A few weeks ago I wrote about my summertime goals for this year. One was the chance to visit new friends made through this blog. As I noted at the time this will be the first vacation of my satisfying retirement that Betty and I have built a vacation around spending time with new people. This trip has been in the planning stage for a few months.
Sunday we are off to Oregon for 12 days. Galen Pearl of 10 Steps To Finding Your Happy Place and Barbara Torris who writes Retire in Style Blog along with her husband Earl, will be our personal tour guides of the best the Portland area has to offer. I have been to the Rose City on several occasions for business. Betty has been there once or twice but only on our way to a stay on the rugged coast. Neither of us have really explored all the gems of this beautiful city. Both of us are hoping we find the kind of place we'd like to spend part of our future summers away from the Arizona heat.
After several days in Portland, we are off to a beautiful inn on the coast in the quaint port city of Newport. The Oregon coast is stunning. The waves crash against enormous rocks and on wide sand beaches. There are more parks and hiking trails overlooking the ocean than we could cover in a month. Lighthouses make fascinating subjects for photos.
Finally, to wrap up our adventure, Bill and Wendy Birnbaum have invited us to spend several nights at their home near Sisters, Oregon. Bill, who writes the Adventure Retirement blog, and wife Wendy were in Phoenix in April and we had the pleasure of their company for breakfast. From that too brief together time we agreed to meet again in July. The Birnbaums have just finished a 2 month RV adventure that we can't wait to hear about. A last day lunch with some church friends who spend the summer in Bend, and we fly back to the heat.
Sometime next week I'll post some pictures and thoughts after our first week or so. I am really looking forward to this type of friendship-building vacation. Blogging has opened many doors to me. Making new friends in different parts of the country has been an unexpected bonus.
Got to go and finish packing!
Note: I've had to turn on comment moderation due to a huge increase in spam-type comments. I hope you understand.
Enjoy your trip! I would love to be in your shoes meeting up with that Oregon gang!
ReplyDeleteHave fun in Portlandia!
ReplyDeleteBob, if Malcolm and I were ever inclined to have a second residence Oregon would be on our very short list of favorite places. You will be able to cover a lot of territory in the time that you have allotted and I have no doubt you will want to make your summer home there in the future.
ReplyDeletePortland (rose garden,book stores,restaurants, the river) Cannon Beach (Haystack mountain,beaches, whale watching) Coos Bay (amazing sand dunes) Willamette Valley (wineries) Mt. Hood, (hiking and biking trails), Oregon has everything for a Satisfying Retirement.
Enjoy your time there.
Have a wonderful time! And keep us in mind should your travels ever bring you to Southern California, specifically Orange County. :-)
ReplyDeleteBased on Suzanne's description and what Galen, Barbara, and Bill have told us we may not come home!
ReplyDeleteBetty and I have spent several great vacations on the Oregon coast but this will be the first time to explore Portland, the area around Bend and Sisters, and Mt. Hood.
Thanks, everyone for the well-wishes!
Have a good trip. Look forward to your photos!
ReplyDeleteYou can bet Betty will have several memory cards full of pictures when we return. I'll post a few next week just to whet your appetite.
DeleteHave a great time! I've only driven through Oregon on my way from Bremerton, WA, to San Diego, back in the 80's, but I remember it being beautiful scenery. It's on my bucket list for sure.
ReplyDeleteBob and Betty, I'm looking forward to being one of your Portland guides. I'm so excited about meeting you in person. See you Sunday!
ReplyDeleteThe extended forecast looks great(35 degrees cooler than Scottsdale for next week at least) and we are ready. We are casual people who enjoy good basic food, outdoor dining, beautiful gardens, and friendly people. Portland and Sisters should do just fine!
DeleteEnjoy the time you and Betty will be up there. Definitely cooler where you are heading - one of the only areas in the country that are near normal temps this week and next.
ReplyDeleteHappy Trails to you and your wife! Have a safe and enjoyable trip.
ReplyDeleteI so understand the comment moderation, do what you must to be safe. Your vacation destination and meeting new friends sounds so great, can't wait to hear about your travels (the ones you may care to share) when you get back. Portland is a beautiful city in-spite of the rain. Last time we were there it was August and I could not believe the constant down-pours of rain, the moss on the sidewalks and the many, many coffee houses. It was fun but confusing because it felt like a late fall storm and it was still summer. Be sure to enjoy some of the architecture of down town while you are there. Some of the buildings and statues are magnificent.
ReplyDeleteWe are hoping for some rain since we haven't had a decent rain here in
DeleteScottsdale since mid-March. In fact the total for the entire year has been less than an inch. But, July and August are normally the driest months in Oregon so we will see.
Galen and Barbara have an entire itinerary planned out for us in the Portland area. It will be great.
Have a great vacation!
ReplyDeleteb
Enjoy Portland! Hope you get the rain you're hoping for - at least a little bit.
ReplyDelete