Riley's mind was set on one thing - going west. To help conquer a new and appealing land that few had before visited. He came from wealth, however that did not detour him, in fact that had no bearing on his leaving. So, with a little sack of clothing, 40.00, biscuit, and hardtack Riley set out on his adventure of a lifetime going west. Learning how to protect and feed himself in the wild was paramount. Insisting on love, family and honor he would discover what his life was all about.

Many in my family are from pioneer stock. They settled in Oklahoma, Texas and Oregon. I personally born in Astoria Oregon, soon moving to The Dalles Oregon, the end of the Oregon Trail. The Dalles on the Colombia River is down stream 13 miles from Celilo Falls where Native Americans fished for salmon for centuries. Until 1957 when at the completion of The Dalles dam flooded the entire system of the falls.

I was there to see it. With so much history beneath my feet, I knew I had to write about it and much more.