of aluminum smelting, lumber mills and cattle ranching to "intellectual capital."  Much of it still a mystery. 

The cyclist was also telling me that Hood River has a lot of folks with advanced degrees.  On the surface, it seems like just a small town, but wind surfing, mountains, sunshine and Portland not too far away has attracted some of what people call "the best and the brightest."   Of course, I don't mean to say cattle doesn't take brains.

America is changing, even out here in the hinterlands.