Our first stop was in Cascade Locks, where locks once operated to enable Oregon Trail pioneers to bypass the rapids there. Charlie had a good time exploring everywhere -- around the locks, on Thunder Island, through the Marine Park... you name it and Charlie sniffed it.
Then on to Horsethief Lake, a little oasis of a park carved out of the eastern Washington desert along the Columbia River. Charlie's favorite part was the shady grassy lawns and wandering by the lake; mine was the petroglyphs. And we both appreciated not seeing any of the rattlesnakes we'd heard about.
The last, and the best, stop was at Maryhill State Park, where Charlie learned to his surprise that perhaps he is a water dog after all. He wasn't ready to actually swim yet, but he had a blast wading in up to his stomach.
He had such a good time that he wanted to be outside all the time -- the only way I got him in a couple of times was my superior strength. And a couple of treats.
