Berry Picking & Dog Mountain

Saturday Tori, Stephanie, Julian and I went berry picking at Sauvie Island, the largest island on the Columbia River.  Sauvie Island is about 10 miles northwest of Portland and is primarily farmland and wildlife refuge.  It is a summer hot spot for picking berries and has an incredible view of Mount St. Helens, Mount Hood and Mount Adams.  It was the perfect summer day: complete sunshine and upper 70s with a slight breeze.  We spent a couple of hours wandering through strawberry fields and rasberry patches.  We would pick a few and put them in our basket, then pick a few and put them in our mouthes.  You can't get any fresher or more organic than that!

The four of us kept saying that we felt like we were on vacation because the drive was gorgeous and relaxing, we got to enjoy an afternoon on an island, and before we left we discovered a peaceful beach right on the river which we are determined to spend a whole day on soon!

When we got back to Portland, we made a delicious southern dinner: fried chicken, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes (with greek yogurt mixed in), corn, sauted spinach, biscuits and homemade honey mustard sauce.  For dessert we had homemade vanilla ice cream topped with our fresh-picked berries.  Then we played corn hole in the back yard until it got dark a little after 9:00 (yes, it doesn't get dark until that late here in the summers).

The vacation weekend continued with perfect weather again on Sunday.  Alan and I went for an intense hike on the Washington side of the gorge.  We hiked Dog Mountain which is a steep 6.5 mile loop with a 2,500 ft gain in elevation.  The scenery was amazing, though.  Once we got close to the top, we were hiking through a beautiful wildflower field and could see miles and miles of the Columbia River as well as Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens.  The tough climb was worth the view!

I believe that the Portland summer is finally here... and once this weather sweeps in it's impossible not to be  outside enjoying every minute!