Camping At the Coast

Posted on by Laura & Brett

I don’t think our first camping trip back in Oregon could have been any better if we had tried. We had a fabulous time!

Our yurt, Kaipo and Tilly in their new winter coats, Brett looking for wildlife (deer) across the street.

The weather was pretty much perfect the whole time we were there. Cool to cold in the mornings and evenings, but bright sunshine and warm throughout the day. The yurt was just right for the two of us and the dogs and we figured out things we could do better on future trips (like bring a mattress topper for the hard bed!). We also figured out several things we don’t need. We brought way too much food, for example, because we just don’t eat that much any more, and because I’d rather sit by a campfire than stand at a cookstove.

Blue hour at Nehalem beach

We had a lovely drive out to the coast (except for one wild stretch Brett wanted to try – we both said never again!) and arrived at Nehalem State Park late Monday afternoon. We quickly found our yurt and unpacked the car, then walked out to the beach to see the ocean once again. Kaipo and Tilly were very excited by it all, especially Tilly, who just could not get enough of the soft beach sand. She rolled in it, tried to bury herself in it, etc. – it was very funny to watch her. Kaipo was thankfully a bit more laid back. After we got back to our site we set up our first campfire and sat outside for a while. We went to bed to the sound of pounding surf in the distance.

Before going to bed that night though I grabbed the flashlight and headed over for one last trip to the bathroom. I had just plugged in my phone to charge, but the bathrooms were close and I figured I’d only be gone about five minutes so wouldn’t need it. Nope – I took a wrong turn on the way out of the bathroom and I got lost! For some reason I thought our yurt was in the B loop (we were in the A loop), and I walked around and around some of the B loop and some of the A loop for nearly an hour looking for our spot. Brett knew something wrong when I didn’t come right back, and initially stayed at the yurt to be there when I finally arrived, but as time went on and I didn’t show up he came out to look for me and we eventually found each other (a miracle – those loops were huge!). The whole time I was walking I was never scared but instead very frustrated and determined to find my way back. I figured out the next morning why I had taken the wrong road from the bathroom – the path back to our section had been recently paved, was black, and in the dark it literally disappeared and I had missed it completely and headed off in a different direction. Anyway, I got a lot of exercise that night – Brett thinks I probably walked somewhere between 2-3 miles. I did sleep well though.

Manzanita

The next day we went to our favorite beach town – Manzanita – located just north of the campground. We were initially shocked by how empty the town was, but then figured out that most places there were only open Wednesday through Saturday for the winter season. We walked out on the beach for a while (with Tilly still crazy about the sand) then went back to find someplace to hopefully have lunch. A place called the Winery was open, and we shared a very yummy smoked salmon platter and each had a mimosa. Afterwards we walked back to a little pet shop and got each of the dogs a new (warmer) winter coat from their 50% off-sale rack before heading back to the campground to relax. I had forgotten to bring a saucepan, but our cast iron skillet worked just as well for warming up some soup which we enjoyed with some focaccia for dinner. Afterwards we sat out by the campfire (my favorite thing about camping) and chatted for a while and watched the sun set before heading to bed.

Lunch in Manzanita, Cannon Beach, and another campfire

On Wednesday we went back to Manzanita for lunch the much-recommended Offshore restaurant, which had been closed the day before, and had the best clam chowder ever and shared a tuna sandwich. Afterwards we drove north to another favorite beach town, Cannon Beach. There were lots more people there than had been in Manzanita, but it still wasn’t crowded at all. We again went down to the beach to walk and check out Haystack Rock, then went back into town to get a bag of salt water taffy because the place I usually buy it in Manzanita had been closed both days (I also bought a bag of peanut brittle, my all-time favorite candy, and a caramel apple for an afternoon snack for us). I was a bit surprised by how much home building was still going on in Cannon Beach – I thought all the empty lots had been filled years ago. We also stopped on the way back to our campground at one of several scenic overlooks on Neahkanie Mountain to check out Manzanita and Nehalem beaches below – the view was spectacular! We had soup again for dinner and enjoyed a final big campfire – I made Brett buy a second bundle of firewood because I didn’t want it to end – and went to bed one last time to the sound of the surf.

We had an easy drive back home filled with beautiful fall colors in the mountains. Before leaving the coast we stopped in Tillamook (at the Tillamook Creamery and the Blue Heron French Cheese Company) to get some speciality cheeses and ice cream to take with us. The Creamery seems to always have a flavor of ice cream and/or cheese that we never see in stores, and we love the smoked and pepper brie cheeses made at Blue Heron.

We plan to make camping a regular part of our future nomading. Without school schedules to accommodate these days, the two of us can now get away for several days at a time, year round. Our next trip is already booked for February – winter camping! – but at a location further south down the coast. There’s a lot of Oregon we still want to see and camping is one of the best ways for us to do that.

Goodbye October, Hello November

Posted on by Laura & Brett

After the mess that was September, October is closing on a high note. Following the pandemonium of moving and discovering things were broken, stolen, or missing and filing claims, and spending like we were made of money, we are ending the month with the claims settled, money in the bank, a new travel goal, a successful camping trip under our belts, and an apartment that feels like home. Kaipo and Tilly have also mostly settled down – they had their first Portland grooming mid-month which made a real difference. When we arrived back at the apartments following our camping trip they both got out of the car and walked directly to our apartment and waited for us by the door – they know this is home now. We have also managed to arrange boarding for them when we go to Boston at Christmas, a big weight off our shoulders.

Brett and I voted before we left to go camping. I had forgotten how relaxing and safe it is to vote by mail here. I sat down one afternoon with a cup of tea and the voters guide and slowly read and filled out my ballot, then sealed it in the envelope, signed the envelope, and Brett took both our ballots to the box at the library. We got word in a few days that our ballots had been received and our votes counted. I hope everyone gets out and votes this year – it’s a very important election, and voting in our country is a superpower!

Our big goal for October was to survive and get the apartment settled and we have almost accomplished that; our new dressers won’t arrive until after the new year. But, everything else is almost done and we are happy that our claims from the mover were settled so quickly.

For November, once again there are only a few goals:

  • I desperately need pedicure and maybe a manicure. My nails suffered greatly during the move and I am slowly getting them back in shape, but think maybe a professional manicure would help. There’s a great salon just a 10 minute walk away. I also need to get my hair cut again and there’s a great salon about a 10-minute walk in the other direction!
  • I want to start a budget for our trip to England next year and tentatively choose some dates with WenYu. We are now talking about maybe spending less time in England and going to France for a few days but no decision on that yet.
  • I need to get myself back into reading. I got thrown off before the move and although I’ve tried I have a hard time getting myself to pick up a book these days. I’m currently reading Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley. It’s very well written as well as interesting – no complaints there – but I always seem to find something else to do other than read.
  • Continue to walk as much as possible!

Otherwise, the days are getting cooler and it’s been raining, to the point we finally turned on heat after we came home from camping. I never thought I would say it, but I’m actually happy the rain has arrived. When we first moved to Portland back in 1992 there were water restrictions put in place because of the lack of rainfall the previous winter, and we don’t want to go through that again so any rain we get now is a good thing.

Here’s to a great month in November for everyone!

Return of the Occasional Nomads

Posted on by Laura & Brett

Just in case you hadn’t noticed, there’s a new page listed at the top of the splash screen: Travel Dreams & Plans. I created it because 1) We’re still always thinking about travel; and 2) I wanted a place to keep track of plans and dreams forefront.

One of those dreams is actually going to happen next year! We have decided to return to England next mid- to late-September for around three weeks, along with our middle daughter, WenYu. She told us she has always wanted to visit England and Wales, and has decided to join us for at least a couple of weeks if not the entire time.

Our anniversary cruise is still definitely happening, but Viking announced dates for for 2029 and one of the departure dates is the day before our actual anniversary, and we felt we’d rather celebrate our anniversary on board versus a year ahead. With that decision made, 2027 and 2028 suddenly opened up for other plans. England will be next year; Japan and Italy are potential destinations in 2028 but we may also go someplace we’ve never been before.

Scheduling and reservations for England won’t start until early next year, but we’d like to start with three full days in London, and a full day in Oxford. We’ve decided to pick up a car in Oxford this time around, and want to visit nearby Blenheim Castle before heading out of town for a two- or three-day drive around Wales. Following that we’d come back to the Cotswolds for around 10 or so days, or split the time and go to Cornwall, then return the car in Oxford on our way back to London and our flight home.

I’ll be posting updates about the trip early next year, mostly on the page at the top, after we’ve chosen actual travel dates. In true Occasional Nomads style, I will be doing all the scheduling while Brett will handle the route in Wales and also logistics for the whole trip. We’ll fly from here to Boston to meet WenYu, and then head to and from London from there.

It feels good to have a real travel goal again. Brett chose England as our first destination because he said it was the place he most wanted to see again. And, having WenYu with us will be the icing on the cake – she’s a great traveler and fun to be with.

For now though I’m in a “gathering general information” stage of planning, but I am looking forward to changing gears next year and getting everything set up.

Happy to Be Here

Posted on by Laura & Brett

Things have finally settled down after a tumultuous few weeks of moving into a regular sort of life in Portland. The apartment is finally set up the way we want and we’re enjoying the space as well as getting used to where everything is now. We’re also finally able to get things done beyond the move, like getting medical care set up, getting the dogs groomed, and getting out more in the city.

This move was, to put it mildly, very difficult. In fact, it’s the most difficult move we’ve ever done, and that’s after doing three overseas moves (over and back), and a few back and forth moves across country under our belts with no lost items or damage. Having both occur with our shipment this time was depressing and disturbing, and something we’ve still not completely come to terms with. Believe it or not, our claim has already been settled – because there wasn’t anything to dispute – and the dresser requires a full replacement. We will be receiving enough from that claim that the dresser will be replaced with an upgrade. The items that went missing (or were stolen) are being handled by our insurance company but we will be getting everything back for those as well.

We like our apartment very much! It gets a lot of light during the day and with all the sunny days we’ve been having it’s been bright and cheerful. Now that everything is put together, it’s starting to feel actually like home. We have an upstairs neighbor that can be a bit noisy at times but never so much we want to complain, and we like knowing someone is there. Our last apartment in Tennessee was way too quiet, if anything, and so easy for me to seal myself off in it.

Our claim coincided with a current sale at the furniture company we bought the dresser from, and the savings will allow us to upgrade from the dresser on the left to two of the ones on the right for more storage space!

Besides the actual move, the only other real problem we’ve run into here was finding a primary care physician that accepts regular Medicare. Apparently very few places/doctors do, so it took us a lot of effort and calling around to find a doctor that would accept us but we did and have appointments already set up with her.

This has also been a tough move for Kaipo and Tilly. They know we’re home now, but changing lodging every night for a few days during the road trip and then short stays in two Airbnbs followed by a chaotic move was harder on them than we initially realized. They have both become very clingy and get upset when one of us leaves, and they bark all the time on stuff they ignored before. We left them at home on their own last week for a couple of hours to see how they did and they barked the entire time (we had a note from our neighbor), so for the next few weeks one of us will always be with them. Hopefully they’ll be able to relax a bit more in the coming weeks, and will feel better after being groomed (appointment is tomorrow).

Although I am sick about all the spending we did for this move, I loved going back to so many of our old favorites. IKEA is IKEA, Costco is double the size of the one we used in Tennessee and amazing, Winco is as affordable as ever and has everything, Fubonn (massive Asian supermarket) takes care of all our Asian food needs, and Trader Joe’s is only a six-minute walk away. There are wonderful coffee shops everywhere. I actually enjoy driving here, mainly because I know where I’m going and how long it’s going to take. No sales tax is the icing on the cake! We still haven’t been to a farmers’ market, but think we will save that for next spring.

We have our work cut out for us outside. The lawn in a muddy mess but the bed at the back against the wall has a lot of potential (the cascading plant overhead is a blackberry bush in a neighbor’s yard). I’m standing in one of the garden beds and the other is on the far side of the chairs and barbecue grill. This photo was taken late afternoon, but the area gets a lot of sun during the day if it’s not raining.

With the indoors done at the apartment, the outside of our apartment will now move to front and center. The Big Dark (rainy season) is approaching, as well as winter, so all we’re doing now is thinking about what we want to do out there when spring arrives. We have two garden beds on either side of the front – we will work on the getting the soil ready this winter and then planting vegetables in the spring: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, zucchini most likely. We also want to grow potatoes but will probably do that in a large pot. There wall in back of our small lawn that would be perfect for an espaliered fruit tree, but we’re not that ambitious. Brett made a support pad and moved the barbecue to the back wall – it fits and looks good there – and we will probably fill in the bed around it with some blueberry bushes and strawberries. My dream is to have a fig tree and a banana tree but that’s way down the list.

We have been getting together with old friends and family, and they especially make me glad we came back to Portland. And, so do thoughts of our upcoming camping trip next week. My cousin reminded me the other day of how lucky we were to get a yurt as they pretty much stay full year-round here.

Overall, it’s good to be feeling positive again. We’re happy to be here.

The Bank Is Empty

Posted on by Laura & Brett

With any move there are always expenditures and surprises, and this move was no exception. In fact, it’s turned out to be one of the most expensive moves we’ve ever experienced. Some expenses for our move were known in advance and expected, but there were also many, many surprises and extras. For the past month it has felt like $$$ have been flowing through our fingers like water.

The cost of the move itself was known in advance (and actually cost less than expected), and the TV, barbecue grill, microwave, and other things like shelf paper, a new trash can, welcome mats, etc. (what we’ve always called the “hidden costs of moving”) were known. Other known expenses were a new dining room table and chairs and a rug for the living room. Oregon driver’s licenses and the car registration were not surprises.

But OMG it was all the other unknown stuff that kept adding up and never seemed to stop: the steel shelf and pot rack for kitchen storage and other storage solutions we got from IKEA. I admit to splurging on a beautiful IKEA wicker bench for the living room (it contains additional storage) and a new light fixture for the dining room to replace the ugly monstrosity that came with the apartment, etc., but there were so many other things we discovered were needed as well. We had to buy a new stepladder because ours was missing from our shipment and we needed one. We also bought a mini steam cleaner for our sofa (which had gained some additional dirt during the move); it was great for some of the stains but the entire sofa still needs a deep cleaning. And of course we’ll still need to buy a new dresser someday, but whether we replace the old one or go back to IKEA for something less expensive will depend on how much the moving company compensates us.

The wicker bench from IKEA – I have no regrets.

We also spent a lot on food. The first regular food shop after a move has always historically been more expensive than normal for us and this one lived up to expectations, but we also shopped with a sense of anxiety about future supplies and prices. Thankfully we now have more than enough to get us through October and into November.

We also had to purchase tickets for our flight back to Boston for Christmas – $$$$. Dog grooming, which is a regular expense but now feels like an looming extra, is also coming up in a couple of weeks, and we still have to figure out where we’ll board the dogs while we’re gone.

The only good thing in all of this is there is no sales tax here in Oregon. I cannot begin to tell you how good that feels after paying nearly 10% extra on everything in Tennessee. We are also paying less for rent and utilities here than we did in Tennessee, so that should help in the long run as well.

Enough is enough though and the apartment is finally set up. We’re more than ready for this Portland spend-a-thon to end and to get ourselves back into saving mode again!

Goodbye September, Hello October!

Posted on by Laura & Brett

What a wild and crazy month September was this year! It started in hot, muggy Tennessee and ended in cool (no humidity!) Portland. We had a very enjoyable drive west with Kaipo and Tilly, got into Portland a day earlier than expected, spent a week in two lovely Airbnbs, and we are now almost finished getting settled our new apartment. Brett spent this past weekend getting all the pictures hung around the apartment, and everything else has found its place. We made one final trip to IKEA yesterday for a few odds and ends (shelving and a coat rack) but we’re done!

Our Portland apartment is 147 square feet smaller than our apartment was in Tennessee, and yet the space seems more efficient in some ways even though it has less storage space. The Tennessee apartment, we realize now, had a lot of wasted space, open areas that we couldn’t really use but gave a feeling of spaciousness. The kitchen here is the opposite of the huge kitchen we had in Tennessee; it’s small but cozy and efficient, and I’m getting used to working in a smaller space again (and washing dishes again too). We have a dedicated dining area though, something there was no room for in our last apartment. Overall we’re very satisfied and happy with this apartment. Our biggest challenge still awaits though: the outside space. We’ve got a few ideas but that’s all for now.

Both Brett and I feel right at home again in Portland (with our time in Tennessee almost like it was just a long dream). We’ve had just one day of rain so far, but overall it’s been sunny and cool, perfect fall weather. The fall color has been gorgeous, but it’s also kind of a mess because leaves are falling off trees everywhere and sidewalks, streets, and yards are coated with them. We enjoy walking and looking at everything in our neighborhood, and the “cultivated wildness” in so many of the yards and gardens. Yards seem overgrown and blowsy but in an intentional sort of way – so very different from Tennessee. Space is not wasted on lawns for many homes either although we somehow have a small lawn in front of our apartment (the dogs love it). We couldn’t have asked for a nice neighborhood either – Trader Joe’s two blocks away and the perfect coffee shop less than a block away.

I’ve started driving again, something I refused to do in Tennessee, and love being in a place again where I know exactly where I am, and which direction is north, south, east or west. I like knowing where I’m going and my memory of where everything is and how to get there remains strong. We’re walking a lot again but until the apartment gets completely set up we haven’t wandered too far.

I have just a few goals for October:

  • Work on our claim being settled with the moving company so we can buy a new dresser. Hopefully this won’t take too long as our bedroom remains a mess with the broken dresser taking up a lot of space. We heard though it could take as long as six months 😱 but probably more like two or three 😠. Maybe we’ll get lucky though.
  • Find a dog groomer and a good boarding solution for Kaipo and Tilly (they won’t be going to Boston with us at Christmas).
  • Continue to walk every day and increase our distance bit by bit.

Toward the end of this month we’re heading out to the coast to camp for a few days, and I can’t tell you how much we’re looking forward to that. We have all our supplies and are ready! We have our fingers crossed though that it won’t rain the entire time we’re there. Otherwise we’re just happy to finally be here and are enjoying the cooler weather. October in Portland is beautiful!

The Move: How It’s Going

Posted on by Laura & Brett
A fraction of the leftover cardboard and paper from the move

We started moving into our apartment last Friday, and have been working on it ever since, trying to find a place for everything and making it all feel like home. It has been an exercise in persistence and positivity at times but we’re getting closer to the finish line.

The living room on Monday afternoon. All the clutter is about to drive me nuts! Thankfully, the rug makes me very happy every time I see it.

Does it feel like home? Yes, even though we’re still dealing with a few issues. The many boxes and other packing materials finally gone makes a huge difference. I offered them all for free on Buy Nothing and Craigslist, but got no replies so Brett took some to the recycling center yesterday and the rest will go today.

We honestly believed the movers back in Tennessee had done a great job, and for the most part they did, but there were some glaring and maddening issues we have had to deal with here. They mis-packed and damaged our beautiful, two year-old dresser to the point it’s unusable 🤬🤬🤬. We watched them pack our (expensive) artificial plant and a new mop and a new broom into a large box, the last one they packed and carried out. When we opened the box here though there was just a broom inside 🤬🤬! We were afraid our ceramic garden stool was also missing, but it finally showed up in the last box. What didn’t show up was our air fryer 🤬! Our stepladder also never showed up either, but the movers who delivered our stuff said it wasn’t there when they loaded the truck. We have filed a claim with the moving company over the dresser and missing items, but we are so disappointed and angry with it all, especially since we moved so little and this company came recommended and was highly-rated. I also hate having to buy stuff again, like a new air fryer, and we won’t be able to replace the broken dresser for another month or so.

WenYu and I after check out at IKEA. We found everything we needed (and then some), treated ourselves to a frozen yogurt cone before we left, and had a good time!

The living room was somewhat easy to set up, as was our bedroom (except for the dresser), because there are only so many ways the furniture would fit. The rug for the living room arrived Monday and it’s absolutely perfect. The dining table and chairs will be delivered sometime next week. WenYu and I shopped at IKEA when she was here and bought some needed things for storage (as well as frozen Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, gravy, and lingonberry jam).

And then there’s the kitchen. At first look there seemed to be more than enough room for everything, and there was . . . but just for the dishes it turned out. Pots, pans, small appliances, and food? No room. We ended up buying a large stainless steel shelf to create an “open air” pantry and a standing pot rack to store the cookware. We are using the butcher block worktable we brought with us as an actual worktable this time because there is so little counter space left over. We eventually got everything arranged and put away and even though the kitchen is small it’s easy to work in.

The pantry shelves will be a work in progress for a while. I found the affordable bamboo boards at IKEA and three of them fit perfectly on each shelf so will get a few more next time we go. The stand for the pots and pans is perfect!

The outside area of our apartment is a bit of a mess but not too bad overall. Since we’re in the back the lawn team hasn’t given as much care to the area and there are several things that need to be tidied up. It seems the previous tenant was not a garden person, and there will be some work for us this winter getting the garden beds ready for spring planting next year. We bought a barbecue grill and it’s set up and ready to go.

Frankly, I never want to see a moving box, dunnage (packing paper), or bubble wrap for the rest of my life! Even with our small amount of stuff we ended up with what seemed like a ton of it paper and cardboard to deal with. Brett has firmly stated he never wants to move again. He loved the driving part of this journey but never wants to go through the frustration and expense of the rest of it. And I agree.

Oregonians Again

Posted on by Laura & Brett

Portland places and things, from our neighborhood library to the Airbnb neighborhood to windfall apples from a tree on the street.

We are Oregonians again!

We’re still in the process of moving and getting settled but we’ve seen our apartment and love it – it’s in a great location for us. It’s an older apartment but in good shape and even though the square footage is less than we had in Tennessee we actually have more space for our stuff and more storage than we did in our last apartment. For example, we have room now for a dining room table and chairs, something there was no room for in our Tennessee apartment. The apartment is located in the back of the property and we have our own little piece of lawn and garden beds that we want to start working on soon so we can grow vegetables and flowers next year. Our stuff is scheduled to arrive on Friday morning! After all this travel, and living in temporary housing, we’re looking forward to being settled in our own place again.

The drive west was great. We had blue skies the whole way, but it was also quite hot most of the way too. The first four nights we stayed in Columbia, MO; Lincoln, NE; Laramie, WY; and Ogden, UT. We were supposed to spend a last night in Ontario, in Oregon, but arrived there a little after 2:00 pm, looked at each other and said let’s just go on to Portland. We cancelled our reservation at the hotel and set off, arriving in Portland at 7:30 in the evening. We started out in one (very lovely) Portland Airbnb until yesterday when we moved into another, and we’ll be here until Friday morning.

Both our Portland Airbnbs were perfection.

Brett drove the entire way and did a great job. Gas prices increased as we headed west, with it less than 4$/gallon in Missouri and nearly $5/gallon once we arrived in Oregon. We’re both very grateful that we’ll be living in a very walkable neighborhood, have a Trader Joe’s, a coffee place, and other stores in walking distance, and that the city has very good public transportation because it looks like we’re going to have to have many no-drive days in Portland – the cheapest price for gas is $4.86/gallon, at Costco. Both Kaipo and Tilly were well-behaved during our travels: Kaipo slept most of the time but Tilly enjoyed looking out of the window now and again, especially if she spotted cows in a field. Boy, did they get her excited! They both seem to have already fallen in love with Portland, especially with the number of squirrels and other dogs they encounter on their walks.

The moving crew back in Tennessee was very professional, and by early afternoon our stuff was packed and on the truck and the apartment was empty. Brett and I decided to stay after the movers left the apartment to finish cleaning and got most of it done, but I messed up my back again 🤬 so Brett went back on his own on Saturday to sweep and mop out the place and turn in our keys. Thankfully the day of rest did wonders for my back and I felt fine when we departed Sunday morning and had no problems on the trip. We got good news from the moving company during our trip west too: our shipment weighed less than expected and our total cost for the move would be $1345 less than estimated!

The new living room rug!

WenYu is in town now for her best friend’s wedding (WenYu is the officiant), and we’re going out with her tomorrow morning for dim sum. We’ll be going back again with friends on Sunday morning, but in my book there’s no such thing as too much dim sum. We still have errands to run for things like a barbecue grill and TV, but otherwise we’re pretty much set. I ordered a rug from Wayfair that will arrive next week and we also ordered a new dining table and chairs as well that should arrive next week as well.

We left Portland 14 years ago to move to Hawaii, and it’s fun and interesting now to see what’s stayed the same and what has changed. The streets seem narrower than before but we’re adjusting. The tap water still tastes great, the air is cool and fresh, and we love the diversity and the way people dress here compared to how it was in Tennessee. We’ve already visited our local library and checked out books, and shopped at our former Trader Joe’s (the one two blocks from our apartment) – it’s huge in comparison to the one I worked at in Franklin. I also shopped at our former Costco, and the one we shopped at in Tennessee would only take up about 1/6 of the one here – talk about HUGE! We’ve had amazing pie from the wonderful Lauretta Jean’s pie house, and discovered the perfect coffee shop just a couple of blocks from our apartment. I’ve also visited the neighborhood Goodwill store and got us outfitted with dishes and cookware for our camping trip next month (including a mint condition cast iron frying pan). It wouldn’t be Portland though without some rain, which showed up our first weekend here, but we actually sort of liked it (for now). The Airbnbs we have stayed/are staying in have been very lovely (glamorous even) and very comfortable. We have loved walking through the different neighborhoods again and just drinking in Portland. After being parked in a chair in Tennessee to avoid the humidity and allergens it has felt so good to be out and about again. We’ll be getting our Oregon drivers’ licenses next week, and after that new plates for the car.

Our goals next week are to have the apartment mostly put together, to find a new barbecue grill so we can start cooking outside occasionally, and also get a new television. We accomplished the big thing we set out to do and are so happy to be back!

Notes from the Road

Posted on by Laura & Brett

Pretty rock formations could be seen as we entered Wyoming from Nebraska yesterday.

I’m a little bit late today with this post but we just landed in Ogden, Utah, for tonight’s stay. We’re across the street from the hotel where we had originally had a reservation, but yesterday evening Brett was getting the directions and noticed in the fine print, “no pets allowed at this hotel.” Oops! I quickly cancelled and got this nicer room at a much better rate!

Although there was occasionally something special to look at, the above photos summarize what we saw on today’s drive in Wyoming: a big blue sky and wide open land (and trucks) but a lot of sand and scrub.

Today we accomplished the much dreaded drive across Wyoming but it went well. It was 44 degrees when we left Laramie in the morning, and the landscape started out looking much greener than we remembered from past trips across – we were hopeful. The hope didn’t last long though and we were soon back into the dull dreary landscapes we remembered from past journeys. After living in Hawaii and Tennessee for the past six years, and only spending time otherwise in the northeast, it was really something to again experience how big and open the space and the sky are in the west.

Just as we remembered, within five miles after crossing the Utah border the scenery changed and it became more green with some stunning mountain views around each corner (I was not able to get any pictures – sorry). We also picked up I-84 soon after we crossed the border into Utah – it’s the highway that will bring us right into Portland, and that felt good.

We got two great pieces of news today: our moving shipment weight turned out to be almost a thousand pounds less than the estimate and the total price for the move will now be $1345 less than our quote! Our leasing agent/landlord in Portland also sent us photos of our new apartment, and wanted us know she had had a new stove and refrigerator installed for us. Yeah! I think we’re going to like this place – it looks cozy.

We are very distressed by the news and pictures we’re seeing from Kauai – it was hit very hard by the hurricane and the damage is beyond significant. Poipu, close to where we lived on the south side, was hit the hardest but the north side was severely damaged as well. It’s going to take a long time to get things back in order.

Tomorrow we will head north in Utah to Idaho and go across the souther part of that state to Ontario, which sits on the eastern border in Oregon. The scenery will be different from today but frankly just as dreary for the most part, although maybe a bit more green in Idaho. Friday we will have a shorter drive west across Oregon and should arrive in Portland in the early afternoon. For now, we’re grateful that the drive has gone better than expected – we’re having a very good time!

Goodbye August, Hello September!

Posted on by Laura & Brett

IT’S ALMOST TIME!

Are we ready to go? Yes, yes, and yes . . . after a wild week of having to change everything about getting ourselves to Oregon.

By the end of last week we had heard absolutely nothing from the car transport company we thought we had made arrangements with, so we sat down and did some figuring and ended up cancelling anything that might have existed, which was going to end up costing us at least $600 but probably more over what we had originally been quoted. This meant we were going to have to drive ourselves to Portland, and we had two very crazy days of cancelling all the old plans, deciding on a route west, and making new reservations. But, we finally got everything arranged and settled and we should have a somewhat easy trip to Oregon. We’re still going to stay at the Drury Inn here on Friday and Saturday nights so we can finish cleaning the apartment on Saturday, then early Sunday morning we’ll take off. The whole trip will be six days long because we didn’t want to push ourselves. Brett’s new cooler will come in handy – we’ll carry food along for lunches and some dinners, and all the hotels we’re staying at along the way have a free hot breakfast. We were refunded just about everything from our first plan, and may be actually coming out a little ahead instead. The dogs will be very happy that they’re not going on a plane, and they are good car travelers too. Brett and I both love road trips but this one will be somewhat familiar as we’ve driven most of it a couple of times in the past. The only part I’m dreading are the two days we drive across Nebraska and southern Wyoming but it’s got to be done.

We’re almost done packing – we both filled our suitcases yesterday with clothes we won’t need for the drive, and almost all of the household goods that we’re responsible for packing are in their boxes and ready to go. The refrigerator is almost empty as is the freezer, with just enough food to get us through Thursday morning. We’ll pick up one last meal at Culver’s for dinner that evening and also get something simple to eat on Friday morning before the movers arrive. I have to say I’m very pleased with how organized we’ve been this time with the packing and such, and so far it’s all been easy and relaxed (for a change). We don’t have a date yet for our household goods delivery, but have been told it will be no later than the 22nd but more like the 11th or 12th. Fingers are crossed!

We accomplished all our goals in August, but set none for September other than to get ourselves moved and settled into the new apartment. We’re looking forward to seeing old friends again and getting reacquainted with Portland: walks in the neighborhood, visits to the library, coffee together at our local coffee shop, eating at our favorite restaurants, dim sum for Sunday breakfast once in a while. WenYu will be in Oregon in September for her best friend’s wedding (she’s the officiant) and will be staying with us for a couple of days before going home. We’ve already reserved a yurt out at the coast for three nights in October and plan on visiting all of our favorite beach towns then, rain or shine.

It’s almost hard to believe, but my next post will be written in Portland – see you on the other side!