A Tiring Day Full of Waterfalls. What's in a Name?
Pacific Northwest September Travelog #8
Vancouver, WA - Sat, 3 Sep 2022,11pm
I can tell right now that if I try to keep a linear blog about this trip I will fall very far behind. Partly that's because today has been just packed. After leaving the hotel at 9:30- a pretty good start after arriving late last night- we drove east up the Columbia River and then north into the Gifford Pinchot National Forest to visit a series of waterfalls.
Before leaving town, though, we stopped at an amazing local donut shop. "Are you buying a half dozen?" the cashier asked. The food looked so amazing I took the liberty of saying Yes. We each ate one in the car. Then another one later in the day. The last one each are for tomorrow morning. We might have to get more after that. 🤣
You might wonder about the name Gifford Pinchot National Forest. I've used that name a few times before , most recently when visiting a bunch of waterfalls in Washington in August. Gifford Pinchot was a person (which you might have guessed). He was the first head of the US Forest Service after it was established in 1905. He also served two terms as Governor of Pennsylvania later in his life.
Gifford Pinchot wasn't the only noticeable name today. The other was Stinky Pud. I chuckled when I saw election posters all along the roads in Vancouver for a Don Steinke. "Poor guy, his name is pronounced Stinky," I said to no one in particular.
Then I wondered what office he's running for. Is he looking to become Mayor Stinky? Assembly member Stinky? Sheriff Stinky? And that's where it got even funnier. He's running for- I kid you not- PUD. That's what it says on his campaign signs. PUD. That's Public Utility District, BTW. He's running to be one of its commissioners. But he's got PUD in bold letters on his signs. Stinky Pud!
Anyway, long day, a bunch of waterfalls. We didn't get back to our hotel until sometime after 10pm. Tomorrow will be... well, I don't know! It may be a hike along a ridge at Mount St. Helens, or maybe we'll go for some more waterfalls. Or maybe both!
Vancouver, WA - Sat, 3 Sep 2022,11pm
I can tell right now that if I try to keep a linear blog about this trip I will fall very far behind. Partly that's because today has been just packed. After leaving the hotel at 9:30- a pretty good start after arriving late last night- we drove east up the Columbia River and then north into the Gifford Pinchot National Forest to visit a series of waterfalls.
Before leaving town, though, we stopped at an amazing local donut shop. "Are you buying a half dozen?" the cashier asked. The food looked so amazing I took the liberty of saying Yes. We each ate one in the car. Then another one later in the day. The last one each are for tomorrow morning. We might have to get more after that. 🤣
You might wonder about the name Gifford Pinchot National Forest. I've used that name a few times before , most recently when visiting a bunch of waterfalls in Washington in August. Gifford Pinchot was a person (which you might have guessed). He was the first head of the US Forest Service after it was established in 1905. He also served two terms as Governor of Pennsylvania later in his life.
Gifford Pinchot wasn't the only noticeable name today. The other was Stinky Pud. I chuckled when I saw election posters all along the roads in Vancouver for a Don Steinke. "Poor guy, his name is pronounced Stinky," I said to no one in particular.
Then I wondered what office he's running for. Is he looking to become Mayor Stinky? Assembly member Stinky? Sheriff Stinky? And that's where it got even funnier. He's running for- I kid you not- PUD. That's what it says on his campaign signs. PUD. That's Public Utility District, BTW. He's running to be one of its commissioners. But he's got PUD in bold letters on his signs. Stinky Pud!
Anyway, long day, a bunch of waterfalls. We didn't get back to our hotel until sometime after 10pm. Tomorrow will be... well, I don't know! It may be a hike along a ridge at Mount St. Helens, or maybe we'll go for some more waterfalls. Or maybe both!