Does the traveller speed on his way, or does he stay in bed? What a beautiful sunset last night. Crimson it was. Al and I had just had a delicious Italian dinner with my friend of over 40 years who relocated to Portland about 4 years ago. The three of us stood and oooooed and ahhhhhhed for a moment before climbing back into my friend’s little Element so she could return us to our DoubleTree.
Those Elements are very interesting little vehicles. I do believe there is more room inside them then is mathematically possible; like Dr. Who’s Tardis. It’s magic.
As is Portlandia where everybody is so very nice and friendly and unique. My friend tells me not to believe it, that it is the domain of the Exceedingly Passive-Agressive. Whatever the case, there were parking spaces in the parking garage for electric cars. You could park your car, plug it in, and it would be good to go by morning. Very progressive is the city of Portlandia. Speaking of which, there is supposed to be one more season of the show Portlandia scheduled for this Fall. Check it out, and you will understand what kind of world this area of the country is like. Or, check out the show Grimm. Portland, the Dark Side, filled with odd shape-shifting monsters with German names. Who knew? I’m so glad that there is T.V. So we can be enriched and enlightened.
Lots of laughter over our dinner of lambs tongue (tasted like lamb with the consistency of liver and, no, i wont be trying that again) and morel mushrooms, salad, and white prawn ravioli. Dessert was a ricotta cheese cake with a chocolate and grappa sauce. Yummy. Since we are staying in this hotel on our return trip, we will be able to have dinner one more time with my friend. A nice ending to our adventure.
Forty years. How can that be? But how wonderful to have friends for that long. True treasures.
So, the trip up here was long. The countryside was fertile. Interstate 5 takes you up through the Willamette River Valley, far to the West was the coastal range, to the East– Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helen’s.
We have another long day today. It is 6:00 AM. Al is out of the shower. It’s my turn. We will head North towards Vancouver BC, and then head East to Whistler, where we will chill in a Cush Condo for a couple of days.
Looks like a good day to travel.
