Columbia River Gorge

Heading south from Blanchard, ID, we decide to bypass Cour d'Alene. That will have to be another trip. We stop for the night at Royal City Golf Course & RV Park outside Royal City, WA. It's an interesting transition. We are driving in an arid area (kind of like driving through Bakersfield), then over a hill the orchards start.

It's a small 9-hole golf course and small rv spots. The park is a dirt lot that is dry and dusty, and our space has no shade. We debate on whether or not to find another place, but we're tired, and we figure it's only one night. The next morning, Tank and I meet the kids at the park. They are wide-eyed and excited to meet Tank. It's pretty cool to see their excitement.

Tom manages to find time in the morning to play a round. The course is very well kept and is a very nice little course.

That really is Tom and his golf cart

Then we're on our way again. This time to Peach Beach RV Park in the Columbia River Gorge. There's still the requisite stops along the way. Not the best tourism signs, but necessary, I guess...

Rest Stop around Yakima WA 

We will be staying at Peach Beach, which is on the Washington side of the Columbia River. We're happy to find availability at such a nice, shady place. Temps are expected to be in the 100s while we are here, so shade and electricity is a must!. Our site also has great access to the river, and even I'm planning on going in, so make room Tank!

Our first morning, I make Tom take me to La Petite Provence in The Dalles for breakfast. I've been waiting for my mocha and berry french toast fix! Then on to Rosaurs for the iced shortbread cookies!

There's some interesting things to do not far from the campground. Just a little ways down the road is Gunkel Orchards fruit stand. The produce is absolutely gorgeous, and we go crazy buying peaches and tomatoes. 

Our friend Kirsten asked if we had seen Stonehenge. When we looked it up, we found it was just up the hill from the fruit stand. Stonehenge sits alone on a plateau and has beautiful vistas of the river and an the orchards. It is a replica of the one in England and was built by Sam Hill, a business man who wanted to build a Quaker community in the area. This Stonehenge is a memorial to Maryhill soldiers who were killed in WWI. 

Goldendale/Maryhill is a growing wine region of Washington, so we do have to stop in at a winery. Maryhill Winery is also just a couple of miles up the hill from the RV park.

We did both the premium and classic flights to get the most tasting in! 

The woman at the winery was very nice and let us taste a couple of wines that are normally not in the flights. In case you were wondering, the zinfandel, which was not in the flights, won our tasting competition.