The it was off to The Dalles. Since Berniece and I are both saddled with husbands who have no interest in "taking the scenic route", we took the Old Highway from Troutdale to the Vista House. It was a little windy but as usual, the view was BEAUTIFUL!
We meandered along the Old Highway until it comes back down to I-84 and the girls got to see some great waterfalls: Horsetail, Bridal Veil, Multnomah, and Wahkeenah. I hadn't been down the Old Highway for about 12 years so it was a nice detour along the way to my parents place.
At my parents place, we sat around on the back deck and enjoyed the new fire pit they got. We ate pizza, drank wine and made some smores. Girl made the greatest smores suggestion ever: use Reese's peanut butter cups instead of Hershey bars. Good God, you have not lived until you're had these smores.
Here are Pershing, Brother, and Woodrow enjoying the fire. I love those two little blond boys.
The next day, we all got up and drive to Hood River for the 2010 Columbia Gorge Marathon. We only did the Half-Marathon. Okay okay - we walked the half-marathon. Geez. So, here we are waiting for the race to start. Great day for a race, right?
Wrong. As soon as we started walking, the skies opened up and just dumped down rain.
Then it cleared up a bit, then it rained, then it cleared up, then it rained. Girl managed to walk with Berniece and me for about half an hour and then these two old ladies were dragging her down so she ditched us.
Girl is waaaaaaaay up in front of us in this picture. You can just barely see her.
Half way! Around this point, I felt like I might have preferred to not do this half-marathon thing. In a moment of sheer stupidity, I got the bright idea to put moleskin on my heels before we left as I have a tendency to get blisters. So, right about this point in the "race" it occurs to me that I will be lucky to have any flesh left on my heals when I get done. As a matter of fact, I had to rip my socks off like a band-aid as the moleskin, my skin, and my sock had fused together into one organic unit. I considered going to lunch barefoot as there was no way I could get a shoe back on either of my barking dogs.
Girl waited for us at the half-way point and walked with us for about 10 feet before she bolted again.
The finish line! Again, if you look waaaaay off in the distance you can see Girl standing there like she's been waiting for hours. In reality she had only beaten us by 10 minutes and was standing there ogling the male runners.
Sister-in-law and Brother. We went to a favorite restaurant in Hood River, Full Sail Ale. Yum.
Sister-in-Law's sisters were also there. One of them ran the half-marathon to "celebrate" her birthday. She beat us by two hours. Have I mentioned she's crazy? Sister-in-Law, Brother and other Sister were all there as our support team during the race. They had a lot to do: Go to a pub and drink beer, Hang out and possibly (probably) nap in the family cabin, and go shopping for warm dry clothes. I don't know what we would have done without them.
It was a super fun weekend. I really had a ball with my fam and Julie's fam and the walk was a challenge. There were definitely times I wanted to quit, but I really did feel very good about accomplishing it. I am so glad that Girl and Berniece came with. Berniece was the very first friend or family member to hold Girl the day she was born. I love the extended family we have and that I can go for years without seeing some of these people and we pick up right where we left off.
For a very long time during my adult life, I never had close friends. Now, Berniece and I do a lot together and we talk every week.
There were also times, in my adult life, that I thought I would never have children. Now I have this wonderful person who lives with us and asks for my advice, tells me secrets, and trusts me to take care of her.
That I got to spend the weekend with them and mix it up with my family and extended family was such a joy, even if I can never wear shoes with backs on them ever ever again.
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