We left Shirley's at 3:15 am to catch our 6:05 flight out of Philadelphia. Rich drove us to the airport. On the way out the door he thanked me for going on this trip with Shirley so he didn't have to go. He really doesn't like to fly.
We got to the airport about 4:00 am, got checked in and through security without any problems. Then waited for the flight to broad which was right on time. Once everyone was settled on the plane the pilot announced that there was severe weather to the west and there would be about an hour delay in take-off. After a little while it started raining very hard and a little while later the pilot announced that there would be an additional 45 minute delay. We sat on the plane for 2 hours before it took off. Because of this delay in Philadelphia we missed our connecting flight out of Midway in Chicago. The next flight we could get on in Chicago was at 2:55 pm. Wonderful we had a 4 1/2 hours to kill in the airport. We ate some lunch, took a walk and bought a t-shirt. Finally reached Portland at 6:25 pm. We were suppose to get there at 11:00 am. Carla and Jessi were waiting for us in baggage claim so it was off to retrieve our bags. NO BAGS!!!! Yes, neither of our bags came off the plane so it was off to Southwest Customer Service. Shirley's bag was sitting right outside the CS office but not mine. After putting in a claim it was determined that my bag had gone to New Mexico and was on a plane back to Portland as we spoke. We made arrangements for the bag to be delivered to Carla's the next day. Then it was off to Red Robbin for something to eat and then on to Carla's and bed. What a long frustrating day.
Friday, August 19th
We took Jessi shopping for school clothes. Then spent the rest of the day just relaxing at Carla's. My bag was delivered about 2:00 in the afternoon. Yay I have clothes for the the rest of the week.
Saturday, August 20th
We left for Seattle about 9:00 am and arrived about 12:00. Traffic got a little bad when we reached Seattle but it was manageable. We parked and walked down to the waterfront. Had some lunch in a seafood place. I had fried clam strips and french fries just for Bob. Carla ordered an appetizer of crab stuffed mushrooms which she shared with us and they were delicious. After lunch we walked to Pike's Market. On the way up one set of steps Shirley fell. Luckily she didn't hurt herself. We walked around the market for a little while and then back to the car to find our hotel. While looking for our hotel we discovered that there was a Hemp Festival going on in Seattle this weekend. We got to the hotel and rested for a little while and then headed off to a Women's Basketball game that Carla had gotten tickets for. About halftime Shirley discovered that she was missing one of her hearing aids. We asked everyone around us to look under their seats to see if it was there. No such luck. We left the game and started walking back to the hotel. I finally realized I could find my way back so we sent Carla and Jessi back to the game and Shirley and I continued back to the motel. We tore that room apart but we couldn't find the hearing aid. I think she lost it when she fell.
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| Jessi and Shirley with the pig |
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| Pike's Place Market - The hanging flowers were spectacular. You can see the 1st Starbucks - sort of - it is were all the people are |
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| Seattle Waterfront |
We started the day by having the free Continental breakfast in the motel. During breakfast we met the cutest little boy and his mom and dad. They were off to the zoo for the day and he was telling us all about the animals. Just adorable.
After breakfast we packed up the car and then headed off to the Seattle Space Needle. The Space Needle was built in 1961 for the Seattle Worlds Fair. When we got to the top Carla was telling us about different buildings in Seattle that we could see. She lived in Tacoma for a few years before and after she and Doug got married.
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| Shirley and Jessi outside the Seattle Space Needle |
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| Me, Carla, Shirley, and Jessi at the top of the Seattle Space Needle |
After the Space Needle we drove back to the Waterfront and took a cruise of the harbor.
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| Seattle Skyline and a cruise ship from the harbour tour boat |
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| Seattle Space Needle from the Harbour Cruise |
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| You can see Mt. Rainer in the background but it is a little hazy. You can enlarge the picture by clicking on it but it doesn't help much. |
Monday, August 22
Today we had reservations for lunch at the Oregon Culinary Institute in Portland. It is cooked and served by students at the Institute. It was very good. We were served a 3 course meal, appetizer, entree and dessert for $9.00 each. I had shrimp fritters for my appetizer and seared trout for my entree and cheesecake for dessert. Shirley had the same appetizer, pulled pork sandwich with Cole slaw for her entree and cheesecake for dessert. Carla had corn chowder for her appetizer, Cajun shrimp skewers for her entree and chocolate torte for dessert. Jessi had a salad for her appetizer, pulled pork sandwich without the Cole slaw and the chocolate torte.
After lunch we went to the Portland Japanese Gardens. They were beautiful. After that we went to the Portland Rose Garden which was right across the street from the Japanese Gardens. My memory card got full so I only have 1 picture from the Rose Garden and it isn't of roses.
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| Japanese Maple |
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| Japanese Maple and waterfall |
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| Waterfall and pond with sun shining off it |
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| Jessi and Carla reading the map. Where to next? |
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| Skyline of Portland from the entrance to the Rose Garden |
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| Bergmansia at the Rose Garden |
We went back to Carla's and then went to Jessi's soccer practice.
Tuesday, August 23rd
We left for Cannon Beach about 11:00. Walked around the town of Cannon Beach going in and out of the little shops, had pizza and an ice cream cone for lunch. After lunch we headed for a nearby beach but it was all fogged in so we went to Surf City beach. It was a few miles north of Cannon Beach and absolutely beautiful. We spent a few hours sitting on the beach, Jessi was the only one who went in the water. We headed back to Carla's about 5:00 eating sandwiches that Carla had packed for lunch while driving home.
Shirley and I packed up our suitcase for the trip home on Wednesday.
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| Carla heading to the ocean to get Jessi who had gone out a little to far. Shirley's head is in the lower right corner |
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| This is Spirit, Carla and Jessi's dog |
Carla and Jessi took us to the airport. Our plane took off right on time. We had a slight delay landing in Denver because of heavy winds but we made our connecting flight. We landed in Philadelphia at 12:06, again right on time and Rich was there waiting for us. Got our luggage with no problems. Bob picked me up at Shirley's at about 1:15 and I was home in bed by 1:45.
I think this trip was a little to much for Shirley. Even Bob said she looked extremely tired when he picked me up on Thursday morning.
