Time in Oregon . . .

Vicki arrived Tuesday, Aug. 1 for a week. Two days in Portland before heading east to the falls. Of course, Powell Books and Voodoo Donuts were a must . . .

 
 
After having dinner in Portland with Emily, we headed out to camp, hike and enjoy the beauty of Multnomah Falls and County. We were awed by the falls. An early morning hike before the crowds made our visit to Multnomah Falls much more enjoyable. Later in the day we took a LONG hike and the crowds were, let's say there were A LOT of people. Definitely will go back!

 

On to Hood River . . . Visited Vicki's brother and sister-in-law. Nice place - main street shopping, farmers market Saturday morning and lunch. Hood River has a few wineries.

So, had to try a couple-actually three. Will definitely be back here. Two nights isn't enough.
Wineries in Hood River
Nice visit to Oregon but more adventures ahead . . . new places . . . 

The Trip Begins . . .

 



Left Mountain Retreat Resort, Arnold, CA, after a short stay (short of the long of it - just ask, you probably know anyway if you are reading this).
 

Between jobs means one thing . . .

ROAD TRIP

July 31 was my last day. Best laid plans never work out right. Was hoping to be on the road by 1:30pm - luckily left just after 3pm which meant not being able to make it to planned camp site the first night. First night, first rest stop in Oregon on HWY 97 - front seat was my bed.

First stop Aug 1, BEND, OR

 


Parked bike near park by downtown and enjoyed riding around town - great bike town. Lunch, beer and an asparagus appetizer. Joel, waiting from Colorado Springs, been in Bend four months and now heading to Iceland to hike for a month. Living the dream. Spent longer than planned in Bend. On to Portland to have dinner with daughter and pick-up Vicki for a week together in Oregon.
 

It's a Ball

Love Baseball

 


On a recent visit to OKC, to celebrate Dad's 90th birthday with family, Cohen and I went with Abby to an OKC Dodger game.
In the 8th inning, Leonel Perez - Iowa Cub first base coach, threw us a ball. Cohen was so excited. At 19 months, already loves the game. It was a great time. He and Abby will be heading out to SoCal in July for our annual Red Sox trip.  CAN"T WAIT.  


He got his first bat and ball at the game too. He's ready to play! Wish you lived closer.

So thankful for my dad and brother sharing their time with me as a kid to develop a love for this game. Hope I can do the same for Cohen. It's a great game, great traditions. We'll be singing "Put me in coach, I'm ready to play today . . . " 





California Dreaming since December 2013

Can't believe it still . . .
Moved to Big Bear Lake, CA, December 2013
Spent two plus years in Winter Park at the Pinnacle Lodge before being sold to a Denver group after the Grand Canyon bike trip. 
The hotel sale made it a GREAT time for a change.
 
Oh, what a wonderful change.  Got to spend six weeks with Abby and my new grandson, Cohen.  Born October 2013.  WOW!  That was a great experience. 

Helped them make the move to Oklahoma before I headed west. 
Spent a couple of weeks, including Thanksgiving, with my sister and her family.  How wonderful to spend a 2nd Thanksgiving in OKC with family.  Always treasure the time with family.  Unfortunately, Emily couldn't join us this year.  But she will be moving out west in a couple of weeks. 

End of Winter

2012 - The winter that never came.  Snow pack at record lows for this time of year. Forest fires in March.  May be a tough spring and summer fire season if we don't get snow/rain.

Only a few days on the mountain. Enjoyed Emily and Abby visiting this winter - wish the snow would have been better.  Had blizzard conditions when we went to Steamboat - that WASN'T fun. 
Time to consider ordering passes for next year. . . We'll see. 

A quote by my fav, Thoreau:
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I have not lived." 

How true is that?