Hoppy Days are here again

So before I get into Oregon, I need to mention our last stop in the state of Washington. When we got to the Columbia River, we hung a left and meandered for a while on one of those highways I like to affectionately refer to as a “motorcycle road.” Anyone who rides knows exactly what that means, though such a designation is typically diametrically opposed to easy RV driving. In any event, I’m establishing quite a list of roads I want to cover on the Gold Wing when I get it down from the Great White North. No offense to the brief but intensely scenic motorcycling opportunities in Alaska, but when your state’s highway system numbering doesn’t make it into double digits, after a while you start to dream of a greater variety in your riding choices.

(By the way, if my writing tonight seems a bit discombobulated, it’s because my concentration is periodically interrupted by Laura screaming in jubilation as the Phillies put another nail in Tampa Bay’s game four coffin in this year’s edition of “The Mets should have been here if not for yet another late season choke,” AKA the World Series. No bitterness here, though. That and the fact that I have to finish off this growler of Lost Coast Brewing’s double IPA, lest it go flat in our travels…clearly, an offense which should be considered at least a misdemeanor, if not a crime felonious in nature.)

But I digress…The purpose for our side trip east along the Washington-Oregon border was “noble” in nature (you hop-heads will get that pun, but for the rest of you, noble is a variety of hops- need I say more?). Since circumstances had conspired to keep us from the breweries of Washington, I was determined to make it to at least one before we made it to “Beervana,” as Oregon likes to refer to itself. I had heard good things about The Walking Man Brewery of Stevenson, WA, and we were not disappointed despite the fact that we had to wait a bit for the brewpub to open. I knew we had arrived in beer country (and, I have to admit, got a little giddy) when I saw that they actually had hops growing on a trellis outside the place. Their brews bear names of all things bipedal, ranging from “Pale Strider” to “Barefoot Brown” to “Old Stumblefoot,” their barley wine. After a full tasting of their offerings, I settled on a growler of an excellent strong pale ale (ABV 6.5%, IBU 100 for those interested), “Knuckle Dragger.” All things considered, I would not hesitate to include this as a “must visit” for any pilgrimage to the craft brew promised land that is the Pacific Northwest, and would say that each of the brews they offer is very representative of it's style or type.

As it turned out, our visit to the Walking Man served to foreshadow our next day’s adventure in the Hood River region of Oregon. That fine day consisted of alternating visits to wineries/vineyards for Laura and breweries for me. Hood River is a cool, outdoorsy kinda area with some respectable, if off the beaten path vineyards, and some very solid breweries, anchored by Full Sail Ale. All in all, definitely worth a weekend of tasting and other activities if you are so inclined. From a vino standpoint, the Cathedral Ridge Winery is certainly worth a visit, and the Naked Winery has some interesting selections, though there are several other excellent vintners to choose from- these just happen to be the ones that I remember. Cool scenery with the Columbia River and it’s world renown kite/sail boarding, and a rather bohemian, but small town feel in Hood River itself.

OK, I’m enjoying my Lost Coast IPA entirely too much, so I’m going to call it a night, but I can assure you that I will continue with our Oregon adventure tomorrow, as I have been strongly chastened by relatives regarding my lax blogging ethic, and do not wish to raise their ire further (I will name no names other than to say that one may be a Long Unvisited Cousin in Yon san francisco bay area).