Tuesday, May 23, 2006

4:00 a.m.

Our room alarm clock, Becky's cell alarm and our wake up call all happened within seconds of each other. We repacked Becky's car and beat the rush over to the airport. We checked in with no problems and now there is a long line behind us. We hug and kiss Becky, thank her for doing all the driving, the planning, the snacks and she takes off for Montana and home.

Skies are clear and we leave on time and arrive back in Milwaukee on time. Troy picked us up and we were back in Watertown by 2:30 p.m. Mom left shortly after that for her drive back to Hortonville.

Now wash clothes, get ready for work the next day. Start getting pictures and postcards in order. Start dreaming (planning) our next trip. Seattle and the San Juan Islands in 2008!!

Monday, May 22, 2006

We were up and on our way by 9:00 a.m. Continental breakfast this morning was only a muffin or bagel and juice or coffee. Very uninspiring - we've been spoiled! We are driving east along the Columbia River - home. Our vacation is almost over. It is lightly raining off and on this morning. We have been blessed with such good weather for our trip that we aren't going to complain now.

We take a pit stop in Arlington - imagine our surprise when we realize it is exactly where we stopped when we were heading towards the coast. We stopped later for gas and again at a Wal Mart. We thought we might put the second 'bunch' of pictures on a CD here. There were too many people in line so we continued our drive.

We arrived in Spokane around 1:00 p.m. Becky drove thru to the other side where we found a Wal Mart. We dropped the pictures off and stopped at a nearby SubWay for lunch. It was raining gently but steadily now. Then it came down real hard while we were inside Wal Mart picking up the CD. We came out and it quit raining so Becky could take us to a park in downtown Spokane that she wanted us to see. I keep telling you - we were blessed with good weather.

This park was beautiful. You could smell all the roses, lilacs, dogwoods. It was right along the Spokane River. It had been the site of the 1974 World's Fair. Mom was not feeling well so she rested in the lobby of the Red Lion Inn (in the park) while Becky and I walked a little more.

We saw a great water fountain that in the summer the kids could run in and out of to cool off. A carosel that had been built in 1908 and was kept in great shape by being used inside a structure where they also sold souvenirs, T-shirts, ice cream and other snacks. Becky and I had a cone that I proceeded to have problems with - dropped part of it on the ground, got it on my face and dripping down my fingers. Luckily I missed my clothes and Becky didn't have the camera so she couldn't blackmail me. Now I remember why I don't do cones.

We went into Macy's across the street so we could use the restroom and clean up. Who am I kidding - Becky wanted to shop there too. We had no extra money along & didn't want to leave Mom abandoned too long so I pushed Becky along.

Back in the park I took this picture of Becky "running" with the statues in honor of Spokanes Bloomsday Run. They have a Gondola Ride that looked fun but again, no money. Finally got back to the Red Lion and picked Mom up and we headed back to the west side of town and Airport Ramada where we were staying for our 6:00 a.m. flight.

We checked in only to find out they messed up and gave us a single room. Becky went back and talked to the front desk. They were filled up - no other rooms. They "gave" us a rollaway bed. I would have slept on the floor - I was that tired. We found the cafe and ordered sandwiches for our room. We were all tired and wanted a quiet evening.

Sunday, May 21, 2006

We kind of slept in today. Mom and Becky were even up before me. We packed up and went down to a Continental Breakfast that was almost as nice as the ones at Overleaf - one memorable item was hot cinnamon rolls. After breakfast Becky and I left for a walk along the docks. It used to be mostly salmon canning factories but now are converted into apartments, hotels, small restaurants and little shops. (Picture on the left is a couple of shops.) The picture above is of one old factory now called Cannery Row Hotel (red building) with the trolley tracks that we were walking on.

We walked down to 12th Street where the Astoria Sunday Market is - it runs about 4-5 blocks and has about 200 vendors. People come from all over - by ferryboat, tour bus, cars, bikes and foot. We were told last weekend they had over 10,000 people attend. Becky found things she wanted to buy for Christmas gifts and we had no money along. So we had to walk back to the hotel (another mile walk). We packed the car, checked out and drove back down to 12th Street. We walked back through it so Mom could see things and Becky made her purchases.

Then we drove to the Columbia River Maritime Museum. We learned a lot about this valuable river. This is one of the most dangerous areas because of the force of the River meeting the strong currents of the ocean and many shifting sandbars. We learned that since 1792 approximately 2,000 vessels, including 200 large ships, have sunk at the Columbia River bar, and more than 700 people have lost their lives to the sea. They call this area "Graveyard of the Pacific."

We wanted to take a 45-minute trolley ride outside of the museum. We waited over a half hour only to find out that some IDIOT parked across the tracks farther down and they had to have the vehicle towed before the trolley could move. We decided not to wait, we wanted to get moving and it was starting to sprinkle. So by 1:30 we were on Hwy 30 heading towards Portland. We picked up Hwy 5 into Longview, WA and drove along the Washington side of the Columbia before coming back across another bridge into Portland. Now we picked up 84 to head east.

Once again we could see Mt. Hood in the distance. We took a side road off Hwy 84 to the Memaloose Overlook. Memaloose was a series of islands in the Columbia where the Indians laid their dead above ground, often in canoes. When dams were built they had to remove the remains because of flooding. Now only one island remains above water.

Next stop was on the Rowena Plateau where you could look down over Hwy 30 as it descends in what is referred to as Rowena's Loops. Maximum grade of any ascent/descent does not exceed 5% with decorative stonework along the loops.

It was somewhere along here that Mom told us we had to quit making her laugh - she had reached her quota! It was something about whenever we got in the car, Becky seemed to take off before Mom and I were buckled in (or doors shut) and everything would fly off the dashboard at me. So after we looked at whatever scenery we had gotten out to look at I would tell Mom - "Ok, hurry, get in the car before Becky does."

Anyway we laughed our way into The Dalles around 6:30 p.m. and checked back into the same Super 8. When we walked back into the motel the same guy was on duty. His comment was "Oh, look, the sisters are back!" I guess we've made a name for ourselves.

We went downtown and ate at a Chinese Restaurant for something different.

Saturday, May 20, 2006

I got up at 6:00 a.m. so I could wrap up in my blanket and sit on the balcony for the last time. This is such a relaxing place. Tuesday, our first morning here, I wanted to pray for one of my volunteers that was going to have surgery that day. After that, it didn't take any reminders to pray, just you, God, the ocean and daybreak. What a way to start a morning. I went in and showered around 6:30. Becky and Mom got up, had coffee and we all started packing.

We went down for our breakfast and then Becky and I left for our walk. This time we took the time to extend the walk out onto the beach for a long ways.We got back a little after 10:00 a.m. and checked out.

We started driving north on 101 again. Stopped again in Newport at a Farmer's Market. Becky bought strawberries, Mom bought kettle corn. Just north of Newport we stopped at the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. It's under wraps right now because it is being re-done. Good thing we bought postcards of that one.

This is the northern end of a volcano. On the south side of the head all three of us walked down many, many stairs to the shore to check out the tide pools. It was AWESOME! Again we found starfish, purple sea urchins, sea anemone. We had to take care not to step on any mussel beds. They had fantastic volunteers every place we went - very friendly, very informative. We saw lots of everything. On the large rocks we saw harbor seals and babies, commorants, murre birds (like penguins).

Next we stopped at Devils' Punchbowl State Park. So named because the ocean chewed away at this cave until the roof collapsed. It looks like a bowl when it fills up with surf churned water. At low tide you can walk down in it. We had a light lunch at Mo's Restaurant right there. We took the walkway past the Punchbowl to another overlook where we saw a beach full of surfers for the first time.

After awhile we left 101 and drove along the Three Capes Scenic Loop. Beautiful! As we turned onto this highway we realized we would be driving along with some sort of biking event. We soon left them behind and continued back onto 101 at Tillamook, Indian for Land of Many Waters. We stopped at Tillamook Cheese Factory which is huge - Huge factory, Huge headquarters & huge store. We decided not to wait in a long line for an icecream cone or cheese.

Small towns along 101 are quaint and picturesque. I took some pictures as we drove through Wheeler, OR. Finally we drove on a bridge across part of the Columbia River into Astoria, OR around 6:15 p.m. This is where the Lewis & Clark expedition ended and the Columbia dumps into the ocean. Took a picture of a very long, large bridge completely across the Columbia into the State of Washington. Got a room at the Holiday Express on the shore of the Columbia almost right under the big bridge. You couldn't hear any traffic from it because it is so high up.

This Holiday Express was very nice and we lucked out and got a room with a view of the harbor. There were ships coming and going nonstop. We ate at the Cafe Uniontown across the Parking lot from the hotel. Astoria is built into the side of the hill/mountain and you can see all the different layers of buildings. Becky and I went for a walk on the trolley tracks along side of the river. Then she and Mom headed for the hot tub which was the only thing that the Overleaf Lodge didn't have, yet. It's still about 60 deg. More beautiful, relaxing sunsets.

Friday, May 19, 2006

We slept in a little today because it was overcast. We went down to breakfast and then left for Newport again. It was lightly sprinkling. We went to Wal-Mart to have CD's made from my pictures. Then we went to an antique place and shopped for awhile. Becky bought all three of us socks with lighthouses on (no they were not antique socks). Drove back down to the Old Harbor District and took more pictures. We ate at Port Dock One again. We ate inside today because of the cooler weather 49-51 deg. Becky had clam chowder and Mom and I had Three Berry Cobbler - to die for - definitely not on program. I'm not sorry to say that I've corrupted my sister, she ordered one too.

I've learned two new things out here - "Beware of Sneaker Waves" - always face the water because you never know when one wave will suddenly sneak in a lot higher than the last ones and you're going to get very wet. The other one we saw as we drove along Hwy. 101 - "Entering Tsunami Hazard Area." Kind of makes you stop and think. In our motel room, along with the usual fire escape notices they have a Tsunami Warning posted, which basically said, "If you feel the ground move, leave the building immediately. Walk down the driveway and across the highway as far up as you can walk - do not take your car. If there is an earthquake in Alaska warnings will be given and you generally have a 4 hour window to move to a safer location."

We got back to the hotel around 4:00, listened to a book on tape that Becky brought along, played Cribbage (beat Mom soundly) and read. We went for a walk around 6:30. Mom walked part way and then sat down. Becky & I walked to our usual place. There were people out fishing tonight for the first time. We couldn't walk out on the beach because the tide was in. We figure that's why the fishermen were out at this time too.

We came back and found Mom had moved closer to the hotel. She saw a grey whale 3 times along the shore. She saw it blow and most of the body, it was so close. Becky & I looked farther down the coast and we finally saw the whale blow and a little of its' back several times. After that we always looked for a postcard of a grey whale since we couldn't get a picture of it, but no luck.

Our hotel has no gift shop but their 'sister' hotel next door, the Fireside, does. We walked over there and I bought Alex a T-shirt from there. Becky bought Mom a sand dollar, you can't find whole ones on the beach. We were sitting on the balcony with beer/wine & popcorn for the last time at Overleaf Lodge. Beautiful sunsets on the ocean.

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Got up at 6:15 a.m. and sat outside in my blanket. Waves aren't quite as big as yesterday. We all got cleaned up, dressed and down to breakfast. We didn't take time to walk this morning. It was already 9:00 a.m. by the time we drove north to Newport. Another beautiful day!

We stopped at Seal Rock State Park on 101. This is a place that seals sometimes gather with their babies. It's also a rookery for many birds. Today there are no seals, but lots of birds. Becky went down on the beach first to check out the tidal pools. This was something she had been planning on and I didn't know anything at all what to expect. She called me down and we found the coolest things - sea anenome's, starfish - got some great pictures. Then we went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium where we could touch all the things we had just seen. The sea anenome's tentacles, or whatever you call them, feel sticky. Some of the starfish are hard as a rock and some (I think the sun starfish) feel very squishy. The sea urchins feel like toothpicks and when you stick a finger in the side of them their spines would sort of "hug" you to see if you were good enough to eat.

We watched them feed the sea lions and the otters. They were so cute. We learned that they crack the clams for the otters here. When the otters lay on their back to crack clams they have to have stones to do that. When the otters have stones they end up breaking the glass windows around their swimming area. I'm pretty sure this one's name is Alex so I had to get his picture for my grandson. We ate lunch here and I bought Emerson a T-shirt (onesie) here.

Then we went to the old Harbor District in Newport. We walked around, going in different shops, looking at all the murals they had painted everywhere. We ate at Port Dock One right on the harbor on a deck looking over some big sea lions that just lay around and bark all day long. Apparently just the males hang around the harbor. The month of July they go to southern California where the girls are! Regular as a clock, on August 1st they are back in the harbor. The natives call them the "Deadbeat Dads." I had scullmunion, which is clam chowder with shrimp, for the first time. It was pretty good.

We drove over to the Aquina Bay Lighthouse and took some pictures. We came home around 6:30 p.m. and simply crashed. No walking, no decent supper - just tv, popcorn, cheese, crackers, beer and/or soda.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

I got up at 6:00 a.m. and wrapped up in a blanket to sit on the balcony. The water is rougher today - more waves and splash. We all were showered and dressed by 8:30 and went down to breakfast in the lobby. Today featured the same as yesterday AND blackberry tarts and asparagus-cheese quiche. We all went for a walk. Mom returned to the hotel and Becky and I went on. At the end of the walkway you could take sort of a stone path down to the beach. It was so nice to walk on soft, firm sand.

When we got back to the hotel we packed sandwiches again and left for Perpetua State Park. Their observation deck is across the highway from the ocean and 600 feet above sea level. Fantastic views! Very windy but still sunny enough to keep you warm. After the view at the observation deck we walked around to a "Rock Structure" that was built in 1934 at a high peak to look out at more ocean.

Then we went across the highway to the "Devil's Churn." Beautiful walkway down to the "Churn." Mom stopped halfway down - the pathway was quite steep. Then we had to climb back up.

We headed for home but stopped at a picnic table on Yachats Ocean Road to eat our lunch. This is where the Yachats River runs into the ocean. We were told this was a good place to watch for resident grey whales but it had to be cocktail time.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006


Mom and I were both up around 5:45 a.m. and sat on the balcony to watch the ocean light up! Took a shower, Dad called Mom and we were ready to start our day. The three of us went for a walk and then went in to eat a continental breakfast that offered - dry cereal, oatmeal, scones, eggs, 2 different fruit salads, waffles, 3-4 different juices, milk and coffee.

By 9:00 a.m. we were headed south on Hwy 101 to the Sea Lion Cave. We stopped at Heceta Head Lighthouse for pictures but it was closed then so couldn't get any close up shots. At the Sea Lion Cave we had to go down a long walk to see the Sea Lions outside. This time of the year they pretty much stay outside and not in the cave. This is the only mainland rookery, the rest of their 'homes' are on rocks off shore. One thing for sure, sea lions are noisy and smelly, even from a distance. Then we walked up the other way past the gift shop to take an elevator 208 feet down to the cave. While we were in there we read up on the Stellar Sea Lions and went to the other side of the cave where you could see Heceta Head Lighthouse through a large opening. We heard some commotion from the side where the actual cave is and went back over there. A bull seal and 4-5 cows swam in and started playing. It really echoes in there. Bought some postcards and a T-shirt for Jack.

Then we continued on down 101 to look for a place to eat. Thanks to Becky's provisions, we packed our own lunch today. We stopped at Sutton Recreation Area and took pictures of the dunes. We finally stopped at Jetty Park to eat our sandwiches and soda. It is set aside for dune buggies but all we saw were all terrain vehicles.

We stopped at a drugstore and I got more postcards and my own earplugs. Then I bought Becky a pair of Rhinestone Safety Glasses for her birthday. Every working girl that tears apart houses need rhinestone safety glasses. From here we went on to the Umpqua River Lighthouse where we learned all about the best oysters in the area, called Umpqua River Oysters - imagine that! Becky was dying to try some but we couldn't seem to find a store that sold any fresh. We headed for home and stopped at the Adobe Restaurant for an early bird supper.

We got back to the hotel and Becky and I went for another walk. We got home before 8:00 p.m. and watched NCIS before the sun set. Slept great - the earplugs worked!

Monday, May 15, 2006

Left The Dalles around 8:30-9:00 a.m. and continued west along the Columbia River on Hwy 84. We saw Mt. Hood in the distance. We took Old Historic Columbia Gorge Hwy and soon stopped at Horsetail Falls which was right along the road. We stopped and took pictures and asked someone to take one of the three of us.

We continued on to Multnomah Falls. You could see this falls from the road too but you had to walk in to really appreciate it. You could easily walk up to a certain point where you had an awesome view of the falls. It fell in two separate layers. Becky and I walked up to the next bridge to get a closer view of the top falls. Then we decided to try to walk to the top of the falls - very vertical with a lot of switchbacks. We think we made it halfway before we decided to come back down.

While Mom and I were in the restroom Becky heard them say they needed to rescue someone off the trail. We drove down to the next falls which was the Wahkeena Falls. On the way we met two emergency vehicles speeding by to Multnomah Falls. I'm glad we didn't continue our hike up the trail, that could have been us (mainly me) needing the assistance.

We then headed into Portland, OR to a bookstore that covered an entire block. (Becky had been there before.) Our directions were to take 84 west. It was blocked off - no direction to get around it. We drove around for awhile and finally stopped at a Shilo's for lunch. We asked directions to 84 west. We were told it was open from the other side. We drove over and found out it was closed from that side also and, again, no instructions. Becky talked about going back and hurting the person that told us it was open. We finally decided to just get out of town and head to Yachats and our motel.

Now we are driving along Scenic Highway 88. Beautiful scenery with lots of wineries and flowers. Stopped once for a pit stop and an icecream cone outside of McMinnville. There was an Aviator Museum that we thought Dan might like to see.

We stopped again when we first saw the ocean. We just had to get a picture of that first view and I don't even remember where we were exactly. There is something about water that is so awesome and inspiring. I remember when we first saw Horsetail Falls I felt like I was tripping and falling out of the car with my camera. It was like the falls was going to disappear if I didn't get the picture real fast. Same with that first ocean view!

We got into Yachats around 5:30 p.m. and checked into the Overleaf Lodge. Beautiful place! Right on the ocean! We had a balcony that looked over the ocean and 3 chairs to enjoy the view from! We went right out on the balcony for a wine and cheese "supper." After a sip or two I gave my glass to Becky and opened a diet Pepsi. I keep trying it but I just don't like the taste of wine. Becky then proceeded to "accidentally" knock her empty glass under the balcony railing. It only broke in two pieces but as we stood there giggling and looking down at it she knew she would have to go downstairs and around the building to pick it up. Then I went out for ice. I got all the way down to the lobby to ask where the ice machine was only to find out I should have turned the other way when I came out of our room because it was right there. Finally made it back to our room and made some microwave popcorn. Becky packed so many extra little things along and Mom and I appreciated every one of them.

Then Becky and I took a walk on the pathway in front of the hotel which leads down to the ocean. When we first started talking about this trip I said I wanted (needed) to get my feet wet in the Pacific Ocean. So we did just that. We took pictures of each other standing in the water. Becky ended up with wet pants because she had longer pants on than I did, because she stood out farther than I did and because one of those 'Sneaker Waves' that we were warned about got her. We walked the rest of the way and watched the sun set.

We started talking about this trip 2 years ago but finally got serious about it in January of 2006. Mom is retired, Becky can go in between houses that they buy, fix up and resell and I was getting my first vacation from a new job. We decided to go in May before the big tourist season started.

Sunday, May 14, 2006 - Mother's Day

Shannon, Troy and family took all of us out to eat last night for Mother's Day. Dad made sure Mom brought yellow rose corsages for all of us to wear (even one we were to take along for Becky the next day). We did make quite a hit with those flowers on the flight. Everyone noticed them and commented on them, one flight attendant even wished every mom on board a Happy Mother's Day on the intercom because of them. Dad did good!!!

It was raining as Howard drove us to the Milwaukee airport. We left on time and landed in Denver, CO. Then we boarded the next plane and had to sit on the runway because of a "fiber optic" problem. We were a half hour late leaving. We landed in Spokane, WA where Becky picked us up. Weather was beautiful.

We took Hwy 395 south towards Oregon, laughing and talking non-stop like we usually do when we're together. Becky told us she would stop anytime we needed to. Mom thought that was great and said there was a place coming up that would work fine. Becky just kept right on driving. - - So we had to start harassing her - why say you're going to stop if you really aren't going to. She apologized and said she didn't know Mom meant right now! Of course now there seems to be no other place to stop. Finally (as we've all got our legs crossed) we saw an exit for Ritzville and Becky did pull into that gas station. We were able to gas up and use the restroom. In Kennewick we picked up Hwy 82 into Oregon.

We drove west along the Columbia River. We stopped again in Arlington and took pictures of a park along the river. Becky even used the timer on her camera (I haven't figured mine out yet), set in on a garbage can and took one of the 3 of us that didn't turn out too bad. It is now lovingly referred to as the 'Garbage Can Photo.' We continued on to The Dalles, OR and got a room at a Super 8. We ate that night at a Cousin's Family Restaurant. Excellent food - with Becky and I both trying to follow Weight Watcher's we could encourage each other to make good choices. (Let's see how long this lasts.)

We got back to the room at 9:00 p.m. Becky brought earplugs along. Mom brought along those nasal breath right strips hoping to give everyone a break. I was sleeping with her and she kept her back to me all night and we all slept great!