Portland

8/17/17

Even after washing the outside of the RV, we were still able to leave the campground in Vancouver at 10:10.  We crossed the Lionsgate Bridge.  There was a lot of traffic on the bridge and through downtown Vancouver, also Granville Island and Surrey were just as thick with traffic and many very narrow streets.  I spent a great deal of time sucking in air as we passed barriers on the right that I didn’t think we would miss.  Tom assured me that he was as far left as he could go and stay out of the lane next to us. 

We finally made it through the cities, then on to the US Customs border.  The sign said there was a 15 minute delay, BUT… we waited in line for almost an hour to get through the  border.  Hooray! – Back in the USA!  It felt so good.

US Border crossing (through a screen)

We stopped in a rest stop for a quick sandwich and driving break – only one more hour of driving.  We arrived at La Conner Thousand Trails campground on the coast around 2:00.  This is a beautiful park, full of dense trees, and ocean scenery.  I can see why this park is one of Thousand Trails best. 

So many trees, that you cannot see the other campers,

but they are all there.  The campground is full.

Our spot (you can see the trailer behind us)

I set out in the Jeep to scout out a camping spot and got lost in the process.  A couple walking along the roads tried to help me, but I don’t think it worked (they were from Marysville near here).  I finally found a spot on Spear Trail and tried to get back to the front to alert Tom, but I got lost again.  I drove around two separate sections before I found the front gate.  There was Tom waiting with his hands in the air as if to say, “what took you so long?” I told him to follow me, and we finally got into our spot.  After Tom parked the RV, I took the Jeep to go back to the front gate and report our spot number, and of course, I got lost again.  In the process of trying to find my way back, I came across the parking spot for the couple from Marysville, sitting out in their chairs enjoying the beautiful day.  They were driving a Sunova RV, which is just like ours (both are Winnebagos) except theirs was a little longer.  They asked if I was lost again, and I nodded ‘yes’, but I continued until I found our rig.  Tom was completely leveled and hooked up by the time I got back.

An hour later, while we were sitting outside with a beer and a book, the same couple came walking past our rig and stopped to visit.  We talked for almost an hour, as they were interested in the Fantasy RV Tour sticker on our motorhome.  We told them all about caravans and how they work.  I think we may have sold them on trying it out, but she still had 2 more years of work at Boeing before they could leave for that amount of time.  We had spaghetti for dinner and played cards.  Tom couldn’t lose!

8/18/17

I slept in.  Tom walked the dogs twice!  We took the Jeep down to the family center, but no breakfast.  A couple who were sitting outside the Trading Post, told us that they have hot doughnuts and coffee at 10:00 (only 20 more minutes), so we sat down with them to wait.  The view from the back of the Trading Post was really pretty.  There was a big grassy area with beautiful landscaping all around and the Puget Sound on the other side of the cliffs.  The couple was from Renton, Washington and had family in the area; she also had family in Homer, Alaska and they were interested in our trip through Alaska.  We finally got our coffee and doughnuts and enjoyed the morning outside.  Back to the RV for a restful day.  Read the newspaper, did puzzles, Tom cleaned the plastic off the floors (from the manufacturer).  Dinner and more cards.  It was a lovely, quiet day.

8/19/17

Today is a travel day, but we want to get up early and go to the family center for breakfast at 8:30.  The breakfast was OK, but the company was even better.  The couple from Renton, WA also came in for breakfast, and we spent a lot of time with them.  They were really nice people. 

We were back at the RV at 10:00, readied the coach for the road, hooked up the car, and were out at 10:30.  We stopped at Costco in Burlington for gas, and I went in shopping.  We must have spent at least an hour there, as I picked up some groceries. 

The traffic through Seattle and Tacoma was all RED on the GPs, so we took detours to avoid the delays.  We ended up on a mountain road through nice homes, got stopped by a train, passed through many little towns where we had to slow down to 30 mph, and one turn around.  I still think we beat the mess on Interstate 5 South.  We arrived at Jantzen RV Park in Hayden Island (next to Portland) at 5:35, just 5 minutes after they closed.  Luckily, I had called ahead and our parking spot and paperwork was posted at the office.  It took us 7 hours (about 5 ½ hours of driving) with no lunch stop, which made our 236 mile trip average 42 mph—a very long day of driving.

We got set up and met Amanda (Tom’s daughter) and Ben (son-in-law) for dinner at a corner Pub close to their house.  They walked over to meet us and we had a good visit.  They had been hiking all day and they also got a new rescue dog, so we had a lot to talk about. 

8/20/17

The kids came here at the RV for a visit.  Then we left with them to the Vancouver Farmers Market.  We bought wonderful Oregon fruit and veggies (I wish we had this kind of Farmers Market at home).  We went back to the RV and had lunch outside on the picnic table – it was so good.

At 6:00, we drove to the kids’ house and met Miss Marigold, the new pup.  She wouldn’t let me take her picture.  She is still very nervous.  Ben grilled pork sausages for dinner and we sat out in the back patio until 10:00 just talking.  We got a tour of the newly renovated basement – it was a big improvement to the last time we were there – the family room was very cozy, and they still want to put in a bathroom there.

Amanda, Tom, and Ben

 

8/21/17 – ECLIPSE DAY

In June when we left home, Tom and I didn’t really pay any attention to the upcoming eclipse, but up here in the Northwest, it was a really BIG DEAL.  Maybe that was why the traffic through Seattle and Tacoma was so bad – I don’t know. 

We stayed here in the RV.  The day was bright and sunny – no clouds.  Our neighbors had extra eclipse glasses and gave us a pair so we could see the eclipse.  What an amazing event. 

28 minutes to total eclipse

10 minutes to total eclipse
 

 

1 minute to total eclipse

99.3% of full eclipse in Portland (naked eye)

Tom watching the Eclipse in Portland

Here in Portland, we got 99.3% of the total eclipse.  I was surprised at how light it was with only 0.7% of the sun out.  However, it was enough darkness to force the streetlights and the Home Depot lights across the street to come on.

I stayed tuned into the news broadcast and got this picture from ABC News of the total eclipse in Charlotte, SC, the last major city in the US to get the total eclipse.  The next eclipse in the US will be in 2024 and runs from Texas to the Northeast.

Total eclipse in Charlotte, S.C.

After the riveting eclipse, we met up with Amanda and drove into downtown Portland to Stumptown Coffee, where Ben has worked almost since its beginnings.  He gave us a tour of the plant and explained how they make the cold brew and nitro-injected cold brew.  They have many more products now than they had 3 years ago, when we last visited.  Also, since we were here in 2014, Stumptown has been sold to a venture capital company, and again to a German conglomerate.  The company now has very deep pockets.  Ben is doing well with the company.





After our coffee tour, we made a short drive to the northernmost point of the Portland peninsula, at St Johns.  There, we stopped at a German beer company, for beer and hot pretzels.  I also had braised red cabbage, just like Grandma Williams made.  It brought fond memories of grandma's cooking.



After dinner at the RV, Amanda came over with Miss Marigold to meet Lucky and Penny.

Amanda and Marigold

  They got along just fine and Marigold got more comfortable with other dogs.  We said our goodbyes to Amanda.  We really enjoyed our visit