Sunday June 11

A Full Day Of Excursions

Morning Excursion:  Astoria Tour / The Astoria Column

Today was the first day of the adventure where we woke up in our staterooms and had a full day of excursions ahead of us.  We had breakfast and filled out our meal cards and then all but Kim had Eggs Benedict - just so delicious (Kim had eggs & toast).  Just as an FYI.....in a couple of days when our trip has more free time I'll begin building the FOOD PAGE where I've taken photos from all the great dishes we've had so far.  And trust me, this cruise - the food has been every bit as good if not BETTER than any cruise we've EVER been on.  By 9 am we were on the bus and headed out for a short tour of the city of Astoria.  Once I've had time to put together the highlight video of the trip you'll see some of the homes that are registered with the National Historic Center.  (NOTE:  If you are enjoying the photos and journals, I think there is SO much more that I have captured on video and hope you'll take time to watch it when it's completed at the conclusion of the trip).  But the highlight of the morning was our adventure to the highest point in Astoria to visit the Astoria Column.  Several great stories from this stop.  First, look carefully at the photo of the column and note the markings; now the close-up of the column.  Not only did the artist do a fabulous job, but it was done with a technique known as "Scratch-fiti."  Here's how it works.  The entire column was painted in all of the colors.  Then the colors were scratched away to create the mural.  How unique is that!

The second story and CLEARLY the accomplishment of the day.  To get to the open-air observation deck on top you climb up 164 steps on a spiral staircase in a very claustrophobic tight quarters.  I've never minded being in high buildings; love flying - even in helicopters.  But I'm very "anxious" when it comes to heights when I'm on an open platform with just a railing.  One such adventure that was very cool and I had to make myself do it was a few years ago when Sue & Dan accompanied Kim and I (and our pal Lori) to Washington D.C.  There, through a connection my cousin had to then Speaker of the House John Baynor we were given a private tour to the top of the capital dome.  I did it, but could not move away from the wall to the edge.  So I was anxious today.  Well, Dan has a similar anxiety but his is brought on by any kind of spinning - like climbing a spiral staircase.  But not only did both of us make it to the top, but if you look at the photo at the top we appear every bit as relaxed and happy as the girls.  MAJOR accomplishment to get that photo op in!

The third story of the trip started as we approached the column and our tour guide/bus driver was telling us that we'd probably be approached by a worker who would ask us to PURCHASE a balsa wood airplane.  Our guide encouraged us to buy one and toss it off the top of the column.  So as we made our way toward the column Kim and I were near the front of the group and sure enough a lady came right up to Kim and GAVE her the entire bag of airplanes with no directions.  Kim, thinking we were supposed to pay for one was speechless (I know, hard to believe, right? :)  But she did what only my wife would do.....she immediately started passing them out like free candy to everyone who was climbing to the top; carried the bag with the extras and gave one (or more) to everyone who joined us at the top!  Everyone was most appreciative and nothing was said about the cost/payment.

We left the Astoria Column and headed out to Fort Clatsop.  It's hard to tell from the photos below, but this "fort" measures 50 feet by 50 feet.  And 30 people spent over three months here.  This was the furthest most western stop for the Lewis & Clark expedition.  And here in the fort that winter were the two leaders and twenty-seven other men, and one woman....the Native American Sacajewa.  It was pretty cool to visit and see the recreation.

Afternoon Excursion:  Cape Disappointment

This afternoon Sue & Dan had an alternative excursion (they stayed close to the boat to explore the Maritime Museum and then walk down the waterfront to see the hundreds of seals at Pier 39), meanwhile Kim and I boarded the bus for a trip out to Cape Disappointment.  It was a beautiful, sun-splashed afternoon with temperatures hovering around 60 - we've had such great luck so far with the weather!  Honestly, I'd have been "ok" with the visit just for the view and the one interesting thing we learned is that this is the point of the most dangerous bar in North America.  Where the jetty (see photo below) ends is where the Columbia River spills into the Pacific.  And here as the waters collide the ocean swells as high as fifty foot waves.  Over 2000 ships are buried on the floor of this section of water.  If you bring your ship across the bar without a "bar captain" joining you then your insurance is void!

So with that being the sum total of the visit - the view and the knowledge of the bar - Kim and I would have been disappointed.  But when we asked our tour director what we were to do for the hour we had left she said we could walk through the discovery center or walk over to the light house.  If you look up at the photos, it looks like you'd just walk around the corner and then over to the lighthouse.  And the sign indicated it was 0.6 mile to get there.  The first sign of "trouble" was how long we were winding around through the forest and then I was noticing how much we were descending downward.  Shouldn't we be moving UP to the lighthouse.  We passed a couple going the other way and asked if this was the way to the lighthouse and he said yes.....keep going down and then you go back up again.  So we basically descended nearly 75% of the way to the water level and then back up again and the closer we got to the lighthouse the more steep the incline.  This photo of me hiking hardly does it justice.

Well, this "adventure" was the best thing since sliced bread to my "I always want more exercise" wife.  NOW we had had a great adventure - and let me tell you, the return trip was no piece of cake because while truly the most steep of inclines was at the end we still had to go DOWN that incline and then climb back up to the other side through the path in the woods!  Here's a view of the other side where our "photo op" picture with the lighthouse in the background had been taken.

Close-up of the lighthouse and of me pointing out the sign saying it's "only 0.6 mile" to the lighthouse!

After another great dinner with all the wine you want (preceded by an full hour of cocktails, on the house - ANY liquor or wine you want and as much as you want.....this is every night!) we went to the lounge for a guitar playing comedian/singer....and he too was outstanding.  When this ended around 9:30 we were all beat - maybe from the five miles of walking my fitbit had registered, or maybe it was the 46 flights of stairs I'd been up and down according to the fitbit!

Tomorrow the ship leaves at 5:30 am with a destination near Mt. St. Helens which will be the excursion for the day.  We will reach an observatory less than 1/2 mile from the crater....AND the weather forecast is for temperatures up there in the mid-to-low 40s with a good chance of drizzling rain!  BRRRRRRR - but that's just fine for two Florida residents looking to avoid the Florida summer heat!

Saturday July 10

And We're Off!

When we woke up this morning the Queen of the West was docked right outside our hotel and we knew that the day for our actual cruise had actually come!  We had our luggage picked up before 9 am and we met with the cruise representatives about 10:30.  By 11:15 we were all cleared and marched out of the Red Lion Inn and down the dock to board!  

We were sent immediately into one of the lounges where we got cookies and drinks and then our rooms were ready.  We are on the second level, stateroom 225.  Compared to our riverboat cruises (Viking for example) the room is very similar except that the bed is turned long-ways and the TV is MUCH smaller.  Our room has a "deck" but it's a public deck and we don't have a direct access to it.  

The ship itself is M-U-C-H shorter than any Viking river cruise ship we've been on, but taller.  And the paddle wheel is quire impressive.  We unpacked and then we had an informational meeting.  The one thing that "impressed" me about that meeting is that they intend to feed us nearly 24x7 - breakfast, then a 10:30 am "cookie time," then lunch, then cocktail hour with hot finger foods; then dinner (with full deserts); and then at the nightly presentations they have ice cream sundaes, parfaits, and unlimited bags of popcord.  And that doesn't include the never ending supply of soft drinks and snacks which are in not one but two lounges, one of which is less than a dozen steps from our staterooms!  At lunch we learned a new custom for American Cruise Lines - you are given a food selection card every day at breakfast (but because we weren't here for breakfast it was done now at lunch).  You pick your meals for the day so that the kitchen crew and chefs know about how much to make of all the meals and so there is much less waste!  After lunch, which was AMAZING (and included all the wine you could drink!) we went up to the 4th deck to watch the scenery go by.  

For me it was particularly amazing because as I sat in my rocking chair, cruising down the river I pulled up the race replays on my iPhone from today's big stakes action at Belmont Park where it was Belmont Stakes Day, the third jewel of the Triple Crown.  I had handicapped the card prior to the trip and I had five races where I had selections......won three of them, all big graded stakes events, including my BET of the Day with Songbird in the Grade 1 Phipps.....not only 60% wins while cruising down the river in Oregon, but cleared over $50 profit!  :)  

Kim and I posed for a photo op on the deck and went down to get ready for cocktail hour and dinner.  

Again the food was outstanding as was the conversation at the table.  (NOTE:  By the end of the cruise I will have a link on the main page to a "Food Page" where you can see all the dishes we enjoyed!).  We were still at the dinner table at 8 pm when it was time to head off to one of the lounges for this evening's presentation, a historical background to Lewis & Clark's expedition.  Frankly he was not very good.  Kim & Sue headed up to watch the sun set but Dan and I stuck it out because it had been promised to be "brief."  Only a half hour, so not too bad.  But the sunset was fabulous.  We played one game of cards and called it a great first day of the cruise.

Tomorrow we have not one but two tours of Astoria so there will be many photo ops to see tomorrow!  Thanks to everyone who's following us - your "LIKEs" and comments on Facebook are very much appreciated!

Friday July 9

Portland - Dianne's Tour

What a spectacular day today was!  We spent nearly the entire day with our friend Dianne who Kim and I taught with at Cypress Bay High School for many years until she retired and moved to Portland a little over a year ago.  It was just the best of days as we went all over the outskirts of Portland and even on some previously unknown winding roads & countryside that Dianne had never been on.  It was so great to see her and for the five of us to laugh and talk all day long!  

Kim and I were up early and were off to get coffee across the street.  When we got back Kim went to workout while I sat on the front porch and then the back porch enjoying the morning.  It was nippy, especially when Sue & Dan joined me along the riverside balcony and we looked at the mountains in the distance.  

I called about my luggage and was assured that it would be delivered this afternoon - it had been in New York at LaGuardia airport last night and had left for Chicago at 6 am this morning.  It arrived in the Windy City at 7:30 am and left there about 8 am and was scheduled to arrive in Portland before lunch.  I was told that in the worst case scenario Southwest was authorized to give me $600 A DAY for clothes and expenses for the cruise.....almost worth paying someone to lose my luggage :)  We headed to our rooms to get ready and reconvened in the lobby about 11 am where a shuttle was provided for us to Salty's Restaurant on the river where Dianne was meeting us.  We were particularly pleased to be going here as in 2013 Sue, Dan, Kim and I had been to a Salty's Restaurant on the harbor in Seattle as part of our Alaskan cruise adventure and it had been a fabulous experience.  We arrived and within minutes Dianne pulled up and we had a delightful lunch.  

We left after about 1 1/2 hours of eating, wine, and conversation for Hawks View Winery.  The weather changed several times on a dime - when we left it was very gray and raining, about 65 degrees.  When we arrived the sun was out and it felt about 80; then the clouds came, it began to rain lightly and the temperature dropped about 20 degrees; then it was over and it was in the upper 60s as we enjoyed our wide and the great views.  

We left here and headed to another winery, but the skies opened up and we decided to head back to Dianne's because she SAID it was very close by.  There are simply no words or descriptions that I can give you as we followed the GPS which took us all over greater Portland's wilderness around countless hairpin turns and up and down hills and valleys - we all laughed alot and I described it as an "E-Ticket Ride at Walt Disney World."  

This photo hardly and I mean HARDLY captures what the next 40 minutes were like as we were all around Dianne's neighborhood until finally we arrived.  And oh what a treat that was!  Dianne's home is the kind of home you'd see on an HGTV program and is so beautifully designed - the two interior photos are from her 2nd floor bedroom with the panoramic view of a nature preserve and out their living room window.  We had the most wonderful time there all afternoon visiting with Dianne and her oh-so-special mother.  

We were truly sorry to leave and I promised Dianne's Mom I'd come back for her homemade spaghetti!  We went to a local spot for what we thought would be a light dinner; Kim and Sue decided to split what they thought were two smaller/light fares - this is what they received.......

The food was delicious and the conversation was a continuation of the day-long laughter and stories.  By now it was after 7:30 pm and Dianne took us back into the city - along the way we crossed over one of Dianne's "favorite bridges" - this pic is for you Dianne :)

And we were soon back at the Red Lion Inn.  We said our very fond farewells and when I checked at the front desk, looked who'd decided to join us for the cruise!

HORRAY!  Tomorrow morning our cruise director will meet us in the lobby and we'll head down to the dock to board the Queen of the West and move into our staterooms.  We are very excited that tomorrow's "big event" is to set sail on our paddle-wheeler and sail for SEVEN hours westward to Astoria, the furthest westward point of the Lewis & Clark expedition!  Here we go!

Thursday June 8

Travel Day & Arrival

This morning we took off on our next, great adventure when our flight from Fort Lauderdale left at 9:30 am with a scheduled arrival in Portland at 4:35 pm Pacific time (with a layover in Kansas City for a couple of hours).  The first hint of an "issue" came when we checked our bags.....the new "streamline procedure" for Southwest is you print and attach your own bag tags.  So when I checked in at the kiosk and asked for two baggage tags Kim's came out with all the bar codes and her name while mine came out completely blank.  Well that won't work.  So I had to re-log in and say I wanted another bag - this one worked.  Took the bags and the blank tag to the Southwest clerk who seemed surprised, but was thankful I let him know.  So the trip went very smoothly and we landed to 66 degree temps and sunshine in Portland.  

Within minutes the bags become coming out and Kim's was one of the first.  Twenty minutes later as the carousel stopped with only a few lonely bags sitting on it mine was STILL no where to be found.  Sigh......We reported this to the lost baggage claim and they gave me an "overnight bag" with some essentials and were confident they would deliver the bag later tonight to the hotel.  Interestingly when I told the guy about the tag issue he said that explained why the computer showed we had three bags when we only had two.  But as of this writing Friday morning, no word on my bag.  Fortunately Kim and I had packed today's clothes in our carry on backpacks so I do have a cushion....but so much stuff in the bag.  CERTAINLY it will come today, right?

We picked up an Uber ride to the hotel, a little longer than anticipated as we were in rush hour traffic, but not bad.  We pulled up to the Red Lion Inn on Jantzen Beach and were immediately met in the lobby by our best pals Sue & Dan Reynolds who had flown in from Hiawassee to join us on our cruise.  We checked into our room and took our bags, well Kim took HER bag and I took my little blue bag (see it in the photo above?) that now represents my "luggage!"  And we returned to the lobby to meet the Reynolds.  We went to dinner in the hotel restaurant with a panoramic view of the river.  You'll note the dock - that's where our ship, the Queen of the West, will be waiting for us Saturday morning!

Tomorrow we are meeting our good friend Dianne who was my "teaching neighbor" for many years at Cypress Bay High School.  When she retired a little over a year ago she moved out her to be close to her daughter and grandchildren.  She is planning to meet us for an early lunch and the plan is to visit some wineries outside of Portland.  And we're off!  Now, if only that bag would show up!