I described earlier how dangerous it was for the Oregon Trail pioneers to try and get through the Columbia River Gorge. It was also expensive to get help. So one small group from Kentucky, headed by Samuel Barlow decided that they would find a way to go up and around the East side of Mount Hood and over the Cascade Mountains. It is called the Barlow Road.

 

 

 

 

It was extremely difficult to build because of the steep grades and the thich forests of huge trees that neeeded to be cut down and moved. Here we are looking down a section of the road, and you can get an idea how large and closely packed the trees are.

This sign tells more of the history.

 

Learning more from our instructor, Bedford. He took us to an extremely steep downgrade where all of the wagons were lowered with ropes. He told us that, when finished, the road provided an alternative route for the later pioneers. Barlow and some associates turned it into a toll road and made improvements over the years.

 

In 1936, a highway crew, while working on a nearby road, discovered the remains of a grave of an unknown pioneer woman . It is now marked by this pile of rocks, and a nearby bronze plaque. Many, many people died while on the Oregon Trail. Many of them by accidental gunshots, since there were so many loaded guns because of fear of the Indians.

 

Nest the bus took us to The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center  located in Oregon City. It is housed in these huge replicas of the covered wagons.

 

It is said to be over 2000 miles long.

 

A pre briefing while waiting to enter the exhibits.

 

Here the narrator told us fascinating stories and facts about the pioneers and their travels. It was very well done

 

Afterwords, we did a self guided tour of the exhibits and artifacts. Here Rose and friends experiment with the toys that the pioneer children used. She later made one!

 

A typical cute pioneer lady with a sticker on her cheek and an invisible husband! After this, we piled on the bus for a ride back to the Tilikum Lodge for relaxation and a great dinner. Afterwards, there was a roaring campfire, singalongs, toasted marshmallows and smores, There was a pretty moon on the lake

 

The next morning, Thursday, we piled on the bus and headed West to the coast where we visited Fort Clatsop, which Lewis and Clark built to spend the winter waiting to start the return trip. Here a ranger tells the story.

 

They then had a demonstration of how to load and shoot a musket. But it failed to fire four times in a row due to damp powder. Each attempt was made after an loud countdown by the audience, but each resulted in a "flash in the pan" and loud laughter!

 

Here are Tom and Marie from Palos Verdes with Roselle and Alan from Kansas City. We had a great time together and Rose and their grand daughters, Hannah and Sarah became great friends.

 

 

This is a group portrait of our Elderhostel group, courtesy of our Elderhostel management.

 

Next we bussed to this large memorial tower at Astoria, near the mouth of the Columbia.

 

 

 Here we are looking West towards the ocean.

 

 

Here are Sarah and Hannah in a photo provided by their grandfather, Alan. It was definitely much cooler near the coast.

 

 

 

We bussed back to Tilikum Lodge in time for some fishing before a very nice barbecue dinner on the deck.

 

Afterwards there was a fascinating crafts program where Rose made several of the pioneer toys we saw at the Interpretive center.

 

The next morning, Friday, we packed and then attended a wrap up session where they showed a DVD movie of photos that they had taken durring the week! We ordered a copy because it was so well made. This is a view of the front of the lodge.

 

Here is the deck where the barbecue and craft classes were held. It was also my favorite place for quiet time to listen to my Books on Tape.

 

Hannah and Rose

 

Marie and Tom