Hi folks and welcome to the new blog,
We had joint purpose for this trip, the main one was to get my cataracts assessed by the ophthamologist in Portland. Using that we added on several other events: a visit to granddaughter Jamie and her fiance Chris. A meeting with my grad school friends. Shopping in Oregon which is a sales tax free state. And since this is our first trip using our new camper "Abby", we thought we should give her a fair trial down the coast and over the mountains and across the desert.
So far we have made it to Portland. I had my examination with the ophthamologist and it was a very good one. He confirms that I qualify for cataract surgery and explained why I have been having weird symptoms. It turns out that I have radial cataracts that operate like the spokes of a wheel, and react strongly in sunlight, and ease off inside the house where it is darker. I have the case resolved and have been approved for surgery which pleases me no end.
After that appointment we went straight to the Terwilliger Plaza in downtown Portland where my friend Linda Crum had invited us all to meet for lunch. There were about 10 of us, all former classmates. A lot of laughter, and chat, and even some eating. A few hours later we returned to our camper and bit of R and R.
The next day was designated for shopping. We whizzed off to IKEA to buy all the things we needed to outfit Abby: towels, a comforter and sheets, kitchen ware, etc etc etc. There was only time for tracking down the Wild Hog fencing panels we need to finish off the deck we just built. We tried the local lumberyards, with no luck but Rick managed to find one that will be open tomorrow and yay! they have just what we need. So this part of the trip has been fairly functional in nature so far. Tomorrow we spend with the granddaughter, the day after that (Monday) we finally have all the practical items complete and we take off on the trip itself. And drat, wouldn't you know our gorgeous clear and hot weather has evapourated and it looks wet and drizzly on the beach. Nothing will dampen our spirits though, the camera shall continue to snap, the clam chowder is waiting, and off we will go…
xx to all,
Barbara Rick and Flossie the travellin' Scottish Terror
6AM, we are on the first ferry from Gabriola to Vancouver Island. Nanaimo in the early light. Mount Benson in the background.
The MV Quinsam, full capacity. We are the big guy in the middle.
After the hour and a half drive to Victoria, we climb onto the US ferry to Port Angeles Washington State. It crosses the Strait of Juan de Fuca in about 1 hour and a half. The photo above shows the harbour in Victoria and the Empress Hotel, as we pull away from the dock.
On the other side (the US side), the highway follows the basic outline of the Hood Canal (part of the Strait). Behind the littoral, rises Hurricane Ridge, part of the Olympic Mountains.
We noted how the leaves are already turning. Fall is upon us,
View as we cross the Olympic National Forest in Washington State.
The Hood Canal. Special note to my Scottish and English relatives. This is NOT a canal. I have no idea why they called it a canal. It is an inlet off Puget Sound.
Farm along the Hood Canal backing up against the Olympic foothills
At last!! Arrival at the campground just south of Portland. Flossie was also in this photo but she scampered up the steps at the last moment. This is where we have roosted for the past few days while we shopped, did medical appointments, visited friends and family. Tomorrow we go collect the last two Wild Hog fencing panels and we are done with the chores. We leave here on Monday and the fun begins. And dang it, it looks like RAIN!!!
Thanks for reading. More to come.
xxx Barbara Rick and Flossie the (adorable) Scottish Terror
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