Leaving the lush greenery of Portland behind, we awoke this morning in the rain shadow of the Cascades. The sagebrush steppe of eastern Washington and Oregon receives only 12 - 15 inches of precipitation annually, and appears, at first glance, to be barren and desolate. With abundant sunshine and water from the Columbia River, however, agriculture has prospered. We passed numerous vineyards and orchards today, and had the opportunity to taste the fruits of these fields. Our hotel staff presented a delightful wine and food tasting party in the late afternoon; featuring Washington and Oregon wines, local jams and jellies, smoked seafood from the Oregon coast and a selection of cheeses.