Rose Garden, Portland

Portland City Sights

Our friends from Vestal, Susan and Tim, came for a visit -- and we have been exploring Portland and surroundings. Gorgeous weather -- sunny and warm.

Top photo is after a 2-hour Audubon boat cruise of the Williamette River.

Second is of Mt St Helens. While driving the Mt Hood trail, we stopped to take a short hike which led to a view of 5 peaks.

Below is the historic Pittock Mansion - which, like most mansions perched on a hill, had great views.

Of course, we've stopped at Powell's -- City of Books -- as well as found some great eateries. Enjoyed the bistro menu (a form of early bird special -- with small tasting plates) at the Heathman Hotel.

Alan's New Boat ?!

Mt Rainier

On the Bainbridge Island to Seattle ferry.

You can just make out Mt Rainier in the bottom photo. Pretty spectacular to see especially because we never got to see it while we were in Mt Rainier Natl Park -- it was always clouded over, hidden in the fog.

No Reservations

It's especially freeing to be able to travel sometimes without a set agenda, with no reservations. When the three of us were driving back towards Seattle -- in between our Labor Day weekend reservations in Port Townsend and ones back in the city, we serendipitously found this campground on Bainbridge Island, WA. The Monday of Labor Day weekend. Most of the weekenders had left. It was one of the nicest camping places we've stayed -- as you can see, right on the beach. Views of boats and birds and the city across the water.

Where Are We & Where Are You?

Things have been quiet around here on both sides. You haven't heard from me but you readers have been quiet as well (invisible?).

I've even slowed down on email. Too busy spending time with our daughter.
Rebecca joined us for a visit of almost two weeks. We've been traveling in WA. Picked her up in Seattle, where we spent a few city days and then to Natl Parks, Mt Rainier and Olympic, hiking, visiting small coastal towns, touring some lavender farms in Sequim, beach walking, and continued consuming lots of local seafood and other great eats.

It was rainy a few days there in the middle and got into the 30s one night and not much into the 4os the next day. Cold and dreary, we hung out more indoors and with less than 100 sq feet it got pretty crowded...but we all had a great time -- cloudy or sunny.

Books, Bathrooms, and Signs

Some readers have asked whether I plan to write a book about our travels. As you can see, I do enjoy sharing our journey in both words and photos. But as an avid reader myself of travel literature/memoirs, I think it is more interesting to read about wild boar in Borneo (there are boar in Borneo, right?) than let's say a review of campground bathrooms including shower supplies, scheduling, and strategies to ensure camper cleanliness -- about which I am an expert. ((So you don't think I am alone in this interest, I would like to point out that there is more than one blog -- the most popular is thebathroomdiaries.com -- devoted to this specialized topic.))

In my travels, I have also gotten interested in various signage -- on roadways, in campgrounds -- including outside or in the bathroom. We continue to drive roads that warn us of various hazards like rock slides or wild animals. But for the worried traveler, pictured here are two additional concerns to think about while using the facilities.

This was in a bathroom stall!! Notice that there aren't any suggestions of what to do IF you hear the second siren. Guess you'd be in a good position -- to kiss your ass goodbye.