Soccer

Soccer
Will at play

Monday, September 7, 2015

California to Victoria, BC 2015

We took our road trip to Victoria, BC in our "new" 2005 Lincoln Town car with a really new 2015 radio/navigation system. It was a great trip. We began by driving to Alturas, Ca. Then through Eastern Oregon, visiting friends in Portland then to The San Juan Islands staying with friends. Then to Victoria, BC. Teas, etc.
Here are some details:
Road Trip July 26- August 12, 2015
California, Oregon, Washingtom, British Columbia
July 26 Day 1

Left 10 am ca 65-70-299 Chico, Paradise, rock Creek where Dixon Haley Dixon played in the seventies, lake Almanor bonus dog friendly resort right on water, lunch at Carol's Lake Almanor. Arrive Alturas 8:30pm. Dinner Antonio's- shared pizza and salad. Stayed Niles Motel 1908' Dick has to climb 2 flights of stairs, I had to lug luggage up 3 trips. Check in at bar people taking shots. Last trip to Alturas

July 27 Day 2

Rise 4:45 am J, Dick 7 am
Breakfast Jerry's, Lakeview, Oregon
Beautiful country, long and easy drive, I drove mostly
John Day from Lakeview 209.3 miles, 3 hr 42 min
John Day to La Grande about 4 hours
Dinner ten Depot
Stayed at Best Western with amenities including indoor pool and spa
Reminisced about trips passed, national parks visited, kids, etcetera
Watched 2 episodes of Vera
Stayed at Best Western

July 28 Day 3

Rise 5:30 am J, Dick 7 am
LaGrande to Joseph-2.5 hours via Walla Walla
Breakfast fruit and nuts in room
Lunch deli picnic at a beautiful city park in park at WWW
Drove by Whitman
Nice time in pool and hot tub before leaving
Stopped by UEO
Reminisced kids, Bob moved to WW when he was a senior, Gerald went to Whitman for a year
Watched 4 episodes of Harry on Acorn, bed late
Stayed at Eagle Lodge in Enterprise, a former Best Western

July 29 Day 4

Rise 7:50 am
Breakfast in room, pool and spa, off to Hood River at 11 am, deli lunch from Safeway to eat on the road.
Joseph to Hood River 4.5 hours, I drove for first 2.5 hours, we stopped at rest area, not very nice, temperature 94 degrees, deli lunch horrible. Dick drove to Hood River along the Columbia River Gorge. That part was nice. Here at the Comfort Inn now talking to Rob.
Off to dinner, 7:30 pm
Dinner at a very nice place on the Hood River

July 30 Day 5

Hood River to Portland, Ron and Shirley Jamptgaard lunch at Biscuit visit Portland N.
Drove to Bill and Susan Cole's house in Portland S.
Lovely home, slept very soundly
Shrimp snacks
Steak and Orzo and Kale for dinner - delicious
Hot 100 plus

July 31 Day 6

Rise 8:00 am
English muffins and coffee for breakfast
9:30 off to Japanese gardens and Rose gardens
Ate lunch at Manzana Rotisserie Grill at Lake Oswego then St. Honore for pastries
Tonight Salmon dinner
Wonderful dinner
Hot 100 plus

August 1 Day 7

Pinch punch first day of the month
Walked Lillie with Sue
Breakfast
Off to Whidbey Island
Dick talked, talked, talked with Bill before leaving left at about 10 am
Took us 4.5 hours, I drove
New GPS in radio fantastic, it took us around all traffic jams in Olympia/Tumwater, Tacoma and Seattle.
Took the Whidbey Island Ferry to the Island
Checked in at the Acorn, small, clean hotel, perfumey odor almost gagged you. Shopped for a Light dinner, ate at Whidbey Island State Park overlooking the water.
Back to hotel, easy wifi access and HDMI connection. Watched Taggert on Netflix.

August 2 Day 8

On the ferry to Friday Harbor, it takes an hour and 5 minutes. It took us about 30 minutes to get to the ferry at Anacortes. Again our whiz of a GPS, Stella, took us via the back and quick way through a beautiful state park with lush trees and forest, then through a seaside community of nice homes then to the ferry. Arrive at john and Emily's after meeting John at the Ferry terminal. Funny story, John was looking for a pink Lincoln Towncar. We connected he was waiting on foot. I had to pull over and run back to connect. Waiting to follow him, we got separated. Met up again on Spring St. Trunk open was the cue. They have a cute house suits them with a separate guest quarters and bath. Had their 5 pm tradition of cocktails g&t for John, wine and cheese and iced tea for Dick. For supper, Em made a nice chicken with lime and herbs, salad and rolls with chutney and freshly home made raspberry Jam. A buck came so close to the dining room. Bed time at 9:30 pm. Restless night sleep.

August 3 Day 9

Wheaties peaches and blackberries for breakfast. Blackberries freshly picked with Emily on our morning walk. Visited Pig War American Camp south of the island at San Juan National Historic Park. Saw a grey fox, a black fox and deer. Lunch at Ernie's at the airport. Napped in afternoon. Lavendar farm in the afternoon. Off to Rothe Harbor. Dinner at McMillan's North Island Resort, lovely area. John, Em, and I had lamb chops, Dick had prime rib. Dick and I shared Creme Brûlée. Off to John's hanger to see Plane RV and the Chipmunk which is a world war 2 RAF training which replaced the Gypsy Moth. Bed at 9:30. Restful night.

August 4 Day 10

Waffle's and fruit. Hung out and read, lunch sandwiches, off to Lavendar farm twice. Dick took a nice nap. 5 pm cocktails, supper was quiche, salad, green beans, rolls, ice cream for dessert. Emily is an excellent cook. Bed 9:30 pm. Restful night.

August 5 Day 11 Friday Harbor to Sydney to Victoria

Breakfast - fruit with toast. Walk with Emily. Now on ferry to Sydney and then off to Victoria. Arrived Victoria, checked in, had lunch-very good. Pool with Dick, snacks in room for me, Dick went to 16th floor for meal included, upon his return, watched a couple of Acorn shows.

August 6 day 12 Victoria

Finished John's Souls on a Walk a beautiful life story of his and Gene's life until her death after 16 years with Alzheimer's. He talked about finding a relationship with another woman. He put it out in the universe and was matched with Emily. What an excellent match. Had breakfast upstairs on 16th floor included with hotel via points and our level of customer. Walked for hours. Wharf, Chinatown, etc. Returned at noon, paid Alison's tuition and rent. Walked to lunch at Nautical Nellie's with Dick, good lunch ate outside across from harbor. Victoria is my favorite city in North America.

August 7, 2015 day 13 Victoria

Breakfast on 16th floor. Left for 10 am Head massage appointment. It was good, he worked me over with moderate pressure, oils and aroma therapy. Reaction to oils on should 5 or 6 bumps like bites or hives or? Hair greasy when left. Back at hotel, swam with Dick in the pool, arthritis work out. Showered in pool area. 2 pm left for tea by taxi to Abzahki Gardens. Late afternoon walk to St. Annes's Convent and surrounding area.

August 8, 2015 day 14 Victoria

Drove out to Butchart Gardens, walked in the morning, arrived at about 9:30 am. Dick walked all over the gardens, the Sunken, Rose, etc. Lovely tea in the tea garden, excellent! Too much, stuffed. Came back to hotel via a nice round a bout drive via U Victoria, nice campus reminds me of Sonoma State. Back at the hotel, watched New series Scott and Bailey, excellent. Went down to dinner, cheese/meat did not enjoy. Dick had a nice nap yesterday afternoon.

August 9, 2015 day 15 Victoria to Port Angeles, WA to Astoria, OR

Woke up at 3 am after a dream about Aly and Em, had trouble going back to sleep. Got back to sleep at about 4:30 ish, slept until 7:45 am, finished packing and getting ready, down to the car with a cart, guess what forgot Dick's cane. Back up via desk to get a key then the cane then off to the Coho ferry in Victoria, convenient down the street from hotel. Hotel cost 140k points and $206 for four nights, very excellent indeed. Waited 90 minutes at ferry terminal to be processed through US Customs and loaded on the boat. The boat has no elevator is 60 years old and Dick had to climb stairs. We split a turkey sandwich used up the rest of e lemons and limes, can't take then in to US. Dick's overall impression of hotel is A-, Victoria B-. Cost and points reasonable room comfortable and Dick liked the pool. It is 11:55 am, we will arrive Port Angeles at about 12:10 pm, back in the USA. Stayed at the Hampton Inn on the water, great!

August 10, 2015 day 16 Astoria to Coos Bay, OR

Long drive to Coos Bay along the coast, beautiful country. Arrived at Red Lion Coos bay, dated, chair in room scary, covered it with towels, Dick went to bed early. Room ok, restful night, woke up at 8, breakfast at Red Lion, included, best so far. Long drive from Coos Bay to Benbow Inn, CA. More beautiful country. I drove 3 hours, Dick drove 2 hours.

August 11, 2015 day 17 Coos Bay to Benbow, CA

Long drive. Benbow FANTASTIC!! Changed rooms to 119 cottage, OMG. Antiques in room, bathroom best yet. Michael helped get us checked in and escorted to room by Mika. What a lovely location and cottage on the Eel River, dinner at 7:15 in the dining room, breakfast at 8 on the terrace. Then off to Lincoln via Leggit and Yuba City. About 4.5 hours. Agree with Dick, less long drives and longer stay so next road trip. We stayed for a total of 9 days with in Portland, San Juan Island and Vistoria another 9 days, a night here and there.

August 12, 2015 day 18 Benbow to home