If you are traveling to Vancouver from eastern WA and are driving along the Columbia River, most of you probably skip over to the Oregon side where you can drive on freeway. Next time, instead of going through Portland and then crossing the bridge to Vancouver, take the Cascade Locks exit and then take the Bridge of the Gods. It's a toll bridge that costs a dollar for most vehicles and gets you back onto the Washington side. It's a beautiful, windy drive that will bring you into the Washougal and Camas area, in which you can still get to Vancouver. This is the way I went to meet up with one of my college best friends/roommate at her new home where we'd celebrate her birthday and hang out for the weekend.
Meet Meggan.
As a bridesmaid at Meggan's wedding, July 2010
During our college days, at a friends birthday party
And goin' way back to spring of 2006 when we helped gut houses in New Orleans after Huricane Katrina.
She's a good friend of mine who recently joined the ranks of many fine quarter-century-old folks like myself when she turned 25 last month. We celebrated the occasion with friends, food, and plenty of drinks, as most twentysomethings tend to do, at her and her hubby's home in Vancouver, WA.
Whoever got them the Margaritaville mixer as a wedding gift was either an angel or a genius. Or quite possibly someone who frequently comes over for margaritas. I'd like to find that person so I can invite them to my wedding. For the Margaritaville mixer, of course.
Along with their adorable labradooddle, Bella, we ate and drank, talked and drank, laughed and drank into late hours, or possibly early hours, of the morning. Brandon, her husband and Margarita-extraordinaire, made sure no glass went empty. And no margarita mix was left.
The next morning, amid left over tequila and whipped vodka (try it with orange crush soda...tastes like an orange creamsicle, yum!), we cleaned up and realized the happy newlyweds had somehow managed a size-able collection of alcohol left over from the party. The bottles of liquor lined up on the counter would make any 20 year old college boy proud. I suggested lining them up on top of the counters for decoration. Apparently, I have yet to grow up.
After the house looked back to normal, and by normal I mean beautiful. Meggan is not only one of the nicest, most down to earth, and funnest people I know, she is a wonderful decorator and keeps her house always looking great. Meggan, you inspired me to clean my house when I got home. If I had a roommate, boyfriend, or husband, they would have thanked you. (Although I do already keep a pretty clean house, fyi.)
After there were no traces of birthday/margarita party left, we decided to go for a hike. A hike up Multnomah Falls, which is in Oregon, off the freeway. Perfect. I love to hike and have driven past these falls my entire life and have never even so much as stopped for a look. It was a beautiful, warm day and the three of us set out to reach the top.
From the road...also where it looks like a lovely little hike. But don't be fooled.
The view from the bottom of the falls is quite pretty, maybe I'll just sit here. (That didn't happen)
Stopping to take a picture inside a "cave"...what tourists.
We reached the top!
Lovebirds.
Meggan and I resting (finally) at the top.
Once you reach the top of the falls there are lots of areas to sit and rest. Even dip your feet, or your face, into some ice cold water. Or splash your friends while they aren't expecting it. Don't worry, they'll appreciate it.
After our legs had turned to jelly and we made it back down to the parking lot, we decided food and beer was the ideal way to celebrate a hike. Duh.
Off to Edgefield we went. What is Edgefield? It's a resort. It's a place for concerts. It's like Disneyland for grown ups. Oh wait, that's Vegas. Okay so it's not exactly Vegas. But you can get some pub food or enjoy fine dining, get a great tasting beer or glass of wine from the on-site winery and then wander the grounds (very Vegas-like), play a round of golf, pamper yourself at the spa, get married...well you can't just randomly get married there but Edgefield is a beautiful wedding venue. I'd plan ahead for that.
And there is much more! Seriously. Check out the website...
You never realize how much you needed a weekend away with a good friend until you're on your way home and you're missing them already. In my case it was when I missed the exit to get on the freeway toward Portland (the shorter route) and was headed back along the WA side, complete with windy roads, construction, and a slower speed limit. With a good laugh at myself and a smile for how great of a weekend it was, I headed back to my side of the state.
I love you, Meggan! Thanks to you, Brandon, Bella, Katie, and everyone that made the weekend great!
