Monday, September 16, 2013...

 

Up at 7:30 AM ready for a breakfast of coffee and cereal...and Gatorade (to clean out the fridge).  We were ready to leave for the airport by 9:25 AM, saying farewell to Janis & John as we all headed out the condo for the last time.  We arrived at the Alamo Rental Car return, by 10:00 AM and were taken by shuttle to the United Terminal by 10:05 AM.  Our luggage was handled at the curbside very quickly...we were given our luggage receipts and boarding passes...then headed to security.  Passing through security easily, we headed down to our gate and located a local brew house restaurant to get an early lunch.  It took awhile to get someone to wait on us, but eventually we were served our burgers, fries and Diet Coke. 

 

We were soon called to board the United Airlines jet departing for Houston, Texas.   It was a newer jet, with individual TVs with Direct TV options.  I looked at several options on the TV, then after take off I charged the $7.95 to watch The Internship with Owen Wilson & Vince Vaughn.  It was an okay movie, then I switched to the news and learned more about the horrible flooding in Colorado and the Navy Yard shootings in Washington.  I guess this was my way of getting back to reality after 22 amazing days of vacation.

 

After arriving in Houston, we had a very long walk to the next gate for our flight to Cincinnati.  We only had 55 minutes to make it, but we pushed on and made it in time for boarding.  We still had more walking to do, as we went down an escalator to a hallway leading to our gate.  Our boarding passes were checked, and then we walked out onto the hot tarmac and up the steps to the small United Express jet.  There were only 3 seats across...Sharon & Pat sat together, while I sat solo.  The flight home seemed very short...and sweet.   We deplaned at 10:15 PM to a nearly empty Cincinnati Airport and headed to the baggage claim.  I watched as our suitcases popped up and then came to us on the conveyor belt.  I called my sister, Joan, who was waiting at the cell phone lot, to come pick me up.  Pat, Sharon & I walked out the door...hugged and said that we had really enjoyed our amazing journey...Alaska, Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland.  Great friends making great memories!

 

 

Denali...Alaska Land

 

Alaska...Cruise

 

Vancouver, BC waterfront

 

Space Needle, Seattle, Washington

 

Sharon Rose...in the International Rose Garden,
Portland, Oregon

Sunday, September 15, 2013...

 

Logs stacked at an Oregon Lumberyard on
our drive to Astoria

We all got up early today, including Janis, as we got ready to travel to the Oregon coastline at Astoria, Oregon.  We filled up the car with gas, and made a brief pit stop before driving on into Astoria.  It was a foggy & rainy typical Northwest Coastline kind of day.  We stopped at the Marine Museum and watched as a Coast Guard ship pulled into dock.  We spent some time in the dry atmosphere of the museum's gift shop, picking up a few postcards, and took a look at the Columbia Light Boat, that was docked there for tours.  I learned that the mouth of the Columbia River was so rough and had no land suitable for a lighthouse to be built, so a lightboat was required.  The Columbia Lightboat was anchored in the center of the mouth of the river, to help guide ships through the area into the dangerous harbor. 

 

Our first sight of the Astoria Bridge

 

 

Historic Columbia Lightboat

Steamboat docked in Astoria

US Coast Guard ship at Astoria dock

National Geographic Ship at the Astoria dock

Next we found a restaurant, the Blue Scorcher Bakery, for lunch.  The restaurant is employee owned, and featured locally grown products.  I ordered a delicious French toast with organic blackberries and wonderful coffee.  After lunch we drove up the hill to the Astoria Tower.  We headed into the visitor center first, picking up a brochure telling all about the Astoria Tower landmark.  Dedicated in July 1926, it was constructed by Ralph Budd, president of the Great Northern Railroad, for a cost of nearly $28,000.  Atop the 600 foot tall Coxcomb Hill, the concrete column rises another 125 feet with paint and plaster carvings of 22 significant events that occurred in the Northwest.  The events depicted include imagery from 1792 with the arrival of Capt. Gray & his ship Columbia...through Lewis & Clark's exploration in 1804...to the arrival of the railroad in the 1880's.

A great place for breakfast or lunch

My yummy French toast with blackberries

 



The Astoria Bridge from Coxcomb Hill

 

 

 

 

 

Astoria nestled on the hillside at the foot of the
bridge crossing the Columbia to Washington State

Marker to honor Lewis & Clark's Expedition

 

Lewis exclaimed these famous words, upon arriving at the
this hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the mouth of the
Columbia River

 

 

The Astoria Tower

The to of the Astoria Tower, where there is a platform
after climbing164 steps to enjoy the view

 

One of the sections of the Astoria tower

 

We headed out of Astoria and headed south on Hwy 101 to Seaside, Oregon.  We stopped at a unique candy shop and found Salt Water Taffy and some other treats.  Next door was a Tillamook (local dairy) Ice Cream Shop, where I enjoyed a dip of espresso chocolate chip ice cream cone.  We climbed back in the car, drove around to the beach and dock area on the Pacific Ocean, then headed east across Hwy 26 back to Portland. 

 

John, Sharon, Janis, and Pat enjoying our lunch
together in Astoria, Oregon

Arriving back at the condo about 5:30 PM, we learned that Megan & Rick were on their way over for a brief visit.  They soon arrived and we chatted about the weekend, their wedding and their plans to head out tomorrow for a mini-honeymoon at a resort area just south of Seaside, OR.  You could tell that Megan was really worn out from all the events of the past week....but it was great to see them before we all headed home the next day.  The rest of our evening included getting everything packed up and ready to roll out for our trip to the airport in the morning.

 

 

Saturday, September 14, 2013...

 

We had a very relaxing, lazy morning as we awaited time to get ready for Megan & Rick's wedding in Mount Tabor Park.  All of a sudden it was 1:30 PM and time to quickly get ready for a trip to the wedding site.  We arrived at the lower parking lot where Sharon met the shuttle driver to be taken the mile up the hill to where the wedding ceremony would take place.  Pat & I walked up the 1/2 mile hill and met Sharon under the beautiful tall trees.  The view was amazing at the top of this extinct volcano.  The wedding was to be performed in front of maple trees with 4 distinct trunks forming a beautiful canopy for the bride and groom. 

 

Beautiful tall trees on top of Mount Tabor

 

The view from the top of Mount Tabor

The guests spread blankets on the ground as the officiant, a close friend of the couple, stepped up between the tree trunks.  Rick then stepped to the front, and waited as Megan's Dad, John Savage, walked the beautiful bride up the grassy aisle to a guitarist/vocalist performing the Rolling Stone's, "Wild Horses."  The officiant displayed Rick & Megan's rings, and then passed around in a small jar to be blessed by the "community" while poems, written by friends were recited for Rick & Megan.  Megan also shared words from the beautiful album created for her wedding day by her Grandpa Frank Savage..."Wishing you the same married life that we enjoyed."  Rick and Megan then exchanged vows that had been written by Megan while they placed their rings on each other.  Rick kissed his bride and the unique mountain top wedding was over.

 

The four-trunk maple tree, site of the wedding ceremony

Rick, ushers, Megan's Mom, Alice to her seat

Father of the Bride, John, walks Megan up the grassy aisle

 

Megan & Rick share their wedding vows

 

 

Pat, Sharon & I chose to walk down steps to head back to the car, and to find a coffee shop and restroom.  As we followed the GPS directions toward the reception hall, we found a small shop and stopped.  We enjoyed our drinks and a cookie as we waited for the start of the reception at 6:00 PM.  Around 5:30 PM we drove to the hall and around the block to find a good parking spot.  We waited in the car until we started seeing guests from the wedding arrive.  The reception hall was a simple facility with a split level dance area with a bar and appetizers & at the upper floor.  The hall was beautifully, but simply adorned with vines of "hops" and local garden flowers in fruit jars.  The DJ played great "oldie" style music that we enjoyed as we sat talked with Ron & Dollyann Huff. 

 

 

Introducing the newlyweds!

You may kiss the bride

 

Soon the bride & groom, Megan & Rick, arrived and we were seated in assigned seats for dinner.  The table decorations included small gold farm animals, jars of flowers, and tan raffia wrapped name place cards.   The buffet had very different foods: lentils, tapas, leaf lettuce with a light dressing, boiled chicken with aioli sauce, and sausages with mustard.  Luckily every item was well labeled, to help us make our selections.   The wedding "cake" was actually a topiary with crunchy balls filled with brochet crème.  All very "light" fare.

It was dark on the dance floor,
but if you squint, you'll find Pat & Sharon "cutting a rug"

 

 

We enjoyed watching the couple's first dance, the Father/Daughter dance with everyone joining the dance at the end.  Everyone was having a great time.  We soon decided it was time to leave...so we waved farewell, and headed to Denny's to eat some more filling food. 

Multnomah Falls...our destination this morning

 

 

Friday, September 20, 2013...

Voodoo Doughnuts are served...YUM!

 

Psychedelic design on top of a luscious lemon doughnut

Voodoo Doll Doughnut

Mmmm bacon topped, maple frosted doughnut

 

 

We awakened to a somewhat cooler, foggy morning with coffee and Voodoo Doughnuts ready to eat.  Yummy!  We had decided to drive up the Historic Columbia River Gorge, Highway 30.  So after breakfast, Sharon, Pat & I headed out taking exit 17 off I-84 to begin the first leg of our journey to the historic Vista House.  The fog was beginning to clear as we arrived to witness the spectacular Columbia River Gorge below us.  We headed to the museum and gift shop in the lower level of Vista House where we found some great buys...Multnomah Falls framed photo, post cards, an Oregon mug with a petroglyph design of a wolf's head for me. 

 

Beautiful Vista House

A view from the Vista House

 

Winding stairs leading from Hwy 30 to the Vista House

 

Columbia River Gorge as viewed from Vista House

 

 

After taking a few more photos we got in the car to continue the drive on beautiful Hwy 30 to our first waterfall encounter, the ribbon-like Latourell Falls.  Next were Wahkeena Falls, which consists of a series of cascading falls, tumbling from the very edge of the hilltop.    At last we came to the amazing Multnomah Falls.  Multnomah drops a total of 620 feet, with the first drop, 542 feet, off a basaltic cliff, then plunging another 69 feet from the pool at the foot of the first drop.  The arched "Simon Benson" bridge (completed in 1914) allows you to cross at the lower level, allowing you to stand in awe of the beautiful falls.  Multnomah is one of the most photographed falls in the United States and is the 2nd highest falls in the USA.  The Cascadian design, stone and timber Multnomah Lodge was completed in 1925 at a cost of $40,000.  It now houses a delightful restaurant, museum, gift shop and espresso bar & bakery. 

 

 

 

After standing in awe of Multnomah Falls for quite a while, we headed up the stairs of the lodge for lunch.  Pat had the BBQ ham with a mac & cheese topping sandwich.  Sharon had a Reuben, while I enjoyed an Oregon beef meatloaf sandwich with a wonderful tomato/onion sauce.  Following our delicious lunch, we went briefly to the gift shop and museum.  We headed back Hwy 30 to the first I-84 exit and headed back toward the condo and Jantzen Island.  Sharon & Pat ran into the Safeway Market to pick up a few things, then we got home in time to start a load of laundry before drifting off for a nap.  Pat had zonked out just as his brother John and Janice returned with their friends, Ron & Dollyann Huff, from Knoxville, TN.  After introductions, I shared some photos of the Columbia River Gorge and Falls, then headed back to bed for a nap.

 

 

 

 

Plaque to honor Simon Benson for all his contributions

 

The wooden bridge was replaced in 1914 thanks to
philanthropist, Simon Benson

 

 

 

Cascadian design, Multnomah Lodge

 

Vista House from I-84 as we head back to the condo

We all got up around 4:00 PM to get ready for a dinner party at the home of Megan's mother, Alice Savage.  Ready to go, I programmed the address in the GPS, and we were on our way.  We drove right to Alice's lovely duplex home, and headed up the staircase to be welcomed by Alice.  We were introduced to many friends and family members who had come from far and near for Megan & Rick's wedding.  We spent a lot of time in conversation with Alice's brother, Chuck and his wife, Alicia, from California.  The dinner buffet was quite interesting, with an array of chicken and vegetable kabobs, Lebanese salad, amazing puff pastry with onions & spinach, and chewy cookies for dessert.  We sat on Alice's lovely landscaped patio talking until 8:00 PM.  Megan had come down to spend time with us and brought the beautiful album/gift that her grandfather, Frank Savage, had given her.  Grandpa Frank had lovingly put together photos and memories of his & Ruth's (Megan's grandmother) wedding day...wishing Rick and Megan the same, wonderful married life.  It was a great way to end the special pre-wedding dinner and get together.  We expressed our thanks and headed back to the condo.  Tomorrow's the big wedding day!

 

Alice Savage's beautiful Portland duplex

John & Janis Savage

Uncle Pat & Aunt Sharon Savage

Megan and her dad, John Savage