Black Friday

Thanksgiving Dinner with Carol's brother, neice, great nephew and families was marvelous.

While crazies are fighting the crowds of Black Friday shopping, we make a short drive into the capital of the State of Washington, Olympia. It is a small and quaint town on the water. We come across the Olympia tap house. Why not give it a go?

CJ is ecstatic. They have the limited release Goose Island stout on tap. While he is making a fool of himself at the bar moaning and gowning, ala When Harry Met Sally, Carol discovers something likely to push him over the edge. In the cooler, they have three different varieties of Goose Island stout. These bad boys are going to come to Australia with us.

Apparently, we have not worn out our welcome. Rob has purchased a brisket and we are invited back this evening for dinner. We pass by on our way to Seattle.

It is a clear day. This is Mt. Rainer from Rob's driveway.

Columbia River Valley

It is transition day. Today we depart Portland, Oregon for Olympia, Washington. Are we smart enough to simply drive between the two. Not a chance. Today we explore the Columbia River Valley to Hood, Oregon.

Our first stop in at the Bonneville Dam hydroelectric complex.

We are exploring the trail of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. This is beautiful country. We might come back at some point.

This is one of the turbine propellers from the hydroelectric plant.

Home at Last

When we arrive home from Seattle, our neighbors say we look like crap. Perhaps we've overdone our first post-COVID year of travel. The trip to New Zealand was stressful because of the weather state of emergency but not otherwise tiring.

Skiing in California, Galapagos, and Machu Picchu was an exhausting trip. We seemed to have recovered by the time we departed for Japan. We could have survived the month in Japan, the Japanese Islands, Taiwan, and Singapore had it not been for CJ's stuff-up.

Departing less than 30 later for Seattle, polar bears in Churchill, Canada, wine tasting in Oregon, beer tasting in Oregon, visiting the Columbia River and Seattle on the heels of Japan did us in.

Our neighbors say we look like......we'll say 'crap 'although that is not what they said.

At least we reset Australia's clock and have 90 days before the next trip. Some have advised us to take it easy this year. We'll start with a short relaxing trip to New Zealand for the first mandatory departure and make the second equally relaxing in an overwater cottage in Fiji.

Portland Beer - Day 2

The Uber drops us off at Ecliptic. Before we can stop him, he's off and we discover that this excellent place closed its doors after 10 years as of Sunday, two days ago. Crap!

We order another Uber to take us to Steeplejack. This place reminds us of a miniature Church Brew in Pittsburgh.

It's time for lunch and this place serves up some mean chow.

CJ is pleased with his selection. This place, like yesterday has a mother lode of tasty dark brews for CJ.

Thanksgiving +

Carol's brother Rob is cooking a bird. She is playing with Buddy, aka Mateo.

Great dinner and enjoy being with family for Thanksgiving.

Portland Beer - Day 1

So much for planning. CJ has two breweries on the plan for today. While searching the location of the first he came across a restaurant with 'crawfish' in its name. We have lunch at Jake's Famous Crawfish. Carol has a Dungeness crab salad. We're thinking a few crab legs. It comes with SIXTEEN legs. CJ goes for the Étouffée. Both are delicious and filling. How filling? We will eventually pass on dinner. 

Deschutes Portland Public House is a few blocks walk. CJ hits the jackpot with six solid drinkable and tasty dark beers.

Lunch and Deschutes conspire to cause us to blow off the second beer house.

Carol attempts to shop but only finds a potential Chinese restaurant. 

Searching for the Chinese restaurant, we discover a huge underground shopping mall. It goes for blocks and blocks. We now know how locals avoid the cold and rain. The Chinese place is booked out. We settle for marginal Thai across from our hotel.