Columbia River Gorge
A southern front and a northeast wind brought a cool fall wind and deep color to the Columbia River Gorge. The Sea Lion pulled into Stevenson, Washington in the afternoon in preparation for an afternoon ride along the Historical Columbia River Gorge Highway. Construction on this two-lane highway began in 1916 and was completed in 1923. It follows one of the most scenic stretches of the Columbia River with many close up and personal looks at the spectacular waterfalls that adorn the southern side of the river in the state of Oregon. Our first stop was Horsetail Falls and the beginning of a series of waterfalls that follow the Scenic Highway for the next twenty-four miles.
Horsetail Falls is named after an old Native American legend of the area. “It is said that in former times when the animals, the human beings, the shape-shifters and all the supernatural creatures could speak to each other, there was a story of a beautiful Native maiden who lived in the area. The Creator was told of this Native Princess, and her habit of toying with the feelings of several young Native men….She was warned that she must make up her mind, or there would be serious consequences…She ignored the Creator's warning and was turned into Horsetail waterfall. The water of the falls is said to represent her hair falling down her back, and if one walks close to the wall of the falls it is said that one can hear the sound of her heartbeat in the stone.”
A southern front and a northeast wind brought a cool fall wind and deep color to the Columbia River Gorge. The Sea Lion pulled into Stevenson, Washington in the afternoon in preparation for an afternoon ride along the Historical Columbia River Gorge Highway. Construction on this two-lane highway began in 1916 and was completed in 1923. It follows one of the most scenic stretches of the Columbia River with many close up and personal looks at the spectacular waterfalls that adorn the southern side of the river in the state of Oregon. Our first stop was Horsetail Falls and the beginning of a series of waterfalls that follow the Scenic Highway for the next twenty-four miles.
Horsetail Falls is named after an old Native American legend of the area. “It is said that in former times when the animals, the human beings, the shape-shifters and all the supernatural creatures could speak to each other, there was a story of a beautiful Native maiden who lived in the area. The Creator was told of this Native Princess, and her habit of toying with the feelings of several young Native men….She was warned that she must make up her mind, or there would be serious consequences…She ignored the Creator's warning and was turned into Horsetail waterfall. The water of the falls is said to represent her hair falling down her back, and if one walks close to the wall of the falls it is said that one can hear the sound of her heartbeat in the stone.”
