Afternoon Tea at Lady Di's in Lake Oswego, Oregon

My daughter, Catherine, and I had a lovely Afternoon Tea after finding the caches for the Wilsonville Geocoin Challenge. We each had a different sandwich cut into four squares (so we exchanged two squares), a small turnover, mini quiche, scone with strawberry jam and clotted cream, fruit and four mini desserts. And, of course, we each had a pot of tea. It was quite lovely.

Afternoon Tea at the Lavender Bleu Tea Room, West Linn, Oregon

My daughter, Catherine, and I had Afternoon Tea at the Lavender Bleu Tea Room in the historic district of West Linn, Oregon after finding the caches for the West Linn Geocoin Challenge. We enjoyed the full tea with sorbet, soup and a tiered tray filled with homemade scones, sandwiches, fruit and desserts. And, of course, we each had a pot of tea of our choice. It was a lovely fall day.

Meeting Ernest Gann, author at Roche Harbor Resort, San Juan Island

Returning from a recent visit to the San Juan Islands I recalled that my husband, Paul, and his co-workers had met San Juan Island's Greatest Adventurer, author Ernest K. Gann, in 1972. Paul and his co-workers had chartered a sailboat to explore Puget Sound for four or five days. One day about dusk they were walking along the dock at Roche Harbor Resort where they were staying on their sailboat. They saw this jewel of a power boat about 32 feet long. It was fashioned like a tugboat, beautifully made with quality throughout.

While they were admiring the boat, Ernest Gann walked up. His son who was first mate on a freighter, was with him. The men talked to Ernest Gann and his son for a few minutes, especially Ernest, about his boat which had recently been newly refitted. Ernest and his son were civil and answered the men's questions but were obviously more interested in continuing their own talk which the men had interrupted.

Ernest Gann's major works include the novel "The High and the Mighty" and his aviation focused, near-autobiography "Fate Is the Hunter".

In 1966 Ernest and his second wife, Dodie, purchased Red Mill Farm, an 800-acre spread on San Juan Island, Washington. They later donated the bulk of their ranch to the San Juan Preservation Trust. On December 19, 1991, Gann died at San Juan Island, at the age of 81. In Friday Harbor, a cafe named "Ernie's Cafe" was opened in honor of his accomplishments.

Road Scholar (formerly known as Elderhostel), Boston, MA

You can register for a Road Scholar (formerly known as Elderhostel) program by calling Boston toll free at (877) 426-8056, Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 6:00pm Eastern Time. You may also reginster online at www.roadscholar.org. Outside the U.S. or Canada: (978)323-4141. The Road Scholar program offers educational and adventurous trips to all 50 states and over 90 countries. I have attended approximately 44 Elderhostel/Road Scholar Programs. I had never been to the San Juan Islands so I thoroughly enjoyed my recent Road Scholar program at San Juan, Orcas and Lopez Islands. My all-time favorite Elderhostel/Road Scholar programs have been in Seattle.

Daughters of the British Empire in Oregon Afternoon Tea

This afternoon I attended the Daughters of the British Empire in Oregon Afternoon Tea in Lake Oswego, Oregon. I sat at a table for four so two women from Lake Oswego joined me. It was a lovely afternoon tea that included three finger sandwiches: English Cucumber & Cream Cheese Sandwich, Chicken Cranberry Sandwich and Curried Egg Salad Sandwich; Sausage Roll; Scone with Strawberry Jam and Cream; and desserts: Green Christmas Tree Cookie, Shortbread, Almond Toffee Bar and a Wrapped Chocolate Candy along with freshly brewed Tetley British Blend Tea. It was a bit of a drive from Vancouver, WA to Lake Oswego, OR but well worth it!

PE Civil Engineering Exam at Salem, Oregon October 28, 2011

My youngest daughter, Catherine, took the PE Civil Engineering Exam at Salem, Oregon on Friday, October 28, 2011. She felt that she got an "A" on the morning exam and a "B" on the afternoon, a more difficult, exam. However she has to wait until January for the result.

Day 8 - Trip to the San Juan Islands

On Saturday, November 5, we got up at 5:30am so we could get to the ferry at 6:45 to catch the 8:05 Washington State Ferry to Anacortes. Catherine got a cup of coffee and I got a blueberry muffin at the Ferry Landing Cafe. We saw the sunrise as we crossed the Salish Sea.

We found several Geocaches in Anacortes. I got the coordinates and several photos so I could waymark the Guemes Island Ferry Terminal. We got breakfast at McDonalds at 10:20am. We followed Marine Drive along the coastline. We stopped to photograph the Havekost Monument and Deception Pass & Bridge. We had planned to have Afternoon Tea in Coupeville or Mukilteo but both tea rooms were permanently closed. How disappointing!

We rode the 3:00pm ferry from Clinton to Mukilteo. Traffic was slow into Seattle. We purchased sandwiches at Albertsons in Mill Creek at 4:15 which we ate later at a park sitting in the car. We stopped at McDonalds in Tacoma for ice cream at 6:20. We got home about 9:00. It was a great trip but we were glad to be home!

Day 7 - Trip to the San Juan Islands

The Road Scholar program concluded after the 7:30am buffet breakfast. Catherine and I made peanut butter and jam sandwiches to have for lunch on the road. We left the motel about 10:00 to further explore San Juan Island.

We did not find a few caches and found some caches. We visited Fairweather Park near the harbor, found a benchmark at the Court House in Friday Harbor, photograped a huge Pacific Madrone tree, the Lime Kilm Lighthouse and the Lime Kilns at Lime Kiln Park, and photographed Roche Harbor and the Hotel de Haro.

The story of Roche Harbor began more than 200 years ago, in 1787, when Captain de Haro and his crew became the first Europeans to actually sail among the forested San Juan Islands. In 1886, John McMillin transformed a sleepy Hudson Bay outpost into a full-fledged lime works and company town with a population bigger than Friday Harbor (800+ residents). Seven decades later, the Tarte Family restored buildings and cleared the way for Roche Harbor’s metamorphosis into a boatel and resort. Catherine photographed the McMillin house now a hotel.

I had a cup of Earl Grey hot tea in the lobby of the Hotel de Haro where I saw Theodore Roosevelt's signature on the hotel register in a glass case. Catherine and I wandered around the hotel's formal flower gardens. We saw the old lime kilns. I parked on the hillside and walked across to the fenced gravesites. Regrettably I did not visit the Mausoleum housing the McMillan family, the founders of Roche Harbor. John McMillan was a Sigma Chi as well as a Freemason, so he built the mausoleum with a lot of symbolic architecture.

We purchased Deli sandwiches, chips, Diet Coke and candy bars at Kings Market in Friday Harbor to have for dinner in our room. I cleaned out and organized the car. We headed home the next day.

Day 6 - Trip to the San Juan Islands

On Thursday, November 3, the Road Scholars had an early 7:00am buffet breakfast. We departed at 8:30 on the inter-island ferry for Lopez Island. The island is locally famous for the longstanding custom of waving at every motorist, bicyclist, or pedestrian encountered on the island's roads.

We had a talk "Farming Lopez: A Year in the Life of a Sheep" by Bruce Dunlop at the Historic Port Stanley Schoolhouse. Bruce owns and operates the small, diversified and environmentally friendly livestock farm and specialty food business called Lopez Island Farm. At 11:15 we had sack lunches at the Schoolhouse.

We toured the Bruce Dunlop's Lopez Island Farm from 12:00-1:00. Afterwards we toured the Lopez Community Land Trust housing development showcasing sustainable design, construction and landscaping techniques. I was very interested in the sun oven and the design and construction of the houses.

We had free time in Lopez Village from 2:00-3:15. I got a cup of Wild Blackberry Ice Cream. Catherine and I found a Geocache nearby. We departed Lopez Island on the 3:50 inter-island ferry arriving in Friday Harbor at 5:10. I purchased a glass paperweight made in the San Juans at Island Studios.

We had a buffet dinner at 5:30 in the Motel's conference room. We had a Special Musical Farewell by Folk Singer Michael Cohen at 7:30. He is the leader of a local group of musicians called "Sugar on the Floor" who performs historical music, tunes, and dances from the folk traditions. Cohen has worked with the Smithsonian Institution in searching for and cataloging American folk tunes. John Pachuta, our Group Leader, showed slides he had taken during the past week.

Day 5 - Trip to the San Juan Islands

On Wednesday, November 2, after a 7:30am buffet breakfast the Road Scholars departed on the bus for a San Juan Island excursion. Today we explored the south side of the island: Lavender Farm (there are over 40 species and hundreds of varieties of lavender), San Juan Island National Historic Park (American Camp) with its rare coastal prairie, marine views, and unique history, and Cattle Point/South Beach, the longest stretch of beach in the Islands. On a clear day you can see the Olympic Mountains across the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

We had buffet lunch at the motel Conference Room. We visited the San Juan Historical Museum (the James King Farmhouse was built in 1894 after his log cabin burned down; the Scribner log cabin was built in 1891 and moved to the museum grounds in 1988). We had a group photo on the front lawn. Marianne Hanson sent me a copy taken by her camera.

We next visited the Whale Museum, the nation's first museum dedicated to whales living in the wild. I watched an interesting film on Orcas (Orcinus orca). The islands are famous for their resident pods of Orcas. There are three resident pods that eat salmon but also some transicent orcas that come to take Harbor seals.

Afterwards we had open time to explore Friday Harbor. We had a buffet dinner at 5:30pm. At 6:45 Guest Artist Lee Brooks showed and talked about her artwork.

Day 4 - Trip to the San Juan Islands

On Tuesday, November 1, after an early 7:00 buffet breakfast, the Road Scholars boarded the inter-island ferry at 8:30 for the scenic cruise to Orcas Island. We visited the Lambiel Museum. Leo Lambiel is a private art collector of the works of well over a hundred artists created in San Juan County. The private residence included a faux Grecian ruins and whimsical underground grotto.

We had a picnic lunch of sandwiches, chips, cookies and bottled water at the Village Green in Eastsound, the largest town in Orcas and the second largest in San Juan County. Catherine got a great tasting Starbucks coffee at Teezer's. I got a cup of hot chocolate.

About 12:30pm we departed for Mt. Constitution (elevation 2409 feet - 734 meters), the highest point in the San Juan Islands. The mountain is part of Moran State Park, the largest public recreation area in the San Juan Islands. Several of us climbed the 52-foot stone lookout tower (1936) at the summit but the spectacular views of surrounding sea and islands was hidden by low clouds. On a clear day you can see the white peaks of Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainier. I found three Benchmarks - the tower and two brass discs.

We left about 1:30 for Glenwood Springs Salmon Restoration Hatchery managed by the private non-profit organization called "Long Live the Kings" at an historic farmstead. This facility is seen as a benchmark for natural rearing methods in the Northwest. We cruised through the Islands aboard the inter-island ferry in the late afternoon and returned to Friday Harbor, San Juan Island in time for a buffet dinner. We had a free evening to relax.

Day 3 - Trip to the San Juan Islands

On Monday, October 31 the Road Scholars had a buffet breakfast at 7:30am in the Motel's conference room. Our caterer was Angie Raab. Our Group Leader was John Pachuta, a travel guide, educator, actor and kayak guide; he has won the Island Quest (a locally held Adventure Race) the past two years.

At 8:30am we had a presentation on the Salish Sea ecosystem: "Intro to the Salish Sea" by Shann Weston. At 10:15 we heard a talk about Coast Salish Native history: "Coast Salish Law" by Russel L. Barsh. He has published a recent paper on the Coast Salish "woolly-dog" with Joan Megan Jones and the late Wayne Suttles. We had lunch at noon.

At 1:00pm we departed by bus for an excursion of the northern areas of San Juan Island. We visited Lime Kiln Lighthouse/Park, San Juan National Park (British/English Camp), the IMA Sculpture Park, and Roche Harbor with its Historic Hotel de Haro. Lime Kiln Lighthouse (activated 1919), located on the west shore of San Juan Island and situated on Haro Strait, is now an Orca whale observation station. We saw Mona the Camel on the drive back.

We had buffet dinner at 5:30. Afterwards we had a presentation "View from the Islands" by Greg Hertel. Greg lives with his wife, two old cats and numerous motorcycles in a house that he built in 1987. His talk offered an insider's look at contemporary life in the islands, and explored issues affecting Island life.

Day 2 - Trip to the San Juan Islands

On Sunday, October 30th, Catherine and I had a delicious breakfast at the Rocky Bay Cafe at 225 Spring Street in Friday Harbor. The cafe offers good hearty food. We had to wait a bit for a table but it was worth it. I was served skim milk for my oatmeal. I requested 2% but never got it. We explored the east coast of San Juan Island from Friday Harbor to Cattle Point by car.

Catherine saw a deer in a far field. We saw a Red Fox alongside the road. It seemed quite tame. We found nine Geocaches and a Benchmark: Cattle Point Light. Cattle Point Lighthouse (activated 1888/1935) is located on the southern tip of the island.

We returned to Friday Harbor in time for Road Scholar program orientation in the conference room at the Earthbox Motel at 5:00pm. A buffet dinner followed at 5:30. All of the meals were delicious! We had introductions which were quite interesting. Instead of introducing ourselves we paired off and introduced our partner.

Day 1 - Trip to the San Juan Islands

On Saturday, October 29, 2011, my youngest daughter, Catherine, and I traveled by car from Vancouver to Anacortes. We stopped in Lacey for a light breakfast. We arrived about 1:45pm for the 2:40 ferry. We were the first car in Lane 10 at the Anacortes Ferry Terminal and the last of a dozen or so cars allowed to board.

Anacortes is the Gateway to the San Juan Islands. Equally distanced between Seattle to the south and Vancouver, B.C. to the north (approximately 85 miles from each), Anacortes rests on the waters of the Salish Sea on beautiful Fidalgo Island. The San Juan Islands are northwest of Anacortes and northeast of Victoria, Canada. There are approximately 172 islands depending on whether it is low tide or high tide. We visited three of the largest: San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez Islands in our car and with the Road Scholar (formerly known as Elderhostel) group in a bus and vans.

We arrived in Friday Harbor at 3:45. We checked into the Earthbox Motel at 410 Spring Street where we were given the end room on the second floor with a great view of the autumn trees.

We had dinner at the Cask and Schooner on Front Street near the harbor. While the atmosphere was good, sitting by the fireplace, the food was not very good and the conversation at the next table left something to be desired. I photographed a brightly lit Washington State Ferry docked at the harbor. We had a good night's sleep.