birthday month!
started out the month with a bang ... of course! now that the pandemic is over, the USS Potomac is sailing again, and Elvis is singin' and swingin' on board! I bought my ticket awhile ago, but Craig decided the night before he'd go if there were still tickets available - - there were!
so we woke early and headed to Oakland and Jack London Square. surprisingly there wasn't much traffic and we got there with plenty of time to spare. we wandered around the square, taking in the sites, enjoying the brisk fall, clean, fresh sea air!
when the time came, we collected our souvenir tickets and boarded the presidential yacht. we were even treated to the raising of the state flag by a member of the crew!
embedded in the deck is the seal of the president, more proof positive that this was his floating white house when he held the highest office. and look, Elvis is using it to launch one of his signature moves. while I got a smooch from Elvis, Craig got some gooey lip prints and a scarf from Priscilla, who was also on board!
underway and out on the bay we took in the sights of the famous SF skyline. the paddlewheel Belle is where Joyce and I once watched the fleet week activities of the Blue Angels a few years ago for our birthday. Alcatraz and the Golden Gate bridge were also off in the distance.
when we got to the cruise ship we'd been "at sea" for an hour and it was time to head back. the captain swiveled the boat in place and headed us back for home port. I wanted to get a "Jack & Rose" pose but they had the bow blocked off. but it was still a pretty site with the bay bridge in the distance. and the ship's bridge was mighty pretty decked out in her patriotic bunting.
since we were travelling in the right of way by then we could swing closer to the ballpark where fans were drifting in to watch the afternoon game. my friend Dave would probably be getting there soon in his kayak to try to catch the splash hits - - he has at least one hundred already! we believe the new basketball park is the building in the next photo.
Elvis first performs on the main deck on the fantail, for the crowds that want to sit in comfort out of the sun. then he moves to the upper deck and performs a second set up there. it was a glorious day, with only light winds and the crowds absolutely loved being there and watching him. (I always take a picture of the elegant Cris Craft "lifeboats" that are on the deck. such a beautiful relic from another, wealthier time.)
I didn't take this picture, but one of the other passengers did, and sent it to me. Rick was goofing around and sat on my lap while he was singing. so I patted him on the back and just sat and smiled for the camera! Craig doesn't look nearly as amused LOL.
soon it was time to debark and head home, with only minimal traffic struggles where the highway team was trimming trees into two lanes of coned off freeway!
that evening was also the cast party for Pride & Prejudice, so we quickly shopped for supplies for me to make BBQ Li'l Smokies, which were a huge hit at the party. it was lovely to gather with these wonderful people again. I even got a Starbucks card as a thank you for all my work on costumes and helping with quick changes! whew! what a long day. but a happy one.
we harvested the sunflower seeds in the garden, and I got truly ambitious and decided to roast them! I made Tapatio flavored ones for Craig, and made a small batch for Janet that were brined in truffle salt brine, then roasted in truffle carpaccio oil.
I scrambled to get caught up at work, even driving down to HQ the last day before vacation. I wanted to get an oil change and smog check the week before my long drive but that turned into an ordeal! the service agent made false promises knowing all about my plans and I wasn't able to get my car back until the morning I was supposed to drive out!! we even rented a car for a month as "plan b" in case they couldn't finish in time. just one more thing bringing me stress.
THE birthday trip
DAY 1
lots of bucket list activities. I made it up to Ashland by late afternoon, had a little rest, then went to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and saw a 1920s jazz and blues variation of Twelfth Night. It was glorious! this was my first time at this venue, but I definitely want to make the trip again!
DAY 2
the next day I drove up the highway to a small town where our grandparents taught before I was born. it is no longer the bible academy as they had to divest, but they sold to a worthwhile organization and it looks like it is thriving.
I got to Aunt Denali's by early afternoon. it is so wonderful to see her and my cousins again! it's been six years since Janet, Joyce and I visited. Chris and Vici stopped by; and Ralph was there of course and went out to get us take-out for dinner - delicious! we had a wonderful time catching up, and they invited me to stay the night, which saved me a hotel stay. Ralph took me on a tour of the house, and I took LOTS of pictures of the paintings and artwork created by our grandad, Claude.
DAY 3
the next morning we had a leisurely morning coffee and I helped my aunt with some of her scrapbooking activities. it was mid-day before I hit the road, needing to get to Port Angeles for the night to catch the very early ferry across to Canada. but on the way, just across the river, I stopped at the family plot where generations of our family are buried.
DAY 4
very early before it was light I queued up to provide my travel papers and board the ferry. it was a glorious day and I took a few pictures during the 90 minute sail across the international border.
I arrived during the annual marathon that closes many streets around the harbor. it took some tricky driving, but I maneuvered out of that area and over to Beacon Hill Park to meander and take in some sites, and waste time until I could check in to the timeshare which is back in the harbor and wharf area right on the marathon route. besides some beautiful gardens, this park is home to the tallest totem pole in the world, so I had to go see that!
on the walk to the totem pole I asked a woman with two young children for guidance to the relic. we got to talking and she asked if I was visiting, and so on and so forth. as I walked away with the information I needed, the older of the two children, a boy of about eight, called me and ran up to me; he wanted to give me a small peacock feather that he had found, since it was my birthday! what a surprising and generous gesture from a young man to a perfect stranger! what an endearing way to start my stay in Canada <3
by lunch time I was ready to find food. I navigated back toward the wharf, and found a parking lot within two blocks of the timeshare, but there was a race barricade between me and the entrance. I found a lovely farm to fork restaurant two blocks away and made my way there to eat and wait. I met a lovely couple, Paige and Matt, who had participated already in the marathon and were having a post-race nosh ... Paige showed me her medal for finishing! they were such a delight to talk to as we all had our leisurely brunch. they left before me, and I found out when I finished (and a new couple had taken their place) that they had paid for my meal! I was so astonished at this generosity to a perfect stranger! I started to cry, and the lady next to me said she'd be crying too. It was just such a wonderful way to start my week in Victoria!
I believe they grow some of their fresh produce in their back yard garden.
I wanted to "pay it forward" to Paige and Matt, so I walked back to the marathon route and sat on a curb shouting encouragement and clapping for the runners still bringing up the last kilometer of the race. when it seemed like there were no more runners, I hopped in my car and headed for the road that led to the timeshare. there was still a barricade in place, but a race official took pity on me and moved it so I could drive around, just cautioning me not to hit any runners/stragglers as I drove slowly the last two short blocks.
finally checked in, I made my way up to the third floor room which overlooked the harbor! this is definitely a timeshare I want to revisit. I unpacked and made myself comfy. the next day, our birthday, was also Canadian Thanksgiving, and I wasn't sure what would be open, closed, fully booked and so on. so I decided I would have birthday dinner on this first night.
I tried the Italian restaurant right across the street, but they had no availability. so I walked back to the hotel and restaurant next door, and they had plenty of availability. I had a charming waitress who called me honey and darling all night. she was so delighted I picked their restaurant to celebrate. I had a Victoria Sour (their take on the whisky drink with red wine and rosehip lemonade) and a delicious duck with raspberry sauce over brussels sprouts and whipped potatoes! and of course my waitress brought me a lovely dessert with my decaf coffee to end the meal <3 all of this I enjoyed with a lovely view of the hustle and bustle of the harbor businesses. they even launch pontoon planes from here, but I wasn't going to go on that adventure this trip.
DAY 5
Canadian Thanksgiving, and I didn't mind that it was rainy and there wasn't much open ... the concierge tried calling one place for me, but also had no luck getting someone on the phone. it truly is a day of rest for families to gather together - - no work! I did however make a quick trip to the local grocery before it closed early, as I needed to get milk for my morning coffee, plus I splurged on raisin bread for toast, and found I could buy a single stick of butter, just enough for the week. (I took this picture later at home in my comfy clothes, but I did prepare for the trip by getting a raspberry polka-dotted hooded rain poncho to match my burgundy rain boots. I was complimented by another shopper on my matching rain gear!)
DAY 6
I continually monitored the weather, as I knew I wanted to go to Butchart Gardens on the one full day of sunshine that was being projected. this second full day in town I chose to go to the Art Gallery in the morning when there would be showers, and I had arranged for an Afternoon Tea as well.
this gallery has an eclectic mix of modern and traditional art, as well as visual learning sessions teaching of how the original peoples lived and how we need to restore the land with more sustainable methods. it resides in a preserved or restored old historic home which has an authentic Shinto Shrine on the property. it had a large space dedicated to a local artist who traveled the world and took lessons in Europe, and painted in a style I particularly enjoy.
after the Gallery I headed toward the harbor as it looked like I'd have good weather for a quick walkabout of the Parliament buildings. I found a reasonably priced parking lot right down the block from the main thoroughfare, and walked around the buildings, taking photos of the statues, the annual Christmas tree, the harbor and the Empress.
I did a little more driving around Victoria, trying to find the Chinatown district, one of if not the largest Chinatowns in North America. I did find the main drag, but parking and driving in this town are so difficult, I can understand why people walk most everywhere. and it is very walkable if your ankles, knees and hips will cooperate! I did go back to the timeshare to change my attire to be more High Tea appropriate, and set off to find the Tea House. after a couple circles around the block, I found the small parking area and made my way into this lovely small hotel, garden, and afternoon tea destination! I'm so glad I chose this instead of going to the larger more famous hotel for their more expensive and less personal Tea! my waiter was very attentive and provided lots of explanations, and checked back frequently. for dessert I was treated to a birthday-candle'd light and luscious tiramisu! it was a delightful way to finish up a full day of activities.
DAY 7
I can't remember how I heard about it, possibly reading on the local map put out by either the ferry line or the timeshare, but I saw that there was a cider farm within an easy drive, and they were open to the public. I got there early enough to be the only customer for some time, and enjoyed a flight of six ciders and a very delicious goat cheese, prosciutto, arugula and apple chutney grilled sandwich. it was delightful talking with the owner who took the time to meet me as she was busily preparing the barn-like space with fall decor. after lunch I walked a few steps into the orchard to take pictures of the trees and a big vat of freshly picked apples, then hit the road to return to Victoria. on the way I stopped at a family owned pumpkin patch just to take some pictures of the seasonal setting.
and then it was out to the Fort and Lighthouse in the afternoon when it was projected to be clear weather. the fort is an historical monument and had lots of displays about how it was used during WWII. the lighthouse is still a functioning station, but there were areas of it we could tour if we walked all the way out to it. there were geese everywhere! but they weren't aggressive at all.
DAY 8
this is the bucket list destination I've waited for fifty-one years to make my return. in 1972 we drove on a two week family vacation from California through Montana into Alberta, over to BC and Victoria, and back down through Oregon, in a camper. parts of it I wish to forget but I never forgot beautiful Butchart Gardens. this vacation was planned with at minimum this destination in mind. and it didn't disappoint.
I took my sitting walking cane with me, not wanting to rent a scooter from an outside vendor (and endure all the issues that could crop up.) I used as many of the wheelchair ramps as possible but still took many of the stairs. I got there right at opening, and it was just slightly foggy, giving it an other-worldly feeling. then the sun came out and it was spectacular.
a couple miles away on a calm inner harbor there was the curiously named Blue's Bayou Cafe, it's similarly named cousin has hosted us for many of our birthdays, so I had to go here too. I had a delicious fried green tomato and shrimp salad, and a local beverage called a Naked Cajun ... when in Rome!
then it was on to the next destination, a couple miles back toward Victoria are the Butterfly Gardens where they have ... a flamingo named Mango! you knew that if there were a flamingo in Canada I would find it :-) this is a delightful little botanical indoor garden housing many butterflies, a few birds and lots of tropical plants. it was wonderful to just stroll through and sit and watch and listen.
they knew what kind of marketing would get me in this destination!
"walk this way!!"
"walk this way!!"
and here was Mango, and some of his other feathered friends
near the exit I was astonished to see this plumeria tree, in full bloom although on the small side. so far away from it's native habitat in Hawaii. and throughout my stroll I tried catching a picture of the elusive beautiful blue butterflies. I finally caught one just as I was nearing the exit. perfect timing.
DAY 9
this day was going to start out sunny and then turn to showers in the afternoon, so I planned my outdoor castle for the morning and my indoor castle for the afternoon. my cousin Chris told me to "have fun storming the castle!" I did!! Hatley Castle is part of a working school, so the castle wasn't open for a tour. it was also being used for a private event on this day, so a double-nope for me. but the garden that I toured was beautiful.
as I walked back to my car, I saw a young man pulling a large cart of audio or photographic equipment up the hill. so I stepped off the narrow pathway to give way to him and ducked under this lovely old tree to take this singular photo of the geese. everywhere. there were geese! I loved it :-) when in Canada ....
these two castles are related ... the one I just viewed was owned by the son of the woman who ruled the one I was going to now. Craigdarroch Castle was built by a wealthy businessman who died before he could spend much time there. his wife dominated the lives of her children, and one of them built Hatley to prove his worth to her. funny-not-funny how rich people behave. it is a beautiful castle tho'
stained glass insets in the front doors
in the library
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
in the music or entertaining room
a tradition of the day was to make a wreath of the hair of your loved ones. I read it was of those who died, but the docent at this castle said it was from any loved one. this one had hair from as many as 25 people. this is how they kept memories before the days of constant selfies.
before I started the tour they warned me there were about 90 stairs up and as many back down, through all four floors of the castle. here I've made it to the top, first looking up at the tower, then out of the tower.
...and the stairs back down from the tower...
this home - for it was a home - had all the modern conveniences, indoor plumbing, radiator heat. the servants had modern tools for their use too, as you can see by this maid's room with sewing machine. in the hallway on each floor was a dumbwaiter opening and a laundry chute. and there were speaking tubes on every floor as well!
a panorama of one of the more complete rooms
this hair wreath, while larger, only had the hair of eight individuals
after the mother passed away, the daughters inherited, and sold everything including the house. it went through many changes, many of them institutional; most notably it was a hospital facility after the world wars, and in the 50s and 60s as a music school. when local preservation forces reclaimed it as the historical landmark that it is, they went about trying to recreate the former estate as it had been. the docent said it had about 10% of the original items, but they are trying for period accuracy.
the smoking room; a large hall chair and coat tree
the formal dining room
when the house was used institutionally, the kitchen was modernized.
views of the castle from the back and the front
in the Visitor's Center is a memoriam to the late great, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, recently honored as "Elizabeth the Good." I wholeheartedly agree.
looking back at the timeshare
this is the courtyard of the timeshare, right on the harbor
DAY 10
having spent nearly the full week running all over the island, I opted to rest on Saturday, get my laundry done, and walk back over to the Wharf for another dinner, this time enjoying Onolicious Prawns, and another ale. while the weather threatened, it held off until I was back under cover (I dined outside on their patio).
DAY 11
when I first started researching this trip, I thought it would be nice to attend a church service while in Canada, since it would probably be Church of England. I found this cathedral in downtown, and read through their website. they are conscientious of their parishioners, and they also involve the local low-risk offenders and give them purpose in the community. I even listened to their Easter Service as I was working in our garden earlier this year! I knew this would be the best place to attend, and it truly was.
when I first walked up to the back entrance, I was walking in with two lovely people who were scheduled to be greeters. they welcomed me so warmly and asked me to sit with them during the service. the wife walked me around the whole chapel, telling me about all the various areas - I told her I wasn't CofE or Anglican - and we had a lovely time talking about the similarities with other religions' practices ... so why do we have to disagree!?
It was a lovely service - - twice! I went for the early service, but it didn't feature the pipe organ, which I knew was very special. so I stayed for the second larger service which had the pipe organ and the larger more formal choir. both services were so inspirational. I had a delightful time chatting between services in the room where they serve tea and cookies, and all the lovely ladies I met were astonished and thrilled that their services were on my bucket list of things to do! they were sad it was my last day and that I would be sailing away that afternoon. they were telling me all the activities I should have done while I was there. so worth it to think about coming back <3
I visited the "wash room" (what they call the loo) before hitting the road then found my way to some golden arches to get food before the ferry queue. instructions said to be there at least 90 minutes before departure, since we had to get out of our cars and make declarations in their little customs building. it was getting cold and rainy at that point, so I'm glad I went early enough that there wasn't much of a line. I actually dozed off in my car in the queue, and was awakened when the border patrol person tapped (heavily) on my window with her baton. I took another short snooze on the ferry ride back across.
we passed the Crown Princess and Ruby Princess as
we were leaving the harbour
(spelling it properly for Canada one time here ;-) )
we were leaving the harbour
(spelling it properly for Canada one time here ;-) )
it's a good thing I had been rested, as the drive from the US ferry building to my eventual hotel two hours away was harrowing, in the rain, after dark, through unfamiliar terrain and dark forests with annoying Ass-U-Vs and trucks tailgating me mercilessly. it was pretty much white-knuckle the whole way. but I made it safely, and got a much needed full night's sleep.
DAY 12
the next morning I took advantage of the hotel's breakfast buffet and coffee, and left Olympia around 10:30 in the morning. I got to Vancouver where I got a quick bite of lunch, and stopped at a World Market to purchase a tin of Alice in Wonderland tea (before this limited item was all sold out!) I made it to Aunt Denali's by 2:00 when we picked up where we left off. Grant came over and we all went out for dinner together. Grant recommended their Bloody Marys (don't need to twist my arm) and their German Pancake (yes yes yes yes!!) we had a rollicking good time talking and enjoying each others' company. I stayed the night again, and again had wonderful morning coffee time with Aunt Denali. I did more printing of pictures and confirmation of data for her so that her books were up to date.
one of the things I love and emulate about Aunt Denali - my kindred spirit - is that she decorates her home for all the seasons! She has A ROOM with decorations for every single reason to decorate!! I saw it. I was IN IT!!! I didn't take any pics of the fam while I was there, but I took this pick of me and Aunt Denali in front of her favorite Halloween painting painted by one of her kids (not gonna say which one - they know!) but look at the glee on our faces!!!!! we had such a terrific time together!!
DAY 13
All too soon it was time to head home, since I had to be early to work on Thursday morning, co-hosting a division meeting in our Folsom office <sigh> and to have gone through two weeks' of email beforehand so I could "be prepared." no rest for the weary. but there was just one more stop - one more bucket list destination.....
down the highway and a jog to the right from Portland is McMinnville and the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museums, the permanent home of the Spruce Goose!! when I was in Long Beach a few years back for a birthday I thought it was there and was planning to see it. but it had already moved ... to here. and now, finally, here I am! so excited to be 1. at an aviation museum and a space museum, and 2. to be right next to ... up close and personal ... to the actual Spruce Goose!! yes, I took way too many pictures and these are just a small subset. (really!) ENJOY!
these docents sensed my excitement and were more than happy to guide me through this very large museum full of a lot of historical crafts! if you find yourself anywhere near here, you really need to drop in on this museum! .heic)
.heic)
this is The Actual Spruce Goose in all her historical glory! ...but first...
...then...
...panorama - too big for a single frame!
...and other craft...
...the war effort...
more segments of the fallen Berlin Wall
the space history made in my childhood
so glad I took this detour to see this part of my history!
while I hoped to make it all the way to Ashland and spend a final night at their Cabaret Theatre, that didn't happen. I dropped into a "simple" motel in Roseburg, and spent a quiet restful night there, the final one before the last 7+ hour leg home. DAY 14 - their light breakfast and caffeine is what I needed to get me to a mid-day Subway stop, and finally all the way home, safely, to rest up and be ready for work the next day! What a glorious, joyous, informative, exciting, restful, surprising vacation trip this has been!
returning to the everyday
while I was away, Craig was keeping busy in the garden. he decided to get ambitious and pickled some of our produce - - he made pickled okra, and pepper and dill pickles as well. not wanting to be outdone, I found a recipe for sweet bread and butter pickles, and made three quarts of those too. I used the pickling spice I made earlier this year (for the corned beef) and added the other ingredients in the recipe. they all turned out really tasty!
we caught up with Craig's sister Stephany and her hubby Jim at our new fave local pizza joint, Boston's, and shared four different flavors of their pizzas. it was wonderful to spend quality time talking about loved ones. [little did we know it would close permanently a few days later :'-( ]
I had wanted to stay home on Halloween and hand out candy, but work hashed that up for me. since I didn't want to drive -- never know what kind of mayhem and devilment will occur on the roadways! -- I took the train; but it still made for a very long day, and I got home after dark and after trick-or-treaters. one good thing about the day ... Janet picked me up at the train station and dropped me at work, and we exchanged the presents we had gotten for each other on our trips! I also gave her a jar of my home-made bread and butter pickles, which she loved.
