We are now back in the UK if this comes across a little confusing. Unfortunetly internet (well computer access) is quite hard to come by in the States. Seems laptops are one of travellers essentials now! After a short bus from Vancouver, and much probing by customs (much like a five year old - 'why are you going there?', 'why are they family?' etc!) we finally got to Seattle. Interesting city, if a little grey and cold winds. Pike Place is a really great large market where you can get anything and everything, as long as it has cinnamon!
We fatally went to the local bar near our Motel on the last night, just for some desert. We soon experienced the USA generousity, beer after beer, shot after shot........
The train journey to Oregon City was only made uncomfortable by our hangovers, the trains are a far cry from the UK services!
So nice to get off in Oregon City to be greeted by Jacqui and Jim and be driven to the lovely old house, that Greg remembers from his last vist over 15 years ago. We spent a couple of days getting to know the family
Pike Place MarketThis place is amazing, famous in movies and also the birth place of Starbucks.........much more affordable here with the stirling!
and seeing the sights of Portland and Oregon city, in and out of the rain. Fortunetly we picked a calm day to go for a drive along the famous Columbia River taking in the large waterfalls, river view points and finally a hot chocolate for all up at The Shining lodge, no scary twins or axe crazed Jack!
Hiring a car for the first time in a country that drives on the wrong side (or the right side, depending on your viewpoint!!) was a little nerve wrecking for the first 10 minutes. A few times Emma did remind me calmly that I was on the wrong side of the road! We decided to head to the coast, see what the kiting opportunities are like and explore some of the older towns and cities. Astoria is a nice city, lots of old buildings (for the US anyhow) and the film place for the Goonies!
The beaches are huge, large enough to drive along, although we did not trust it in our VW Polo. When we found breaks in the rain we managed to do a couple of walks to lighthouses, along the beaches to the large rock formation such as
Haystack rocks and a touch of kiting for Greg, going from stupid amounts of wind one day, to next to nothing the next. Pretty amazing places, ranks up there with NZ so certain to return one day.
During our stay we organised our last week travel plans (thanks Jacqui for the use of the internet all the time!) and fit in another trip to Mcmenamins at Edgefield for some wine downing, sorry, tasting!
Looking forward to go back to Oregon again, surprisingly it was the place when we saw fewer English travellers than any other place on our itinerary, yet it seems to have so much to offer.
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