Vancouver /Portland 7/12/15

Landry day!!!  So exciting to go to the Laundromat and do our laundry!   This is one thing I hate while on the road.

Caught up on my blog and will work on my pinecone project, unless I find something else to entertain me!

We (OK, I am), getting very excited about leaving on Tuesday.   Can't wait to see my brother and his family at the beach for 3 days.  Even if the Dr. doesn't clear Bobby, we are still leaving on Tuesday and will return if we half too....fingers crossed, we don't have to come back!!

Vanocouver / Portland 7/11/15

After Bobby cooked breakfast, went drove over to our Post Office in Portland.   It was not open (9:00 AM) so we went to Home Depot at Mall 205.  I bought some stuff to polish my counter tops.  By the time we were done, the PO was open, so headed back to get our mail.   On the way to the freeway, stopped at Fred Meyers and we bought new tennis shoes for me and flip flops for Bobby.

Got back home around noon and then I started to clean my counter tops.  They were getting scratched and dull, now they are beautiful!!! 

Ron came by to visit in the middle of this, had a nice visit.  We agreed we'd all go to dinner Monday, as it will be our last dinner/outing with them.

After he left, Bobby headed to Broadmoor to meet up with his buddy Danny and see some of the men's club members.  I stayed home and cleaned up my mess!!!

Stayed home and watched two movies: Focus and Forger.   Both just ok, glad we rented vs. paid to see them.

Vancouver / Portland 7/10/15

At the hatchery

lake at the hatchery

Went to breakfast at Valerie's and ran into our long time friend Rick.  Sat and visited with him for 30 min or so, then headed to Vanco so I could try out my new grips on my golf clubs.   Boy do they make a difference.   

Once I was finished, we were heading home when I asked Bobby to take me down towards the Columbia River so I could see the view.   Bobby drove thru the various streets, as we looked at all the high end homes.  Beautiful, to say the least.  Ended up down near Steamboat Landing (Ron and Paula own a home in this area but lease it out), and found the Vancouver Trout Farm.   Yes, they actually had fish!!!

Spent about an hour their looking around and feeding fish.

Hatchery

On the way home, Bobby dropped me off at Fred's so I could get my toes done!   They are so pretty in the hot pink color.

Got home around 2 and then I just worked on a few projects, nothing exciting.

Vancouver / Portland 7/9/15

We have dinner plans with our friends Steve and Shelly in Beaverton, so we leave around noon.   Traffic is horrible already, glad we left early.  

First stop was Paula's, we had purchased a pair of golf shoes for her at Vanco Driving range so we dropped them off.   Went and saw how they rearranged their furniture, the house is coming along so nicely.

Then we head to Lake Grove and the Columbia Sportswear outlet store.   Bought some sun shirts for me.   Great buy!!!

Next stop  was Costco to purchase meat for tonight's dinner.  Steve will BBQ so we picked up a Morton's steak....delicious!!!

Arrived at Steve's around 3:30, Shelley got home from work around 5.  Had a great visit and dinner.  It was nice to spend quality time with these two, we don't get to see them much, since we are in AZ most of the time.

Traffic coming home was much better, so got home around 9.

Vancouver / Portland 7/8/15

John, Judy, Rich, Jan, Bobby, Arlan,
Caroline, Dan & Olga

Busy day, started out by going to Vanco Driving Range, so I could practice my golf.   Also got new grips on all of my clubs, plus bought Paula a new pair of shoes for $20.  Great deal!!

Got home around 11:00, sat around until 11:30, then headed to Sextant Tavern to have lunch with a group of friends from Tyee Yacht Club days.  It was so nice to sit and visit with Dan & Olga Clouse, Caroline & Arlan Walker, Barb & Ben Hordes, John & Judy Hazen and Rich & Jan Rydman.   Had a great time reminiscing about out boating days and eating lunch.

Arlan, Caroline, Dan, Olga, Barb
Ben, John, Judy, Rich, Jan & Bobby

We agreed we should do this annual, but gentle reminded them we only come to Oregon every 2 yrs...lol.

Got home around 3, will spend the evening doing nothing!!!!

Vancouver / Portland 7/7/15

We had to dump the coach, so headed out earlier to beat the traffic.   It's only 11 miles but sometimes traffic makes it seems like 30, however today, it was a breeze like it has the last few times.

Otto's in SE Portland, that's Ron

Got home and got coach reset.   Once it was all done, I need to make a few phone calls, as I'm trying to reserve spots and a cabin for my brother to join us next Tuesday.    After contacting several RV parks, got my brother into a park model at Copalis Beach, WA and we are staying at an RV park in Ocean Shores, 4 miles away.   I can't stay in the same park, as now days, these RV parks won't let you stay in their system within 7 days of each other.   So, we are staying at a KM park and then when we move on the 17th, staying in a Sunrise resort.  

I'm so excited Rog & Winnie are going us next week.

At 11:15, I was still working on all the details and realized we're supposed to be at Ron & Paula's to go to lunch.  After a quick phone call, we left and drove to their house, only 15 min. late!   Went to lunch at Otto's in SE Portland.   It's a famous sandwich shop, our sandwich was good but Ron & Paula's was not.

After lunch we drove around the SE section, all of us spent most of our adult lives in this area of Portland.   Great to see the changes/no changes.   We went by several homes they used to live in, plus our old house.  The yard is over grown with bushes and trees, nothing like we left it!   But it's his, not ours!

Got home around 3, went to Freds to look at their summer sale.   Bought a few things and then headed home.  

We rented the movie "John Wick", it was just ok.

Vancouver / Portland 7/6/15

Molton Falls

Started the day by driving to Woodland, WA to see if we could catch up with Tom & Sarah (friends that live next to Havasu plus we've known them from our Tyee days), however, they had already driven back to their home in Lake Oswego.   Should have called first!!!

Lucia Falls

Since they weren't there and Gary & Flo (other friends from our Tyee days) were busy with errands, I decided we'd drive up to Lake Merwin and home that way.

While driving hwy 503, we saw Lewis River Hatchery & Merwin Hatchery, both of which have no public access.   Drats!!!   Was hoping to see the baby salmon.

Next stop was Merwin Dam and the lake.   It's been 30+ yrs since we've been in this area.   It's stunning, to say the least.

Bobby at Molton Falls

Approx. 5 miles short of Cougar, we took hwy 503 south towards Amboy, not much in that town!   While we were traveling to Battleground, the next town, I noticed a sign to Molton & Lucia falls.   So, I turned up that road.   Approx 7 miles later, we were at Molton Falls.   They were nice but with the lack of water in this area, they were not running to their normal level.   In fact, we could see the water is about 10' down.  However, they were still pretty.

Down River from Molton Falls

Then we head back down the road to Lucia Falls (past it on the way up).   These were prettier falls but we were not allowed to touch the water.   Protected for the wildlife!

Once we were back to the car, headed to Battlegound, where we had lunch at the Silver Dragon, a Chinese restaurant.   Finished lunch and then headed home.   It was a great day, glad we finally got out and did some sightseeing.

Vancouver / Portland 7/5/2015

Bobby & I went to Stardust Diner for breakfast, will certainly come again as they have excellent food!!!!

Went to Fred Meyers for water and a newspaper.   Got home around 10, then I left at 11:30 to go have lunch with my IPOP (Insurance Professionals of Portland) girlfriends.   At one time or another, we all belong to IPOP.   Three of us are now retired from the insurance industry but we try to stay in contact with each other.   I've known most of the women for over 25yrs.  We reminisced about our times with the group and what each other is doing today.   Great fun catching up and seeing everyone.

Got home around 3 and watched TV.....best part was USA beating Japan in the women's soccer match!!!

Bobby is feeling much better.   Can't wait until the 14th so we can go do things.  

Vancouver / Portland 7/4/15

It's the 4th of July and we spent it with Ron & Paula at their boat house.    Arrived around 3:30, it was extremely warm, so we immediately put on our swimsuits and dove into the river.   It was refreshing to say the least....72 degrees, but you get used to it rather quickly.    

Paula and I floated around on floats for about 1/2 hr, while Bobby and Ron visited and snacked on  the TX caviar.   It was delicious!

At about 6, we decide to float from boat house #1 down to their house (#25), river was moving fairly quickly, so only took us about 15 min.   Jim their neighbor joined us, tons of fun!

Around 7, they fixed dinner.   Steak & salads, yummy.   Cleaned up the dishes and then Ron, Paula, and myself went for another float from house boat #1, it was slack tide, so we had to work to get back to their house.   When we got their, their friends John & Diane, along with their two daughters had just arrived.   They are joining us for fireworks.

All the house boat owners pitched in for fireworks, as one of the owners has a barge that they shoot them off in front of the houses.   They hauled out the barge around 9.   While waiting for 10 PM, I served the zucchini cake, it was a big hit!

Ron & Paula on their house boat

Fireworks show started at 9:45, great little show.   During intermission at 10, we decided we'd head home as getting back might take us hours if we get caught in the Fort Vancouver Fireworks show.   Thankfully we did as traffic was getting heavy but at the Fort we could see a grass fire and smoke was heavy.    Might have closed hwy 14, if it got any worse.  We could see the grass on fire, but knew fire department was already there, so should get under control fairly quickly.    While traveling down hwy 14, we saw another grass fire, this one was on opposite side of the hwy, but had the off ramp closed.   The air was thick with smoke, hopefully no homes will be lost tonight.

Vancouver / Portland 7/3/15

Bobby had lunch with his friend Bill Preston at the Sexton.   While he was gone, I made a pineapple zucchini cake and Texas Caviar for the gathering with Ron & Paula tomorrow for the 4th.

Once Bobby got home, finished my chores and then we ran a few errands, picked up my new prescription sunglasses and took back the electric shock machine to the therapist.  

Got home and watch two movies:  Black or White and The Judge.    Really liked Black or White, make you open your eyes about mixed families.    The Judge was good, just sad to realize that this happens in real life!