Today we explored Astoria, OR, going to mass at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, perusing the Astoria Farmers’ Market (this one we actually went to on the right day), and checking out the vista from the magnificent Astoria Column. We then began our trek down the Oregon coast. By the way, I've been having some tech problems lately and haven't been posting pictures. Hopefully this will be resolved soon and I'll go back and add them to the bland image-free blogs.
Person:
Today’s person was actually people: Jesse Lee Falls & The Function was a spare funk band playing at the farmers’ market: drums, bass, trumpet, and guitar. They were a great band to listen to while we explored the market, and reminded me how much I enjoy live music. I took some photos of them and will email them to the band when I get home.
Place:
Today’s place was without question Cannon Beach. This was one of our coastal stops as we drove the 101 southward and it was fantastic. A long, flat sand beach with large rock formations on both sides, the beach is an off-leash area, and Argos and Blake both loved chasing tennis balls in the surf and making new friends. This was Blake’s first beach experience! We walked about a mile down the beach to a huge rock formation called the Haystack, where gulls and puffins nest, and checked out some tide pools at its base. This was a fantastic experience, and a great introduction to the northwest coastal region.
Food:
We ate a lot of delicious food at the farmers’ market, but my favorite was a raw oyster shooter that I bought for two bucks. The oyster was juicy and tender and melted in my mouth. It tasted richly of the sea and went great with a little cocktail sauce. Slurp!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Columbia River Gorge
We stayed just outside Portland last night and spent today exploring the Columbia River Gorge before traveling west to Astoria. The gorge offers many beautiful views of the river and spectacular waterfalls.
Person:
My person for today was my wife Laurie. In the adventure described below, she was both courageous and fun, and I was reminded how lucky I am as a husband. I’m sure her heart skipped a beat a few times as Argos and I scrambled over precarious logs and swam in freezing water, but she didn’t let it show and we all had a great time.
Place:
Most of the sights on the Columbia River are just roadside stops and are crowded with tourists, including the famous Multnomah Falls, and though they are beautiful didn’t offer much of an experience. However, we made the trek through the Onenata Gorge which was short but difficult, especially with the dog. It involved scaling a tricky log jam (which would have been easy on our own, but was a challenge with Argos and Blake) and walking through elbow-height water. The payoff was huge, though: a small waterfall cutting its narrow way through high moss-covered cliffs and falling into a swimmable pool below. Swimming out under the fall itself was a magical experience.
Food:
We are staying the night in a gorgeous campground in Fort Stevens State Park, and I got to build a fire tonight! What a pleasure it is to coax a campfire out of newspaper and kindling. We availed ourselves of said fire and toasted some marshmallows tonight, and the simple pleasure of gooey melted sugar surrounded by a crispy caramelized shell easily takes the prize for today.
Person:
My person for today was my wife Laurie. In the adventure described below, she was both courageous and fun, and I was reminded how lucky I am as a husband. I’m sure her heart skipped a beat a few times as Argos and I scrambled over precarious logs and swam in freezing water, but she didn’t let it show and we all had a great time.
Place:
Most of the sights on the Columbia River are just roadside stops and are crowded with tourists, including the famous Multnomah Falls, and though they are beautiful didn’t offer much of an experience. However, we made the trek through the Onenata Gorge which was short but difficult, especially with the dog. It involved scaling a tricky log jam (which would have been easy on our own, but was a challenge with Argos and Blake) and walking through elbow-height water. The payoff was huge, though: a small waterfall cutting its narrow way through high moss-covered cliffs and falling into a swimmable pool below. Swimming out under the fall itself was a magical experience.
Food:
We are staying the night in a gorgeous campground in Fort Stevens State Park, and I got to build a fire tonight! What a pleasure it is to coax a campfire out of newspaper and kindling. We availed ourselves of said fire and toasted some marshmallows tonight, and the simple pleasure of gooey melted sugar surrounded by a crispy caramelized shell easily takes the prize for today.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Portland
We stayed just outside Portland last night and will stay just outside again tonight (on the other side), which bought us a full day to explore the City of Roses. What a day! Portland is a beautiful city with a lot of character, beautiful gardens and parks, interesting inhabitants, and delicious food! Where to begin?
Person:
While wandering downtown Portland, we came upon Pioneer Courthouse Square, which our guidebook assured us always had a protest or event of some kind happening. Well, it didn't fail us; there was a massive gathering of sand castle builders that were organized for some kind of charity (we gave a 10 dollar donation for the family to enter). There was a Bart Simpson sand castle, an Up sandcastle house complete with a ton of balloons, and a kids area for amateur sand castling. One of the larger sandcastles in the center collapsed while we were there, which was met by "aws" from the audience but great cheers and celebration from the team that had built it. I loved this kind of attitude, so that team of sand castle builders are my people of the day.
Place:
We went to the Eco-Trust Farmer's Market in Portland. It was a little bit of a walk from where we had parked, but Laurie had found out about it and it sounded fantastic. We really needed to stock up on produce and it would be a great way to see some of the local flair. Unfortunately, none of this actually happened since even though we were all convinced it was Thursday (the day on which the farmer's market occurs), it was actually Friday (the day on which the farmer's market decidedly does not occur). Ain't bein' on vacation grand?
Food:
This is not a single item, but rather the meal we had for breakfast. We went to a cafe and bakery that I had heard about on NPR called Crema, and it was fantastic! We had Spanish Iced Coffee (basically the same as Vietnamese iced coffee; made with sweetened condensed milk), a latte called Caramel Sutra, a mushroom and manchego biscuit, a breakfast turnover with egg, potato, and mushrooms, and some specially made peanut butter cookies for the dogs. This place wasn’t much to look at at first glance, but ended up being a delightful start to our day.
Person:
While wandering downtown Portland, we came upon Pioneer Courthouse Square, which our guidebook assured us always had a protest or event of some kind happening. Well, it didn't fail us; there was a massive gathering of sand castle builders that were organized for some kind of charity (we gave a 10 dollar donation for the family to enter). There was a Bart Simpson sand castle, an Up sandcastle house complete with a ton of balloons, and a kids area for amateur sand castling. One of the larger sandcastles in the center collapsed while we were there, which was met by "aws" from the audience but great cheers and celebration from the team that had built it. I loved this kind of attitude, so that team of sand castle builders are my people of the day.
Place:
We went to the Eco-Trust Farmer's Market in Portland. It was a little bit of a walk from where we had parked, but Laurie had found out about it and it sounded fantastic. We really needed to stock up on produce and it would be a great way to see some of the local flair. Unfortunately, none of this actually happened since even though we were all convinced it was Thursday (the day on which the farmer's market occurs), it was actually Friday (the day on which the farmer's market decidedly does not occur). Ain't bein' on vacation grand?
Food:
This is not a single item, but rather the meal we had for breakfast. We went to a cafe and bakery that I had heard about on NPR called Crema, and it was fantastic! We had Spanish Iced Coffee (basically the same as Vietnamese iced coffee; made with sweetened condensed milk), a latte called Caramel Sutra, a mushroom and manchego biscuit, a breakfast turnover with egg, potato, and mushrooms, and some specially made peanut butter cookies for the dogs. This place wasn’t much to look at at first glance, but ended up being a delightful start to our day.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Oregon Wine-Tasting in Dundee
Today we drove from Eugene to Portland in a roundabout way through Dundee so we could enjoy some Oregon wine tasting. We went to three vineyards: Argyle, Erath, and Duck Pond.
Person:
The pourer at Argyle was a lot of fun to talk to and a credit to her state. She introduced us to some of the Pinots that Oregon is now legendary for, and chatted about the state in general. Argyle had the best wines of the day, and though the Pinots were indeed good, my favorite was the Chardonnay. The dogs got to hang out on the porch outside and enjoyed a big bowl of water; they acted as impromptu greeters for the tasting room and as always proved great conversation-starters.
Place:
Though Argyle had the best wines of the day, Erath had the best grounds. It was located up in the hills of Dundee rather than in the valley, and afforded some picturesque views of rolling vinyards. Another traveler commented that she thought it was more beautiful than Napa. I took issue with that, being from California, but it still was a sight to see and a lot of fun to photograph.
Food:
(by Laurie) The Chardonnay at Argyle was wonderful. It had a smooth and buttery taste on the palette, and its finish lasted for about ten minutes. I literally had a tear in my eye, it was so delicious! Naturally, we bought a case (not really; it was 35 bucks a bottle).
Person:
The pourer at Argyle was a lot of fun to talk to and a credit to her state. She introduced us to some of the Pinots that Oregon is now legendary for, and chatted about the state in general. Argyle had the best wines of the day, and though the Pinots were indeed good, my favorite was the Chardonnay. The dogs got to hang out on the porch outside and enjoyed a big bowl of water; they acted as impromptu greeters for the tasting room and as always proved great conversation-starters.
Place:
Though Argyle had the best wines of the day, Erath had the best grounds. It was located up in the hills of Dundee rather than in the valley, and afforded some picturesque views of rolling vinyards. Another traveler commented that she thought it was more beautiful than Napa. I took issue with that, being from California, but it still was a sight to see and a lot of fun to photograph.
Food:
(by Laurie) The Chardonnay at Argyle was wonderful. It had a smooth and buttery taste on the palette, and its finish lasted for about ten minutes. I literally had a tear in my eye, it was so delicious! Naturally, we bought a case (not really; it was 35 bucks a bottle).
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
A Tale of Two Lakes
Today we visited one of the most awe-inspiring sites in Oregon, Crater Lake. We also stopped at Crescent Lake on our way north to stay the night just outside Eugene. It's not my place of the day, but I need to mention Crater Lake briefly. It's formed in the caldera of the currently dormant Mount Mazama, and has incredibly blue water due to its being so clear and deep. The blue wavelengths of the sun's light are all that are reflected out of it. The first picture below has no sky and has not been photoshopped. 
Person:
I met a gentleman at Crater Lake with a beagle named Arick. Arick's master was a great guy to talk to, and we talked dogs and travel. He pointed out that if you get a doctor's note that you need your dog to be with you for "emotional reasons," you can take them on board a plane with you for free. Anyway, Arick took well to our dogs and we had a nice little conversation while overlooking the stunning caldera of Crater Lake.
Place:
Though Crater Lake was beautiful, I actually enjoyed my experience more at Crescent Lake. Crescent Lake is a small recreation area close to OR-58 that we stopped at to give the dogs some exercise. We found a fantastic off-leash beach and gave Argos and Blake a good workout chasing tennis balls into the lake. I took a swim myself in the surprisingly clear and warm water, and loved every minute.
Food:
Last night I prepared Spanish hot chocolate for us to drink with breakfast this morning. Hot chocolate in Spain is incredibly rich and thick, more akin to drinkable pudding. It worked at wonderfully and was a real treat to start the day with. We dipped marshmallows in it and drank the rest straight. Mmmm…
Person:
I met a gentleman at Crater Lake with a beagle named Arick. Arick's master was a great guy to talk to, and we talked dogs and travel. He pointed out that if you get a doctor's note that you need your dog to be with you for "emotional reasons," you can take them on board a plane with you for free. Anyway, Arick took well to our dogs and we had a nice little conversation while overlooking the stunning caldera of Crater Lake.
Place:
Though Crater Lake was beautiful, I actually enjoyed my experience more at Crescent Lake. Crescent Lake is a small recreation area close to OR-58 that we stopped at to give the dogs some exercise. We found a fantastic off-leash beach and gave Argos and Blake a good workout chasing tennis balls into the lake. I took a swim myself in the surprisingly clear and warm water, and loved every minute.
Food:
Last night I prepared Spanish hot chocolate for us to drink with breakfast this morning. Hot chocolate in Spain is incredibly rich and thick, more akin to drinkable pudding. It worked at wonderfully and was a real treat to start the day with. We dipped marshmallows in it and drank the rest straight. Mmmm…
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Whiskeytown
Today we traveled through Shasta County, stopping at Whiskeytown Lake for some light hiking and lunch. We also crossed the California/Oregon border! I’m now in a state I’ve never visited before today. Tonight we are staying in a campground just outside Crater Lake in Fort Klamath, OR. It’s a gorgeous spot just next to a creek with lots of greenery. However, it’s also ridden with mosquitoes so we are holed up in the RV for the night.
Person:
Well, this was a pretty quiet day, but I did have one amusing encounter. While at the visitor center at Whiskeytown Lake, I was waiting outside with Argos and a guy came up and made the usual dog introductions (“oh, he’s beautiful,” “is he friendly?” “what breed is he?” etc.). Then he asked him, “where’s your tennis ball?” We all enjoyed that; he’s obviously spent time with a Golden Retriever before.
Place:
We hiked a very short hike off the highway near Whiskeytown Lake to Crystal Creek Falls. This was a very worthwhile side-trip, as the falls gave us a little exercise, a beautiful place to eat lunch, and the dogs a great swimming opportunity. We met a Rotty-mix puppy that was adorable and happy to meet our dogs, and Argos and I played with a stick for a while. I never grow tired of getting wet spontaneously in a natural water source.
Food:
I’m going to indulge myself today and choose my own concoction. We had tacos for dinner and I did an improvised corn relish for them that turned out great. I cut white corn straight off the cob, toasted it on high heat in a skillet, combined it with raw diced red onion, lime juice, kosher salt, sugar, freshly ground black pepper and a great buttery olive oil that Cathy bought in Sonoma. The warmth from the just toasted corn caused the flavors to meld pretty quickly, and the result was just delicious IMHO. This kind of improvisational cooking is my favorite thing to do in the kitchen.
Person:
Well, this was a pretty quiet day, but I did have one amusing encounter. While at the visitor center at Whiskeytown Lake, I was waiting outside with Argos and a guy came up and made the usual dog introductions (“oh, he’s beautiful,” “is he friendly?” “what breed is he?” etc.). Then he asked him, “where’s your tennis ball?” We all enjoyed that; he’s obviously spent time with a Golden Retriever before.
Place:
We hiked a very short hike off the highway near Whiskeytown Lake to Crystal Creek Falls. This was a very worthwhile side-trip, as the falls gave us a little exercise, a beautiful place to eat lunch, and the dogs a great swimming opportunity. We met a Rotty-mix puppy that was adorable and happy to meet our dogs, and Argos and I played with a stick for a while. I never grow tired of getting wet spontaneously in a natural water source.
Food:
I’m going to indulge myself today and choose my own concoction. We had tacos for dinner and I did an improvised corn relish for them that turned out great. I cut white corn straight off the cob, toasted it on high heat in a skillet, combined it with raw diced red onion, lime juice, kosher salt, sugar, freshly ground black pepper and a great buttery olive oil that Cathy bought in Sonoma. The warmth from the just toasted corn caused the flavors to meld pretty quickly, and the result was just delicious IMHO. This kind of improvisational cooking is my favorite thing to do in the kitchen.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Breakfast in Berkeley and Sipping in Sonoma
OK, we actually had breakfast in Oakland, but it was close to Berkeley and I love aliteration, and it's my blog and I believe I'll take whatever liberties I want to (including skipping a day for those of you keeping track). Anyway, today was basically a road day (I guess they all are at this point), but we had a marvelous time visiting my aunt and uncle in Oakland and wine-tasting in Sonoma. 
Person:
I've got to go with my Uncle Tracy today (sorry Barb, you're a close second) for putting out such a great spread for us this morning (more on that to come). I love visiting Barb and Tracy any time we get up to northern California. They have a great house high in the Oakland hills, and fantastic taste in food, the arts, etc. We took some casual family photos in their beautiful backyard. Here they are with Argos and Blake.
Place:
We went to three wineries on our way through Sonoma County, and my favorite of the three was Sebastiani. Not only did they have great wines, they were very dog-friendly; Argos and Blake came with us on the tour and into the tasting room. Here you see Argos examining the nose on the 2006 Sonoma County Barbera. He found it stimulating and wanted a slurp, but I didn't let him get that close. Sorry the pic is so dark, but I don't have access to photoshop on the road.
Food:
Breakfast was quite a spread. Tracy made us cornmeal and blueberry pancakes, turkey sausages (for the carnivores), and breakfast tortillas with refried black beans, fresh avocado, and salsa made with heirloom tomatoes and artichoke hearts. We washed it down with homemade lattes. Yum!
Person:I've got to go with my Uncle Tracy today (sorry Barb, you're a close second) for putting out such a great spread for us this morning (more on that to come). I love visiting Barb and Tracy any time we get up to northern California. They have a great house high in the Oakland hills, and fantastic taste in food, the arts, etc. We took some casual family photos in their beautiful backyard. Here they are with Argos and Blake.
Place:
We went to three wineries on our way through Sonoma County, and my favorite of the three was Sebastiani. Not only did they have great wines, they were very dog-friendly; Argos and Blake came with us on the tour and into the tasting room. Here you see Argos examining the nose on the 2006 Sonoma County Barbera. He found it stimulating and wanted a slurp, but I didn't let him get that close. Sorry the pic is so dark, but I don't have access to photoshop on the road.
Breakfast was quite a spread. Tracy made us cornmeal and blueberry pancakes, turkey sausages (for the carnivores), and breakfast tortillas with refried black beans, fresh avocado, and salsa made with heirloom tomatoes and artichoke hearts. We washed it down with homemade lattes. Yum!
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