Sunday is Family Day - February 6, 2011 - Welcome Jacob Morgan!

SUNDAY IS FAMILY DAY, February 6, 2011

Today was a glorious day and especially extraordinary because we welcomed the newest member of our family, Jacob Robert Morgan! Jacob was born while most of us were still asleep – 12:52 a.m. on Sunday, February 6, 2011. He weighed in at seven pounds and was 21 inches long!

It was foggy and a very cool 41 degrees in San Diego when I began my drive up to Monterey to meet our newest grandchild. With my Starbucks in hand, my day began. It was dark and foggy; I could barely see 100 feet in front of the car for quite a ways up the highway. The fog began to lift as I drove further north above Temecula. At about 6:15 a.m. the daylight broke, the sky was a bright baby blue with pink clouds lacing the horizon. It was beautiful. As the sun rose in the east, I couldn’t help but notice the top of Big Bear in the San Gabriel Mountains all covered with snow.

My eight hour drive seemed to pass by quickly. I generally drive north on I-15 then take Interstate 210 west through Pasadena and the San Fernando Valley over to I-5. The portion of my drive north of Los Angeles over the Grapevine was so peaceful. The hills were covered with thick green grass from the winter rains with a yellow glow from the dandelions covering the ground. It almost looked like velvet.

I stopped a few times to get a warm refill on my coffee and continued my drive. I saw some herds of cattle grazing on the hillsides while others lay alongside the road as if they were not quite awake. When I drove by, they lifted their large heads as if to say “Good morning – don’t bother me I haven’t had my coffee yet”. I passed herds of sheep and Billy goats as well as pastures with horses meandering around. The world was waking up. Along Highway 46 from Lost Hills going over to Paso Robles and Highway 101, there were several large flocks of black crows sitting on top of the barren almond trees. Then, several times I saw something larger in the trees right alongside the highway, and there were several owls perched on the bare branches keeping a watchful eye out as the few cars that were on the road at that time of the morning, passed.

My drive up was really enjoyable with all the animals and birds that I passed along the way. I never knew what I was going to see next! During the next few days, little did I know that I would be greeted in the mornings by majestic blue herons and white egrets standing tall at the waters’ edge of the small lake near my daughter’s home.

When I arrived in Monterey, I met my daughter Jackie at her house and unloaded the car and within half an hour, we were off to the hospital to greet the newest member of our family. We walked into the hospital room and there was my daughter Steph, husband Jason and our precious new bundle of joy! I know I was as proud and happy as any other Grandma I know. And, like all of the rest of you, I think my grandson is perfect and beautiful in every way! That is our God given right! Jacob was wrapped all snug in a hospital blanket and had a tiny little cotton knit cap on his head. His tiny little hands were inside of the onesie t-shirt that he wore. His cheeks were rosy and glowing; and he was very content to be held by his Daddy. Steph looked beautiful; and it was hard to imagine that she had just given birth a few hours before I arrived.

Jacob – welcome to our family. You are loved.

SUNDAY IS FAMILY DAY – January 23, 2011

SUNDAY IS FAMILY DAY – January 23, 2011

Earlier this week my Mom showed me my Baby Album. Inside of it were some letters that my Dad had written to my Mom while he was out of town working on insurance claims right after I was born. In one of those letters, ironically, he talked about coming home and going out for a drive on Sunday afternoon “because Sunday is Family Day”. It really brought a smile to my face when I read that. So, this Sunday drive tradition has been a part of our family ever since I was born!

As we got Mom and Dad into the car this afternoon, their eyes were sparkling and they had already started reminiscing about some of their memories of growing up in San Diego in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Though they lived several miles from each other back then, they actually attended the same schools. Grammar school was at Central Grammar School which was located at Central and Polk. They both had Mrs. Harrelson as their 6th grade teacher. They both attended Woodrow Wilson Middle School and Herbert Hoover High School.

The weather here in San Diego this weekend was absolutely gorgeous. There was a Santa Ana wind blowing which cleared out the foggy marine layer and blessed us with an unbelievably clear view of the Coronado Islands off the coast of San Diego past Point Loma to the north and the Hotel del Coronado on Coronado Island to the south. The waters of San Diego Bay glistened as we crossed over the Coronado Bridge. There were dozens of sailboats out on the waters with their spinnaker sails full and gliding across the water. In the distance up towards where the USS Midway is permanently docked, there was a Carnival Cruise Lines ship in port. We could see the huge red fan tale from the top of the bridge.

Our first destination today was over to Coronado in hopes of finding my Mom’s grandparent’s home. Unfortunately, we could not find the actual address before we left home (we did find it later). So – we’re just going to have to go back and find it on another Sunday afternoon drive! We found a picture of the house after we got home today.

We took a leisurely drive back through Coronado and past the Hotel Del looking at all of the beautiful homes. There were many people out riding their bicycles and we saw several people playing golf on the municipal golf course as we headed back to cross over the bridge and continue on our adventure.

Our next destination was to go by the first house that my Dad lived in here in San Diego on Fairmont Avenue. The house still stands today. It is a nice looking two-story home north of University. He pointed out which room was his on the second floor and which one was his brother Carl’s. Dad does not recall having any pictures from this house when they lived here; but we’re going to go through some of the photo albums that he still has from his Mom (my Grandma Ro) and we’ll see if we can find one.

Mom and Dad were full of memories of the way things “used to be” back in their younger days. The Inner City Children’s Clinic used to be the home of Kerrigan Jewelers on University. The University Theater used to be where the Payless Shoe Store is now; and the building at University and Euclid was once a skating rink. There is a tall very vibrant colored building across the street. That was where the end of the street car line once was. The buildings back then were all one story. Mom recalled walking home from Hoover High and stopping to buy donuts – two for 5 cents! She said they had an orange long john that just melted in your mouth.

Dad told us that El Cajon Boulevard used to be Route 80; and that is what we drove between Tucson and San Diego when he got transferred to Tucson back in the late 1950’s. When he lived in the Fairmont house, he and his brothers would ride their bikes down to Adobe Falls to swim. Mission Valley at that time was not developed as it is today. Rose Toyota was at the bottom of Fairmont. John Rose was a friend of Dad’s; and he had the Rose Toyota was the first Toyota dealership in the United States.

We also drove by where my Dad lived on 56th Avenue just north of El Cajon Boulevard. Where their house used to be now stands an apartment building. My grandparent’s property was quite wide and had avocado trees in the back yard. It was one-story home with two bedrooms and a bath. Along the right side of the house was a single car driveway that sloped down to a detached garage behind the house. Along the driveway was a small pond with goldfish. We have been told that though the original house was moved away and replaced with the apartment building – the pond is still there behind the fence. We weren’t bold enough to try to peak over the fence today – maybe sometime in the future.

As we left Grandma and Grandpa’s Ro’s old neighborhood, we turned right onto El Cajon Boulevard and drove west. Mom and Dad would point out where certain businesses used to be.

Our afternoon continued with an early dinner at the Chicken Pie Shop. This is a San Diego tradition. It was once located on Fifth Avenue in downtown San Diego; but has been at its present location for years and years. When you step inside the glass front door, you are greeted with the smiling faces of well-seasoned waitresses. Mom and Dad recognized several of them as having been there for as long as they could remember. On the walls surrounding the large open dining room are large pictures from menus offering a chicken pie dinner complete with mashed potatoes and chicken gravy, coleslaw and vegetables AND pie for dessert for only 45 cents! You could have a cup of coffee or a glass of buttermilk for 10 cents! There were pictures on the walls from the early days of the Pie Shop as well as dozens of ceramic chickens and roosters lining he shelf near the top of the walls all around restaurant.

Our meals were served with warm rolls and butter. Mom and Dad and Jim all had the chicken pot pie dinners; but I had to order their fried chicken just to see how that was. My dinner came with a nice little side salad, vegetables mashed potatoes and gravy and three nice pieces of breaded fried chicken. It was moist and good – though I have to admit I’ve never had fried chicken dipped in bread crumbs before. We all had leftovers to bring home including our pieces of pie that were included with our dinners.

After that, we drove home and called my cousin and her husband and my Aunt Mary (Mom’s sister) who just live down the street from Mom and Dad. The three of them came down after we got back to Mom and Dad’s. We enjoyed a piece of pie and some decaf coffee. The best part of that was to bring out some of the old family photo albums and sit around the table and look at old pictures. Mom and Aunt Mary sat on one side of the table with Mary Jean and me on the other side. I cannot even begin to tell you how much fun it was to sit there with our Mom’s and go through pictures of when they were newlywed’s and new parents. The pictures are priceless to us. My Uncle Eugene passed on a few years ago; and oh how we miss him. But Mary Jean and I so enjoyed looking at the pictures and watching our Mom’s reminisce about how things used to be.

I cherish these times with my parents. It is so much fun for me to hear the enthusiasm in their voices when they talk about their memories and walk down memory lane. And, to be able to share that with my cousin and my Aunt was extra special. In the next few weeks, we are planning on all of us getting together for an afternoon picnic down on Harbor Island. We’ll sit and enjoy the stories because “Sunday is for Family”. Till next time…

SUNDAY IS FAMILY DAY - January 16, 2011

SUNDAY IS FAMILY DAY
I wrote an article in 2007 entitled “Don’t Let Your Parents Tell You No”. It was about spending some quality time with my parents. Since that time, my parents’ health has been declining; my Mom has Parkinson ’s disease, my Dad had to have a rather sudden quadruple bypass, and as of last week they have given up driving. This past summer we lost Jim’s Dad. His Mom is still with us and we are blessed that at 90 years young, she is in relatively good health and doing well. We visit her in Huntington Beach as much as possible and are grateful for our time together.
One thing that has become increasingly important to me is to make sure I ask those questions that I’ve always said “someday I have to ask my parents about that”. Well, now is my “someday”. We have decided that “Sunday is Family Day”. Having said that - we decided that we will make plans to do something with either Jim’s Mom or my parents every weekend.
Our weekend began on Saturday when we drove up to Huntington Beach for a Celebration of Life for one of Jim’s longest friends. We picked up his Mom and the three of us were on our way to a wonderful afternoon of memories. In addition to hearing some touching stories about our friend Jan who left us all too soon, we also enjoyed our time with Jim’s Mom and talking with her about some of their early days in the Navy. We talked about their homes in Newport, Rhode Island – Taiwan and Charleston, South Carolina as well as Long Beach. She also shared with us some family history about the silver tea set she proudly displays on the sideboard in her dining room and a couple of chairs that were in her family home in Washington, D.C. She told us the story of a small covered chair that sits in her entry-way. It is now upholstered in a soft pink stripe fabric. It is quite a short chair and has no arms. In this small chair, she began to knit a baby blanket when she was pregnant with Jim. She said she didn’t finish the blanket but that her mother did and presented it to her so she could keep her baby warm when he came home from the hospital. She also told us the history about a couple of tables in her living room. We have many more questions about things in her home and other memories that we will pursue on another visit. We spent time with her for a little while after we returned from the Celebration of Life; and then we had to be on our way home. Driving back home to San Diego, both of us kept remembering things she had mentioned during our day with her. Off to the west, just after 5:00 p.m. the sun was setting. As the brilliant, flaming sun set on the horizon, the reflections on the glassy Pacific Ocean waters was breathtaking. The water was so calm, there was hardly a ripple. The colors of the sunset were amazing bright pinks, oranges and purples. What a fabulous way to end such a nice day!
On Sunday, we began our “Sunday is Family Day” with my parents. We got Mom and Dad into the car and off we went down the road in search of some of their early homes in San Diego and some of our relatives’ homes. Before we got too far down the road, Mom began telling us that their first apartment was on 30th Street here in San Diego. They were newlyweds; and Mom put an ad in the San Diego Tribune that read something like “Veteran just married looking for place to rent”. The apartment on 30th Street in North Park still stands today. Their apartment was in the back of the main house. It was hard to see their apartment in its entirety – but we could see the corner of the back building where they began their life together. Their toilet had a pull chain. They had an “ice box” where the ice man delivered a 25 pound block of ice once a week to keep their food cold.
Our next stop was to go by their apartment on Iowa Street which is also still standing today. It is much the same set up as the first apartment on 30th Street with the apartment behind the main house. The main difference with this apartment is that Dad’s Mom, my Grandma Ro, thought this was a much nicer place and she “approved”. I was born when they lived on Iowa Street. Mom and Dad have a picture of both of these apartments in a frame of pictures along with pictures of all the homes they have lived in.
After Iowa Street, Mom and Dad really took a giant leap and bought their first home on Hannah Street here in San Diego. My Dad worked for a large insurance company; and his territory covered all of San Diego County as well as El Centro and down to the border in Tijuana. I remember the dress he brought me from Mexico that had the white top with ruffles on top and the multi-colored ruffled skirt. My brother was born when they lived here.
Our afternoon continued by driving by the Columbia Street home that my Aunt Cassie and Uncle Ralph used to live in. It was a small house on a hillside that had an absolutely breathtaking view of the planes, trains and ships in San Diego harbor. On a clear day they could see out to the end of Point Loma and out to Coronado Island. Their house had one very distinctive feature – they had one of the first elevators in San Diego. I remember as a young girl going to visit them. The entrance to their home has a small courtyard. The back of the house is a plate glass window with this stunning view. But my brother Rob and I were fascinated with that elevator; and we couldn’t wait to visit Aunt Cassie and Uncle Ralph just so we could go in the elevator!
¬My Mom is a San Diego native. Her Dad was a master printer. His first shop was in the Hotel del Coronado where he perfected his craft. He then moved to a shop on the first floor in the building at 5th and Laurel. This is the same building that is the home of the famed restaurant Mr. A’s that is on the rooftop. Back in the early 1930’s Mom’s family lived on 10 acres of land on Rosecrans Blvd. Her Dad had the opportunity to buy this land for $865 in back taxes. But, it was during The Depression. It was all her Dad could do to pay the rent – there was no way he could scrape together enough money to buy the property.
That property today would be worth millions upon millions of dollars. They actually had two houses back then – a day house and a night house. They had their meals in the day house and slept in the night house. Mom tells stories of her and her two sisters, knowing every inch of that property. They would run and jump down the hill right down to the waters’ edge. Today, this area is known as Playa Point Loma. Where their two small houses once stood on an empty ten acres of waterfront land, today there are hundreds of private residences with San Diego Bay as their backyard. They have views of Point Loma, Shelter Island and Harbor Island as well as out to North Island and Coronado.
We actually found the location and address of the original two houses, but standing there today is a very modern two story stucco home that must be well over 5,000 square feet. We drove down to the street below Rosecrans (which was not there when Mom’s family lived there); and at the end of the street we found a waterfront access and walking path along the waters’ edge. Mom wanted to get out and go down so Jim got the wheelchair out of the trunk and while Dad chose to stay in the car, the three of us walked down to the path and meandered down a ways. Mom was telling us stories about how she and her sisters knew every inch of that property and would jump down to gather clams. They would stomp down the tall weeds that filled the property and would pretend they were in a huge house. As we were going down the path, we came across a lady whose Golden Retriever was romping in the water as she walked on the path. When our paths crossed, she said hello and Mom asked if she lived in the area. She said yes, and Mom told her she used to live there back in the 1930’s. The woman knew some of the names of the people that used to be nearby neighbors; and amazing as it was, she said some of those families still own homes there. Before we parted, she took Mom’s name and was going to show it to some of those people. Mom was thrilled and you could see the pleasure of the afternoon in her face.
Our day continued as we proceeded to Anthony’s Fish Grotto on Harbor Drive for an early dinner. They seated us at a wonderful window table where we had a view of the Bay. Because it was an incredibly clear day today, we could see all the way out to Point Loma where The Old Point Loma Lighthouse proudly stands. Mom’s mother’s sister, Aunt Nel, married Rollie Israel – the son of the last lighthouse keeper of The Old Point Loma Lighthouse.
While Mom and Jim and I enjoyed our soup and salad, Dad enjoyed his Huevos Rancheros and the conversation continued. Dad talked about only paying 5 cents to take the passenger ferry from San Diego over to Coronado back when he was a young boy. He also recalled riding his bicycle down to the Bay when Old Ironsides – yes the U.S.S. Constitution – was in port. He was about 11 years old. He and his friends who were in the Boy Scouts together would go to the Postmaster and have envelopes stamped “Old Ironsides” on special holidays such as Washington’s Birthday and Lincoln’s Birthday. He also used to come down to the Bay to go duck hunting.
After Pearl Harbor was bombed, Dad told us he joined the Navy at the 11th Naval District offices at the base of Broadway in San Diego. The building is still there. He said that his Dad had taught him the Morse Code; and because of that, he did not have to go to Boot Camp. Once his enlistment papers were signed, he reported directly out to Point Loma.
Sunset was just after 5:00 p.m. While we were getting ready to leave, a rowboat with about 8 scouts and their parents passed in front of the windows of Anthony’s. We imagined these young boys were out earning their “Rowing Badge”. The waters of the bay began to calm as the sun set in the West. The wispy clouds in the sky above began to turn yellow and orange, then pink and purple. The waters shimmered with the beautiful, colorful reflections from above; and the small scouts rowed away and became just a silhouette on the water.
It was the perfect ending to a perfect weekend. We talked about where we were going to go next Sunday as we drove home. We have lots of possibilities; but nothing was determined. But you can rest assured that I’ll be writing about our adventure – because “Sunday is Family Day”.

My Wish for You -

I hope you open up much happiness on Christmas morning. And my wish to the New year ---- may the best day of your 2010 be the worst day of your 2011.

This year as with all years, we are enjoying our time with family and friends. It seems that sometimes we get so caught up in our everyday lives that we don't keep in touch as much as we should to let those we care about truly know that they are special in our lives.

We have been very blessed through the ten + years that we have been together. Our families have grown and our families have blended well. Though we lead separate lives here in San Diego, in Huntington Beach, Monterey, San Francisco and Vancouver, WA, we do our best to get together during the year and enjoy each other.

After losing Jim's Dad this summer, it made me stop and realize how lucky we are to have had him as long as we did. He was 90 yrs. old! What a grand life! And, Jim's Mom, who is also 90, is still with us and going strong. We will drive up to Huntington Beach the day after Christmas to be together with his Mom along with his sister and brother and sister-in-law and their exchange student from Germany, Leoni.

On Christmas Eve, we will enjoy babysitting Katelyn and Ryan during the daym then spending a wonderful family evening together at their house for our Christmas with them. On Christmas Day, we will pick up my parents and bring them back over to the where we will enjoy a good pork roast, with mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, apple sauce and cranberry sauce and some good pumpkin pie for dessert!

After we visit the family in Huntington Beach, we will head north to Monterey where we will have Christmas with my daughters and son-in-law and two grandsons, Joseph and Landon.

Our daughter Jennifer will be in Vancouver, WA enjoying a turkey dinner with friends and will notbe able to get down for Christmas this year. But, we have enjoyed several good visits with her during this past year and will definitely do the same in 2011.

I know there is no Santa Claus in reality - but, like Virginia, his spirit lives in me and always will. The spirit of giving and doing for others makes me happy. "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" is one of my favorite books of all time.

And so, this holiday season - I hope that spirit will find a place in your heart as well.

I hope you open up much happiness on Christmas morning. And my wish for you for the New year ----

May the best day of your 2010 be the worst day of your 2011.

December Newsletter

Hello Everyone!

The Holidays are upon us once again! I don’t know about you, but this past year has gone by incredibly fast. We were able to travel a lot this year and visit family and friends along our way. Those moments are really special to us; and, as many of you know, I usually share those times in my Travelogues. Some of you receive them via email and then I post them on my website and on my Blog. I started writing the Travelogues when we were away so that our parents could know what we were doing and seeing.

December greeted me with a wonderful surprise. I have been named one of the “Top 50 Travel Agent Bloggers in the United States”! Here is the link to the website. I am one of the Travel Agents Who Love to Travel - that’s me – Enthusiastic Cruiser! http://www.onlinemarketingdegree.org/the-top-50-travel-agent-bloggers-of-2010
As I often do at the end of the year, I reflect back and think about how lucky I am. Sometimes when the world is so busy around us, we forget to take time to thank those who have made a difference in our lives. This year, Carpenter Travel has grown because of all of you. If I have not told you before, I will tell you now – I realize that you have many choices today when it comes to making your travel plans; and I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to help you with yours.

The holidays are a very special time for many of us as we will be traveling near and far to spend time with family and dear friends. Many of us have special traditions; and this month I thought I would share some German family traditions that I’ve learned about from the German exchange student that our brother and sister-in-law have had the pleasure of having join their family for this school year.

Leoni is 16 years old and her family lives in a small village about 200 miles south of Frankfurt. She is quite a talented young lady who not only sings but also plays the flute and the piano. She speaks excellent English and has blended into our family very nicely. She has beautiful rosy cheeks and her eyes seem to light up when she speaks about Germany and her family. Jim and I have been really enjoyed getting to know her and learning more about Germany and their culture and way of life.

In Leoni’s family, their holiday celebrations begin on December 5th when each of them sets one of their boots outside their bedroom door. When they awake in the morning, their parents have filled their boot with special treats including some candy or something sweet. On December 6th, the neighborhood children will walk door-to-door and either say a poem or sing a song and the neighbors will give them a treat (very reminiscent of our Halloween except they do not dress up in costume).

Leoni has told us that her family does decorate for the holidays, but not nearly to the extent that people decorate here with all the lights and festive garlands and trees. Their decorations will be a beautiful table setting that will always include four candles – one to be lit each week during Christmas. They celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve.

We have talked about special foods that her family prepare s for the holidays and she mentioned red cabbage or Rotkraut. My Grandma used to make this for every holiday – and my Mom has continued with that tradition. The recipe we have is over 100 years old from my Great Grandmother Hoffman. So, I thought I would share that recipe with you this month. If you have any recipes you’d like to share with me – I would enjoy receiving them and giving them a try in my kitchen. I know that you will all be cooking some wonderful things in the kitchen – and your holidays would never be the same without them. Those special aromas and flavors are distinctly familiar and make our holidays very special.

Grandmother Hoffman’s Red Cabbage –“Rotkraut”

1 – large head of red cabbage – shredded fine
2 – Tablespoons Crisco shortening
2 - Tablespoons Canola oil
1 – Red apple cored, skinned and shredded
3 – Tablespoons light brown sugar
½ - Teaspoon salt
¼ - Teaspoon pepper
3 – Tablespoons Vinegar

Stir well. Simmer at least 2 hours. Put lid on tight. Stir often. Serve warm.

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May your holidays be filled with special memories.

And, As Always,

Safe Travels

Barbara
Your “Enthusiastic” Excursionist

P. S. Whodunit?

Whodunit?
You all know I LOVE cruising! But did you know that I love a good mystery as well? Ever since my childhood when I read the Nancy Drew books (“The Secret of the Old Clock” – “The Hidden Staircase”), I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery. When I came across a company called Whodunit Mystery Cruises, my curiosity was peaked. In 2011, I am becoming a “Partner in Crime”!

What better way to get the best of both worlds than on a Whodunit Mystery Cruise! Enjoy an elegant experience at sea, while MYSTERY and MAYHEM LURK all around you, and even INVOLVE YOU! As the clues unravel, you try to solve the spectacular mystery of "whodunit" - before it's too late! Whodunit creates a Live Mystery aboard the most beautiful ships in the world that you become a part of ... as well as try and solve. There are times during the mystery cruise that you will be following the deadly saga and other times when you are free to just enjoy the cruise ... They don't want you to have to look over your shoulder for the entire time aboard the ship.

If you book the cruise and choose to be a part of Whodunit, when you board you will be given your own deadly role to play. Don't worry, if you are on the shy side you can just sit back and watch the plot unfold. But if you are not shy, then you can use your character to find out as much as you can. You see, the actors will be mixing among you and in character for the entire mystery cruise!!! The hilarious story begins to unfold on the opening night where you will first meet all of the very M Y S T E R I O U S Characters. Then during the week there are mysterious notes slid under your cabin door, secret rendezvous set up for you ... all kinds of suspicious happenings!

On the days we are in port, nothing will happen aboard the ship at this time, so you won't miss any important clues. But be careful.... Captain's Night is bound to be a beautiful, elegant but- a D E V I L I S H night, for sure!

Just think...mutiny and...mayhem... gambling...all the grub you can handle...intrigue...laughter...star laden skies...and Mystery on the High Seas!!!! On May 20, 2011 Jim and I will be on Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas sailing out of Seattle to – where else? ALASKA of course!! (Now, come on – you knew that was coming didn’t you?)

So - Supersleuths! Grab your magnifying glasses, deerstalker caps, and life vests as Whodunit heads from Seattle to Alaska on a 7-Night Alaska Sawyer Glacier Cruise! There are bound to be clues around every iceberg as we cruise the inside passage to Juneau, Skagway, Tracy Arm Fjord and Victoria BC.

In addition to the May 20, 2011 sailing on Rhapsody of the Seas for 7 nights from Seattle to Alaska – there are other mystery cruise opportunities for 2011:

1) September 3-8, 2011 on Enchantment of the Seas for 5-nights from Baltimore to the Bahamas

2) October 28-31, 2011 on Monarch of the Seas for 3-nights from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas

3) December 3-10, 2011 on Voyager of the Seas for 7-nights from New Orleans to the Western Caribbean.

Pricing starts from $997.53 including taxes, port fees and Whodunit Murder Mystery per person based on double occupancy.

Silversea Cruise Lines Ship Inspection

Ship Inspection December 4, 2010 – San Pedro, CA

Our ship inspection was scheduled for 11:30 a.m. for the Silversea Silver Cloud in San Pedro, CA. We left San Diego mid-morning under cloudy skies after stopping by Starbucks for a yummy and warm eggnog latte’. Yes, this is one of my favorite holiday indulgences!

Driving up I-5 was an easy commute this morning as the traffic was light with no traffic back-ups at all. After we merged onto the 405 Freeway in Orange County and proceeded north to the Long Beach Freeway, the heavy clouds above us began to drop large rain drops on our windshield. As we drove along the water’s edge, Jim commented that this was where his Dad was stationed and they lived in naval housing. What was once an active Naval Base is now redeveloped and none of the old buildings remain. Now, tall palm trees and landfills and huge cranes for loading cargo stand where the Naval Officers’ Club and other buildings used to be in the 1950’s.

We continued on over the Vincent Thomas Bridge and turned off to get to the port. The Sapphire Princess was in port and majestically took her position at the end of the inland waterway. Up a bit further, we could see the top of the Silver Cloud, but there were several tents in the parking lot that blocked our view of the entire ship. This was disappointing as I only could get a picture of the top insignia on the stack of the Silver Cloud.

It was still raining when we parked the car. We proceeded across the street and through the Port Authority security check-in to an area inside a building where folding chairs were set up in several rows. Our guide for the day, Iona, greeted us and introduced herself as the Cruise Consultant on the Silver Cloud. She guided us to the gangway where we climbed the steep, steel steps and were greeted at the top by several very well dressed crew members. They were dressed in business attire of Navy blue and off-white.

The central lobby of the Silver Cloud is a circular designed area with offices in the area housing Guest Relations, the Silver Shore Concierge available for booking your shore excursions; and the desk of the Cruise Consultant (our Ivonna). A table was set up in one area full of champagne glasses waiting to be filled from the bottles of champagne two young men had waiting on ice for the new guests when they arrived.

The décor is elegant with navy blue and gold carpeting and finished with subtle wallpaper and trimmed in brass. There is a wide variety of art work on board the Silver Cloud ranging from paintings to bronze statues and incredible, intricate tile mosaics.

The Silver Cloud carries approximately 296 guests with a crew of 222. This is a “luxury” liner with all staterooms being “suites” (not cabins or staterooms). This stop in San Pedro today was their only stop in Southern California for the rest of 2010 and 2011; so we were very lucky to have the chance to visit her while she was in port for such a short time.

Ivonna took is to a “Verandah Suite” first. It is 295 sq. ft. including the verandah. I would compare this to the size of a mini-suite on the Sapphire Princess. This suite was beautifully appointed with plush Egyptian linens on the bed and in the bath. There was a bottle of champagne on ice wrapped neatly in a white towel in an ice bucket on the coffee table along with two champagne flutes waiting to be filled. Each suite is also graced with stunning fresh orchid plants. Each bath has a tub and shower and a fabulous walk-in closet with tremendous storage space. The bath is large and had plenty of mirrors above the elegant marble counters and sinks. All suites have internet access and flat screen TV’s. You also have your own personal Butler at your service 24/7. The Butler can arrange your dining reservations as well as make your shore excursion reservations. They are also available to run any errand you may need them to such as picking up your laundry or purchasing a candy bar from the store.
Each suite has a teak verandah with nice patio furniture. The size varies depending on the type of suite you have and your location on the ship. As you can imagine, if you have booked one of the larger suites, you will also have a larger verandah.

Our next visit was to the Owner’s Suite which is mid-size with Bedroom #1 being approximately 829 sq. ft. and Bedroom #2 being approximately 587 sq. ft. With the two separate bedrooms, there is also a living area with a couch and chairs and coffee table with champagne waiting; a writing desk and mini bar with table. Again, the bath was quite large with a larger walk-in closet. This suite bath also had a toilet and bade.
The Grand Suite was the largest suite that we visited with Bedroom #1 is 1019 sq. ft. and Bedroom #2 is 1314 sq. ft. The bath in this suite had a whirlpool tub. There was a very large living room area with couch and chairs along with two other round tables, a mini-bar and an antique looking writing desk in the corner. There were two entrances out to the verandah. Every suite offers the luxurious, plus Egyptian linens in the bedrooms and baths.

We visited the handsome Library furnished with over-stuffed dark brown leather chairs and hard cover books behind the glass doors of the bookcases. There were audio listening stations. You could also find your favorite magazines or newspaper here.
The Card Room had several square tables suitable for playing card games or table games and could also be used for a conference room if necessary.

La Terraza (The Terrace Restaurant) was one of my favorite areas on the ship. It offers an ala carté menu with a buffet breakfast in the morning or al fresco dining on the outdoor patio. In the evenings, La Terraza becomes an ala carté Italian Restaurant. The outdoor patio is on the aft of the ship and would be a wonderful place to sit and enjoy the scenery as you sail along.

Another great gathering place would be The Panorama Lounge where you can enjoy the scenery as well as complimentary cocktails. There is a piano in here along with nice tables and comfortable chairs. At the Pool Bar¸¬ you can enjoy your favorite cocktail by the pool during the day; and in the evening it turns into Dining Under the Stars offering grilled steaks and fish and fresh pizza.

Le Champagne would be an intimate place where you could indulge in a six course meals including fine wines paired with every course.

We passed quickly through the Salon and Spa where you can make arrangements for facials, body wraps or massages and afterwards enjoy some quite time in the men’s or women’s steam and sauna rooms. The Casino is small, but has a roulette wheel, blackjack table and about 15 slot machines neatly placed in cubbies along the port side of the ship. We did not see the Fitness Center, but understand it is equipped with treadmills, elliptical machines and free weights. They also offer aerobics classes, as well as yoga and Pilates – which are all complimentary.

Our tour ended in The Restaurant (dining room) elegantly set with silver and crystal and candlelight. We had a fixed menu with an appetizer of a small crab cake topped with a guacamole and garnish. Our “salad” was a base of steamed spinach topped with sliced artichoke hearts and a nice piece of grilled swordfish. The main course was a serving of Polenta topped with two small slices of veal. Dessert was also served which consisted of a fluted pastry shell filled with fresh blueberries and crème freshe. Two different wines were also served during lunch – both Italian, one white and one red.
The Silver Cloud was the flagship of Silversea Cruise Lines and was launched in 1994. She was renovated in 2004 and again in 2006. This luxury liner offers personal service at every point and being “all inclusive”, a passenger feels they are receiving true value for their vacation experience. We thoroughly enjoyed our time on the Silver Cloud and thank Silversea Cruise Lines for giving us the opportunity to visit her.

Travelogue from Cannon Beach, Oregon

TRAVELOGUES FROM OREGON
Cannon Beach, Oregon
THURSDAY, October 7, 2010

One of best things in life for us is getting together with good friends. This weekend is very special to us because we are with the friends who introduced us to each other (Clayton & Natha) and the friends who got married the night before we did (Rob & Christie) 10 years ago! Through the past 10 years, our friendship has grown into a very special one. Rob & Christie moved up to Portland, Oregon area a couple of years ago; and when they did, we felt a big void. When we get together, it is as if we’ve always been together and not so far apart – it is a wonderful homecoming!

When we can, the six of us get together and enjoy good friends, good food, good wine and lots of laughs! Last year we all drove up to the San Juan Islands to Friday Harbor and rented a house facing Hairo Strait. We spent the weekend exploring the island, enjoying the lavender festival at Pelindaba Lavender Farms, wine tasting at the San Juan Vineyards, hiking out to Lime Kiln Point to the lighthouse and enjoying some delicious food up at Roche Harbor. The other infamous pastime that all six of us enjoy is playing a card game called “Euchre”. Last year, the Gals won the trophies and the Guys received the Crying Towels. The trophies are now once again on the line – and the tournament has begun!
Clayton & Natha and Jim & I flew out of San Diego on Thursday morning and arrived in Portland shortly after noon. Rob & Christie were there to greet us with open arms and lots of hugs! It was so good to see them again! They rented a 6 passenger van so all of us could travel around together; and we were off to meet our daughter Jennifer (who lives in Vancouver, WA) for lunch at Henry’s Tavern at 12th and Burnside in the Pearl District of Portland. Henry’s is a two story, rustic tavern with open beams and booths and tables upholstered in black naugahyde. We had a nice visit with Jen before she had to leave for work and then the six of us walked back to the car and took off for a little tour of Portland.

Downtown Portland is a maze of one-way streets and lots of hills. Rob was our chauffeur and took us by the Oregon Hospital School of Nursing¬ so Clayton & Natha could check out the campus for their son Cory who is interested in continuing his education there. The campus is high on a hill overlooking Portland. The view from the top is breathtaking as you can see the many bridges crossing the Willamette and Columbia Rivers below.

After that, our “driver” drove us to the Portland Rose Garden. The Rose Garden is maintained by volunteers and is meticulously manicured and well-kept. It is on the side of a hill also overlooking Portland. You enter the garden under the high arch ways full of miniature roses and before your eyes is a beautifully terraced rose garden. As you can imagine, each of the roses has a small plaque stating its’ name and type of rose (i.e. hybrid or floribunda, etc.) We all had to “stop and smell the roses” along the way – and some of them were scented and some were not. Though it had no fragrance, my favorite rose was the Burgundy Iceberg. This was a deep burgundy or maroon color and just different than anything I had ever seen before. And yes, I did take a picture of it!

From the Rose Garden we traveled along the windy road of the park which also is home to the Portland Zoo and the Japanese Tea Garden back down the hill on to Tigard where Rob & Christie now live. I could not help but notice that the sides of the roads were all green with grasses and ferns followed by thick groves of pine trees and other deciduous trees that have begun turning their colors as the cooler weather approaches. Because of the cooler climate here in Oregon, we are actually going to be able to see some “fall colors” without going back east to enjoy them!

Once we unpacked the car and got settled, the first glass of wine was poured, the Euchre cards were on the table and the games began! Christie made us a delicious dinner of homemade enchiladas, Spanish rice and green salad; and after the Gals losing the first two games of Euchre, we called it a night.

FRIDAY, October 8, 2010

Around 9:00 a.m. everything was packed into the cars and we all piled in and off we went. The Gals were in the minivan and the Guys were all in Rob’s truck – which carried our plethora of luggage, food and drink. We drove down Highway 26 south - and as soon as we left “the city”, we were surrounded by miles and miles of countryside rich for farming. Many of the homes were ranches where horses lazily grazing in the meadows. We crossed over several small streams as we drove along the green roadway. Many of the trees were turning colors of yellow, gold and red; and the ground was already starting to fill with golden leaves that had dropped off the trees.

We drove about an hour before we reached our breakfast stop at Camp 18. There is a huge log cabin style restaurant here with a lot of old rusted logging equipment from days-gone-by when I’m sure the area was bustling with loggers. There is also a Logger Museum on the property. As we went inside, you couldn’t help but notice the high, two-story, ceiling built from huge log beams; and there were ceiling fans turning high in the rafters. Around the room were several animals that had been placed on display – one was a huge mountain lion along with a moose head and many others. There were several wood carved statues of animals or figures about 4-5 feet tall apparently carved from large timbers with the use of a chain saw. Many of the tables were flat sections of enormous trees that had been cut and placed on top of a wooden base. One of the most spectacular tables was in the center of the main dining room – one long table that could easily sit 24 people. All of the tables were set with cloth napkins and glassware. In the center of each table were small green crocks holding creamers or your choice of jams and jellies. As you can imagine, our meals were served on large plates and everything was delicious from the biscuits and gravy to the omelets and the French toast.

After our tummies were sufficiently full, we walked through the gift shop and then down to the small stream that was passing by below the restaurant. The water in the stream was shallow and the fallen leaves were catching on the rocks of the babbling brook. Looking back up to the restaurant there were several dozen bird feeders and houses were hanging from the beams full of blue jays feeding to their hearts content.

It was only about 20 minutes from Camp 18 until we reached the small, seaside town of Cannon Beach. We drove to our rental house first to drop off our food and then we headed out as the owners were not quite ready for us. Our first stop was down to the beach near Mo’s Restaurant and the Tolovana Inn. There is a large parking lot there with easy access to the beach. We piled out of the car with cameras in hand and headed north on the beach towards The Haystack monolith. We walked about a mile down the beach. It was high tide. The 5-6 foot waves were crashing as they reached the shore. The sand along Cannon Beach is quite firm, so when you are walking along, you are not slipping and sliding in soft sand. This makes cleaning up much easier and quicker. There were sea gulls feeding on the sand crabs as the water rushed up on the beach. Dozens of people were enjoying the day walking hand in hand along the shore. Off shore, you could see The Haystack which is the largest of the monoliths along with several other smaller ones – and in the far distance looking north - out on a rock island all by itself stood Tillamook Lighthouse.

After walking for a couple of miles, we piled back in the car and drove into town where we walked around a few of the quaint shops and art galleries before we grabbed a few items at the local market and then headed “home”.

We rented “The Cannon Beach Big House” which is on Hemlock Drive one block from the beach. It is a rustic home and very quaint inside. White wooden paneling lines the lower half of the walls downstairs with the wainscoting trim painted in a deep forest green color dividing the wall. There is a large bay window in the front of the living room covered with sheer, white curtains that are pulled back onto hooks that forms a soft frame around the window. Three large upholstered chairs are in front of the window making it a cozy place to curl up and read a good book with the gas log fireplace along the other wall. A couch faces the three chairs on the opposite side of the living area with a dark Persian throw rug bringing the area together. Behind the couch is a large dining table and the kitchen is directly behind to that.

There are four bedrooms in the Big House – the master and one guest room upstairs with one bath and then two bedrooms downstairs – each with its’ own bath. The front bedroom is handicapped equipped with twin beds and an “accessible” bathroom. The home is very quaint and cozy and quite comfortable.

So - the Euchre cards came out and the games were on. The Guys are ahead now 5-1. Christie made us delicious Rachel Ray Weeknight Two Sauce Lasagna Bowls pasta dinner, salad and garlic bread. More Euchre games followed dinner – and the Guys are ahead at this point 5-1.

SATURDAY, October 9, 2010

We woke up Saturday morning to the sound of gently falling rain outside and brisk winds. It was a leisurely morning with everyone coming together in the kitchen eventually for a light breakfast. Jim and I took off for a walk down the beach. Though it was rainy, it was not cold at all. We bundled up and walked down to the waters’ edge and really enjoyed the beautiful scenery. We were out walking around 8:30 a.m. and there were already some brave souls out in the waves. There were not as many seagulls looking for food along the water this morning. The clouds were low and that led to a foggy appearance along the monoliths that jutted out of the water. We headed back to the house when the rain started coming down harder.

Once we were all ready, we piled into the car and our chauffeur, Rob, safely drove us into town to first go to the Visitor’s Center where we picked up a couple of local maps – and then we were off driving south towards the small town of Tillamook.

Highway 101 follows the coastline here and it is quite curvy. There are many pull-outs along the roadside as the coastline is so dramatic. There are many monoliths that jut out of the ocean surf along the edge but nothing as large as The Haystack in Cannon Beach itself. Some of the monoliths have caves in them that years have carved from the salt water crashing waves against them. You are compelled to pull over every chance you get, because the scenery is so beautiful and breathtaking – and you don’t want to miss a thing. We did that several times. Unfortunately, because of the low clouds and foggy conditions, our views were not as spectacular as they would be on a clear day. However, I have to say that I love this weather and seeing things as they are most of the year because of all the rain that Oregon receives, seemed very appropriate to me.

For some reason, I feel different up here. I feel comfortable and “at home”. Perhaps it is because I enjoy being with our friends – and it doesn’t matter where we are. Or perhaps it was because I grew up in Tucson, Arizona and through the years I’ve come to appreciate cooler weather. Even when it rains in southern California, I feel differently and it makes my heart happy.

So now that I have my happy heart, we are still driving with Rob at the helm. As we travel along Highway 101, we noticed that there are wild berry bushes all along the side of the road. At one point when we stopped to take in the view, we picked a few berries and tasted them. They were bitter tart – but I bet that if you mixed them with the right ingredients – perhaps even a splash of Grand Marnier liqueur that you would have one delicious cobbler or pie for dessert! And, I’m sure the house would smell heavenly while you were cooking it with the aroma of all of the ingredients blending together.

We drove through quaint seaside towns along our way including Manzanita, Nehalem Bay, Rockaway Beach and Garibaldi. Garibaldi is on the Tillamook Bay near Crab Harbor. We could not help but notice the dozens of small personal watercraft that were out on the water in the lagoon and along the coast as we drove by. Fishing must have been good, because these fishermen were all wearing their orange or rain gear and standing in the rain with their fishing poles in the water – I’m sure hoping to catch the next big one so they could come home and tell their stories.

There were some house boats along the river inlet south of there. Many of the homes up here are small cottage style vacation homes with rental contact information on the front of them. Then others were definitely private homes proudly standing on the waters’ edge with breathtaking views of the Oregon coastline. Some of these homes had to be well over 5,000 square feet.

As we approached the city of Tillamook on the north end, we saw a couple of large chain stores and of course, McDonalds. We were definitely in a larger community than what we have been driving through to get here.

Tillamook is the home of the Tillamook Cheese Factory and also the home of the delicious and creamy Tillamook Ice Cream. There is a huge complex that is open to the public where you can tour the plant and see the process of making cheese. The Tillamook Cheese Factory only makes a few varieties of cheddar cheese. As we proceeded through the tasting line, there were small cheese cubes to sample of the different varieties. My personal favorite of the samples of cheese was the small squeaky curds. These bite size yellow morsels actually do squeak when you bite down on them for the first time. They are yummy! And – a small package is coming home with us, because I’ve never seen them before in any of our stores in southern California.

After that, the path directed us into the ice cream parlor. The smell of fresh-baked waffle cones was heavenly and it is definitely a positive selling point on their part. We each chose our flavor of choice; and then with smiles on our faces, we proceeded to walk through more of the building. We climbed the stairs to the second floor which is lined with huge plate glass windows for observation of the works below. Below us were long conveyor belts with employees at different stations performing their tasks for the day. One person was cutting, one was stacking, another was slicing and others were performing quality checks at particular points. Eventually the blocks of cheese would be pushed on the conveyor belt into a plastic bag that would automatically inflate at just the right time so the cheese would slip easily into its’ packaging. Further down the conveyer, the package would be sealed, then shrink wrapped and ultimately continued on its way up and out of the large packaging room into another where I’m sure it was boxed up and would be shipped to a store somewhere for us to buy!

When we walked out of the Tillamook Factory to leave, the heavens had opened up and the rain was pouring down. The wind was also blowing quite briskly. Rob very kindly ran out to bring the car over to where the rest of us were, and we all piled in. We drove a little further into the heart of the city of Tillamook where we found Fat Dog Pizza. We ordered a combo pizza and sat by the front window in the small restaurant and enjoyed our lunch. The crust was thin and hand tossed. The sauce had a bit of spiciness to it and was covered with cheese, pepperoni, bell peppers, sausage, onions and olives. It was just perfect on this rainy day. Not too much for any of us. In fact, we even wrapped up several pieces to bring home and possibly have for leftovers or appetizers if we want.

Because it was raining much harder now, we decided not to go out to Cape Meares Lighthouse. Rob and Christie said from the parking lot, it is quite a hike to get to the lighthouse; so we opted to stay dry and head back north to our home for the weekend and play a few hands of Euchre.

When we unlocked the door of the house and went inside, we could all smell our dinner. I had been slow-cooking a pot roast on the stove all day. You just wanted to take a big whiff of the comfortable smell and let out a big sigh.

This weekend has definitely not been in the Gal’s favor as far as the cards go. I think at this point, we are down 7-1. The Guys are enjoying the fact that they have been able to back-up their partners with their hands and win their bids. Not only that, but Rob has “feathered” over five times! When you “feather” in Euchre, it means that you have successfully won every trick after you said that you would in the bidding process. The Guys have done well.

Our pot roast tonight was served with whole new potatoes, fresh baby carrots and the most delicious Brussel sprouts that I’ve ever tasted. Christie made the sprouts; and I must say, until now, I have never liked these tiny cabbages. I doubt that my palette has changed – it was because she is an excellent cook and prepared an incredible side dish.
After dinner the Guys cleaned up the dishes while the Gals went and spruced ourselves up for our night out on Clayton and Natha! They treated us to “A Talent for Murder” by Jerome Chodorov and Norman Panorama at the Coaster Theatre Playhouse in downtown Cannon Beach. The theater will seat about 175-200 people in a very intimate setting. There were three sections of seats terraced down to the stage. The theater has huge open beams above that house the lighting for the production. There is a small entry area with a tiny booth at the end of the parlor area where you can purchase a fresh cookie or coffee or tea during intermission. According to our program, “A Talent for Murder is a suspenseful drama about an internationally famous mystery novelist whose relatives would consider doing anything to get their hands on her money. Her money is in the form of an invaluable art collection, which, to the horror of her heirs, the novelist has considered donating to the Museum of Modern Art.” The entire evening was thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining. We came home and had a nice champagne toast for our anniversaries and played another game of Euchre – which the Gals again lost. The score of the Euchre Tournament is now 8-1 in the Guy’s favor.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Sunday morning was another leisurely morning. We enjoyed a wonderful quiche that Natha made along with lemon, poppy-seed muffins and fresh fruit for breakfast. Coffee brewed and the house smelled wonderful.

After breakfast, we all piled in the car and headed into Cannon Beach downtown to do a little shopping. The Guys took off to find a local tavern where they could take in one of the Sunday football games; and we Gals started our tour of all the boutiques and shops along Hemlock Street. There is a wide variety of choices to choose from including boutique clothing stores to antique stores, a Christmas store, and several art galleries including Jeffrey Hull, a well-known local artist.

We all met up together at the Driftwood Restaurant and decided to head to Mo’s Restaurant at Tolovana for lunch. I think we had one of the best tables in the house – a round table for eight right in the middle of the restaurant and next to the large, plate-glass window giving us a perfect view of the crashing waves on the beach outside. To the north was The Haystack and to the south was the rugged Oregon coastline complete with huge boulders jutting out of the water from the pounding surf along the shore.

After lunch we again piled into the car with Rob in the drivers’ seat and we headed north to Ecola State Beach. From the turn off on Hwy 101¸there is a narrow, two-lane road that winds in and around the thick forest for about three miles until you reach a large parking lot and grassy picnic area. High on the cliff above the ocean, we could see down the coast to the south for miles. It was the same looking north. The surf below was at high tide with waves that appeared to be about 10-15 feet tall. The waves came rolling into shore in perfect sets; and once they reached the jagged rocks along the bottom of the cliff, they crashed and threw spray high into the air. There was a slight wind blowing from the north; and as the waves began to crest and tumble and fall, you could see the wind blow spray for several feet above the wave throwing a mist the opposite way the wave was falling.

We walked down to a new observation deck that was recently built to the south of the parking lot which gave you a beautiful view of the beach below, Haystack Rock and then the rest of the foggy coast. Around 4:00p.m. the tide began to recede and the rush of water from the waves began to give way to more and more beach area to walk on. There is a nice walking path from the observation deck on out to Ecola Point where you have an even more breathtaking view of the Oregon coast in both directions. You can see huge pieces of driftwood that have washed up on the shore and are now piled along the waters’ edge. There were several small streams and a waterfall making their way from the forest behind us to the shore where they met the ocean.

After walking around Ecola State Beach, we ventured on back to the Big House and Christie began preparing a delicious dinner of red beans and rice complete with homemade cornbread. While dinner was simmering on the stove, at sunset we grabbed some wine with cheese and crackers and walked down to the beach. We gathered near several driftwood logs and had a toast to good friends and enjoyed the sunset. As is often along the Oregon coast, there was a light fog which gave a gray hue to the horizon. We chased a couple of the waves washing up on shore. It was getting cool as the sun finally set in the west, and so we wandered on back to the house where we enjoyed our fabulous dinner.
After dinner the Euchre slaughter continued and finally ended with the Guys plucking the Gals feathers” and winning the Euchre Fest 10-1. It was late after that last game and we all headed off to bed.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Our long weekend was coming to and end, and this morning we woke up and had to pack our things and be on our way home. We left the house by 9:00 a.m. and headed north on Hwy. 101 towards Astoria. It took us about 1 ½ hours to reach Astoria and make our way across the two-mile long, green steel Astoria Bridge from Oregon over the Columbia River to the state of Washington. Our destination was Cape Disappointment Lighthouse.

Cape Disappointment Lighthouse is set out on a bluff high above the ocean near the mouth of the Columbia River. After we parked the cars in the parking lot, we made our way up the concrete sidewalk towards the visitor center. As you reach the top of the incline and turn left Cape Disappointment Lighthouse comes into view. With hundred foot tall pine trees behind it, this white and black spiral concrete spire stands proudly on this grassy knowl. Atop the black and white spire is the beautiful glass dome and brass railing. On the walkway around the visitor center you will find several plaques with dedications to those who have lost their lives during inclement weather coming across the treacherous currents at the mouth of the Columbia River.

Being the adventurous ones today, Natha and I took off down the path marked “this way to the lighthouse”. While we thought that everyone knew where we were, we were mistaken; and they began diligently looking for us. We walked further and further down the dirt and rock path that was only about 2 feet wide and line on both sides with the thick forest floor covered with moss and ferns and pines. Eventually, Natha and I began to question actually where we were going. We wanted to get out to the lighthouse, but the directional signs were misleading with one stating it was .75 miles to the lighthouse and the next saying it was 1.2 miles and then another saying .5 miles. When we came upon a beautiful peaceful lagoon, we decided we’d better turn around and head back as none of the rest of our group had apparently followed us. Thus was our trek for today. As we got about half way back up the path, here came Jim and Clayton, Rob and Christie hoping to find us. We left together, laughing at our adventure on the path less traveled to Cape Disappointment Lighthouse.

From Cape Disappointment, we drove around to North Head Lighthouse which is just a few miles away from Cape Disappointment. The walk to North Head Lighthouse is much easier and all paved. The first building that you come upon at North Head is the lighthouse keepers’ house. This is now offered as a B & B and can be rented through the State of Washington. The dwelling is made of concrete to withstand the harsh weather. It is painted white with red trim. As you walk past the keepers’ house, the path takes you along another cliff and in about half a mile you are looking at a statuesque tall lighthouse also painted white with red trim. There are historical markers painted on the side of the lighthouse indicating the longitude and latitude and also the date it was built – 1898.
From North Head Lighthouse we headed back into Astoria and drove across the bridge and up the other side up to the Astoria Column. This dramatic concrete column was erected to commemorate many significant dates in Oregon history from “before the white man came” through the Lewis & Clark Expedition. There are twelve different scenes depicting these historical events; and they start at the bottom and wind upwards to the top of the 124 foot column. Jim, Rob and Clayton went inside and climbed to the top where they came out on a small observation deck.

After our sightseeing of the lighthouses and The Column, we enjoyed a wonderful lunch at The Bridge Water Bistro. Housed inside a barn red building directly underneath the Astoria Bridge, is this wonderful restaurant facing the Columbia River. Our lunch was delicious and came to an end all too soon as we had to get back on the road in order to get to the Portland Airport in time to board our plane.

We drove down I-5 south towards Portland and could not help but notice more beautiful farm country, slow moving rivers winding through the green pastures and magnificent Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens far off in the distance.

Our weekend ended all too soon. Our five days had come to an end; and we found ourselves saying our goodbyes on the curb of the airport terminal. I always hate this part. No matter how much time we have with our friends, it is never quite enough. The scenery was breathtaking, the food was delicious, and the memories are priceless. Thank you to Rob & Christie and Clayton & Natha for celebrating our 10th anniversary with us and for making more special memories. And, to my Jim – the past 10 years have been wonderful. Thank you for coming into my life and letting this butterfly out of her cocoon.