Karen and I have driven through, eaten in, or shopped in The Dalles, Oregon, many times. It is 87 miles from our home in Vancouver, WA, via Interstate 84. From the Biggs Junction, just east of The Dalles, you can drive north to Yakima or south to Bend on U.S. Route 97, and all are good paved roads on the east side of the Cascade Mountains.
The Dalles was the terminus of the Oregon Trail in 1850. Boats used the Columbia River at The Dalles, west of Celilo Falls, with clear but dangerous river travel west to the Pacific.
Native Americans have lived here, and had a major trading center here for over 10,000 years. They called it "Win-quatt," signifying a place encircled by rock cliffs.
We drove this morning from Vancouver to Biggs Junction on Interstate 84. This 107 mile drive through the Columbia Gorge is always beautiful, and mostly a safe driving adventure. We stopped at Deschutes River Recreation Area, Maryhill State Park on the Columbia, the concrete Stonehenge memorial near Maryhill, Horsethief Lake Columbia Hills State Park, History, the Dalles Dam Museum, and into the City of The Dalles.
Lunch.
Afternoon driving trip up and back Road 197 to Dufur and hills of the Eastern Cascades.
Check into motel. Dinner: Cousins.
Wednesday: Cherry hills drive, Breakfast, Drive I84 to Portland, Hood River Hotel stop, Rooster Rock stop, Home.
We drove in our 2018 Ford Escape: nice quiet ride, smooth, safe, plenty of power.
Foothills of the Eastern Cascades, Mt. Hood
We purchased and are now (2/27/2021), driving a 2018 Ford Escape, Titanium Model, SUV, AWD, 4 cylinder, 2.0 L engine, 22-27 mpg. This SUV has 35,100 miles on its bones and engine. The 2.0 L Turbocharged engine can put out 245 horsepower. Reviews?
The Ford Escape SUV has many passenger safety features and road handling AWD capabilities, and meets all the Washington State emission control and road safety standards of 2018. This model uses a Sony electronic, audio, and communication system. There is plenty of room in our "new" Ford Escape for loading groceries from the Kroeger Fred Meyer's in our Orchards area. Or, room for moving gardening supplies and plants, boxes, travel gear, clothing, lunches and coffee, and recreational gear. This SUV model has new tires, good handling and AWD stability and adaptability, good lights, and versatile rain and cold controls for comfort and safety. Our SUV is silver in color.
99.9% of the time there are either one or two persons in the car. We will not be towing anything, or carrying any gear on the hard top of this Ford Escape vehicle. We rarely camp anymore; and stay in motels, cabins, or hotels. Besides suitcases, we have a variety of recreational gear (boots, camera, backpack, maps, emergency supplies, raingear, tools, folding chairs, blankets, backup food and water, backup clothing, toiletries, auto stuff, etc.) to carry on some day trips or overnight trips. Plenty of room for two travelers and their gear and stuff!!
This kind of newer used card should provide good service for our uses for many years in Southwestern Washington, Clark County, Washington. We have traveled many U. S Interstate highways and roads, Washington and Oregon State roads, U.S. Forest Service Roads, local Clark County roads and backroads into and through and over the Cascades to the east of Vancouver, WA. This Ford Escape should have plenty of power and safety features for two auto travelers in our typical 150 mile and less radius of travel ... Portland Metro and Beyond from Desert to Mountains to River Valleys to the Pacific.
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