Geocaching Milestone: 300th Virtual

I traveled by Amtrak to Tacoma.  I got a lift from two women to within a couple blocks of the Union Station.  I rode the streetcar to the end of the line and then walked a couple blocks to McMenamins.  I got all of the Passport stamps.  I got a silver thermos as the prize.  I had a delicious lunch at their Spanish Bar, right off the Spanish Steps.

I walked a couple blocks to catch the streetcar back to Union Station.  I walked to the Bridge of Glass to take a couple photos.  My IPhone shut down.  Argh.  I walked back to the Streetcar stop.  I purchased a book at the University Bookstore - "the Summer House" by Santa Montefiore.  I had shortbread cookies and a small Earl Grey tea at Starbucks while I charged my IPhone.  I walked back to the Bridge of Glass where I asked a couple to take my photo with my IPhone.  I found my 300th Virtual - The Art of Tacoma: Bridge of Glass.

I walked down to the Museum of Glass where I looked through the Museum Shop.  I chatted with Ruby, the Frontline Representative, about Glassblowing, Glassblowers and Geocaching. I walked back to the Streetcar stop about 5:00pm where I rode the Streetcar to the end of the line (Theatre District) and then rode it to the other end of the line (Tacoma Dome).  I walked west a block where I got a Taxi to the Amtrak depot.  I caught the southbound train back to Vancouver.  I had planned to do a little more Geocaching but it was chilly and windy. 

Rose Red, Geocaching name

My Geocaching name is Rose Red from the Brothers Grimm's story "Snow White and Rose Red".  Snow White was quiet and passive.  I'm not.

I grew up admiring strong girls and women: Jo from "Little Women", Jane Eyre, Mary Lennox of "Secret Garden", Caddie Woodlawn, and, of course, the original Nancy Drew.  In later years I admired Katherine Hepburn, Katherine Graham of The Washington Post, Princess Diana, Hillary Clinton (for being one classy lady and for being a thorn in Donald's side), and Senators Lisa Murkowski (R) and Susan Collins (R) for standing up for what is right.

While we are on the subject of girls and women that I have admired over the years, who are the boys and men both fictional and real that I have admired?  Tom Sawyer ("Tom Sawyer"), Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck of "To Kill a Mockingbird"), Frank Towns (James Stewart in "The Flight of the Phoenix"), and Charles Brubaker (James Brolin in "Capricorn One").   

I also admire President Jimmy Carter, President Barack Obama, John Dean (Watergate), Frank Lloyd Wright (as architect not his private life), Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, Warren Buffett, and Bill Gates (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation). And I admire the men and women who are exposing wrongdoing in our government.

Eyes on the Skies

This afternoon I drove to the North Portland bluff to catch a glimpse of two ships through my binoculars.  The two odd ships were docked amid Swan Island's cranes - the gray hulls of the MX Pacific Collector (I met a crew member on the recent United Airlines flight from Houston to PDX) and the SS Pacific Tracker.  I could see the golf-ball-like structures looming over their decks.  Portland's Swan Island has become the ships' base. 

Essential Arkansas - October 20 - 28, 2019

Sunday, Oct 20 - I traveled via United Airlines from Portland, OR to Little Rock, AK via Denver.  I arrived at Little Rock about 2:00PM,  I called the Doubletree Hotel to get a shuttle ride.  I checked into Room 510.  I showered, took a nap and had a light dinner of quesadillas with sour cream and salsa in my room.

Monday, Oct 21 - It was a Dark and Stormy Night.  After breakfast at the hotel I took the hotel shuttle to the Arkansas State Capital.  I did the "A Walk on the Hill" Virtual cache which involves a tour of four monuments on the grounds of the Capitol.  I got a ham and cheese sandwich with pickle, potato chips and a cookie at the Capital cafe.  I took the shuttle back to the hotel.  After I ate lunch in my room I went to the Road Scholar Orientation.  We had an Overview of Arkansas Presentation.  We had a catered welcome dinner.

Tuesday, Oct 22 - After breakfast we had a Presentation of Bill Clinton's Rise to Power.  We met in the lobby to walk to the trolley stop.  We traveled to the William J. Clinton Presidential Library.  We had lunch at Cafe 42 Clinton Library.  We had free time so I looked at more exhibits at the Clinton Library and then took a short walk along the Arkansas River to find the Geocache.  I traveled via Trolley back to the hotel.  We went next door to the Old State House for a brief presentation.  We had a group dinner at Samantha's Tap Room.

Wednesday, Oct 23 - After breakfast in the first floor buffet area we bought our luggage to the bus.  We stopped by Little Rock Central High Visitor Center.  We had a picnic lunch at Petit Jean State Park.  We departed for the Rockefeller Institute and Petit Jean Overlook.  I found a geocache at Stout's Point/Petit Jean Overlook.  

We departed for Rogers/Bentonville located in northwest Arkansas about 2:15PM.  We checked in the Holiday Inn & Suites Rogers.  My room was totally unacceptable.  It smelled heavily of Windex or some type of cleaner.  Back at the front desk I was told the hotel was completely booked and the rooms assigned.  I told them that the rooms are NOT assigned until people check in so there had to be a room available.  I was given a suite on the 6th floor.  The service elevator was right across the hall so I used it during my stay.  Quite convenient.  We had catered dinner at the hotel. 

Thursday, Oct 24 - I had breakfast in the first floor restaurant.  We had a video about Crystal Bridges in the hotel meeting room.  The bus departed for Crystal Bridges.  We walked the 0.5 mile Art Trail in the rain.  I found the Geocache: A Crystal Cache: Arkansas Quartz at Crystal Bridges.  I was impresses by the Bachman-Wilson FLW Usonian House.  However I was not impressed with the Crystal Bridges architecture.  Crystal Bridges was designed by internationally renowned architect Moshe Safdie, who envisioned a building that would complement the surrounding Ozark landscape.  However the buildings look like giant armadillos crossing the ravine.  I ate lunch at Eleven housed in the Crystal Bridges Museum.  I had toasted cheese sandwich and a cup of soup with a side of house made chips. 

Crystal Bridges was a major and lavishly funded addition to the landscape of American museums when it opened in 2011. To the consternation of museums around the world, the curators and advisers who helped establish Crystal Bridges had bought up a significant collection of American art, including prized pieces from the colonial era and the 19th century. With a seemingly bottomless supply of money from the Walton Family Foundation, they acquired essential works, such as Asher B. Durand’s 1849 “Kindred Spirits” (from the New York Public Library for a reported $35 million) along with paintings by Thomas Moran, Frederic Edwin Church, Thomas Cole and other 19th-century painters.

Items in the collection (including buyer's premium) that I liked were:

·        Green River, Wyoming by Thomas Moran, purchased 5 December 2002 for $2.9245 million

·        George Washington (The Constable-Hamilton Portrait) by Gilbert Stuart purchased 30 November 2005 for $8.136 million

·        Winter Scene in Brooklyn by Francis Guy, purchased 30 November 2005 for $1.024 million

·        The Lantern Bearers by Maxfield Parrish, purchased 25 May 2006 for $4.272 million

·        Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1 by Georgia O'Keeffe, purchased 20 November 2014 for $44.405 million 

I especially liked Asher Brown Durand "Kindred Spirits".  I also liked Francis Guy "Winter Scene in Brooklyn", Alfred Henry Maurer "Jeanne", John Singleton Copley "Sra. Theodore Atkinson Jr." and Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait "A Tight Fix--Bear Hunting, Early Winter".

I caught the first bus pickup to Bentonville Town Square where I did a Virtual Cache - Son of the South.  I walked across the street to briefly visit Sam Walton's original store, Walton's 5-10.  It hosts the Wal-Mart Museum.  I rode the bus back to the Holiday Inn.

Friday, Oct. 25 - After breakfast we brought our luggage to the bus.  We departed the hotel about 8:00AM.  We stopped at Thorncrown Chapel, architect E. Fay Jones.  He was an apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright.  The group rode the Eureka Springs Tram on a rainy, cold, windy day. It was a narrated tram ride through historic Eureka Springs.  I stayed in the warm bus.  We departed Eureka Springs about 11:00. 

We had lunch at DeVito's at Harrison.  We departed about 1:00 for the Ozark Folk Center at Dry Creek.  I got my room key about 4:30pm.  I rode the shuttle to my room in a cabin located in a wooded setting.  I rode the shuttle back to the Skillet Restaurant.  The group went to the live music show but I went back to my room.  Early to bed.

Saturday, Oct. 26 - I took my luggage up the hill and hid it in the soda pop/ice machine room.  I rode the shuttle to the Skillet Restaurant for breakfast.  Story Teller presentation.  At 9:45AM I brought my suitcase from the soda pop/ice machine room to the bus.  The bus departed about 10:15.  We had a Buffet Lunch at the Red Apple Inn at Heber Springs.  At 12:30PM we departed for Little Rock.

We had a Guided Tour of the Arkansas State Capital in Little Rock.  We took a guided tour of the residential historic district.  We checked into the Doubletree Hotel Little Rock about 4:30.  I had Room 1006 on the Hilton Honors floor with a great view of the city.  I found the geocache - The Buck Stops Here.  I had a glass of wine at the hotel Lounge and then purchased Chicken Quesadillas with avocado to take back to my room for dinner.

Sunday, Oct 27 - After breakfast we departed for Hot Springs.  We stopped at Garvan Woodlawn Gardens.  It was too cold and damp to walk around.  About 11:30AM we departed for Bath House Row.  I did an Earthcache - Hot Springs Water.  I had a delicious lunch at the Copper Penny Bar & Grill and bowl with three kinds of Ice Cream at the Sweet Shoppe.  At 3:30 the bus departed for Little Rock.  We had a Farewell Dinner at Bones Chophouse. 

Monday, Oct 28 - I had to reroute my flight through Houston, Texas as Denver had a massive snow storm.  Argh.  I really wanted to do the Earthcache in the Denver Airport.  I arrived home about 2:30.  I rode the MAX Light Rail to Delta Park and transferred to buses to take me within a couple blocks of my house all for $1.50!  Arkansas was an interesting trip but it was good to be home.

Journey to Virginia Sept 12 - 22, 2019

Thursday, Sept 12 - My daughter, Catherine, dropped me off at PDX about 6:30am.  After checking in for the flight and going through TSA check, I went to the Alaska Lounge for a couple hours.  I caught the 9:40am flight, arriving at Washington, DC National Airport about 5:50pm.  I saw "Mary Poppins Returns" during the flight.  I didn't realize that my eldest son, Jeff, was waiting at National Airport to pick me up so I took Metro to Van Dorn Station where the hotel shuttle picked me up.  I had the same room as last year at the Comfort Inn & Suites - top floor with a great view.  I had the fruit and cheese platter for dinner that I purchased during the flight.

Friday, Sept 13 - Following breakfast I took the hotel shuttle to the Van Dorn Station where I caught the Metro to King Street Station.  I avoided riding during the DC Metro peak hours.  I rode the free King Street trolley.  I had lunch at Starbucks.  I found three nano geocaches.  I stopped briefly at Le Pain Quotidien to charge my cell phone.  I had dinner with my son, Jeff, at an Irish Pub - the sandwich was good but the fries were terrible.  He took me back to my hotel where I gave him a package that I brought from home.

Saturday, Sept 14 - Jeff, Donna (Jeff's friend), Joey (Jeff's son) and I went Geocaching in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia.   We found four Virtuals and seven Traditional caches.  One of the Virtuals was the burial site of Stonewall Jackson’s left arm at Ellwood Manor in Locust Grove.   We had lunch at Cancun Margarita Bar & Grill in Fredericksburg.  I purchased food at Starbucks to have later for dinner.

Sunday, Sept 15 - Jeff, Donna, Joey and I went Geocaching in and around Frederick, Maryland.   We had lunch at Bushwaller's - a traditional Irish Pub in downtown Frederick.  We found four Virtuals, six Traditional Caches, two Multi Caches, two Mystery Caches and one cache we DNF.  One of the most fascinating caches was the Virtual Jug Bridge (GCGCRN).  I bought a Chicken Wrap Bistro Box and Shortbread Cookies to have for dinner back at the hotel.

Monday, Sept 16 - After I had breakfast I took the hotel shuttle to the Van Dorn Station where I caught the Metro to King Street Station.  I rode the free King Street trolley.  I went to the Lee-Fendall House to find the cache in the garden but it was closed.  I looked for the cache at the Hollensbury Spite House and took several photos.  I had lunch at Starbucks.  I went to the Alexandria Library in the afternoon where I found an easy chair and took a nap.  I got some food at Starbucks to take back to the hotel.  I rode the trolley, Metro and hotel shuttle back to the hotel.

Tuesday, Sept 17 - I went to DC on Metro.  I visited the National Museum of the American Indian for over four hours mid day.  Always fascinating.   I learned about the Aqua Caliente Indian Reservation (Section 14) in the other Palm Springs, CA established in 1876/1877.  I went to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum where I saw the large Star Trek Starship Enterprise Model.  The Enterprise lights up at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm.  I was lucky that I was there a little after 3:00 pm.  I had Fruit & Cheese, Mixed Fruit Cup and Pound Cake for a late lunch in the cafe.  I traveled back to the hotel.

Wednesday, Sept 18 - After breakfast I went back to Alexandria.  I found the cache that I did not get on Monday at the Lee-Fendall House. I took a nap in a comfy patio chair on the deck of the Alexandria Visitor Center.  I found a cache in the Wilkes Street Tunnel that was originally a railroad tunnel. I went to Safeway and borrowed a long handled broom. Back at the tunnel I knocked the covering rock aside with the broom handle.  I stopped a runner who was not happy with me but reached up and got the cache.  I signed the log.  I used the brush part of the broom to lift the cache back to its slot.  I used the handle to push the rock back in place. When I returned the broom I bought a small container of Haagen-Dazs Vanilla Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.  I tried to find another cache but DNF.  I got a Pb&J Protein Box and Dark Chocolate Grahams at Starbucks to take back to the hotel for dinner.

Thursday, Sept 19 - I visited the National Gallery of Art for several hours.  I had a deli sandwich and potato chips for lunch in the cafe.  I enjoyed watching the waterfall.  I left the museum around 3:00pm.  I purchased Dark Chocolate Grahams and Berry Trio Yogurt which I ate at Starbucks.  I also purchased a Chicken Wrap Bistro Box at Starbucks for dinner.  I traveled back to the hotel. 

Friday, Sept 20 - I traveled via Metro to L'Enfant Plaza and the International Spy Museum.  I visited the Spy Museum until closing.  My secret codeword was Mercury.  Several movies were mentioned: Argo, Reilly Ace of Spies, Salt, The Americans, The Imitation Game, Black Hawk Down, and Spy Game.  The legendary Bond car - the silver birch Aston Martin DB5 - was on display.  I purchased a Fruit and Cheese Protein Box and Dark Chocolate Grahams at Starbucks for a dinner at hotel.

 

Saturday, Sept 21 - Jeff, Donna, Joey and I went Geocaching in and around Montpelier, Virginia.  I had a Yogurt Parfait at the cafe at Montpelier while they explored the grounds.  Emily (Jeff's daughter) joined us briefly at Montpelier and for lunch.  We had lunch at La Naranja Cocina Mexican in Orange, Virginia.  I didn't think the food was very good.  We found seven Virtuals and five traditional caches.  I purchased an Asian salad, carrot cake slice and diet coke at Safeway in Fairfax for dinner.

Sunday, Sept 22 - Donna and Joey were not able to join us so Jeff and I headed for West Virginia.  I wanted to see the Fairfax Stone.  Unfortunately there was no water in the spring.  We found one Virtual and six traditional caches.  We had a delicious lunch on the patio at the Purple Fiddle Cafe in Thomas, West Virginia.  I saw a Wind Gap as we headed east.  Jeff dropped me off at National Airport.  I bought a yogurt parfait and vanilla shortbread cookies at Starbucks B South.  I watched two movies during the flight: "Isn't It Romantic" and "Hustle".  My daughter, Catherine, picked me up at PDX.  It was good to get back to cool weather.

Oregon Car Trip, August 23 - 31, 2019

I had three goals in mind for this car trip of 1,000 miles more or less.  First, acquire more McMenamins Passport Stamps, second, acquire several more Geocaching Virtuals and possibly a cache or two, and third, attend several plays at the Oregon Shakespearean Festival in Ashland, Oregon. 

The first day (August 23) I bought two six packs of Fiji Water at Fred Meyer at 8:30am.  I found a cache in Aurora where I bought a small bag of Dark Chocolate Coated Hazelnuts, got McMenamins passport stamps in Salem where the Prize was sandwich of my choice, got a McMenamins passport stamp at Central Oregon Coast where the Prize was a Bowl of Clam Chowder, found the Virtual Yaquina, turned east at Newport, and got McMenamins passport stamps at Corvallis where the Prize was an Appetizer of my choice.  I stayed the night for free in a king suite at the Comfort Suites in Corvallis using my points.

The second day (August 24) I had a hearty breakfast at the Comfort Suites and then headed south on I-5.  I got the Passport stamps in Eugene where the Prize was a take-out basket of Cajun tots with small container of dip.  Great snack as I headed south.  I got the Passport stamp in Southern Oregon where the Prize was an Exclusive Roseburg Station Passport T-shirt.  I checked in the Ashland Hills Hotel and Suites.  I had a King Suite with a balcony - Room 265.  I saw "Hairspray" at the Angus Bowmer Theatre.  Afterwards I stopped at Safeway to buy a late dinner of Asian Chicken Salad. 

The third day (August 25) I had breakfast at the hotel.  I drove to Medford where I visited Harry and David Country Village.  I bought a couple small bags of Trail Mix.  I found a cache at a cemetery in Phoenix and a Virtual at a monument in Medford.  Back at the hotel I watched "Bourne Identity" on television and rested.  I went to the Road Scholar table in the lobby to pick up my welcome packet.  We had Orientation at 5:00 followed by a catered buffet dinner.  I skipped the evening lecture to attend the OSF performance of "Alice in Wonderland" at the Mountain Avenue Theatre on my own.  Incredible costumes!

The 4th day (August 26) I had breakfast at the hotel.  We rode the chartered bus to downtown Ashland where a company member led us on an informative "walk and talk" through three theaters - the indoor Angus Bowmer and Thomas theatres, and the outdoor Elizabethan theatre.  We had a delicious boxed lunch.  We met another company member, who took us through OSF production shops and a costume shop.  We had a lecture at 3:00. We had a catered dinner at the hotel.  After dinner, we had a lecture led by a theatre expert. 

The 5th day (August 27) I had breakfast at the hotel.  We had lectures all morning followed by a catered lunch at the hotel.  I attended the OSF production of "Mother Road" at the Angus Bowmer Theatre.  Tickets were sold for $10.00 plus a can of vegetables etc. for the Food Drive.   The evening production was OSF "As You Like It" at the Angus Bowmer Theatre.  I really, really did not like it.  The love story was set in a timeless, abstract world.  Duke Senior was cast as a woman.  I think that I will not attend any more Shakespearean plays at OSF in the future.  I got an Egg Salad Sandwich at the Arco Station for a midnight snack.

The 6th day (August 28) began with breakfast at the hotel.  We had lectures all morning followed by a catered lunch at the hotel.  I took a nap in the afternoon.  We had a catered dinner at the hotel.  This evening we saw the OSF production "All's Well That Ends Well" in the outdoor open-air Elizabethan Theatre.   It was a little better than the previous Shakespearean play but not much. 

The 7th day (August 29) began with breakfast at the hotel.  We had two morning lectures.  We had lunch and dinner catered at the hotel.  Tonight we experienced the final OSF production of "Between Two Knees" at the Thomas Theatre.  The script utilizes humor to humanize the horrific treatment of Native cultures. 

On the 8th day (August 30) I did not stay to have breakfast at the hotel nor attend the morning lecture.  I hit the road to Medford where I ate a Bacon Egg Cheese Biscuit with a cup of Orange Juice at McDonalds at 8:30am.  I headed east to Klamath Falls where I had a delicious salmon bagel at The Daily Bagel for lunch.  I found six Virtuals along the way.  I headed north to Bend.  I got a Prize at McMenamins Old St. Francis School of a Silver Metal Lunchbox after getting five stamps.  I stayed the night for free in a King Suite at the Comfort Suites in Redmond using my points.   I had ham and cheese hot pockets with bottled orange juice free for dinner.

This was the 9th and final day of my trip.  I had breakfast at the hotel.  I traveled northwest on Hwy 26 arriving home in the late afternoon.  Traffic was bumper to bumper.  Traveling Labor Day weekend was not a good idea.  I traveled 933 miles.  I found eight Virtuals and two traditional caches.   I visited five McMenamins to get Passport Stamps.  And I saw six of the 11 OSF productions for 2019.

Utah Festival Musical Theatre: Eight Performances, July 8 - 14, 2019

I left Portland, Oregon on Alaska Airlines at 8:30am, arriving Salt Lake City about 11:00.  I caught a shuttle to Logan, Utah about 1:30pm.  I checked into the University Inn about 3:30 where I was given a room at the end of the hall on the 5th floor (top floor) with a view to the south.  The breakfast room was right across the hall and the classroom was just down the hall.  Great location.

I saw several productions in downtown Logan: The Pianists!, Master Class, Newsies, Mary Poppins, Mamma Mia!, Bravo Caruso!, West Side Story, Murder for Two, and Raisin in the Sun.  I exchanged almost all of my theatre tickets for better seats, paying the cost difference.  I also saw the International Vocal Competition Semi Finals.  

Meals were mostly good except for the Beehive Grill and Jack's Wood Fired Oven.  I had one meal on my own at Center Street Grill.  Simply delicious!

I found two Virtuals on the University Campus: Black Rock and USU Synergy and a Benchmark: Logan Utah College Agricultural Bldg Cupola.  I found one cache in downtown Logan: Historic Ellen Eccles Theatre.  I did not find a cache at the ruins of an old grist mill.

I caught a very early shuttle Sunday morning.  I got to the airport in time to get an earlier non-stop flight to Portland.  I was exhausted.  It took me several days to recuperate. 

Trip to The 55th Annual Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest

Thursday, June 6 - I left home around 8:30 AM, traveling north.  I stopped for gas at Fred Meyer in Hazel Dell.  I traveled I-5 north and then crossed the Longview Bridge to travel northwest to Astoria.  I stopped at Safeway to use the restroom.  I got a Danish pastry and Dannon Greek peach yogurt for late breakfast.  I traveled to Fort Stevens to photograph the wreck of the Peter Iredale  (Geocaching Virtual)..  I got an Oregon State Parks 12-month Parking Permit at 11:30.  I walked to the beach where I watched two long, colorful kites carry men into the Air to ride the currents and photographed the Peter Iredale.  The narrow, winding road with a huge pothole was unnerving to drive.

I traveled south on Hwy 101 to McMenamins Gerhardt Hotel.  I got three Passport Stamps and the prize.  I visited the second floor of the Annex to find the hidden room.  Very interesting.

I traveled south to Ecola State Park where I photographed the Tillamook Lighthouse (Geocaching Virtual).   I drove to Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock Motel Office.  I stayed in cottage 2B.  It had a large Living Room/Dining Room/Kitchen with bathroom and bedroom.  I parked at Public Parking in downtown.  I bought a 1/2 lb. of salt water taffy for Christopher at Bruce's Candy Kitchen.  I had pizza and a glass of Chianti wine at Fultano's Pizza for dinner.  I got a carton of Stoneridge vanilla ice cream at the market to take back to the motel.

Friday, June 7 - I drove south to the Lookout to photograph Haystack Rocke (Earthcache) and then north to explore Cannon Beach.  I bought a large almond pastry at the bakery.  Delicious!  I ate half and saved the rest to have later.  I was deeply disappointed that the Cannon Beach Library was not open even though the sign said it should be open.  I like buying books that are for sale.  I bought a book at Jupiters Rare and Used Books.  I picked up a couple DVD's at the motel office but did not end up watching them.  I watched HGTV instead as I do not get that channel at home. 

Saturday, June 8 - I watched film "McFarland" starring Kevin Costner on television.  I packed the car.  I walked down to the office to leave the DVDs and check out.  I had a late breakfast at the Pig 'n Pancake.  I walked down to the beach to watch the sandcastles being created at 1:30PM.  A few of them were quite good.  I stayed until they announced the winners of the Master's Division.  I wandered back to the Haystack Rock Motel parking lot to get my car.  I headed north and then west to Forest Grove.  I got a final McMenamins stamp and the prize.  I attended the GEOregon May Meet 'Greet at the Copper River Restaurant in Hillsboro.  I had a California roll with sliced avocado and a glass of Chardonnay wine.  I headed home. 

Trip to Las Vegas March 16 - 21, 2019

Saturday, March 16 - I flew on Alaska Airlines from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Las Vegas (LAS) at 9:00 AM to arrive at 11:10 AM.  I retrieved my suitcase and met my sister, Jeanette, at Passenger Pickup.  Jeanette's house is beautiful however it is in the McCarran flight path.  Very noisy!

There are miles and miles of brown houses and buildings in Las Vegas all one style.  Incredibly boring!

We had lunch at Starbucks, 8164 S. Las Vegas Blvd.  I had a Roasted Tomato/Mozzarella Panini and Shortbread Cookies.  We sat at a table on the patio.  Afterward I found a Two-for-one Geocache: a Virtual and a Benchmark (GR1933).  I had to count the rungs in the Arden Water Tank ladder for the Virtual.

We went to the Terry Fator show at the Mirage.  We were about 15 minutes late.  Traffic was horrendous!   The show was great.  I can't believe that it was ten years since he won "America's Got Talent". 

Sunday, March 17 - Jeanette and I went to the Regal Cinema at Village Square, 9400 W Sahara Avenue.  We each had a dish of ice cream at nearby Cold Stone Creamery.  I had a scoop each of French Vanilla and Chocolate.  We saw "Gone with the Wind" at 1:00 PM. 

Monday, March 18 - Jeanette and I went to Red Rock Canyon.  Most of the mountains around Las Vegas are composed of sedimentary rock.  Red Rock Canyon provides spectacular examples of both types: the gray mountains are limestone, and the red-and-white hills are sandstone.  

We stopped at the Visitor Center.  We saw the film and exhibits both indoors and outdoors.  We also saw wild jackasses and several desert tortoises.  We saw sandstone boulders dappled with red spots that are iron concretions toward the end of the drive.  I did two Earthcaches. 

I attended the Geocachers of Las Vegas Monthly Meet & Greet at BJ's Restaurant Brewhouse, 10840 West Charleston from 5:00 - 6:30 PM.  I had a glass of Chardonnay wine.  I won the first prize in the raffle.

Tuesday, March 19 - We headed to Arizona on Hwy 93.  We stopped at the Lake Mead Scenic Overlook.  I took several photos of the signboards in order to create an Earthcache.  We stopped at the historic White Rock Canyon Bridge (1933/1934).  It is a two-for-one geocache: a Virtual and a Benchmark. 

We had lunch at Capriotti's, a Sandwich Shop at 771 E, Horizon Drive in Henderson.  I had a half Italian sub and a delicious chocolate brownie. 

We went to the Clark County Museum in Henderson so I could do a Virtual.  We visited the Museum, historic houses, and a Wedding Chapel.  There were old cars parked outside the houses and the Motor Court. 

I watched Master Chef Jr. on television in the evening. 

Wednesday, March 20 - We went to the Bellagio to see the impressive Japanese floral display in the Botanical Gardens and the Chihuly Floral Glass Ceiling in the lobby.  We saw the Chocolate Fountain.  We took the tram to the Aria Resort and Casino.  We visited a Fine Art Gallery.  We went back to the Bellagio to pick up Jeanette's car.

We went to The Capital Grille, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd South for Jeanette's birthday luncheon at 1:00 PM.  We each had their famous Cheeseburger with fries.  Jeanette split her Birthday dessert - a cheesecake with fresh berries - with me.

I watched a two hour "Survivor" on television in the evening.  The tribes merged but were in for a shock when all of the voted off survivors reappeared!

Thursday, March 21 - I packed my suitcase and carryon. I left my hat behind for another visit. Jeanette dropped me off at Alaska Airlines at Terminal 3.  I checked my suitcase and got my boarding pass.  I was quickly through TSA screening.  I got a slice of pumpkin loaf at Starbucks.  The gate was changed. 

I boarded for a 2:00 flight to PDX - bulkhead aisle seat.  I watched a film "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" with Melissa McCarthy based on a true story.  It ended up taking me longer to get home via public transportation (switching problem on MAX light rail red line) than it did to fly from Las Vegas to Portland International Airport!  

New Orleans: An Unforgettable City of Mystery and Intrigue Feb 22 - Feb 27, 2019

Tuesday, Feb 19, 2019

I left home via Vancouver cab at 3:30am to PDX for 6:00 flight to Seattle.  I had a really long walk through the Seattle/Tacoma Airport to catch my flight to New Orleans.  I met Ben Thomas with the music group Jovino Santos Neto - musicians from Seattle on their way to a gig in Mississippi.  I had a window seat in bulkhead row.  I arrived at New Orleans about 3:10pm.  I took the Airport Shuttle to the InterContinental Hotel, 444 St Charles Ave.  I was given a room on the 8th floor with a large balcony overlooking the courtyard and three breakfast vouchers.  I had a light meal and fell asleep early.

There was a full mini bar in a cabinet which I did not touch.  Also there was a container with boxes of Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate Peanut M&M's, Roasted Cashews, Pringles Original, Dark Chocolate Almonds, Pringles Sour Cream & Onion, Twix Minis, and Kit Kat Miniatures.  And there was a bottle of wine: Kendall Jackson Vintner's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 and a large bottle of Fiji Natural Artesian Water.  I put the container on the top shelf of the closet and the two bottles next to the coffee maker inside the cabinet.  Out of sight, out of mind.

Wednesday, Feb 20

A historic 1865 house on St. Charles Avenue burned in a massive seven-alarm fire this morning.  The 8,785-square-foot house at 2525 St. Charles, known as a toasting spot during the Rex parade, is unfortunately a catastrophic loss.  It was first reported at 7:44am. It wasn’t considered under control until about 1:45pm, six hours later.  The fire appears to have started in the basement and quickly spread. The house’s age presented a challenge. Newer houses are typically built with “fire stops” designed to prevent flames from spreading quickly. This house had no such stops.  When I rode by on the St. Charles Streetcar two days later on Friday morning there were still fire trucks at the scene.

I woke at 6:00am.  I had a buffet breakfast in the hotel restaurant.  I caught a Lyft at 9:30 to the New Orleans School of Cooking, 524 St Louis Street.  Chef Brandon Moreau was the chef.  He grew up in southwestern Louisiana.  He has French and Acadian Ancestry.  He made Gumbo, Jambalaya, King Cake Bread Pudding with cream cheese sauce (I had two helpings) and Pralines.   I caught a shuttle back to the hotel at 1:20pm.  I had a glass of Chardonnay at Trenasse at the hotel at 5:00.  I watched "Survivor" and it was off to bed early.

Thursday, Feb 21

I woke at 6:00am.  I had a buffet breakfast in the hotel restaurant.  I caught a Lyft to 873 Canal Street.  I found several Virtuals in the French Quarter: Ignatius J. Reilly ("Confederacy of Dunces"),  Edison Place, Menu Venue, The Founder, A Shining Example, Whose Funeral is it? and Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop.  I got the traditional powdered sugar beignets and a glass of milk at Cafe Beignet near Jackson Square.  I caught a Lyft at St Ann Street back to the InterContinental hotel at 5:00pm.  I had a glass of Chardonnay at the hotel restaurant.  I purchased some food for dinner at nearby Starbucks. 

Friday, Feb 22

I woke at 6:00am.  I had a buffet breakfast in the hotel restaurant.  I rode the St. Charles Streetcar to Loyola University and back.  I tried to get a Greyhound ticket on line several times on my IPhone but it would not work.  So I caught several streetcars to the Greyhound Station, 1001 Loyola Ave.  I went to the restroom.  When I got to the ticket counter it had just closed!  Back to the hotel.  On the way I found the Virtual Survivors Park, New Orleans.

The Road Scholar New Orleans Program began at 4:00pm with Registration in the Gentilly Room.  There was an Orientation meeting.  We had dinner in the Trenasse Restaurant in the hotel lobby at 6:00.  I had White wine and Shrimp & Grits. Tonight's parades were Oshun, followed by Cleopatra.  The second parade was better.  Then it was off to bed.

Saturday, Feb 23

I woke at 6:00am.  I had a buffet breakfast in the hotel restaurant.  We had a class: "Carnival in New Orleans" by Nellie Watson.  We got box lunches which I ate mine in my hotel room while watching television.  I had Grilled Vegetable Ratatouille with cream cheese spread on French bread.  I watched a couple parades.  We walked from the hotel lobby to Fogo De Chao, 614 Canal Street inside the JW Marriott Hotel.  I had ribs, veggies etc. for dinner.  I watched a couple parades and then it was off to bed.

Sunday, Feb 24

I woke at 6:00am.  I had a buffet breakfast in the hotel restaurant.  We had a class: "Music: The Soul of Mardi Gras".  Bus departed at 10:45 for Mardi Gras World where floats are built.  Not enough time there!  We departed for noon Brunch at the Palace Cafe, 605 Canal Street.  I had Andouille crusted gulf fish with vegetables.  I wandered down to the waterfront where I found the From Distant Shores Virtual.  I caught a Lyft at 4:00 back to the hotel.  I watched a couple parades.  I had a light dinner.

Monday, Feb 25

I woke at 6:00am.  I had a buffet breakfast in the hotel restaurant.   We took a field trip via motor coach with expert on-board commentary for an overview of the city. We had lunch at Superior Seafood, 4338 St. Charles Ave. I had sautéed shrimp served over Superior cheese grits.   I hopped off the bus at St Louis Cemetery No. 1 to get the Marie Laveau, Voodoo Queen Virtual.   I walked south on St. Louis Street to the Steamboat Natchez at Toulouse St Wharf for an hour and half ride.   I rode a pedicab to Deanie's Seafood for dinner.  I had combo of deep fried shrimp and catfish served with coleslaw.  Food was terrible.  I went back to the hotel on the tour bus.

Tuesday, Feb 26

I woke at 5:30am.  I had a boxed breakfast from the hotel restaurant.   I took a Lyft at 6:20 to the Greyhound Bus Station to catch the 7:30 bus however the bus broke down somewhere between Houston and New Orleans.  So I caught the 10:30 bus to Biloxi, MS.  I arrived about 12:30pm. 

I caught a Lyft to nearby Ocean Springs.   I toured The Charnley-Norwood House, 509 Beach Drive.  It is a summer (winter) cottage designed by architects Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright in 1890 in Ocean Springs, MS on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  The home was built as a vacation residence for James Charnley, a wealthy Chicago lumber baron, and its style represents an important change in American residential architecture known as Prairie School.  In 1895, Charnley sold the property to fellow Chicago businessman Frederick W. Norwood.  In 1897, the main house burned to the ground, but Sullivan modified and rebuilt it to nearly the same design.  The Gulf Coast National Heritage Area Program manages the property under the MDMR.

The tour guide gave me a lift to the Biloxi Lighthouse where I did the Virtual.  I caught a Lyft to the Greyhound Bus Station.  I walked to Sandbar Bar and Grill where I got a delicious BLT sandwich and chips.  The bus was 30 minutes late.  I arrived in New Orleans about 6:00 and caught a Lyft.  I arrived thirty minutes late at the New Orleans School of Cooking, 524 St. Louis Street.  Our chef was Anne Leonhard.  We enjoyed a wonderful mix of Creole food conjured up in this demonstration class of Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, Shrimp Etouffe, Bananas Foster, and Pralines.  I rode the tour bus back to the hotel.

Wednesday, Feb 27

I woke up at 6:00am.  I had the buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant.  I watched the open House hearing on television of Michael Cohen, President Trump's former lawyer while I packed for the trip home.  I had 1:00pm late checkout.  The Airport Shuttle picked me up at 1:10.  My flight left about 4:15 to Seattle and then on to Portland, Oregon.  I had a Fruit and Cheese Platter during the flight for dinner.  It was an interesting trip but great to be home!  I have a stuffed animal and a sack of colorful beads thrown from the floats.

Trip to Oahu, Hawaii January 5-11, 2019

Saturday, Jan 5 - I was picked up about 6:30AM by Vancouver Cab.  I checked in with Alaska Airlines at PDX.  The flight left at 9:10AM, arriving Honolulu about 1:40PM.  I sat aisle seat which was a big mistake.   Too much activity.  I watch two films during the flight - "Mamma Mia, Here we go again" and a depressing "Three Identical Strangers".  After retrieving my suitcase, I caught the Shuttle to the Waikiki Resort Hotel, 2460 Koa Avenue.  The hotel is well located in the heart of Waikiki, half block away from Kuhio Beach section.  I checked into my room on the 16th floor at the end of the hall.  I had a view from the balcony of the hills.   I had a Filet-O-Fish and Sr Coke at McDonalds at 3:00PM.  I wandered over to the International Marketplace where I photographed the Don Ho Statue, a sculpture in bronze.   I found a geocache.  I purchased food at Starbucks for an evening meal back at my room.  I purchased a $39.00 hat at Nordstrom Rack for $15.00.  I bought a 6 pack of bottled water at ABC Store.  I returned to my hotel room about 7:00, ate a light dinner and went to bed.

Sunday, Jan 6 - Following a very early breakfast I took Lyft to my Event at the Honolulu Coffee Experience located at the corner of Kalakaua Ave and Kapiolani Blvd.  It was a great location to hold an Event.  There was even a cache in the Coffee Shop.  About 14 cachers attended.  Lee Chung (Cache_Lee) gave me a Turtle Marine Figurine.  Afterwards I had a great time geocaching with Katie (K8Ydd) and Kristie (NativeAirman) part of the day and then Kristie until sunset.  I found 12 caches, and a benchmark (TU0289 TIDAL 14) on top of balustrade of Iolani Palace.  I had a light dinner and went to bed.

Monday, Jan 7 - After breakfast at the hotel I rode TheBus on a 1-Day Pass to the park next to the United States Postal Service on Saratoga Road where I did an Earthcache.  I rode TheBus to the Ala Moana shopping center.   I found a cache in the parking structure.  I had lunch at the terrace at Nordstrom at noon.  I had a cuppa Earl Grey tea at Starbucks at the Ala Moana Hotel.  I wandered over to the Halekulane Hotel where I had a lovely Classic Afternoon Tea on the Veranda at 3:00PM.  I had Earl Grey tea however I should have tried Silver Needle for something out of the ordinary.  Sweet highlights included homemade Kula strawberry preserves and clotted cream to pair with currant scones.  Afterwards I went to the nearby seating area to hear live Hawaiian music.  I chatted awhile with Toshino Uraoka from Japan.  I found a cache while walking to the 1927 Royal Hawaiian.  I checked out the lobby and then found a location to watch the stage show.  Afterwards I wandered over to the Moana Hotel where I wandered through the hotel lobby and then sat for awhile on a rocker on the front porch.  It was getting late so I walked back to the hotel. 

Tuesday, Jan 8 - After breakfast at the hotel I decided to ride TheBus on a $2.00 1-Day Pass entirely around Oahu.  I caught the No. 8 bus on Kuhio Avenue.  I got off at the Ala Moana Shopping Center.  I caught TheBus through central Oahu to the Dole Pineapple Plantation where I found a cache. I had planned to get an ice cream sundae however it was so expensive and I am not that fond of pineapple.   I continued on via TheBus to the scenic North Shore where I had lunch at McDonalds.  I took TheBus along the coast back to the Ala Moana Center.  During the circle bus ride I saw a white heron, white butterflies, roosters, black cats, and hen with baby chicks.  I saw several wind turbines.  I saw the Emerald Princess at the dock at 4:00PM.  I had a light dinner at the Terrace at Nordstrom.  I took TheBus back to Waikiki. 

Wednesday, Jan 9 - After breakfast at the hotel I caught TheBus on a 1-Day Pass to downtown Honolulu.  I visited the 1879 Iolani Palace at 10:30.  The Iolani Palace was the royal residence of the rulers of the Kingdom of Hawaii.  I explored the palace for an hour and half or so.  I learned that the ocean originally came up to the front yard of the palace.  I caught TheBus, stopping at McDonalds about 12:15PM for lunch.  I found a Virtual (Maui Warrior GC6A60 Placed Date: 06/30/2002).  I caught TheBus again to travel to the Bishop Museum about 2:00.  I saw the exhibits for a couple hours.  I caught TheBus back to Waikiki.  I had a light dinner at Starbucks on Kuhuo Avenue.  I wandered back to the hotel along the beach road.

Thursday, Jan 10 - After breakfast at the hotel, I found a cache.  I was picked up by the PCC shuttle about 10:30AM.  The Polynesian Cultural Center is a Polynesian-themed theme park and living museum located in Laie, on the northern shore of Oahu, Hawaii. I got the popular Ali'i Luau Package. I visited a couple villages. The food was great - I had a huge scoop of rainbow sherbet ice cream on fruit during the show by the lake and the food at the Alii Luau was simply delicious.  I had a front row seat at the Luau dinner/performance.  I had fairly good seat for the Evening Show: HA: Breath of Life.  However, by the end of the evening I did not want to hear any more Polynesian music or see any more Polynesian dances for a very long time!   I returned to the hotel via the PCC shuttle about 10:45PM.  It made for a very, very long day.

Friday, Jan 11 - I had an early breakfast at the hotel and packed to return home.  I was picked up by the shuttle at 9:30 AM and taken to the Honolulu International Airport.  I checked my suitcase.  I ate a parfait that I purchased at Starbucks.  The flight left at 12:40PM for Portland.  I watched the film "Ready Player One" directed by Steven Spielberg.  I arrived at PDX about 8:10PM.  I got my suitcase.  I rode MAX light rail/CTran to downtown Vancouver, Washington where my daughter Catherine gave me a lift home.  I had a great time but it was good to be home!