Portland and Seattle

I should probably do another post, because a ton has happened, and I don't think I'll remember it all if I don't stop and write some down.

I'l do this in a couple of posts. This one will cover Portland and Seattle.

First, back to Portland (geez, it feels like that was ages ago)
I think it was Day 3. Yes, on Sunday night I arrived with Esteban and family. They fed me, I got tons of kisses from the doggie, and off to bed I went.


Monday, September 23. Day 4, started with kisses to the doggie. Then I went to explore the land of Port. I had a mediocre breakfast at Detour Cafe. I felt it was appropriate to eat there, Detour...Road Trip. You get it.

But it was not worth the detour. Sorry dudes, it was just okay. I feel I must comment on the food in Portland, mostly because its soo foodie snobby...according to Esteban.

I headed straight to the Japanese Garden. Did not disappoint. Its not so big but I spent about 2.5 hours just walking, sitting, and enjoying the serene views.

loads and loads of selfies

Then I hit up what I thought was a costume shop. It was not. It was Fantasy, an adult store, but it did have lots of costumes, and surprisingly, not all were slutty. I bought a cool mask. yay!

A couple of blocks down to Powell's City of Books where I spent hours reading and just walking through rows and rows of amazingness. I could live in this place.

Then for a late lunch at McMenamins Crystal Place. I had a flight of beers, and a very garlicky pizza. I love me some garlic! The beer was ooh-kay. I've developed a taste for the dark thick stuff, and this was pretty dark, but not so thick, and a little too bitter. They like their hops...and I do not.

Dinner at Pok Pok. Vietnamese street food. I had never had it before...delicious! I had some corn on the cob with coconut curry poured all over. Oof!
Then off to Seattle at 8pm.

Days 5-7 SEATTLE!
The timeshare downtown is FABulous! The only bummer is the $28 parking (only $21 dollars if you park it yourself.) Ludicrous!
I did some typical touristy things like: Pike Place, the gum wall, the Chihuly Museum and the EMP Museum. Chihuly and EMP were my favorite!

gum wall. Gross or awesome? Growsome!

Chihuly! How cool is this?! 

Self-Portrait

EMP

Guitar Tornado, and the guitars would play!

The costumes from the Princess Bride! (This one is for Carlenne)

The Terminator!!! (This one for all awesomeness)

I drove to Mt. Rainier.
I did a little bit of hiking around Sunrise Point. It had snowed that morning, but the sun was coming out and it was melting everything, so it was pretty muddy, but still a great little two mile hike.

The peak as seen from Sunrise Point

Sunrise Lake

Sunrise Lake, also.  (I'm really creative with captions)

Dinner! (just kidding. I didn't eat that, because I knew I would shrink)

Clover Lake. The view from where I peed. 

Thats me, not a little boy. 

Also, here is Snoqualmie Falls.

AND I got to hang out with my girls!

Love you mujer!

I'm not big on the girly drinks, but that spicy martini was all kinds of amazing.

I lied. I did eat the mushroom, and I shrank!

Nicole! How is it that I only have pictures of the food we ate, but not of you?! This is nonsense, and it must be remedied immediately...or in a few days.
This is the food Nicole and I had, and some other people behind cool fire. heh. cool..fire..

Goat cheese cheesecake. You heard that right, and it is as amazing as it sounds. GoatCheeseCake!

And that was that for Seattle and Portland. I'm in Canada now, but more on that later.

From San Diego to Portland...

It is Monday
oh wait, no.
It is Tuesday, and I am on day 5 of my Road Trip from San Diego to Canada and back! I promised my dad I'd post pictures and keep everyone up to date on my travels, but I haven't had time and internet at the same time until now.
As of today I have traveled 1,263 miles and been in my car for 24 hours.
I've crossed California, Oregon, and I'm just 109 miles shy of crossing Washington.
Its been a beautiful trip so far.

 Day 1: With Tina Fey's Bossypants on audio, 6.5 hours just rolled by and brought me to Fresno with my good friend Phyllis, and her beautiful family. See below. They really are gorgeous people, inside and out. This picture was taken early the morning I left. I didn't even give them a chance to brush their hair or teeth, although you would never know by looking at this pic  except that I just told you. I missed Phoebe's birthday party by a few hours, but I had a long drive ahead of me. Happy Birthday little one!

Day 2: I headed off to Ashland, Oregon listening to World War Z on audio. I had 9.5 hrs to drive, so I'm glad I had a good book to listen to.  It was rainy on the way, as expected, but driving through winding roads through mountains while it pours was scarier than I thought!

 I took it slow, Dad, and I was careful, Dad, and I'm glad I had a good car and new tires. (Thank you to my stepmom, Tey, who let me borrow her car, and my brother who insisted I get new tires.) 

A quick detour in Old Sacramento.

The picture below is somewhere in the middle of California. I knew there was trouble up ahead. Those clouds didn't mess around, and they dumped rain on me for about 4 hours. 

More rain as I fill up near Mt. Shasta. 

I was greeted in Ashland by a stunning rainbow, a fabulous place to stay right in the middle of Ashland, and tickets to see two shows at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.  I saw Unfortunates and The Taming of the Shrew. Both were great productions. The Unfortunates however took me into a different world. It used theatrical elements in the most creative ways. The story could not be told as in any other medium but theatre, so I loved it!

This visit was made possible by Wind and his sister Jackie. Thank you both!

 On my walk to breakfast I ran into a family of deer just hanging out in someone's front yard!

Day 3: On Sunday morning I made the 5 hour drive across Oregon, and arrive with an old friend, and his family. This is the perfect picture of little Tory, because that boy is all cheeks...and giggles...cheeks and giggles galore. It is adorable. 

More on Portland and Seattle later. Right now, I must go hike!