Labor Day

So this last weekend was a Holiday in the US. The Labor Day holiday is the mark of summer and the beginning of fall. Some may think the name is like the May Day holiday in other parts of the world, but this holiday, though once a celebration of worker, is now just a holiday from work and an excuse to sell more products. As the case in America now, everything is related to selling and money, this holiday is no exception.

But most Americans take the 3 day weekend to travel one last time, even if it is a short trip. I like many people left town for a little change of scenery. My trip was just a short trip east to see a different part of the state and enjoy some of the good wine that is produced in the area.

Mt Hood and the Columbia Gorge have a lot of wineries and vineyards on the East and North flanks of the volcano. This time of year most of the snow is gone and just the glaciers are left to give the mountain some cover. Soon though the snow will fall and it will be capped again in white.

There are several small towns on the river and around the mountain. One town is Hood River, one the northern side and on the Columbia River. The town of The Dalles is just a few miles east of Hood River but is in a more acrid area. Hood River is filled with trees and is green, The Dalles is more a grassy plain with rolling hills.


Marchesi Vineyards just outside of Hood River is a great place to relax and try some good wine. Grape vines in the field and orchards of pear area around. In The Dalles, Sunshine Mills Winery is a good stop too. Though in an old grain storage facility, it has a nice tasting room and good food as well.

It was great warm weather and it made sitting out in the sun wonderful. While at Marchesi, we met and had a great conversation with some other people who turned out lived int he same areas as we did. A small world I guess.

Besides the winery stops, we rode mountain bike near the small town of Dufur and stopped a local historical museum which had a large display of turn of the century artifacts showing what life was like on the plains and frontier.