Memorable Presidential Lines

'I am not a crook': Nixon

'I did not have sexual relations with that woman': Clinton

'I never worked for Russia': Trump

Home Alone

I do not understand.  Trump stated that he was Home Alone on Christmas Eve.  Where was Melania?  Where was his son, Barron?  Where were his other children and their significant others?  The Secret Service?  The White House Staff?  How can you ever be alone in the White House?  Lonely yes, but alone no. 

"Killers of the Flower Moon"

I just finished reading "Killers of the Flower Moon - The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI" by David Grann.  Fascinating book!

Trip to San Antonio, Texas - November 2018

Thursday, November 22 - I was picked up by Vancouver Cab at 4:50AM.  It had been raining during the night but the rain had stopped.  I checked in at Alaska and went through TSA checkpoint.  I purchased a Day Pass at the Alaska Lounge.  It was a short flight to Seattle at 7:00AM.  Screaming baby!  I did a Virtual Geocache - Flying Fish at Sea-Tac.  I visited the Alaska Lounge.  Flight left at 11:51AM, arriving about 5:46PM.  I took a Super Shuttle ride to Drury Plaza Hotel - San Antonio River Walk.  The hotel is housed within the beautifully restored 1929 Alamo National Bank Building.  I had a Fruit and Cheese Platter for light dinner.  I read "The Devil wore Prada".

Friday, November 23 - I had an early breakfast.  I went back to bed for a couple hours.  I found Easy Riverwalk Cache - my 1st in Texas!  I tried to find the Alamo Red and Green Trolley but it was no longer running so I took a City Sightseeing Double Decker Bus Tour.  I ate Red Beans and Rice for lunch at Pat O'Briens at Alamo Plaza.  I walked back to the hotel.  I had a reserved seat at the Drury Plaza Riverwalk for the Holiday River Parade. 

Saturday, November 24 - I rode Lyft to Halcyon cafe at 1414 S. Alamo Street where I hosted a Geocaching Event from 8:00 to 9:30.  About 18 cachers attended the Event including Shane and Gwen TEAMDW99 who sat beside me during the Holiday River Parade the previous evening.  I had a large mug of hot chocolate.  I got a ride back to the hotel.  I walked over to the Alamo.  I had Filet-O-Fish sandwich and coke for lunch at McDonalds.  I rode the Via Shuttle stopping at the Market Square - El Mercado.  I bought two chocolate chip cookies at the bakery.  After about an hour I rode the Via Shuttle back to the Alamo stop.  I purchased Fruit and Cheese Platter and Shortbread cookies from Starbucks for light dinner.   I found a Virtual - Riverwalk Cache where I saw a wedding across the river and then sat near another wedding by the steps.  Across the river was the Arneson River Theatre.  I watched the Laser show on the facade of the Cathedral from the Drury Hotel's 14th floor. 

Sunday, November 25 - I attended Mass at the San Fernando Cathedral.   I rode Lyft to the San Antonio Museum of Art formerly the 1884 Old Lone Star Brewery.  I had lunch at Tre Trattoria halfway through viewing the exhibits.  I found a nearby cache - Waste of a Good Brewery (GC206FR).  I rode Lyft back to the hotel.  I watched a movie "Fail Safe" on television.  I went to Road Scholar registration, orientation, introductions and San Antonio overview.  Chris and Carol Toda from Hawaii gave us each a macadamias treat.  We departed from the lobby to walk to dinner at Paesano's on the Riverwalk.  I watched the Laser show on the facade of the San Fernando Cathedral from the plaza.

Monday, November 26 - We had early breakfast.  We had a presentation "Gone to Texas" by Professor Allen Lee Hamilton.  The group went on a guided walk.  I took Lyft to the 1859 Menger Hotel with its gorgeous, three-story lobby near Alamo Square.  I took photos of the Fergusons at the Christmas tree that I emailed to them later.  RS group had a lunch buffet at the Menger Hotel.  I had cheesecake and a bit of Bread Pudding for dessert.  We visited the Mission de Valero (The Alamo).  I photographed a benchmark at the Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse.  I saw "Alamo: The Price of Freedom" at the IMAX theater.   I found Remember the Alamo Virtual.   I read "The Gates of the Alamo" by Stephen Harrigan before the trip.  I wandered along the Riverwalk to Joe's Crab Shack.  I got a Corona beer, sat at the front of the cafe and people watched until the RS group showed up for dinner.  We had a private, narrated river barge ride.  I was so cold! 

Tuesday, November 27 - After breakfast we departed the hotel by motorcoach.  We toured part of the San Antonio Mission National Historic District.  I found a Virtual - Dam, Ditch, and Aqueduct.  There was a tree at the dam honoring President John F. Kennedy.  He visited San Antonio in 1963 to dedicate the Aerospace Medical Center at Brooks AFB one day before he was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.  I photographed the Espada Aqueduct.  The aqueduct was part of an extensive system of irrigation ditches called acequias that watered the mission fields.  We visited Mission San Jose with its legendary Rose Window and Mission Concepcion, the best preserved of the missions.  We had lunch at La Margarita in Market Square.  We departed Market Square about 2:00.  We had Tamale making demonstration by cookbook author Diana Barrios.  We had dinner at the Plaza Club - First Bank Tower.  Afterwards I saw the SAGA laser show again at the facade of the San Fernando Cathedral.  I sat next to three guys that were geocachers: ankka07 and puupaa7581 from Finland and their Texan host.  

Wednesday,  November 28 - After breakfast we had a presentation "LBJ - His Life and His Legacy".  We departed the hotel lobby for lunch and a guided walk.  We took bus #51.  We had lunch at Liberty Bar in King William neighborhood.  Terrible lunch.  I left the guided walk to take the 1 1/2 hour guided tour of 1876 Italianate Villa Finale; Museum and Gardens.  I got a ride back to the hotel.  I ate dinner at the hotel and watched "Survivor". 

Thursday, November 29 - After breakfast we departed by motorcoach for LBJ National Historical Park.  We visited the LBJ Ranch that sits in the middle of the Pedernales River.  We stopped at the family cemetery.  We could not visit the interior of the main house.  I watched the film and looked around the gift shop.  I completely forgot to look for geocaches.  We traveled to Fredericksburg.  I had lunch at Auslander Restaurant.  I purchased a Snickers bar at Dooley's 5 and Dime.  I found two geocaches.  We departed by bus to see holiday lights of the Hill Country.  We drove through Johnson City.  We had dinner at Old 300 BBQ in Blanco, Texas.  The trip back to the hotel was miserable.  We had to listen to country music, the film screens were incredibly bright and it was quite late.  Several people had to leave very early in the morning so it must have been frustrating not to get back right after dinner.  I watched the last bit of "Murphy Brown".

Friday, November 30 - I had a late checkout so I slept late.  I packed my suitcases and took them to the front desk to store about noontime.  I took a Lyft to the Madhatters Tea House for Afternoon Tea.  I had three kinds of sandwiches, a scone, petit fours and a pot of hot Earl Grey tea.  I took a Lyft to the Alamo where I got a stamp on my Road Scholar passport and talked with the Ranger about the proposed changes coming to the Alamo site.  I found a geocache along the Riverwalk.  I walked back to the hotel to retrieve my luggage.  I was picked up by Super Shuttle at 4:15PM.  I purchased a fruit parfait and biscotti at Starbucks at the airport.  I boarded the flight to Seattle and then another to Portland, Oregon.  My daughter Catherine picked me up about 1:00AM.  It was a great trip only because I arrived three days earlier so I could do several activities including watching the Holiday River Parade and hosting a Geocaching Event before the RS program began as well as adding activities during the RS program. 

North to Seattle

I caught the Amtrak train north to Seattle at 8:38AM.  However since Amtrak does not own the rails it has to give way to Burlington Northern who does.  We were supposed to arrive in Seattle at 11:50 NOT 12:30.  I made a mad dash for the city bus, got off at Union and headed downhill to the Downtown Seattle Meet and Greet.  I was there for the last ten minutes or so. 

I had planned to catch the #10 bus up the hill to High Five over Eye Five.  I made a detour to Groundspeak HQ to straighten out a problem with my daughter's Geocaching Account.  I purchased a Lackey Geocoin while I was there.  I caught a #40 bus downtown and then a #10 bus up the hill to get High Five over Eye Five. 

I was like a chicken with my head cut off this afternoon chasing the webcam. I no sooner figured out where the camera was pointing when it changed position.  Finally I figured out that the most noticeable object on the overpass was a very large bright orange sign - Road Closed Ahead. So that was I in the photo in black slacks and a long black coat standing in front of the sign. 

I caught a bus at 9th and Pike downhill to 4th and Pike.  I walked to 2nd where I caught a bus almost to the King Street Station.  Amtrak left at 6:10, arriving Vancouver 20 minutes late at 9:30PM.   

I saw a bald eagle in a tall tree right before we got to Ridgefield.  I saw the World's Largest Egg at Winlock.  I saw the spectacular Narrows Bridge during the daytime and then again at night lit with white lights.

Hood River Valley Harvest Fest

After breakfast I drove to Marshall Community Center two miles from my house.  I went on a Senior Trip to Hood River for the 36th Annual Hood River Valley Fest.  We stopped at McDonalds on the way for a break.  We stopped at a clothing shop in downtown Hood River.  I sat outside on an Adirondack chair with the sun at my back.  

We entered the HRV Fest at 1:00 PM.  I sampled some cheese and had a couple large, delicious dates.  I walked each row of vendors twice.  After an hour I decided that I had been there, done that.  

I walked a few blocks west to find lunch.  I ended up at Ferment Brewing Company at their 2nd floor restaurant at 403 Portway Ave.  I sat at the end of a long table by the window where I could watch the lone windsurfer on the windy Columbia River as well as enjoy the scenery.   I had a delicious FBC Burger and Assam Tea.  No fries.  I sat there for a couple hours enjoying the view and reading an article in a Gorge magazine.  Then it was time to wander back to the van.  

We traveled to Cascade Locks on I-84.  We stopped at a restaurant for dessert.  I sat at one of the tables near the windows and enjoyed the view.  No dessert for me.  Time to cross the Bridge of the Gods and travel west on Washington State Hwy 14.  We arrived in Vancouver about 6:15.  I traveled home.  Very enjoyable day. 

Missoula Ice Age Floods Trip September 2018

On January 28, 2018 I attended the Broadway Rose Theatre, Tigard production of "Murder for Two".  I arrived early so I read a worn booklet from the theatre display rack.  I saw the notice on the bottom of a page that the Portland Audubon Society was offering a Missoula Ice Age Floods trip in September.  I called Monday morning to register for the trip.  I joined the Audubon Society of Portland that afternoon.  I was the 14th (and last) person to sign up for the trip.

Saturday, September 22

I was picked up by Vancouver Cab at 1:35 PM.  Ten minutes too early!  I checked in at Alaska Airlines at PDX.  I went through TSA security.  I got a Strawberry Blueberry Yogurt and Shortbread Cookies at Starbucks.  I boarded the plane about 3:30.  We took off at 4:00.  We landed at 6:20 in Missoula.  I took photos of the Missoula Ice Age Floods strandlines on Mt. Jumbo with the large white letter "L" on the hillside as we flew over.  I picked up my luggage.  I met Nancy who is also on the trip.  She was on the same nonstop flight from Portland.  I called the Comfort Inn to be picked up. 

I checked into Room 410 at the Comfort Inn University with a great view of the Clark Fork River.  Spectacular sunset!  I went to dinner at Tamarack Brewing.  Someone paid for my dinner!  I got a cab ride back to the hotel.  I wrote in my journal as I watched  "Love it or Leave it".  Off to bed!

Sunday, September 23

I had breakfast at the Comfort Inn.  I caught the hotel shuttle about 8:45 AM.  At the airport terminal I met up with Nancy.  We met the group (minus one) at the terminal lobby including our group leaders: Candace Larson and Patty Newland.  We traveled in two 15-passenger vans.  We switched vans and seating each day so we got a varied experience. 

We went to Caffe Dolce for brunch.  I saw the display of Dolce Tableware and met the Proprietor.  He gave me a glossy catalog.  We drove back to the airport to pick up the last of our group.  We drove north to the National Bison Range for a visit on our way to Thompson Falls.  The highest point on the drive is 4,700 feet above sea level.  A signboard described historic Glacial Age Missoula, which helped form this valley.  Strandlines are still evident on north-facing slopes.  I saw a "Glacial Lake Missoula Highest Point 4200 Feet" sign as we drove down the hill.  I saw American bison, pronghorn and bald eagle in the refuge.  We had dinner together at Big Eddy's, a local restaurant.  We stayed the night in Thompson Falls at the Falls Motel.  I stayed in Room 26.   I watched television and then off to bed!

Monday, September 24

We had breakfast at Minnie's Restaurant in Thompson Falls.  Highlights of the day included viewing Rainbow Lake - a Kolk, Giant Current Ripples at Camas Prairie (Earthcache) and the ancient shorelines of Glacial Lake Missoula.  We had a picnic lunch at Finley Flats.  Following the Missoula Ice Age Floodwaters we headed for Spokane Valley.  We traveled along Lake Pend Oreille in northern Idaho.  We stayed overnight at the La Quinta Inn.  I stayed in Room 309.  I got a gift package for joining the La Quinta Inn membership.  Found nearby geocache.  We had dinner at Twigs Bistro.  I watched HGTV and went to sleep.

Tuesday, September 25

We had breakfast at the La Quinta Inn.  Our destination was the Grand Coulee Dam.  We visited the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge near Cheney, encompassing over 18000 acres of the Channeled Scablands and home to a diverse array of birds and wildlife.  We had a picnic lunch.  Traveling northwest we visited many interesting flood features, including ring dikes north of Othello.  While the group hiked to the dikes, I stayed in the van and read a novel.  

We traveled to Grand Coulee, a 60-mile-long deep channel carved by floodwaters.  We stayed two nights at the Columbia River Inn, in order to explore this area.  I had a room on the 2nd floor.  I sat on the balcony and read my novel.  The patio chair seat was too low so I put the seat cushion from the bedroom armchair on it.  We had dinner at La Presa Mexican Restaurant.  I walked down the service road to the gate to watch the laser show on the dam spillway. 

Wednesday, September 26

We had breakfast at Pepper Jacks Grill.  Great French toast for breakfast.  We explored both the lower and upper Grand Coulee.  The group visited the Lake Lenore Caves.  I stayed in the van reading.  We stopped at the Dry Falls Overlook and Visitor Center.  Dry Falls was under 300 feet of water moving 65 miles per hour during the floods.  After lunch we drove along Banks Lake, a 27-mile long reservoir.  It was formerly a dry coulee formed by the Missoula Ice Age Floods.  The group hiked in Northrup Canyon.  The mosquitoes were vicious.  I stayed in the van reading Grisham's new book - "The Rooster Bar".  I walked along the lake with a few from the group.  We had dinner at the Melody Restaurant which left a lot to be desired.  I watched television. Today I saw a Killdeer, Great Egret, Red-wing Blackbird, Northern Pintail, Pelican, Canada Goose and a caterpillar.

Thursday, September 27

We had breakfast at Pepper Jacks Grill.  We crossed the Ephrata expansion bar below the Lower Grand Coulee.  We headed towards the Drumheller Channels, northwest of Othello.  This area of 50 square miles was scoured by the floodwaters.   I saw ducks, pelicans, Burrowing Owl and a squirrel.  We had a picnic at Potholes State Park.  I saw a Red-tailed Hawk, Great Blue Heron, California Quail and heard a Great Horned Owl during the afternoon.  I had Room 201 with a balcony at the M&M Motel in Connell.  I sat on the balcony, read my novel and watched the birds.  We had dinner next door at Michael Jay's Restaurant.

Friday, September 28

We had breakfast at Michael Jay's Restaurant.  Connell lies at the mouth of the Washtucna Coulee, once the westward path of the Palouse River.  During the floods the Palouse River scoured out a new channel that the Palouse River now follows.  We traveled through the 500-foot deep, four miles long Devils Canyon.  We saw the spectacular Palouse Falls (Earthcache).  Four people died recently at Palouse Falls.  Some of the group went for a walk along the rim.  We had a picnic lunch.  The Yellowjackets were so fierce that I ate my lunch in the van.  

We traveled south to Lions Ferry State Park.  I forgot to bring my book from the van so I listened to music on my IPhone.  We went back to Connell for the night.  I rode the van to the north end of Columbus Avenue in Connell and walked back to the motel, looking at Murals and Bronze and Concrete Sculptures along the way.  Some of the sculptures had geocaches.  Today I saw an Eagle, Red-Tailed Hawk, California Quail, Golden Eagle, Gull, Sparrow, Lark, Loon, and Canada Goose.  We had dinner next door at Michael Jay's Restaurant.

Saturday, September 29

We had breakfast next door at Michael Jay's Restaurant.  We made our way back to Portland.  We saw Wallula Gap, Two Sisters and Hat Rock.  I read my novel at a picnic table at Hat Rock State Park while the group went for a birding hike.  We had lunch at Sergios 2 in Hermiston.  We arrived at Portland International Airport approximately 6:00 PM.  I got my suitcase and headed for the restroom and electric outlet to charge my IPhone.  I boarded the MAX light rail.  I pushed the emergency button to warn the conductor that a large metal suitcase had been abandoned in the MAX car.  It was removed. Two MAX Light Rail trains and two buses later I was back to the street where I live.  It was good to be home!