for about a hour or 2 but it was in the wrong direction. Now you are probably all reading this laughing, perhaps calling us suckers but it was the best mistake we could have made. Because of our "detour" we got to see mountains that we wouldn't have. We drove along mountain roads with nothing on each side but wide open spaces, we saw Mount St.Helen's and Mount Rainier from a rather close distance, we drove along heavily forested roads with only the occasional small village some with less than 5o people in them. We both agree that this was a true highlight of our vacation and will be forever remembered. We do not think there are many beautiful views that can top today's. 
Tonight we stay in the same hotel 2 nights in a row for the first time. Portland is a very nice city, it is a strange mix of yuppies & hippies. I have never seen so many people with beards & dreads side by side with a standard issue yuppie family complete with the 40 year old new mother, the dad in the khaki's and polo shirt and the kid wearing clothes that cost more than my entire wardrobe, riding comfortably in a $1200 stroller. The hippies are all dressed the same in tie-dyed tunics and Birkenstock and all blend into the same person, so you feel like you are in a sea of hippie. They even smell the same, not good. The city is the same a mix of urban and rural somehow side by side, like the people. We can't seem to tell if Portland is an old or a new city, crowded or sparse, clean or dirty. But it is easy to navigate and every year they hold the "Portland Rose Festival" we went Saturday morning at just the right time. They had a midway, with lots of different foods, buskers, rides, games and even a pony ride and exotic animal display. Connor really likes snakes but isn't overly happy about pony rides.
All in all this stop was great, Portland is beautiful and the drive to get here delightful. Tonight we leave for California, the Redwoods await us!!!
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