Does a road always need to be for getting from A to B?

Our first day of exploring today, and I thought it would be a nice scenic route to take The Historic Columbia River Highway... what an understatement. Considered as one of the greatest engineering feats of its age in the U.S. (constructed 1913 - 1922), this 70mile roadway lies just to the east of Portland, Oregon. It runs through the Columbia Gorge, looking down on the river from a height of 700ft in places, has countless bridges, tunnels, and bypasses 6 major waterfalls. 

So what does this wonderful road connect?", you might ask. "Troutdale to The Dalles" I would reply... And therein lies the gem of a story behind this National Historic Landmark. This was a project solely born from the love of the scenery, and a desire for it to be accessible for all to enjoy. The instigator of the piece, Sam Hill, had a vision that "We will cash in, year after year, on our crop of scenic beauty, without depleting it in any way". 

Enter Samuel Lancaster, Engineer, and 95 years later, what many deemed an impossible path, is called the King of Roads and is loved by many. Not only that, but the National Park Service made Lancaster's design standards the cornerstone of its "lying lightly on the land" philosophy for future National Park roads and trails.

So it seems Hill's vision was made real. And although it didn't provide a vital connection, or reduce travel time, it provided a legacy of design and enriched the lives of many. 

I'm afraid my photos don't do the route justice, so do please have a look online!