Ft. Vancouver and the Apples

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Right across the Columbia River--which is about 5 miles north of where we rest our heads--sits Fort Vancouver. It was established in 1825, basically as a post to trade goods for furs. The European market coveted the soft underhair of beaver fur, which made the finest durable men's hats. So popular were these hats by the early seventeenth century, they became family heirlooms passed intergenerationally. We visited Ft. Vancouver on a candlelight tour while they were reenacting life in 1846. The characters acted their parts, and we were like ghosts in their time, seeing the wonderful life such fortunate people had living at the Fort.

Earlier in the day we visited Sauvie island and enjoyed the apple harvest.