From Mt. Saint Helens we drove to Portland were we stop at a Ford dealer to have our brakes checked out. The road from Mt. St. Helens down to the coast was fairly steep near the mountain and I was driving and I forgot to use the lowest gear. Rather I was riding the brake pretty much and they over-heated the brake fluid and failed. Fortunately, we were on a fairly gentle slope and I was able to quickly gear down and use the parking brake to stop. After we stop and wait a bit, after reading the manual, the fluid cooled down and we were able to continue safely on our way.

The Columbia River Gorge has a great car tour that stops as many water falls, all of which are really great to see. This one we manage to get a photograph from behind the falls.

The most impressive falls on the route is the double falls. Everyone stops here and the photograph of both falls with the bridge is a favorite of all. Then it is on to Mt. Hood and a campground for the night. The next day we climbed a 2 mile trail, all up hill, to an over look were we stay awhile and ate lunch.

It is back to the coast again where we can get to the beach at sunset in Washington. The next day we find more great scenery on the drive down the coast highway.

This is an example of the many lighthouses on the coast. At one of the parks we stop at is this unusual sitka tree which is called the "octopus tree" for obvious reasons.

This, I believe, is at Garibaldi or Neskowin, Orgen. Anyway, the left one is one of our better beach photographs. On the right Jeanne and I have to wade through the really cold water to walk on the beach at the state park.