Yesterday's adventures included driving along the I-5 with the emergency brake ON!...and taking a short detour through Kalama in search of a Chevron gas station. Enroute we saw the tallest totem pole in the world...but no Chevron station!
We arrived at the hotel in Portland around 5pm and wandered down the street to a Mexican restaurant for dinner. Lights out by 10pm and we all had restless sleeps.
Up early (thanks to the youngest sister) at 6:30am!! The hotel includes decent breakfast offerings so we enjoyed scrambled eggs, sausages, potatoes, toast, porridge, yogurt, fresh fruit, juice and coffee.
Back in the room at 7:10 we looked at each other and tried to decide how we would spend the next four hours until anything opened on a Sunday morning! Our first attempt at riding on the MAX system successfully filled the gap.
MAX mosaic map
After failure to identify the correct exits, we enjoyed a scenic tour across the Willamette River to California. Disembarking, we were thrilled to spot a "Honey Bucket" in close proximity. Taking turns, we managed to gather again on the platform and reverse direction on the next train.
Our first stop led us to Voodoo Donuts...we sampled maple bacon donuts after a half hour wait in line.
The half hour line-up
Voodoo chandeliers
Look at those beautiful maple bacon donuts!!
Didgeridou with the drums at Portland's Saturday Market...on Sunday!
The Market yielded treasures as we wandered along the rows of artisan wares...everything from jewelry to doggie treats, many fantastic eateries and a variety of musical styles.
We walked back along the bridge to capture this great sign.
Back on Burnside we discovered Powell's City of Books. It was totally overwhelming! Tara wanted to buy an atlas but remembered that she would have to carry it back to the hotel! I finally convinced them that I was old (an Honoured Citizen in the USA) and needed to sit down for a coffee rest!
They allowed me a 22 minute break before we sauntered (at break neck speed) to Buffalo's which featured new and recycled clothing. From there we trekked to TJ-Max for an endless search through racks of bras, shoes and other unnecessary items. Once again there was a reality check when one of the sisters wanted to buy several full sets of bedding that weighed several hundred pounds and she was reminded that she would have to carry them back to the hotel on the MAX line!
Returning to the hotel, like seasoned pros, we picked up a delicious bottle of red wine, several bags of nutritious chips and resigned ourselves to wait for the lunar eclipse...a specially ordered event for my sister's 60th birthday!! More later.
After a delicious meal at Chez Elmer, with handsome young Erik(a Texan) as our server, we searched the skies again for a lunar eclipse...and...there it was!
The finale ...60 years with my special sister!
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