This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land ...

This past weekend Jack, Coco and I left Portland for our next port-of-call, San Francisco, California.  It's about a 12 hour trip by car and we really enjoyed the winding road and the rolling hills surrounding Highway 101.  For you baby boomers, I kept hearing the theme song from Bonanza in my head as we drove along.  It's such a big country out there.   

Along the coast the weather was rainy, gray and foggy so we didn't spend a lot of time taking pictures or walking along the beach. 

 

When Highway 101 turned inward in Humboldt County, the route was called the Redwood Highway and it was primarily a 2 lane highway.  It was slow going but the scenery made up for the annoyance.  Since we broke the drive into two days we had the time to take the even slower scenic by-way called Avenue of the Giants.  I had to keep reminding myself that we weren't in a hurry.  Jack, who is so much more laid back, really enjoyed being the passenger and pointing out the biggest trees.  It's mindboggling to think that some of these trees have lived between 500 and 1000 years!

 

 

 

Jack and I enjoyed walking through the trees (it's kind of spooky and mysterious in a good way) and talking about what was going on in history when these trees were saplings.





 

 



 

We think that maybe Coco enjoyed the forest most of all!

 



 

 







Tourist Day in Portland

 

Jack and I have been in Portland for two months now and we're getting to the end of our stay in this beautiful city.  Portland is becoming known for its' quirkiness and as a bastion of hipness (sort of a West Coast Brooklyn) and we have loved that about the city.  There is a cool vibe here.  It's sort of a cross between the the '60's and an L.L. Bean catalogue.  No one seems to be trying  hard or, they're trying hard not to look like they're trying! 

In addition to its' amazing restaurants and interesting neighborhoods, Portland has several tourist attractions that I would highly recommend making time to visit. Take a day, hit the tourist spots and spend the rest of your visit exploring wine country,

 

hiking in the woods or visiting the ocean.  It's amazing that all of those places are only about an hour away from downtown Portland.  You can cover a lot of ground here because unlike most major cities it is really easy to get around.

One of our favorite spots in Portland has become Washington Park which is located right in the downtown area.  Full of large trees and quiet paths, Washington Park is a quiet oasis just a few blocks away from office and apartment towers and lots of retail.  It really is a must see spot. 

  
Within Washington Park is the Rose Test Garden which has row after row of rosebushes on a terraced hillside.

On clear days you can catch a fantastic view of Mt. Hood in the distance over the buildings of downtown Portland.  My little digital camera doesn't have a big enough lense to capture the scene but trust me, it makes for a great picture.  Guess I need a camera upgrade. 

Also located in Washington Park is the Japanese Garden.  We enjoyed sitting by the koi pond,

and the meditation garden and walking along the winding paths with lanterns and fountains. 

During our visit I had to get a shot of the temple lions at the entrance to the Garden.  I love their fierce expression.
  

Near to Washington Park is the beautiful Pittock Mansion which was built by a wealthy local businessman as a family home.  No longer a private residence, the home was designed to take advantage of its' hilltop location with views over the Willamette River and beyond. The Pittock Mansion has large windows,

 



beautiful rooms and a grandly sweeping staircase. 

It would be a great place to visit during the holidays when it is decorated for the season.  Finish off your day playing tourist by taking a stroll along the Willamette River. 

By then it will be time to find a local microbrewery or a quiet spot to sip one of the delicious Oregon wines.  Perfect!

Voodoo Doughnuts - Keeping Portland Weird

One of the tourist "must visit" spots in Portland is Voodoo Doughnuts.  Apparently the owner/owners have a wacky sense of humor (or they just know what works in their city) and they've created a whimsical selection of doughnuts that are as tasty as they are unusual.  Voodoo Doughnuts adds ingredients like peanut butter, Captain Crunch, Tang, banana chunks and bacon to their recipes.  Check out the selection using this link to their website Voodoo Doughnuts


In an effort to combat my Catholic guilt over consuming large quantities of greasy deliciousness, Jack and I decided to ride our bikes over to the doughnut shop.  Even though it ruins my hair and is certainly not my most flattering look, I always wear my bike helmet.  I'm not used to riding a bike in traffic and can be a little shaky sometimes so the bike helmet is a good option for me. 

Luckily, Portland is set up to facilitate bike commuting with wide bike lanes on many streets.  Drivers are aware of bike riders and appear to be very cautious and courteous of both walkers and riders here.

After locking our bikes up in front of the doughnut shop, Jack and I walked in to a barrage of color, smells and sounds. The shop features a big juke box and a picture of Kenny Rogers on black velvet.  It was only after placing our order and taking our tray to sit outside that we realized we had come in the wrong door, completely jumping the line that was out the door on the other side!  No one said anything about it, it's pretty laid back here.  

There were so many options to choose from, Jack and I were pretty overwhelmed.  The names were as colorful as the choices.  Should we pick the Maple Blazer Blunt?  The Old Dirty Bastard with chocolate frosting, Oreo's and peanut butter? The chocolate cake doughnut with butterfingers on top? The Tangfastic or maybe the Cock-N-Balls that has "Bite Me" written on it (really)? Maybe the Gay Bar with white frosting topped with Fruit Loops in all the colors of the rainbow? 

We finally settled on a Voodoo Doll each (raised yeast filled with raspberry jelly and a pretzel stake that can be placed in a variety of spots depending on how you want to "hex" someone), a Diablos Rex doughnut for me (chocolate cake, a vanilla pentagram, red sprinkles and chocolate chips), and a Maple Bar for Jack.  I felt a little sick after eating all of that sugar but I know that I'll be back! 

A Day at the Beach

This past Saturday, Jack and I took a drive out to Canon Beach on the Oregon Coast.  Located on Highway 101 about 90 minutes from downtown Portland, Canon Beach is a picturesque little beach town with the types of restaurants and shops you would expect to find in a resort community.  Think fudge, driftwood knickknacks and overpriced clothes - fun to browse through on a rainy day but no competition for the beach on a beautiful August afternoon.  Leashed dogs are allowed on the public beach so we brought Coco along for the outing.  She is a great little traveler and enjoys riding in her little carseat or on a comfortable lap.

One of the things that surprised us about the town of Canon Beach was how uncrowded it was on a sunny, Saturday afternoon.  Think about any excursion you've taken to the beach either on Lake Michigan or in Florida or California.  The hunt for a parking place followed by the lengthy trek from the car to the beach with all of the gear necessary for a day of fun in the sun.  Jack and I had no trouble finding a parking spot close to the beach in front of this cute saltbox home.

We enjoyed strolling around town, looking at the colorful beach cottages and gardens, and the

nautical themed decorations but we were anxious to head down to

the shoreline to get a closer look at Haystack Rock and the Needles, which are the smaller rocks on either side of Haystack Rock.  Do you remember the

movie, The Goonies?  In the movie, the Goonies lived up the coast a bit in the town of Astoria and used Haystack Rock to find the starting point of One-Eyed Willie's treasure map.  On location filming for that movie was done in the area.  Watch it and you'll get a good idea of what the area is like.  Jack brought his binoculars that day and had a great time checking out the birds that make their home on the Rock.

Jack and I were amazed at how foggy the beach was on such a sunny day.  Maybe it's caused by the spray from the cool water hitting the warm air?  We were glad that our friends told us to bring jackets because it was windy and cool despite a temperature in the low 80's.  

One of the things that we like best about Portland is how close it is to OTHER things we like to do.  You can be at the ocean in 90 minutes, exploring a series of waterfalls in 30 minutes or sipping a locally grown Pinot Noir in a vineyard tasting room in under an hour.  Pretty sweet!

Home Base: Portland

Jack, Coco and I arrived in Portland, Oregon, last week and we like it here a lot.  Of course, we arrived in the middle of summer when the sun is shining and the plants are blooming which helps.  It's hard to believe that we're all the way out here (it seems so far to me for some reason) on the West Coast after starting our journey on the East Coast last November.  The three of us have really covered a LOT of ground!

Neither Jack nor I have ever been to the Northwest before and we think that it's a beautiful place.  While I haven't been all over Portland yet, the city itself seems very green with lots of trees and flowers.  It appears to be less about having the the large open lawn and more about the plants and trees. The hydrangea bush in the picture below is on the patio of our apartment building along with lots of potted plants that hummingbirds really like.

Jack, Coco and l like sitting outside watching the birds and enjoying the cool evening weather.  No mosquitos!  It is surprisingly quiet here considering that we are three blocks away from a major retail hub with shops, a mall and a grocery store.  Walkability is one of the things that really appeals to us as we plan our visits or think about a place to live long term and we are in a wonderful location for walking here.  Last week, Jack and I were able to walk to Blossoming Lotus, a great vegan restaurant, for dinner.  It's located next to a coffee shop, across from a Mexican restaurant and down the street from a wine shop and lots of other retail (including the ever present nail salon and cell phone store, of course).  It's the best of both worlds for me; a cross between the good parts of living in the suburbs and the good parts of living in a big city.  I think that I would enjoy city living but a two month stay in New York City showed me that I'm not ready to give up my car!

We have had some disappointing rentals during our cross-country trek but we love the apartment that we've rented here in Portland. Our unit is on the first floor of what is called a streetcar-style apartment building that was built in 1923.  It's located in the Irvington neighborhood of Portland which is full of Craftsman bungalows, Queen Anne style homes and Victorian homes on tree-lined streets.  It's a neighborhood where people live, not a tourist area. The wood-burning fireplace, hardwood floors and tons of windows give the apartment a welcoming feeling.



 

The apartment feels modern and bright even though the building is almost 90 years old.  I've always wanted a sunroom and for the next few months we'll have one here.  It's a great place to drink my coffee in the morning while I watch the commuters ride their bikes to work.  It's a worthwhile exchange for having no dishwasher, I think.  At least for a little while.

Jack and I have learned how little space and how few things we need to make a home feel like home and we think that we could be very happy in a place like this apartment long term.  I do miss my own things, though. 



We are glad to be here on the "Left Coast" for the next few months and we're looking forward to exploring the area.  Jack and I bought a couple of second- hand bikes and plan to get out and about on two wheels as much as possible, although Portland seems to be a very drivable city.  It's a great place to call home - for now!







Sing it With Me... "Rocky Mountain Hiiiigh"

I've been thinking about John Denver lately.  Love him or hate him, if you grew up in the '70's, the music of John Denver became embedded in your brain due to the continuous airplay of his songs on Top 40 radio stations.  While I was never a big Denver fan, I still know most of the words to his biggest hits.  (Why is it that I can remember forty year old song lyrics but not the code number to my debit card?)  John Denver's music focused on his love for nature and for Colorado, his adopted home and I can see why.  It's been a dream of mine to live in Colorado since I was dancing under a mirrored disco ball back in the day and now, for a time, I am. 

Jack, Coco and I have been staying in Winter Park, Colorado for almost two weeks now and we really love it here.  Located about an hour west of Denver, Winter Park is a ski town in the Fraser Valley.  It is VERY small but it has lots of restaurants and a nice wine bar so all is good.  We are renting a condo in  the middle of town so we can walk to everything.  There is a river that runs right in front of our building and we've been enjoying sitting outside listening to the water and working on our crossword puzzles together. 

Hiking trails and biking trails are right at the edge of the condominium complex property and we try and get out every day for a walk or a run or a bike ride.  It makes it so easy to get motivated when you can just walk out the door into beautiful scenery.  This morning on my way back from a run I saw a fox in front of one of the buildings.    

Last week-end the three of us went for a hike at Monarch Lake which was about a forty minute drive away.  The trail is a beautiful, four mile loop with a waterfall, a river, and, of course, the lake. 

Jack and I agreed that Coco earned a hiking Merit Badge because she walked the entire loop and seemed to love it.  Lots to see and investigate. 

When you look at Coco on the trail with Jack you can see how small she is and what an trek it was for her.  Even small rocks can be a tough climb when you are that small. 

My favorite part of the day was sitting on a bridge watching the river tumble over the rocks below.  It was a nice spot to catch our breath and take some pictures.  The altitude really takes a lot out of you!

Jack and I were hoping to see some moose on our trek but we were out of luck that day.  We did see some beautiful Calypso Orchids, or Fairy Slippers, which are endangered here in Colorado.

While Jack and I don't know if we could ever live in this small of a town long term, we are really enjoying mountain living and we're glad that we have another month to explore and enjoy that "Rocky Mountain Hiiigh".

On a Walk in Santa Fe

It's hard to believe that our month in Santa Fe is almost over.  Of course, missing most of the first week due to car problems in Shreveport, Louisiana, made the time go by even more quickly.  Santa Fe is an interesting town filled with aging hippies (lots of graying ponytails on both men and women), artists, and retired liberals relocated from somplace else.  I've only met one "cowboy" in a stetson and boots and he turned out to be a retired IT consultant from the East Coast.  With a graying ponytail.

As we walk around town, Jack and I have noticed that Santa Fe appears to be a very homogenous city, which is just a politically correct way of saying it's very White.  I haven't checked the demographics on race here but we've seen very few African Americans or Asians and the local minority appears to be predominately Native American.  Almost everyone is friendly here and the people we meet enjoy talking about what they love about area, what brought them here, and why we should consider relocating to Santa Fe.  



I've told Jack that I'm not sure that I could settle in this desert environment.  I miss the many beautiful shades of green in the Midwest and the simple pleasure of driving with the sun shining through the leaves on treelined streets.  I'm missing lawns, trees and shrubs right now.  A typical street in Santa Fe looks like the picture of the adobe house below.  

 Most homes don't have lawns or paved driveways.  They use gravel or dirt for driveways here which, with my middle-class Midwestern filter, seems messy and poor.  It just isn't appealing to my eye.  Outside the Center of town many of the streets are dirt roads, even in neighborhoods of million dollar homes with street names like "Mansion Ridge Road".  For my Joliet friends, imagine neighborhoods like Timberline and Twin Oaks with dusty Land Rovers and BMWs parked on dirt driveways.   

While I miss the green of the Midwest I sure don't miss the humidity.  Jack and I love the dry air, the clear skies and the view of the mountains as you walk down the street in Santa Fe.  We're still adjusting to the altitude which has affected us more than we expected it to.  Sometimes I find myself huffing and puffing just walking around town which is pretty humbling.  It makes me appreciate my good health and want to preserve it.  Running is a struggle so I just try to go slow and put one foot in front of the other.  Local people have told us that it can take several months for your body to produce enough red blood cells to push more oxygen in this high altitude.

  

One of the great things about visiting or living here is that art is all around you. Whether it is a giant sculpture carved from a tree trunk on a main thoroughfare, original artwork for sale on the walls of a local restaurant, or a bronze sculpture in a courtyard, there is always something new and beautiful to notice and enjoy.  



 A person could get into a LOT of trouble buying art or jewelry here in Santa Fe.  I told Jack that he is just lucky we're traveling in a Volkswagon Passat that is packed to the roof, not a Winnebago.  There are so many beautiful, unusual things for sale!  I'm not sure how all of the galleries stay in business - there are so many of them in a concentrated area.  Of course, when a small sculpture is almost $4,000 you only need to sell one or two a month to pay the bills, I guess.  Our landlady told us that she hosts small art openings for new artists in her home in exchange for a piece of art.  That's a novel way of acquiring original art that I would never have thought of myself. 

Santa Fe appears to be a very spiritual town and religious imagery is everywhere.  Christianity, Native American, Goddess worship and Eastern religions all find a place here. 

                                       

I like the open acceptance of all religions and the fact that people talk about things like faith and entering the Age of Aquarius in the same breath and with total sincerity.  I'm sure that bigotry and narrow world views are here, we just haven't run into it. 

All in all, Santa Fe is a great place for a vacation or to stay awhile.  It's full of history and charm.  Good food, Happy Hour that starts at 3:00 p.m. (what kind of jobs do these people have?), art, and some terrific hiking only 45 minutes away make Santa Fe an excellent destination for a girlfriend getaway, a family vacation or a romantic trip for two.  Add it to your bucket list!