Back in Portland, OR!

Jo and I made it to Portland last night around 7pm. What was supposed to be a 6 hr trip, ended up being almost 9 hours. We spent an hour at the US/Canadian border and then I-5 South in Washington State was backed up for 2 hours. The interstate was a parking lot. The only thing that kept us sane and from killing each other was the fact that we were going back to Portland.

Jo and I love this city. And to convince us even more, we had the most amazing dinner last night at a restaurant called VQ. Jo had a scallop plate (the scallops were the size of fists) and I had a Nicoise salad. I would've taken pictures, but it almost seemed insulting to photograph such beauty.

This morning, we're going to check out the Saturday markets, the Powell Bookstore, and then some local restaurants and breweries.

Tomorrow, onto Bend, OR for some camping.

Vancouver: The only thing wrong is all the Canadians.*

*We kid, we kid.

Some pics from Vancouver. Beautiful city. However, the traffic, over-priced amusements, bad coffee, (and did I mention mosquito bites?) wasn't what we were expecting.

Boat Houses


Downtown Vancouver


Mountains and Ocean surround the city


Can we go now?


Totem Poles


View from the Capilano Bridge


"Smile! You just paid $30 for this!"

USA! USA! USA!

We're going ROGUE*!

Here's our Vancouver experience:

$10 for Internet Access (at a 4-star hotel)
$15 hotel martini
$21 Nachos
$25 Breakfast (with crappy coffee) at a local bistro
$30 Capilano Bridge ticket (which was about $25 overpriced)
And lots of traffic and a crammed city vibe.

So, CHANGE IN PLANS. We're re-routing our trip and going back through Portland. ('Cause it's not only the journey, it's also the destination.)


Fri/Sat - Portland, OR
Sun - Bend, OR
Mon - Boise, ID
Tues - Green River, WY
Wed/Thurs - Denver, CO

*As I type, Jo and I are sipping down some Rogue Microbrews we got from Portland.

An Ode to Canada

Oh Canada!
Your traffic sucks for thee!
You make no signs
To keep us from freaking!

You are beautiful
But confusable
We need to figure out thee!

You have mountains
And Ocean
And parks for our doggies!

God help us out
Glorious this is
Please help us find the Capilano Bridge!

Please help us find the Capilannoooooo Bridge!

---------------------------------

We're in Vancouver staying at the Fairmont. Last night we took the dogs for a long walk in Stanley Park. Jo and I then crashed in the hotel's piano lounge to grab a quick bite to eat and a drink (it was stressful traffic) before bed. The nachos were $21. HA!

We're up and getting ready for breakfast now. We're going to check out the Capilano Bridge which is just outside the city.

Tomorrow, our plan is to go along the southern Canadian border (just north of Washington State) and camp somewhere near Grand Forks, Canada. Saturday, we head back into the USA and stay in Spokane. Can't believe we've hit the apex of our trip here! One more week of adventures on the road!

Not sure re: Internet/cell in Vancouver. Stay tuned.

Saw Orcas from Lime Kiln Point!

Our Day Kayaking with Killer Whales

Here's a quick summary of our day kayaking with the killer whales.

10:30 am - Get picked up in a van by a very hot tour guide. (We made the right decision to do this.)
11:30 am - Start to unpack our kayaks and equipment on a beach on the other side of the island. We see about 5 orcas whiz on by, going at about 10 knots.
12 noon - Get into the water to chase the orcas and meet up with them in their feeding grounds.
5:00pm - No Orcas
8:00pm - Have beers with hot tour guide.

Did I mention that our guide was hot? This is very important because it helped us get through the kayak tour. We never made it to the Orcas. It was very disappointing. The winds were up and it was quite choppy, despite the fact that Jo and I were totally cruisin' in the kayak. We were such a team. Clearly the best out of the other 10 people. There was one couple from Seattle that basically didn't know what the heck they were doing and we had to turn back for a while. I seriously wanted to use my Boston attitude and yell, "Did you NOT read the manual? You have to PADDLE! Get it together!" After 3 hours in the choppy waters, we did see a bald eagle and some seals, but alas, no Orcas. (Sigh.) We felt a little better to hear that the other tour groups who went past us (and who didn't have slackers in kayaks) didn't see Orcas, either. Basically, it was really bad luck. The chances of NOT seeing an orca were pretty slim. Grrr...

Jo and I made the best of it and re-ennacted scenes from Hawaii Five-O and Duran Duran Rio videos. WE WERE AWESOME. So awesome, we got the hot guide's phone number to meet us out later in the night...which he did. Yeah, we still got it. This ended up being a GREAT day!

We leave the island in a few hours and head to Vancouver. Before doing that, Jo and I are going to try one more time to see the Orcas. We're driving to Lime Kiln Point on the other side of the island. Dan (hot guide's name) told us he'd let us know when he sees the Orcas come by, so we can catch a glimpse.

One other success: upon landing back on shore, we observed the very rare Land Orca. Notice it's distinct black and white markings and passive nature. It has easily adapted to it's surroundings.

We look good, even on land.


Setting off!


Jo, Dan, Me


The aloof Land Orca

Big plus...our guide is HOT!

Kayaks and killer whales today. We're gonna need a bigger boat..

Owner of Argyle House is from West Roxbury,MA. Small World!

Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands (Pre-kayaks and killerwhales)

Took the hour ferry ride to Friday Harbor today. Have our own cottage at the Argyle House Inn. Super cute! Here are some pics from today.

Suneow took a dip in the harbor


Boats moored up in Friday Harbor


View from the ferry


Mt. Baker

On the ferry to Friday Harbor!

Mount Vernon, WA. Where the sun is still up at 9:15pm.

We have made our next stop at the Best Western Cottontree in Mount Vernon, Washington. This is just a quick overnight/crash pad for us. Tomorrow morning, we catch the ferry out of Anacortes, WA and go to Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands. We'll be spending 2 nights at the Argyle Inn. We'll also be doing something pretty significant on Tuesday involving kayaks and killer whales. (But that's for another post...)

It was hard to leave Oregon. Such a beautiful state. Portland was a great place to end our Oregon tour as well. I hope to get back there at some point, and maybe even visit other parts, including Bend. But, we still have so much to look forward to. Looking on the map, it's hard to believe Jo and I have been on the road for 10 days and have covered so much. By the way, if you've every spent 6-7 hrs/day on the road with someone for a long period of time, you soon realize that you can solve all the world's problems. Healthcare? Done. Education? Done. Prison Over-crowding? Done. Car Accidents? Done.

UPDATE: Nobody was injured in the car accident we witnessed, though Jo went into full doctor-mode and rushed to the scene. This is good since Jo packed the first-aid kit under 2 boxes of wine and beer and it would've been an embarassing delay. Jo did provide emotional support to the driver and his family who caused the accident. They were quite scared and shaken up, and didn't know what to do. The cops arrived and we were on our way.

Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

Saw Columbia River Gorge and witnessed a car accident.

Portland, My Love

Jo and I settled into Portland last night and made it in time to join the Beerfest. When I say we made it in time, I mean we ran across several streets to get to the gate at 7:59pm. They stopped letting in people at 8:00pm. The Oregon Beerfest was outside, under several tents, next to the Willamette River. By the way, we were schooled that you pronounce that river: Wil-LAM-ette, not Willam-ette. Anyway, we bought our plastic mug and tokens to get our taste of some local breweries. In an hour (they stopped serving at 9pm), Jo and I managed to get down 2 pints each, including an Organic Acai Pale Ale and a darker brew called Destination. They were very yummy and with 6-7% alcohol content, got us loving Portland a little bit more.

This morning, we ate at a yummy bistro and then took a walk to the local park to check ou the "scenery" (ahem).

Portland is a mix of Providence, RI and Cambridge, MA. The vibe, the sites, the urban professionals...we're already conspiring how to get back here again. And for good measure, I've noticed real estate is cheaper than back east. Hmmm...

"Operation Beerfest" a success.

Sea Lions, Sea Otters, and Cheeeeeessssse

Busy day today. Jo and I left Florence around 11:00am. We took Route 101 North and stopped at the Sea Lion Caves, The Oregon Coast Aquarium, and the Tillamook Cheese Factory. We landed in Seaside, OR.

The Sea Lion Caves brought us down 20 stories into a cavern exhibit. Pretty cool, except it stunk to high-heaven; but I suppose that's to be expected when you can look through a fence and see 200 seals hanging out in their natural habitat.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium has a nice set-up. It had both outside and inside exhibits. Being from Boston, I have to admit, the New England Aquarium is much better - more exhibits and more informational. However, there's one thing that the New England Aquarium doesn't have that the Oregon Coast Aquarium has...SEA OTTERS!!!! These guys were so freakin' cute!

Our final destination was the Tillamook Cheese Factory. We knew we were within close range because of the smell of manure, which lasted for about 10 miles. When we finally got there, Jo and I bypassed the tour and went straight for the cheese samples and cheese store. $30 dollars later, we now have several blocks of Special Cheddar Reserve, Habenero Cheddar and Garlic Chili Cheddar. We had lunch at the cafe and unfortunately didn't have enough room in our tummies for the icecream. (We'll make up for it with the blocks of cheese in our backpacks.)

Finally, we ditched our camping plans for tonight. First, we realized there weren't any overnight camping sites near us. Second, we're too tired to deal with the tent and the chill in the air to put in any more effort in looking for a site. I'm justifying it on here because I'm feelin' a little Catholic/Italian guilt here for not stepping up in effort in finding a campsite. But seeing that Jo is ok with this as well, I feel a bit better. Plus, a warm place to stay with blocks of cheese and bottles of wine leftover from Sonoma....see, I'm still justifying. I'll get over it with another glass of wine.

We parked ourselves at the Seaside Inn in Seaside, OR. It's right on the beach - perfect for Mojo and Suneow to take a long walk.

Tomorrow, it's on to PORTLAND!!! Jo and I will be spending 2 nights there. Our first stop is the annual Oregon Beerfest. Drink up!

We just bought $30 worth of cheese at Tillamook Cheese Factory.

Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire...

Jo and I are "home" at the Park Motel in Florence, OR. The owners have a son that lives in Pembroke, MA. For motels, this is pretty snazzy. We have adjoining bedrooms with a microwave, fridge, and bathroom. The walls are knotted pine with scenic pictures on the walls, as well as "The Footprints of God". We also have the heat cranked to 70. I looked on the calendar. It's still July, even in Oregon.

Honestly, Jo and I had had our fill of Northern California. We both loved the Redwoods. They're massive and quite frankly, the pics don't do them justice. On our way to Oregon today, we visited Lady Bird Johnson's Redwood Grove. In addition, we checked out Trinidad and Crescent Beaches again. Both are stunning with their rocky cliffs and crashing waves.

But the town of Arcata, CA got to be a bit depressing. A person can only handle so much chill, cloud cover, and pot smoke. Incidentally here's a typical conversation: "Oh, look Jo...a glassblowing store." As we walk by, "Tara, apparently glassblowing is another name for pot-pipe store." We then went to an "Italian" restaurant. There's a reason why Italian is in quotes. But, we both really liked the Aracata Hotel. I felt like I was staying at the same hotel that was featured in 3:10 to Yuma. Lots of red carpeting and copper bathroom fixtures. Comfy beds, too! Regardless of the strange and dark experiences in Arcata, Jo and I realized it's just part of our journey and makes a good story and an interesting memory.

Oregon has a different vibe: positive and lively. Tomorrow we head north to see the aquarium, seals, and cheese in Tilamook. We're also researching possible campsites.

Here are a few more pics from Northern California.

It's 9:00. Jo and I and the dogs are wiped and going to bed.

Jo and I are having our first Oregon microbrew. Yum!

Made it to Oregon and there's sun!

Mojo and Suneow

Enjoying the ride!

So, um...let's book a hotel tonight.

After driving through the Redwoods yesterday, Jo and I set-up camp at Clam's Beach, just north of Aracata, CA. It was very crisp and chilly (55-60 degrees), but we were thrilled to have made it to our next destination. We set up camp in a small, protected dune of sand with a few other campers. It was so cool to sleep on a beach and hear the ocean's waves continue rolling in. It was great until about 4am, when we woke up to "Tobeeyyy! Tobeeeeeeey!!!! Dude, where are ya?!" and then at 5am, "Yo...heh, heh, dude, like when I was drunk that one time and hitch-hiked, and, heh..." To make the image even clearer: picture a man with dreadlocks and a nose ring (no, not Lenny Kravitz) who wears flannels and hasn't showered in 3 weeks. One of these legends actually passed out on the sand with the tent flat on top of him. He didn't even have the energy to unfold it and put it together. Who needs a tent, right?

Needless to say, it was a sign for Jo and I that we're better off in a hotel tonight. Besides, most of our gear got pretty damp and sandy. We need to recharge and pat ourselves on the back for surviving last night. We're staying at the Aracata Hotel and will explore some of the local eateries. We head up to Oregon tomorrow.

Below are some pics from Clam Beach (place of camping) and Trinidad State Park (where we hiked after breaking down camp).

THE REDWOODS

On our way north yesterday, Jo and I took a 30 mile detour through the Avenue of the Giants. There's not much to say about these guys. They're magical and mystical. It truly felt like another world, yet amazing that it's our own. Go hug a tree, people!
PS I'm the little spec at the bottom right of the first pic.

More of Sonoma: Good Wine, Good Food, Good Friends

Bella Vineyards

Fontina Grilled Cheese with Rabi


Me, Joanna, and Leah (Go SU!)

Staying at Hotel Arcada tonight!

Great night camping on beach until we woke up with transients next to us.

Sonoma County, CA

Now, this is what Joanna and I have been looking forward to! It was great not having to travel and drive 6-7 hours to another destination. Jo and I slept late and had our complimentary continental breakfast. The breakfast was below-par, but we got some good coffee across the street. We then took off for the Preston and Bella Vineyards. The scenery was breathtakingly gorgeous. And let's just say, there's no better way to enjoy a wine than at it's origin. I gotta tell ya though, they really suck you in with $5 tasting fees. After 5 different wine tastes, you're ready to buy 6 cases. Fortunately, I only broke down once and bought 1 bottle of Sauvignon Blanc (Preston Vineyards). Jo, on the other hand, bought a jug of red wine at Preston Vineyards and then joined some "wine club" at Seghesio Vineyards. But really, is that a bad thing? Of course not!

Preston Vineyards was on a small farm. There were olive trees, chickens, and 5 cats that roamed the gardens. (Yes, I took a picture of one of the cats.) Bella Vineyards had a more social atmosphere, with a guitarist and a part to hula-hoop. (Yes, there were hula-hoops.) The wine tasting at Bella Vineyards was in a cave. Super cool, literally and figuratively.

Around noon-time, Leah met us as well. We had a great time catching up over lunch and then touring a few more vineyards together. Right now, Leah and Jo are doing some yoga by the pool. We plan on regrouping and having a nice dinner tonight.

Tomorrow, Jo and I pack up and head to Aracata, CA. We'll be camping for 2 nights there and then 2 nights on the Oregon Coast. I'm not sure how much WIFI we're going to have between now and then, so stay tuned. We're in Portland, OR Thurs or Friday.

PS
Special shout out to Mojo and Suneow. They have been unbelieveablely patient and all around fun so far for this trip. They clearly love, love, love Joanna, but it feels good to see they recognize me and love to receive my attention too...even if I have about 12 different kinds of wine in me. (They were TASTES, not glasses!)

Some Pics to Share, Days 2 and 3

Yosemite National Park


Mona Lake, CA




Death Valley

It's Not Just the Destination, But the Journey In Getting There

Well, we made it to Healdsburg, CA. This is where we'll be doing our vineyard and wine tasting tours. Our friend, Leah, is meeting with us tomorrow.

Here's a quick summary of the last 2 days:
My first official night of camping was a success! The rain had stopped and most of the ground had dried. Most importantly, I was warm and cozy in our tent. Slept through the night without the worry of a car alarm going off, or an an airplane overhead. I did manage to tangle myself in my own sleepingbag. Don't know how I managed that one.

One interesting fact. The whole campsite was surrounded by sage. The scent was amazing, but very pungent.


After our hike around Mona Lake, I took a look in the mirror. My eyes were puffy and purple. They didn't itch, but they clearly didn't look their finest. For a better idea, this is what I saw:


Apparently, I'm allergic to sage. Who knew? The good news, I'm travelling with a doctor who gave me some Benedryl and the swelling has subsided.

Anyway, when we woke up this morning, we looked on our map to get to Healdsburg, CA from June Lake, CA. There were several ways, but Joanna highly recommended going through Yosemite National Park. At first I was hesitant, because we took a 2 hour detour through Death Valley yesterday. I was reliving the 112 degrees of Hell. But, I was reminded that "Tara, it's not just the destination, it's the journey in getting there." Okay, okay, she's right. I'm in no bit of a rush, but I was also looking forward to seeing the Napa Region and also didn't know how much time I felt like being in the car. Well, I wasn't disappointed. Yosemite was gorgeous and breath-taking. It was worth the trip. Joanna 1, Tara 0. (I'll get her back.)
We also stopped and met Mr. and Mrs. Estes for lunch. Jo and I supplied the food. We went a bit overboard at Trader Joe's the other day, oops! It was great seeing them in their new digs and stretching out our legs.

So, it's 7:00pm in California. Jo is taking the dogs for a walk and I'm going to upload some pics for the 2 of you reading this (hahaha). Later tonight, we're going to regroup and hopefully enjoy some good wine and cheese.
Night!

Survived our first night of camping and loved it!

Is That Thunder?

We made it to June Lake, CA. We're right outside of Yosemite. Took us about 7 hours. We went from 112 degrees in Death Valley (stick your head in the oven for a good feel) to 62 degrees near the lake.

As we rolled into our campsite...THUNDER! Jo gave me a quick tutorial how to set-up her tent. I was quite proud of myself (while cursing Mother Nature under my breath). It started to pour shortly later. Jo and I left the tent (she assured me it's waterproof) to go for a ride and came across this lovely coffee shop with Internet access. SCORE! As I type, the young man with a trucker's hat is giving Jo and I the history of June Lake and the varying water temperatures of the lake. I'm listening to him, sort of, yep, gotcha, uh-huh, cool...But for $5/hr for Internet, it's worth it!

So, as I finish typing, the thunderstorm is over. It SHOULD be the only rain for tonight. I hope, I hope, I hope. Tomorrow, we're up and out and heading to Napa...another 6-7 hrs away. Our college friend, Leah, is going to meet us Sunday at the hotel. Can't wait!

Let's Try This Again...

Since my last blog via text went hay-wire...

It was 110 degrees last night in Vegas. A nice DRY heat to give you the dry heaves. This was at 11pm. I was greeted by a smiling Suneow and a lick on my shoulder from Mojo. Good Doggies! Jo and I are both very excited.

We stayed at the Super 8; great view of the Bellagio and a used car lot. If you've ever watched CSI, you've seen it. Alas, we survived. Got 5 hrs of sleep.

We're packing up, stopping at Trader Joe's and heading north onto 95, thru Death Valley, and up to Yosemite. Total driving time: 6 hrs.

Happy Trails!

I'm Gonna Miss Ya, Little Guy!

I know a lot of my friends won't be surprised by this, but I'm really going to miss my cat! (I only have one, not 15, so I don't think I'm a Crazy Cat Lady, yet.) I'm thankful that he's in good hands. (Thanks Jill, Carlos, Joseph, and of course, Ozzie.) Forbes, behave...and don't forget about me. Love, Mom

2 Days To Go!

Here's our updated itinerary:

7/15 - Vegas, overnight hotel stay
7/16 - Yosemite, camping
7/17, 7/18 - Napa/Somona, hotel stay, wine, cheese, wine, cheese, repeat.
7/19, 7/20 - Northern California, camping, big trees
7/21, 7/22 - Oregon Coast, camping, Goonies!
7/23, 7/24 - Portland, hotel stay, lots of microbrews to taste
7/25 - ?
7/26, 7/27 - San Juan Islands, hotel stay, kayaking with killerwhales...bring it.
7/28, 7/29 - Vancouver, hotel stay
7/29-8/6 - TBD, but route includes WA, MT, WY
8/6 - I fly out of Denver to Boston. Joanna and the 2 doggies drive back to Pagosa Springs, CO.

Just registered my phone to post on-the-go.