Awaken to
streaks of
sunshine,
seemingly unusual for this time of year in these parts,
and grateful
for same --
checking
out
and
waiting
(one does that a fair bit at Oregonian service stops) and
wrangling along amidst river
and
riffles and
rocks and
runs and
ranges and
railroad, up Columbia Gorge, growing increasingly arid through Multnomah,
Hood
River,
Wasco
(The
Dalles,
with
noticeably
fewer
trees
from
west
to
east),
Sherman
(where
the
sun
breaks
through
towards
the
John Day River), and
Gilliam
(the edge of the cliffs,
hopscotching
up
to
the
plateau beyond
Arlington) Counties.
At Morrow, the water washes north, and we are indeed left on the level uplands for a time, turning northwest on 730 through Irrigon (get it?) and
Umatilla (town and county),
to the great relief of Wallula Gap,
heroically rising up near
Juniper Canyon,
beelining
towards
the
Washington
border
before
Port Kelly and the
Twin Sisters,
with a right turn at the Junction,
up the Walla Walla Valley,
past Waterbrook,
the Blue Mountains beckoning,
perhaps warning of a premature stop,
but at last arriving at
Tisha,
Tom, and Claire's.
After a brief respite and visit,
we are off again en masse to
June's for Thanksgiving (somewhere during the preparations, call Crystal, Bette, George, and Sorrel to wish them every happiness), including Jim,
Ashley (a budding psychologist), and
Allison (angling for oceanography).
Songs thereafter include a lot of sight-reading re Franz Schubert leider, plus a bit of Ludwig van Beethoven, accompanying Jim, then many more for Christmas carols and hymns.
Back at Tisha's, we take in
Mel Brooks's broad barbs before wrapping tightly up against the chill night.
Ah, yes, the soundtrack for the day:
George Gershwin...
Rhapsody in Blue
Strike Up the Band
An American in Paris
Girl Crazy
Porgy and Bess
Hoagy Carmichael...
Star Dust
