6/11 Home Again

Night before last we spent in the Portland Airport Embassy Suites.  The non-stop flight leaving at 13:00 we originally booked morphed into leave at 09:30, brief layover in Salt Lake City (the outgoing plane began boarding before the incoming plane arrived ...... it only worked because (a) most of the passengers on the outgoing had also lost their original booking, and (b) the gates were separated by the time it takes to ask, 'Now, where's gate C7?'

Anyway, the hotel took me back to Dan's Celebration.  I kept trying to get off the elevator on the wrong floor.

Portland airport is low-key and pleasant.  Not the best place I have ever killed a morning, but definitely not the worst.

Great Children's Play Area

Made Me Wish I Was A Child

 
The flights were fine.  Pilots managed to circumvent some bad weather.  We stumbled into home about 20:45. 

Decorative Undersea Life

So, it's time for a nap!

6/6 - 6/8 Mama, I got them old Willamette Valley blues

Actually, no blues except music drifting out of the occasional restaurant/bar.  Wednesday we walked to McMinnville, explored a lot, shopped a little.  Did some wine tasting at The Naked Winery just to prove we are in wine country.

Because our lovely rental doesn't have cable, John bought a Roku stick.  Entertainment freedom!

Wednesday evening we drove to Dundee to meet Kathy's and Ben at the Dundee Bistro.  To celebrate Ben's birthday and all four of us being on the same continent and in the same state.  Which don't happen often.

Nice scenery on the way. Beautiful Spring day.  Wine tasting when we arrived early, of course.  After awhile I texted our location to Kathy.  She replied, that's nice.....but we are meeting tomorrow.  Her language skills expanded as she tried to figure out what my reply, ROFLMAO, meant.

Thursday was very laid back.  Walked and explored some. John watched a big game.  Nancy worked on the next community presentation (the one that may get our house egged).  I went shopping and found a great cold-weather dress at Goodwill.

Dinner with K&B was delightful.

Friday, cold rain.  More laid backedness.

Saturday, quiet morning.  Pleasant drive to the airport hotel from which, tomorrow morning, we make the long trek home.

Dinner time.  CYA later!

6/6 The Oregon Trail - off to a screeching stop

The PLAN sounded good.

When we were unable to go to Oregon for the eclipse, the VRBO we cancelled said, Hey anytime you are around, we'll apply what you paid towards future rental.  Very nice.

So we added a few days and, having nothing better to do, prepared to scamper off across the country to the land of red wines, fresh seafood, and legal marijuana.  At the airport, as they were loaded passengers who need extras time or help in boarding, someone accidentally deployed one of the emergency exit slides.  Not good.  Once the plane is in emergency mode, you don't just deflate, roll, and take off.

Eventually the whole gaggle of frustrated passengers made the trek to a different gate to wait for a new plane to land, prep, and make an unplanned flight.

We arrived about an hour and a half late. 

rental facade

The drive from Portland to McMinnville was pleasant and is becoming downright familiar.  The house is 1300 square feet, 4 small bedrooms, 2 tiny baths.  Very nice and well maintained.  The yard, as happens in this part of the world, is a delightful jungle.

backyard

Turns out combining a long day's travel, intermittent yet small meals, time zone changes, and grass don't work so well for Nancy.   After dinner my body kept falling asleep.....creating the effect of medical twilight anesthesia or severe short term memory loss.   I was asleep 19:00 and slept well until 05:00.

It's gonna be a good day!

view towards the front