4 Wheels 4 Girls

On June 1, we drove to Hood River, OR. We went there to see our friends Lori and Sarah who had invited us to come and stay with them for a while. We weren’t sure if they knew what they were getting themselves into but we decided to take them up on their offer. Lori, my great friend since about 2nd grade, had told me about having moved to this beautiful area in the Columbia River gorge about an hour from Portland where it didn’t rain all of the time and windsurfers from all over the country fill the river in the summer. So, when we headed for Hood River we were excited (“disneyland excited” as Lori says) not only to see Lori and Sarah but to see the paradise that Lori had described. We didn’t need to drive very far down the gorge to begin to understand what she had been talking about. It was beautiful. Where we entered the gorge east of Hood River it was dry and deserty but as we drove west along the river the hills were soon filled with trees. The town of Hood River is located at the point where the Hood River (coming from Mount Hood) joins the Columbia.

As we arrived in Hood River, we zig-zagged our way up the hill in search of Lori and Sarah’s house and as we, unknowingly, drove past their driveway, one of the girls said a bit dumbfoundedly, “Look, there is a sign there that says ‘4 wheels 4 girls'”. We had arrived.

A warm welcome in Hood River, OR

Lori was soon at the RV to greet us and to help us overcome our hesitation to move inside the house. When she told the girls “we have rooms and beds for everyone” that was it, they were off, a good share of their belongings in tow.

Though we had initially planned to stay for a couple of days we ended up staying almost a week. We had a great time, exploring Portland, Hood River, and the gorge by foot, car, and bike. We visited, played games, ate like royalty (thanks to chef Lori), hung out with the poodles Olive and Roxanne, and celebrated my pending birthday nightly. Though we did so reluctantly, as Lori and Sarah left for work on Monday morning we finally packed up and moved down the road. We left feeling sad to leave Lori and Sarah (and Olive and Roxanne) but really happy to have had this time with them and know that we have friends like them in our lives. It was hard for all us to leave paradise.

Me and my friend Lori

Following will be several stories from the girls which reflect how much fun we all had with Lori and Sarah in paradise.