The Boring End

Or, the end of our stay in Boring, OR. We're really going to miss the best thing about our fantastic parking spot - free blueberries!

One thing I really wanted to do here was hike up to the top of Beacon Rock.

It's a very interesting trail - built on the side of the rock.

There are 53 switchbacks in all!

Going up, you get a great view of the Columbia River -

And you can even see Bonneville Dam in the distance.

We also had a very special tour of the Guide Dogs for the Blind facility here in Boring. This very friendly guy was there to greet us. He is a "career change" dog, who did not work out as a guide dog. Why not???

No, this wasn't why. Turns out he was a sock eater.

But this was a very special day, because they were having a graduation ceremony for 6 dogs and their new owners. They should have provided tissues - there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

We also took a trip to Oregon City, the end of the Oregon Trail. We took the elevator here down to the Willamette River -

Where we saw Willamette Falls, although the Falls were barely flowing.

But we did get a nice view of some baby osprey.

I also went to see the Riverview Abbey Mausoleum. It's a huge place - 35-40,000 people are buried here!

Including my grandparents.

We ended our Boring visit with a spectacular full moon.