Horseback riding on the Pacific Crest Trail

We did it! Diane and I rode all the way to the waterfall on the Pacific Crest Trail, right outside of Cascade Locks, Oregon.

When I was a little girl, maybe 7 or 8 years old, I had the wits frightened out of me when a horse I was riding took off like a shot unexpectedly.

The horse's name was Captain, he was dappled, gray and older. Donna, Captain's owner, told me he wanted to lead our group on the trail and so charged ahead.

I heard her reasoning. To me, horses were large creatures I couldn't trust. I did ride again eventually at summer camp many years later.

But there is something about horses, isn't there? In my 30th year, I had wanted to get in the saddle again and experience that adventure.

I was admittedly anxious when Diane and I met Margo from Double Mountain Horse Ranch in Cascade Locks, Oregon, during our Labor Day girl's weekend at Skamania Lodge. I had booked the ride for Darling Husband and I because he had never ridden a horse before. When he had to work and my mother-in-law lovingly agreed to join me, I knew this was how the trip was meant to turn out.

Diane had ridden horses in her youth and we both excitedly anticipated a relaxing trail ride to a waterfall on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Margo gets Shasta all ready to head back down the trail.

We parked my gray Ford Focus in a run-down neighborhood near the trailhead and met Margo who was working hard to get the horses tacked, watered and ready. It would be just the three of us for about a 2.5-hour ride.

My horse's name was Shasta. a light-colored, vanilla pink beauty who wanted to be the boss. This primadonna knew she was something and trailed far behind the group and wouldn't even cross the waterfall with the other horses.

Diane had a gorgeous horse named Tribe, who was dark brown and had a calm demeanor.

With waivers signed and our belongings stowed in saddle bags, I hopped up in Shasta's pink saddle, thinking that the stirrups were much higher than I remembered.

We made our way up the road to the Pacific Crest Trailhead.

The further we rode, the less I could hear the traffic from the highway. Heat radiated off of Shasta's body as she worked hard to get me up the hills. I patted her and talked to her, which I'm sure sounded ridiculous but I did believe she could hear me.

Clad in our coats and hats, Diane and I feared for rain and wind, but the weather got nicer and nicer as we rode farther and farther up the trail.

Margo is a character -- a flower girl, wild child with an artist's soul. She owns the ranch and cuts hair in the offseason. You never know what she'll say next and she was excited to meet us and learn about us.

We came upon a major crossing at the trail and suddenly dogs were everywhere. Hikers clearly think it's a great idea to walk their dogs off leash and a pit bull started snarling, barking and lunging at the horses. This is where panic set in. This was not the day I wanted the horse to bolt or throw me off.

Margo kept her cool and after a couple of minutes, we rode on leaving the hikers to deal with their dogs.

We had another less-than-relaxing moment when Shasta wouldn't cross the waterfall as Margo wanted her to. Margo had to jump off her horse to come rescue me and get Shasta and I to the rest of the group.

Then, Tribe wouldn't pose for a photo by the waterfall and that situation meant we were watching our feet to make sure Tribe didn't step on them and then I had to catch him when he bolted back to the rest of the group.

Phew.

The ride back to our starting point was much more uneventful and more enjoyable. Margo took us down one part of the trail where "Wild" was filmed. Then, we rode into a pretty meadow as the sun was coming out. It took a long time for the marine layer to burn off that day,

The ride was lengthy, about three hours, and I definitely felt like I was starting to get in the groove. And then, we were back. We got the horses some water and alfalfa.

Diane and I laughed about the crazier moments with the dogs and the waterfall all the way back to the lodge. We shared the story with friends we had met that weekend and once again when we were back home.

Verdict: Seeing the Pacific Crest Trail and a waterfall on horseback was a memorable, fun experience. Did it go exactly as planned? No. But it was a rush being back in the saddle. Riding such a powerful experience, trusting that Shasta and Margo would get us where I needed to go. It was a lesson in letting go of control and the scenery was just stunning.

Would we do it again? Heck yes!

Review: Maryhill Winery on the Columbia River Gorge

Maryhill Winery on the Columbia River Gorge has the most stunning views!

Driving one hour east of Skamania Lodge to Maryhill Winery on the Columbia River Gorge was hands down Diane's favorite thing we did all Labor Day Weekend.

Originally, when I was planning the trip for Darling Husband and I, we had planned to do the zip line that Saturday. With Darling Husband working all weekend and having fashioned the trip into the ultimate girls getaway with my mother-in-law Diane, we decided wine tasting would be much more relaxing.

Here's what we loved at Maryhill:

The wine
We had a significant wine flight at the tasting bar, including the 2015 RSV Albarino, 2015 Rose of Sangiovese, 2013 Reserve Grenache, 2013 Classic Sangiovese, 2013 RSV Rosso Granato, 2012 RSV Zinfandel, 2014 Viognier and the 2012 Moscato Di Canelli.

Diane and I after our tasting at Maryhill. The windows behind us in the photo also capitalize on the lovely location.

We worked our way tasting the driest to the sweetest wines and we had a couple of standouts.

I really enjoyed the Rose. I had been sipping Rose this summer, inspired by a piece in Wine Enthusiast magazine. The pink color is fun and a chilled bottle of refreshing rose on our back porch after work just always struck the right chord.

I took home a bottle of the Maryhill rose and Darling Husband and I enjoyed it on a sunny September evening.

The red I liked most was the Zinfandel. This was the sweetest of the red wines they offered in the tasting. It was bright, berry-filled and wouldn't scare off Darling Husband, who doesn't like a heavy, bold, smoky red.

These were the wines we tasted that day (and our notes).

I took home a bottle of the Zin as well and gifted it to my Uncle Larry who hosted Darling Husband and I in Walla Walla the next weekend.

We also had a taste of the Petite Syrah and Diane bought a bottle of that and we enjoyed a glass on the Maryhill patio and the rest back at the lodge.

Diane loved the Viognier and the Moscato.

My only gripe about the tasting experience was that it did get very crowded at the lunch hour and our tasting room associate didn't tell us much about the wine. I had to ask him where the grapes were from and I was still getting very short answers as he rushed off to fill other glasses.

I like to learn much more about the wines as I'm tasting and the experience left me with questions.

An interesting combination of grape vines and desert hills.

The location
WOW, Maryhill has a stunning view. Right on the Columbia River Gorge, the sun, desert hills, river and grape vines paint a beautiful landscape. When we left the lodge it was 60 degrees and cloudy. One hour east at Maryhill, it was 78 degrees and pure sun.

The tasting room had a gorgeous antique wood bar. The patio was our favorite, and overlooked the river and the concert venue. We sat for a little bit and had lunch and enjoyed the live guitar music floating through the breeze. It was windy, so make sure to wear your hair up!

After a quick lunch from the barbecue food truck on site, I challenged Diane to a game of Bocce Ball on the large courts. It was so fun and was a great stop for kids and had a grassy area for pets.

Verdict: The one-hour drive was on a winding road that was a little scary at times from Skamania to Marhyhill, but it was totally worth it. Marhyhill produces a lot of wine in Washington and comparing it to Chateau Ste. Michelle that Bunny and I visited in June, Maryhill was 10 times better. Maryhill is more relaxed, the location is stunning and it felt less touristy. Go for the wine and stay for the view!

I would go back again in a heartbeat!

Review: Girls Weekend at Skamania Lodge on the Columbia River Gorge

The gorgeous rainbow from our room at Skamania Lodge that greeted us upon our arrival.

My Labor Day Weekend at Skamania Lodge was all about gratitude.

Darling Husband was anticipating a tree cone bumper crop - the largest in 15 years - and we didn't know if he was going to be able to join me on this Labor Day Weekend adventure. We learned two days before the trip that he couldn't go, but he had already called his mom Diane and she was available to accompany me.

I thought throughout my entire trip how thankful I was to have Diane's company. I certainly would have gone on my own. But, having her by my side added in hours of conversation and was great for our relationship. It was great for our family.

Here is what we enjoyed on our long weekend.

Two Bordeaux Cherry Margaritas (one is for Diane) at the Cascade Dining Room.

The drive
Skamania Lodge is about 2.5 hours from the Olympia area. Going south at 3 p.m. the Friday of Labor Day Weekend, we didn't encounter any bad traffic. We hopped on I-205 near Vancouver and headed east. The drive was really pretty once we were off I-5 south. The trees were changing into fall colors and we had peeks of the Columbia River along the way. We did hit a little congestion outside of Chehalis coming home, but Waze re-routed us and it took us just an extra 20 minutes.

The lodge
The lodge felt very much like summer camp with modern touches. Built in 1993, the lodge is newer and doesn't have the historical feel of Lake Quinault Lodge, for example, but it was still lovely. The views that greet you in the great room wrap you in trees, tall grasses and views of the Columbia River.

Every morning, Diane and I woke up, padded down to the lobby in our PJs and sipped coffee in rocking chairs enjoying the view. That was my favorite part.

We could sit here and enjoy the view all day.

Outside there was a beautiful patio, rows of Adirondack chairs, a huge swath of grass lawn for hula hooping and throwing footballs and a gas fire pit that we enjoyed.

Our room
Our room was on the second floor with a river view of the amphitheater. This was perfect for wedding watching and there were actually seven weddings throughout the weekend. Diane and I poured a glass of wine and watched the wedding ceremonies, giving each other a play-by-play.

We had a king bed and a roll away (for me). The rooms were sold out so I couldn't swap for two queen beds at the last minute, but this was fine. The room's bathroom had a nice huge counter top for all of our toiletries and makeup. I also loved the mini fridge where we stashed green juice, cheese, leftovers and wine.

Shrimp and grits in the Cascade Dining Room. It was Diane's first time trying grits and she loved them.

The art in our room was beautiful - and the whole lodge had quite the collection. The room didn't feel as luxurious and modern as the lobby, but it was OK. It was mostly quiet. We heard our upstairs neighbors stomping around and the occasional guest in the hall.

The food
We ate dinner twice in the River Rock grill and once in the Cascade Dining Room. We preferred the casual atmosphere and food of the grill. The best cocktail on the menu was the Bordeaux Cherry Margarita. We also enjoyed wood-fired pizza, salmon chowder, garlic fries and spicy chicken wings at the grill. THOSE FRIES! In the dining room, we split shrimp and grits and the pork chop with broccolini.

We also had the champagne brunch in the dining room Sunday morning. WOW! That's a lot of food. A huge buffet set out with bottomless mimosas or champagne. We enjoyed waffles, frittata, sausage, bacon and all the classics. Diane even had a piece of pie. We did suffer from sticker shock. It cost us $84 for both of us. We're light eaters, so Darling Husband would have been better suited for the buffet. We thought we could skip it and do the $18 breakfast at the River Rock grill instead next time.

Live music greeted us after dinner on Saturday night.

Yoga
I booked Diane and I into the outdoor yoga class that is held on Sundays during the summer. We met at the amphitheater at 9 a.m. It was cool, so we were bundled in sweatshirts and wore socks. The teacher was wonderful, calming and gentle.

It was just $10 per person and we enjoyed being outside experiencing the dew in the grass and the sounds of the birds. Class was as challenging as you wanted it to be - especially when it came to the balance pose. After just an hour, we padded away looser, taller and relaxed.

The spa
Before we departed for home, we booked two spa appointments at the Waterleaf Spa on site. Diane had a hot stone massage and I had a purifying facial. The spa is right at the entrance to the indoor pool and kids walking through were noisy. Not quite as zen as I had experienced elsewhere.

And some after-dinner sitting too...

Diane had great reviews of her massage. She said some of the stones were a little too hot, but the overall experience was blissful. My esthetician did well at keeping me relaxed and addressing my issues. It was 80 minutes I certainly do not regret. :)

Verdict: If you love weddings and coffee on quiet mornings with gorgeous views, the lodge is for you. While owned by the same company, Skamania was not as much of a zoo as Suncadia was. There were a couple of kiddos, but mostly wedding guests focused on wedding activities.

It was a spendier trip, and we kept the costs down on food and spent more on experiences.It felt like a wonderful weekend away at a grown-up summer camp. It made me grateful for Diane and grateful to be transitioning from an amazing summer into a glorious, quiet fall season.

I couldn't get the cutest lodge photo of Diane and I off my phone. :( Don't worry. I have many more to share in coming posts about what else we did during this fun trip!

Dudes Weekend: What to do, where to eat in Bend, Oregon

We walked and biked all weekend in Bend, Oregon, along the Deschutes River Trail.

Darling Husband, his best friend Jamie and I road tripped down to Bend this summer for Bend Brewfest. We discovered that Bend is sunny and perfect for people like us who like to spend time outdoors.

Read below to find out why "moving to Bend" was a recurring discussion throughout this fun weekend.

The area
Bend is in the middle of the state of Oregon on the Deschutes River. We adventured there in August 2016 and the weather (for me) was perfect -- dry, hot, cloudless blue skies and a likeable mix of desert and green landscapes. The city was larger than I remembered from previous trips, though we spent most of our time downtown and in the Mill District.

We loved our VRBO rental on Hill Street. It was just a 10-minute walk to downtown.

Walkable and bikeable, we really enjoyed discovering by foot and electric bike. There are tons of long, winding paths throughout the city and along the river.

Where we stayed
We decided to save a bit of money. We knew hotel rooms would be expensive, so we booked a VRBO rental on Hill Street, just a 10-minute walk from downtown. For a long weekend, it was nice to have a living area where we could hang out, a kitchen to cook breakfast in (and a late-night popcorn snack) and it was still close to downtown.

The rental was a duplex, but we never heard the neighbors. It was updated and clean inside and had nice finishes. It was a two-bedroom, one bathroom rental, and I loved the original bathtub and bathroom floor tiles. In the morning, I enjoyed coffee and a book on the little deck out back. It was tiny so we definitely heard one another moving about, but a perfect amount of space for the three of us.

These electric bikes we rented were fantastic! I rode tandem on Darling Husband's bike and I didn't even have to pedal!

What we did
I was lucky enough to enjoy Bend with two gentlemen who love the outdoors. We adventured all over the city.

On Friday, we walked for about two hours in the morning, exploring downtown and historic Old Bend and making our way out to the Les Schwab Amphitheater where the Brewfest was held. Both days after our jaunt to the brewfest, we rented large orange tubes from Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe and floated the river. On hot, sunny days, the icy Deschutes was mellow bliss.

On Saturday, we rented bikes at Bend Electric Bikes on Hill Street right by our rental. We rode all over the Deschutes River Trail for about two hours.

We enjoyed this beautiful sunset on the river Friday night at the Crow's Feet Commons.

When the sun went down, we walked to downtown for dinner. Downtown was busy, but we were seated right away at both restaurants Friday and Saturday nights.

What we ate
We stopped at Safeway as soon as we arrived in Bend late Thursday night to pick up breakfast items, snacks and wine. We had lunch both days at the brewfest, taking advantage of the variety of trucks offering barbecue, Asian noodles, Greek, gourmet hot dogs and pizza.

For dinner downtown, the first night we had beers and pub fare at Brother Jon's Alehouse. We got to sit at the tables right outside the front door and enjoyed people (tourist) watching. Note: The Deschutes Brewery Bend Public House restaurant downtown was swamped. Leave yourself some extra time if it's on your Bend bucket list.

Lovin' that sun!

The second night, we enjoyed margaritas and Mexican food at Hola! We again ate outside and enjoyed the sunshine.

After dinner the first night, we walked over to the river to enjoy the sunset. We grabbed a beer at Crow's Feet Commons and sat on the front porch of this gorgeous old house and enjoyed the colors as the sun went down. It was a relaxed, casual atmosphere that we loved.

Verdict: Bend is perfect for people who live to be outdoors. We walked, biked, floated and ate our way through the weekend and we wouldn't have had it any other way.

On our electric bike ride, we discovered Farewell Bend Park. I knew we had to come back here for a photo before leaving town. The men humored me.