Yakima - A strong need for freedom

So the title here is just part of a description of what the words meaning here in Yakima , Washington State.

To get here from Portland it is via the I - 84 , then onto the I - 97 and finally onto the I - 82 and is between 3 to 4 hours traffic depending.

 

So on the last evening before we left the amazing Kosmas family we managed to capture some group shots se here are the ones from Lyndas camera but there others that Nina took with Lori's IPhone.

 

 First there was the ladies and then the trying to get 10 people to concentrate just long enough to get a photo--

 Never known Chris Kosmas to be so shy

 So the one person not in the ones above is Katerina  -- who would win hands down if there was a "Smile for America" competition---

 Lynda's selfie using her camera almost got it right but cut Chris , Kim and Anna right out the picture--

 So the link below is to the photo that Nina took with Loris IPhone so I hope everyone can get it to open as it also includes Pondo in the middle as well---

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10212585827382223&set=a.2285685143177.2118894.1280341976&type=3

 

So yesterday we left these great friends in Portland and headed of up the I - 84. we have done this drive before and it has some of the most amazing scenery on one stretch of road. it also demonstrates again how the landscape can change every 30 miles or so.

 

 Leaving Downtown Portland

 Heading up the I - 84

 All the way we travel east on the 84 we run alongside the Columbia River which is one of the most powerful rivers in the world and has a number of very significant Hydroelectric Dams  supplying the regions power---

 Even with all the pilons around and the dams there is still so much beauty and Multnomah Falls is just one example---

 These falls are very much part of the Indian spirit legends.

 Changing scenery from dense forests of pines to starting to open onto planes of grass and meadows

 It is quite amazing how powerful it actually feels just looking and listening to these when you pass by

 So we say goodbye to the Columbia River and look forward to saying hello to the Hood River

 Such a change in the landscape

 OK so off up onto the I - 97

 Great image in the distance of the Mount Hood ( I think) although there is Mount Ranier around here somewhere

 
Back with some small forests--

  We took a drive through Toppenish , which is called the city of Murals

 We only captured a couple

 We don't know for sure but we think that this barn below is from the Hop growing business -- turns out that The Man from Delmonte -- he comes from the Yakima valley -- his signs are as abundant as there are fruit trees -- Ok , so a bit of an exaggeration but he is here in force.

 So we are staying in a really good Hotel -- Oxford Inn , Yakima -- all the rooms look over the river rushing by and it is so hypnotic hearing the water flow.

Lynda and I had dinner in the room last night with a nice bottle of Pinot Noir and played 13 games of Kaluki -- we learnt from Lori and Mark that the game comes from Jamaica - and there is me thinking it was French. Anyway I had a bit of luck and Lynda won 6 games and I won 7 but I had a kaluki so just sneaked home.

 

We are going now for a drive around and to see a museum or two on the way to learn a little about the region --

 

I would say goodbye in Indian but cant find the word in Yakima dictionary -- ah well -- laters.