Road Trip - Day 9

Today we spent the day at wholesale nurseries again. One was a major producer of specialty trees and shrubs, one a producer of dwarf and miniature conifers and shrubs, one is the largest shade tree producer in the United States. After a late lunch, we went to the largest garden center in the Pacific Northwest. It was really interesting to see the behind the scenes production at the nurseries. One also had a beautiful display and memorial garden and the other a large arboretum.

Here is a picture of the big machine that drives through the fields over the 14' tall trees to dig them up and shake them loose from the soil in the late autumn so that they can store them in giant coolers as bare root trees until they ship them in the spring. Tomorrow we will go to the International Rose Test GArden and then to a place called the Grotto. AFter that the bus heads to the airport and we catch the train back to the hotel to pick up our car so that we can go see Dad's cousin.

Road Trip - Day8

Somebody today commented on how much they liked our matching shirts yesterday and wondered if I made them.


Today we went to one of Oregon State University's research and experimental stations. It was interesting to see how they set up testing for pest and disease resistance for trees and berries. We also went to the Oregon Garden in Silverton. The city needed a way to use their treated waste water before it went back into the environment (it is too warm to just dump it into the creek) and some garden organizers were looking for a place to grow a public garden that had a source of irrigation water. So the city pumps their treated water to the garden. The garden built a series of wetlands at the top of the property (all nicely landscaped). After the water moves through the wetlands, the water is stored and used for irrigation and other water features. By the time they use it in their sprinklers and catch it again at the bottom of the garden (80 acres of garden, eventually 240 acres) the water is at least 10 degrees cooler and a little less fertile and it runs out into the local creek. The garden gets good water year round and the city avoids daily fines for releasing warm water back into the creek.

We also went to Monrovia Nursery. The Oregon location is Monrovia's largest producer. Today they estimated about 22 million plants on site. It is huge and well-run.

We walked, walked, walked and walked. But had a very nice day. Funny thing, the Oregon gardens is just one block from the turn off to Silver Falls State Park, our next destination (Monday) after the trip.

Road Trip - Day 7

Nerd Alert! Nerd Alert! Cover your eyes, Liz! Today we wore our matching shirts. We got lots of compliments and positive comments. I would say that is a reflection on the group we are traveling with, except that when we went to get a hamburger for dinner, a mechanic at the Burgerville also liked our shirts.


We went to the Bonneville Dam today where there are also fish ladders and locks for boats to pass through. We watched fish go up the ladders and looked at some lampreys that were suctioned on to the viewing window.




We also went to look at sturgeon. Then we went to Multnomah Falls for lunch at the lodge and then to a Japanese Garden and a Chinese Garden. Both were beautiful. We ran out of time and didn't get to the Rose Test Garden, but we will do that on Saturday if we can squeeze it in. I caught an interesting insect inside the bus at the Falls, but he chewed his way out of my ziplock bag before we got back to the motel :(

Our bus driver is from the Ukraine and he is fun to listen to.

Road Trip - Day 6

Today the rest of the group arrived. We rode the MAX to the airport and met them at the baggage claim and then we all got on the bus. We went to two wholesale nurseries and went to dinner at a cooking school. Nice day, interesting plants, good food. Here is a picture of a greenhouse full of little, tiny, baby trees. And another picture of the strangest tree of the day. Hard to believe, but it is a maple. It just looks like a green stick.

They have a very nice bus with air-conditioning. You sit on top of the world, looking down at all of the cars. We just hope we don't freeze in the next few days. Life is good. We may be the youngest people on the tour. Today we had to help a little lady across a drainage ditch, she must be 80+, but she is out doing stuff. I hope I will be as active when I am her age.

Road Trip - Day 5

Well, we have arrived at our motel in Portland. Today we got up early and left Laurie and Gary's house at about 6:30 to head down to Tillamook where there is a massive hanger where there were blimps during WWII. Since steel and aluminum was needed for ships and planes, the hanger was built of wood. It is huge and you can see all of the wooden trusses from the inside. The building covers seven acres. We will post a picture later.

Then we went to a fish hatchery. There wasn't much to see except lots of tiny fish. There was a sign warning about a cougar that had been seen in the area, and there weren't many other people around, so we didn't go wandering around looking for any bigger fish.

We went to a couple of cheese factories and then up to Canon Beach. It is a really big beach with some big rocks. We also went to Lewis and Clark National Park for a few minutes. We decided we will have to go back another time because there were some interesting hikes that sounded pretty easy but we didn't have time for them.

We did lots of driving and looking. Very pretty scenery. We decided that this is an area where we could live if we needed to find another job someday. So our day was long but it wasn't super busy. It was just nice to be together.

Road Trip - Day 4

Today is Sunday. So, no big road news to report. We are staying with our friends in Portland Laurie & Gary. Laurie was Meredith's roommate (we started out as teenage friends in the same ward in Arizona) at BYU and was key to the ultimate success of our courtship. What a wonderful family they have created in these years since BYU. They have two daughters who are wonderful girls (one married with a daughter - grandchildren, gotta love them!), doing the things they should do.

It is hard to forecast how things will turn out for families. But their daughters have a wonderful heritage of great parents, good teaching and spiritual roots. What a wonderful start.

Laurie and Gary have been so good to us, so kind and hospitable. You couldn't ask for finer people. What a wonderful day four...

Road Trip - Day 3

Today we have seen the sights in the Columbia Gorge. It is beautiful. We also went up on Mt. Hood. My mother hiked Mt. Hood as a young woman. I rode up in Laurie and Gary's minivan as an older woman. There is a beautiful old lodge and ski facility above the tree line. People are still skiing and the parking lot was full of skiers either pulling on or taking off their ski clothes. Skiing is one of those hobbies where there is always lots of gear you can spend money on.

We drove around and looked at lots of waterfalls. At one of the falls, we did a one-mile round trip up to the upper portion of the falls where you can go back behind the falls. From there you can look down the ravine and out across the Columbia River. Very beautiful. Liz would like it here. Today's high was about 69 or 70 degrees. I wore my long sleeves all day and even had on my white, hiking overshirt for a while.


We also took a 3 mile loop to a small lake called Mirror Lake. It was a beautiful trail with lots of fir needles packed into the ground on the trail- so quiet to walk on. At the little lake there was a fabulous view of Mt. Hood. One of the best things on the hike was the dogs. Every few minutes we came across someone with a happy dog, out for a romp on the trail. We stopped to talk to one couple in particular who had a mixed breed dog. I looked down at the dog and used "the voice" to say hi to her. She perked up and wagged her way over to me for a meet-and-greet. A minute or two into our conversation with the couple the dog began to whine and whimper, looking up the trail, restless to get on the move but waiting for permission to move on. After a minute she was given the OK and went bounding up the trail ahead of her people. It sure did make us miss our Northgate.

Between the Lake and the waterfalls we went for a drive on the FruitLoop- a highway through an area with orchards and fruit stands. We stopped at one for some samples and got fresh cherries and apricots for the road. Then we went to the town of Hood River, where we stopped for lunch at a little pizzaria. I had one slice of the best pizza I have ever eaten- green onion, sundried tomato and feta cheese on a perfect crust. It was tender and crispy on the bottom but not heavy or bready. We split a chocolate mousse filled canolli afterwards. It was OK, but the pizza was great. If you are ever in the town of Hood River, Oregon, stop for pizza at Andrew's on Oak Street.


After lunch we crossed the street to a little shop called "Made in the Gorge." We browsed through the shop looking at arts and crafts from local artists. I found two great metal gecko sculptures, but I left them there. It's too early in the trip to settle on my souvenir. I also saw a metal sculpture that reminded me of Liz. It was cut out of a huge saw blade. Gary thought the metal teeth of the blade represented her not-so-inner rage toward birds- especially quail, the most deceitful of birds. I thought the word 'welcome' above the little quail family was poetic irony. I couldn't think of a place where we could hang it, so we left that there, too.

Thoughts on the Summer Solstice

I was going to write a bit about the Summer Solstice on the 21 June. But, as usual for me, I am a bit late. But I believe my thoughts on this subject to be noteworthy so will add them anyway.

This year the Summer Solstice occurred on 21 June at 11:11 am Mountain Daylight Time. The Summer Solstice is my favorite day of the year, because it is the very longest amount of daylight of any day during the year. As I thought about it for a few minutes, I realized that it would be logical to assume that the Winter Solstice (21 Dec 2007 11:09 pm) would be my least favorite day of the year.  That determination out of the way I realized that the 21st of December is our wedding anniversary! How lucky am I? My wife saved me from my least favorite day of the year by marrying me on that day. So, I guess I have to pick the 20th or the 22nd for the least favorite day.

Seriously, it is very difficult for many people to cope with the short days of winter. I remember hating the winter, but not knowing why. Then we had an opportunity to learn how the seasons effect the mood of some people. It at least gave me understanding into the challenge. Since then, I am learning to deal with the short days. I often visit with people who share the same affliction. I believe that the understanding of the problem can be a great blessing in someone's life. Unfortunately, sometimes people understand the problem, but don't take action based on the knowledge they have aquired. I have decided to take action. I have found that walking makes a huge difference in my health. So, walking is my "medicine" for the winter days. A little exercise seems to keep the wolves of winter at bay. As with most things in our lives, understanding is the first step.

The long days seem to have the reverse effect on my moods. I love the summer, in fact, I wish it would last forever with winter never coming. I guess if we could have everything we wanted the law of unexpected consequences would take effect and we still wouldn't be happy. However, this summer I plan to enjoy every long day that I have.

Road Trip - Day 2

Oregon is slow. After breezing through Idaho at a steady 75 mph we are now enjoying the agricultural scenery in Oregon at a modest 55-65 mph. I can say ‘now’ because I remembered that I had a never-before-used little piece of technology in my computer bag- a 12-volt adaptor. I had drained the battery on my laptop while working on a little document for the dept. of ag/extension office and put my laptop away until I could plug it in tonight. A couple of hours later, as I contemplated my contribution to tonight’s posting, I realized that I could actually work on it in the car, because I had the adaptor. How handy!

Talk about serendipity! We pulled in to the Chevron station in Pendleton and guess which little restaurant was attached to the mini-mart/gas station. No, not Wendy’s, not McD, not even Burger King, Taco Bell or Subway. It was a Baskin Robbins! Yes, my favorite guilty pleasure, right there at the gas station. I strolled over to the building fully intending to take a flying leap off the healthy-eating wagon with a double or triple dip hot fudge sundae for lunch but by the time I got to the counter, I had settled on just a little hop off the back of the wagon with a single dip of Nutty Coconut. I chose the Nutty Coconut, my second favorite flavor, because I realized that I could have my favorite, chocolate chip, in a pre-packed quart at home any time. Nutty Coconut doesn’t come in a pre-pack so I don’t usually buy it. (Pre-packs are more economical, you know.) Since I couldn’t be practical, I decided to be different. OK, so getting my second favorite flavor isn’t really being different but it wasn’t being the same either. Mmm, it was good. (Professional ice cream connoisseur in a closed vehicle- do not attempt this at home.) As a side note to my fellow dieters/healthy eaters-by the time I finished the cone, I realized that I would have forced my way through at least the last half of that sundae if I’d gotten it and not really enjoyed the forced feeding. But I would have been stuck with the extra calories anyway. Food for thought.

Road Trip - Day 1

One good thing about being "empty nesters" is the freedom to go on a trip whenever you want (as long as it fits your work schedule.) Oh wait, what about the cat? Who will watch, feed, let her out, in, out and in all day, scoop the liter box...? Who will make sure the house doesn't flood, the birds don't starve and the landscape doesn't burn up for lack of water? So now when we want to go somewhere, it is get a house sitter instead of baby sitter, leave the itinerary with our adult children so they know where we are at all times and endure everyone (both our children and parents) reminding us to "be careful while you are driving". The more things change, the more they stay the same... (since the cat is self-tending for a long weekend and the sprinklers run themselves and the birds can hunt for insects we could actually go away for a few days without the sitter.  We tried it once and it worked fine, but 'Ui was glad for both the company and the great outdoors once we got back.)

We are finally away after a full day at work. We traveled 250 miles today to Twin Falls. The goal was to "get outa Dodge" and chew a few hours off of the 12 hour trip to Portland. Everything was wonderful. The Rav4 is a great travel car, gets great mileage and is fun to drive. We would have added a picture, but it was dark when we got here. Tomorrow we will take a picture of the Snake River gorge and link it up. It is amazing.  You are just driving along the flat, then suddenly there is this gorge where the river is in the bottom of a little canyon with vertical sides about 1/2 mile across.

The windshield was perfectly clean when we started. However now it looks like it has been through a terrible rain storm with very dirty, buggy rain drops. Driving into the sun it was just about opaque. Tomorrow we will wash it when we get gas.

You gotta love the 75 MPH speed limits. Once we were out of the city we set the cruse control and it was nothing but pure driving fun. Mom clipped from magazines. We gotta go on more trips. Her "to be clipped" pile is getting out of control. I am not sure what she does with the clippings, but she kept talking about grilled shrimp recipes, so it can't be all bad.