Portland II

Wednesday, September 28




                                                                    

You have to remember that Portland is a city of micro breweries and restaurants so we started the fourth week of our trip at the Deschutes
Brewery with Dana, Kim and Debbie.







Each of these breweries makes their own beer so they are always different than the night before.  Therefore John has to try the 'sampler' at each place.

 

 Then Dana came to the realization that after all the times John has been to Portland they have never taken him to Voodoo Doughnuts! So, off we went ~ . 

 

                                                                

   They have any kind of doughnut you might imagine.

                                                                                                          One of their signature doughnuts is the bacon maple bar ~                               

Our selections included a banana fritter covered with peanut butter and chocolate, a Bavarian cream and a vampire filled with blood (raspberry jelly).         

John dug right in

                       
                                      

Just the thought of all that sugar put Dana to rest

Dana, Lynn, Kim, Debbie

 ~ and after all that fun we had to jump into the Photo booth for a little more ~  

look who we met ~ just a great BIG slug

Dana was off on Tuesday so we headed to Eagle Creek in the Gorge for a hike to Punch Bowl Falls.  There was a little drizzle when we started but we were prepared and it just made the area look more intriguing.  It felt like we were in a rain forest with the light rain coming down and the rich green trees covered in moss. 

starting out

along the trail

a little fall color

punch bowl waterfall

where it gets it's name ~ the punch bowl

Dana climbed down to get us the best shot

lots of salmon 'coming home'

                                              

After our hike we felt it MUST be time for lunch.  Fall is fresh hops season (who knew and what is that?) gotta try it!  (had a sip)

first Payton has to get her horse

Then off to the horse barns.  Six year old Payton went to horse camp this summer and loved it so now she is taking some riding lessons.  She LOVES horses and can tell you many things she has learned from camp and the many books she has read. 

then she has to 'dress' the horse

then bring him to the arena

check everything ~ Sterling is very patient

she gets the OK

 The instructor was surprised that Payton retained so much from summer camp ~ we were not!

the instructor moved Payton and Sterling to the other arena  

      

Dana & Karen were watching for horse pies

Payton was a proud rider!

             

  Then the girls rode a different kind of horsey to the car.

Orgeon Coast

Monday, September 26

Friday morning Dana and Kim were off from work so we all went out for breakfast .

great breakfast

Then we surprised Payton and Lauren by picking them up at their schools and headed off to the Oregon Coast for the weekend.  Karen and Joe followed after work and Darin met us there on Saturday.

Karen’s friend’s parents own a beach house in Neskowin that they occasionally rent so Karen was able to get this great house and we enjoyed a fantastic weekend altogether at the beach.  

we went right to the beach ~ Lynn, Payton, John, Lauren

Payton and Lauren

Payton, Kim, Dana, Lauren

Dana, Lauren

kids went to bed and it was time for adult fun & games ~ fact or crap?

    

We had special mornings ~ just the four of us. Then the others wanted in on the fun ~

breakfast downstairs in the family room ~ how special

Payton, Karen (mom), Auntie Kim 

Auntie Danie and Lauren

                       

Payton & Lauren playing in the loft

Then back to the beach for fun in the sun!

Joe with his girls, Lauren & Payton

a little sand soccer

Karen and her girls, Payton & Lauren

Auntie Danie and the girls

and only in Portland ~ Ba 'rock' Obama

Payton's rock structure

and the babes ~ Dana, Lynn, Kim, Karen

opps ~ i guess this was supposed to be the picture ~ we're trying

Kim, Joe, Payton, Dana, Lauren, John

Yea!!!!!!!!!! (Kim and Dana)

what a GREAT day

John and Joe jammin' ~ mostly Joe, John's along for the ride

Dana had to return to Portland for a wedding celebration but the rest of us still had time to have some fun.

playing games

enjoying the hot tub

As soon as we woke up on Sunday morning, Payton, Lauren, John and Lynn went on an adventure looking for WHOLE sand dollars on the beach.  We had the beach to ourselves ~ probably because everyone else knew there was a storm heading our way!  The wind picked up and pelleted us with sand and then it started to rain.  We made it back before it poured ~ empty handed, but had lots to tell the others.
We had breakfast, started the laundry and then returned to the beach before heading back to Portland.
We're sure John had a master plan as we made it back to Portland right at dinner time.  The car sort of automatically veered toward the Lucky Lab for more bento.

Dana's friend Debbie, (the one we weren't able to see in Coeur d'Alene) was heading to Portland for a work training session so she was able to meet us there as well.

Debbie, Dana

Kim, Lynn, John