Roccin' the Gorge

[camron at worldaccessnet.com (Camron D. Crouse)]

A few hours ago I just got back from an Easter "day trip" to my parents' 
new place near White Salmon, Washington.  Folks, I gotta tell ya, the 
drive on SR-14 (Lewis & Clark National Scenic Highway) down the 
Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge is *absolutely incredible*.  
I love making this drive each and every time I go (once every month or 
so) though usually its in fiancee's '95 4Runner SR5.  She was working 
this Easter, so on my own in the Scirocco I went. Windy, twisty highway, 
with some good staightaways, well-signed and striped, all on *nice* 
pavement. (Dad retired a few years ago from the Washington State DOT, 
and he was QC for a lot of these highways outside of town, so it better 
be good, huh?) 

Then there's the scenery; Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Cape HornViewpoint, 
Beacon Rock (Beacon Roc, huh huh), Bonneville Dam, Wind Mountain, and of 
course the mighty Columbia.  When there aren't spectacular views, most 
of the highway is well-forested, which gives a great sense of corridor 
driving.  This is why we drive Sciroccos! Popular drive for a lot of 
motorcyclists, too.

I like also driving back home in the middle of the night  - way less 
traffic - and I get to put my euro hi-beams to excellent use.  Watch for 
deer, though, they don't come with sidemarkers....

So with that, I now propose a summer drive for .org listers in the PNW.  
I'll host a drive through  the Gorge, (since I'll be making regular 
trips anyway), and this may be an option for those of us out on the West 
Coast during Cincy weekend who just can't go _that_ far.  Anyway, food 
for thought.  I will post more details as summer approaches.

some links:
http://www.crgva.org/
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/csd/images/pdf/JilayneJordan.pdf
ttp://www.wsdot.wa.gov/planning/wtp/Plan/Pg107-Ch3-RTC.pdf
http://www.soundrider.com/archive/rides/GORGEous.htm
http://www.cityofwashougal.org/attraction_columbiagorge.html

- Camron from Vancouver, WA USA
   '86.5 Black 16V 2.0L