We have spent the last few days wrapping things up and trying to enjoy our last bit of time out here. Those two things do not go hand in hand!
August always likes it when the bucket comes out, and that morning was no exception.
Tuesday morning we got an early start out of Florence, driving north up the coast and then east towards Portland. The coast was really beautiful, and I've added it to my long list of places I'd like to spend some more time. We stopped at one of the many state parks along the way, and August made some friends while we were watching an informative but sleepy video on the oceanography of the area.
Highway 101 is an incredibly scenic drive. Lighthouses and waves crashing over dramatic rocks abound. This is a very popular road for all travelers, including bicyclists (we saw many), but we agreed that with its narrow shoulders and traffic, it's not a road we'd enjoy riding on. Give us the backroads for cruising.
We stopped at a quaint little diner called The Blue Whale for a classic breakfast. We even got a plate of silver dollar pancakes. They were just the right size for August and totally delicious (okay, mom had some too).
We pushed on, knowing we had a lot of work to do once we landed at our destination. We had planned to stay in Portland, but many of the hotels were booked up and what was left was ridiculously expensive. So, we booked a place in Salem, which is about an hour south of Portland and also a great city.
We checked into the hotel in Salem, and then pretty much immediately went to work sorting and packing the contents of our lives for the past 8 weeks. Some to give away, and a lot to mail home. Chris worked late into the night doing most of the work while I kept an eye on the little fellow. Around 10pm, he took a load of 12 boxes over to the FedEx store to mail home. It ended up being a little more expensive than we had estimated, but not too much more. $500, not including his bike, which was packed by a bike store and shipped separately so as not to get damaged since it's fairly valuable.
Wednesday morning Chris was all nerves preparing for the sale of the RV. We had listed it on eBay and the winning bid was from a guy in Washington who wants to buy it to take to his daughters' softball tournaments. They had spoken on the phone several times after the auction ended and we felt pretty confident that we were dealing with an honest and straightforward person, but you never know.
Thankfully, all went smoothly with the sale. I drove the rental car and Chris picked the buyer and his wife up from the downtown train station. They bank at the same bank we do, so we were able to exchange the funds immediately with confidence, and then we went to a gas station so Chris could show them all of the ins and outs of The Lep. They are brand new to RVing, we could tell they have no idea what they're getting into. Hopefully they will grow to enjoy it once they get used to the quirks, as we did.
Finally, we drove off in our rental car and were ready to enjoy the remaining part of our trip. We were very glad after driving in downtown Portland that we did not stay there. Taking the RV there once was stressful enough as it was, and driving in general there was tough. Portland is interesting because it is well known as a highly bike-friendly city. Bicycles are everywhere and both they and pedestrians always have the right of way. I think this is fantastic and all cities should be more like that. It also has a very unique vibe. Very hipster, and people are proud that it's different.
We had a little time before our evening plans, so we stopped by the famous Voodoo Doughnuts and waited in line for 45 minutes to try out the delicacies. I went way overboard and bought too many, but there were so many unique flavors that I wanted to try as many as I could.
Odd varieties included yeast ones covered in Froot Loops, Cap'n Crunch Berries, a maple bacon bar, and a few dozen other interesting combinations. They were all yummy, though I am partial to maple frosting and anything jelly filled so I liked those the best.
After that we had a real treat, meeting up with a good friend of ours who happens to live in Portland. Patrick and I grew up in houses next door to each other in Covington. He is a few years younger than me, closer to my brother David's age, but we spent a lot of time together on Elm Drive. He has been living in Portland since shortly after finishing high school, and we hadn't seen him since a wedding a few years ago.
He took us to one of his favorite eateries, a Hawaiian place called Roxy's Island Grill. It was so cheap, simple and delicious. I got the shoyu chicken and orange chicken, served with two scoops of rice and a scoop of macaroni salad. It just goes to show you, traveling with a local always pays off!
We went bowling afterwards at a nearby alley. I am proud to say that I won and came close to PRing, which is not saying much because I'm not a very good bowler. August was completely fascinated with the whole thing, and I'm sure we'll be bowling again soon with him. We said goodbye to Patrick and drove back to our hotel to rest up for one more day out west.
August has been easygoing on this whole trip, rolling with the punches and generally being fine with all of the changes and hardships we've thrown at him. Many hours in the car seat, a tiny living space, sleeping in a pack and play, being away from his friends, and countless meals out with mommy where he's not supposed to touch anything. He really has dealt remarkably well with all of it.
So, we decided to try to make today Auggie Day and as fun for him as possible. Very little car time, and all of his favorite things. We started out by going to brunch at one of Salem's best spots, Word of Salem. It is in a converted house and had a bit of a wait, but the food was amazing. August had the scrambled eggs with cheese and a blueberry pancake. I had the eggs benedict, and Chris ordered the country fried steak.
We both agreed it was the best country fried steak we'd ever tried. For starters, it was made with filet mignon. So, it was tender to begin with and the prep process only made it more so. Hand-breaded, and covered with some perfect sausage gravy. Served with a side of smashed yukon gold potatoes, a couple of eggs, and a big fluffy biscuit. Thinking about it right now makes me want to eat some more!
August took a nice long nap afterwards, and then we went to Enchanted Forest, a little theme park here in Salem. It was the perfect place for young kids, with lots of exhibits designed for little people. Tunnels, castles, and other neat stuff was all around. Even better, it is actually located in a forest where the tall trees provide a cool canopy for the whole place. The place was started by a highway worker back in the late 60s. He basically began building stuff in his backyard by hand, with his kids, and after 6 or 7 years was finally able to open it to the public.
It is still run by his children, and is a fantasy land containing folk tale scenes, a western town, a medieval area, and a few rides. August was intrigued by all of it and enjoyed all the climbing and his personal favorite - lots of stairs! It was a win for us to find something so fun for him.
We went back to the hotel, enjoyed some downtime, had dinner at the seafood place within walking distance, and then went for an evening swim before bedtime. Auggie Day was a success!
Tomorrow we travel home. We are looking forward to being there, but sad the adventure is winding down.
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