A collaboration. By Steven Kramer, and Thomas Overlund
Thomas:
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| Mt. Hood as seen from Mountain View Orchard, near Parkdale, OR.
-T. Overlund, Photo
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On a wayward afternoon in the Autumn of Oregon I was asked by a friend to go on a trip to Hood River. I had not traveled for recreation for some time and it seemed like just the experience I needed to bring some relief to a repetitive work week. So I accepted the offer and took a risk. This risk led to one of the best days I had that fall. The trip was a genuine experience of personal growth, a journey that brought about a sense of accomplishment, adventure and enjoyable obstacles.
When we started our journey I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I didn’t show it, but secretly I was thrilled. What transpired next was a combination of frustration and child like joy. We stopped at Apple stores, Lavender farms, Saturday markets and a good ol' small town lunch. Steven and I were exploring the world we were placed into.
How we ended up at Mt View Orchards only God knows as the journey was full of uncertainty. Some choices could be considered wise but many were far from and that was the fun of it. I found the path to the orchard could be juxtaposed to our struggle as humans to find the goodness of God. His true spirit leads us to think about the bigger picture world and less about our survival.
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| A collection of vintage license plates found out- side the Apple Valley Country Store.
T. Overlund, Photo
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The Orchards lead a nineties kid to see what a world of farmers and the rural community they live in value. Who are these people and how do they see this world? In a generation more and more influenced by the internet and its grasp on us, the influence of a small town of farmers and small businesses can lead to a shift in our thinking, a place in our minds that seemed lost to the abyss. It is inspiring to find a connection between urban and rural communities. We feel so far apart but as I jumped into the scene of farm or small town store I see the connection. I could see myself in the shoes of these people if I was just born in a different location with a family with a different name. When I can see or feel a connection with someone else it allows me to respect them more, want to get to know them more. The more people we allow ourselves to do this with, the greater our connection to the holy spirit.
Steven:
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| A 2016 aerial photo of the Hood River Valley around Dee, OR.a few miles north of our adventure.
S. Kramer, Photo
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Each October for many years, my parents and I have spent a day in the Hood River Valley, visiting what is called the “Fruit Loop”, a tour of local orchards, farms, country stores and the like. With my parents out of town, and apple season upon us, I decided to make the trip again, but not alone. I grabbed a friend from church on a spur of the moment invitation, fueled up the truck and then we headed East.
Having Thomas along changed everything. It felt different traveling with a peer, and we discussed everything from music to our shared faith as the cliffs and forests of the Columbia Gorge rolled by outside. Together, we made the trip our own: some places we went I had been every year, others were new for both of us.
In Hood River, we broke from tradition and had lunch at a pancake house, after which I took him to a favorite stop of my parents. The Apple Valley Country Store is a quaint little place on the banks of the Hood River, with a bakery and free jam samples. But gone was the clever gag about the crate full of “baby rattlers” (baby toys, not snakes) and they were sold out of their famous pear dumplings I had been eager to share. Disappointed as I was, I enjoyed seeing the shop again, and we left with some photos of antiques, and jam. Looking at the map, we decided to stop at a Lavender farm I had never been to. It was underwhelming: small, and lacking in the way of Lavender.
I was enjoying our new destinations, but there was one place I was determined to revisit: Mountain View Orchards. My family stopped there every year. I knew the landmarks to look for, and I decided to try finding it from memory alone. Our stop at the lavender farm had turned me around though, and while I had been here before, I had never done this excursion in the driver’s seat.
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| A hand-painted sign at Mountain-View Orchards. While the sign would have normally been inviting, it felt like mockery after our 30-minute quest to find it. -S. Kramer, Photo |
We found Oregon 35 easily enough and headed East, getting off near Parkdale. Without using my GPS, I quickly proved just how disoriented my memory was, and our basic tourist map did us little good. We passed what I thought were familiar landmarks which I attempted to use to navigate, and the countryside was peppered with signs for the farm itself, but these proved difficult to follow. I don’t recall our exact route, but we must have circled the Parkdale area at least three times, with signs dropping a few cryptic hints. Lost and frustrated, Thomas cracked a joke to lighten the mood. I expected myself to lash out in embarrassment, as I normally do, but to my surprise, my face broke out in a smile. In the end, we somehow managed to decipher the signs, and ended up in front of the store, an hour before it closed. So late in the season, it was quieter than I was used to, and the day was long. We bought some apples and pears, marveled at the old farm equipment and a pear somehow stuffed in wine bottle, then headed home, using GPS this time.
From start to finish, this trip was different than the ones before it. I was both a tour guide, and a traveling companion. And what is normally a run to grab apples for applesauce instead became more than that. It was a time of fellowship among friends. -KP
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| Thomas posing with Mt. Hood at the Mountain-View Orchard. |
