number of mountain beaches. Miles of hiking trails that literally make passage through waterfalls or top mountains to provide incredible views from Hood River to Troutdale also make me cling to this area like a security blanket. I can't wait to explore the local campgrounds that provide river front property for a weekend. Miles of orchard roads pay hommage to cyclists who revel in the smooth pavement and views of Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood depending which direction you peddle. I now realize what my employer was refering to when she described the area as magical and beautiful. Upon my arrival September 5th of 2006 I worried I had been duped when outside Mosier on the eastern side I was still waiting for both the magic and the beauty to appear. Apparently the distance of a few miles can change both the geography and climate of this region. The Hood River Valley is exactly bisected by the flow of the river's current but either side shows a totally different response to the weather. Dry, treeless hills on the Pine Grove side and wooded wetlands on the Oak Grove side. Utterly baffling and yet completely mystical. Discovering a cadre of other transplants with whom I can hike and explore the Gorge has been a fabulous experience and many of us have become fast friends. April will bring the first road-trip I have taken home since moving here. Though I am looking forward to the visit and the chance to see friends and family...I have no doubt I will miss the Gorge...afterall, the fruit trees will be blossoming and Spring Skiing will be at its peak. I was thrilled to be driving towards Hood River this afternoon from the Coast, I really felt like I was coming home. My own home. My new home. The Gorgeous Gorge.