Memaloose State Park, On The Columbia River

We watched our friends Roy and Anne drive off into the East, then left Cove Palisade ourselves to drive north to the Columbia River. Took a byway, the 197, very pretty could see all the clouds in front of all the big mountains. Real volcanic scenery. Huge lava fields. We dropped down into the Deschutes River Gorge to the little town of Maupin, stopped for a coffee at a little place called The Oasis, been there since the railroad came through in 1915! It looked like the 'Dueling Banjos' scene in Deliverance - river in the background, cabin type diner with a front porch, just lacked the boy with a banjo. Had a lovely coffee though (did I mention a short stack of pancakes as well? Or a side of Fries for Sally? OOPS!). Also sat and watched a pair of Ospreys come past the diner (as you do), they were nesting on a post about 50 yards away. Drove on, arrived at Memaloos SP and bagged a 'Prime site' on the Bank of the Columbia River, lots to see (and hear), with the 184 behind and the Union Pacific railway between us and the river barges. Looking forward to a couple days to catch up on the washing and who Lewis and Clarke are and why they are important in these parts. This evening we dropped back into The Dalles for a steak at Cousins Restaurant - a sort of upmarket Cracker Barrel. Thank you for that Roy and Anne (though it was entirely unnecessary, your company was more than sufficient compensation), now we have the basis for a reunion dinner out.