Trout Lake 8/30

Colombia Gorge Hotel in Hood River OR. 

It's Saturday, Aug. 30. Labor Day weekend is upon us and that is why we are back in Oregon at the Columbia River Gorge hotel. All the rooms in the small town of Trout Lake were taken. We were picked up at a trailhead, 16 miles from Trout Lake Resort by a friend of Tortuga who lives in Monroe, WA and doesn't want to paint his house so instead he drove 5 hours to pick us up. He took us into town and we ate at the only cafe in town, calling every inn and B&B there. Everything was booked so the next closest place was Hood River. We lucked out at the very plush, once again opulent historical landmark hotel Columbia Gorge, where Rudolph Valentino once laid his greasy head as well as Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Calvin Coolidge. It was built in 1921 and we are staying in the only room left; a joined room that sleeps 6. It's situated next to the mighty Columbia and has a waterfall cascading beside it. The gardens are spread out and proved perfect to pitch our wet tents. FC has her shorts hanging out the bathroom window and Princess has her socks and underwear hanging between the slats of the blinds. Perhaps this is the first time this lovely hotel has had to host PCT hikers. This hotel is now about 41 miles from the trailhead so chances are not too many hikers stay here. The other guests are quite clean and well dressed. We try to sequester ourselves in our room but the laundry hanging out the window is a dead give away.

Princess, Dick, (our trail angel) eating breakfast in Trout Lake. 

     We have resupplied and have eaten twice. Tortuga and his friend Dick are in one room watching football and baseball while FC, TC, Princess and Mr. Sandals are organizing their food. Apparently Tortuga just throws everything in his pack and hopes for the best. He admits to being a failure at organizing anything. His pack is generally heavier than need be and he is constantly giving his food away to the Germans who are constantly receiving food from everyone. It all seems to work out perfectly. Like yesterday when we were eating lunch and were sitting at a trailhead behind a parked car. The people who owned the car had been backpacking for 5 days and returned when we were there. Princess asked the first person who arrived if he had any extra food but he was the young son and said the food was with the adults who arrived forthwith. Tortuga, on behalf of the Germans, once again asked for food. The women began to rummage and out came dried fruit, Asian pears, crackers and bean dip, avacados, ginger snaps from TJ's in Seattle, pretzels, and a beer to share amongst us. We always get what we need and Tortuga is always trying to give his oatmeal away.

     We have 423 miles to go. Back on the trail tomorrow but not before we eat breakfast at this fancy hotel. Back in a flash.

Falls at the hotel. Tilt!

He stayed at this hotel. 

Breakfast at the hotel.