On The Road Again: Reliving old memories and making new ones....

On Wednesday (7.13.11) we left Bend and headed to Portland to catch up with old friends we knew in MA, Carole and Don Simon.

It was a beautiful drive through the mountains, with beautiful lakes, rivers, tall pines, even saw lava fields. What an amazing state!

One of the Big Sisters mountains. My friend, Bob Bartlet, successfully climbed two of the Mt Sisters.

Left: This is a view heading out of Sisters toward Portland. Beautiful cedar and pine trees with Mt. Hood in the background

Right: Picture of Detroit Lake

Carole & Don Simon in Portland

It was SO good seeing our friends. It was like no time had passed and we were able to just carry on from where we had left off over 20 years ago. I just love that about old friendships!

Carole Simon walking along the first hole

Don, Carole, & Jan posing at the conclusion of the round

We were treated to lunch at Pumpkin Ridge. This gave Gerry a perfect opportunity to buy a new hat.....like he doesn't have enough! :-) Then it was back to their house and their golf course for 9 holes of golf in the liquid sunshine of Portland. We were sad to leave our good friends (after a delicious dinner and great conversation!) but it was time to head down to McMinnville. Thanks for everything, Carole and Don!!!

Gerry & Carole strategizing on the 9th hole. Carole is a very nice player who has recorded 3 holes in one (one more than Don, she would add)

My friend Don who has just recorded a birdie. It was a pleasure playing with Don who is quite an accomplished golfer. He makes the game look easy!

Jan posing with Carole & Don in their beautiful Portland home

McMinnville, Or

Thursday morning it was breakfast at Crescent Cafe in McMinnville. What a gem! Everything organic and homemade. Everything was DELICIOUS!!! Best breakfast on our trip so far!

Then on to Evergreen Air Museum. What a wonderful museum! We walked in and could not believe the size of the Spruce Goose. Unbelievable! Gerry was in awe of the planes they have on exhibit there. We were also able to see beautiful sculptures and busts by Bill Bane, brother of my high school BFF. Very impressive! And then there was the IMAX theater where we saw 2 incredible movies, one about fighter pilots and one about the history of flight. All in all, it was a perfect day at the museum and we really could have spent another day there.

If ever in Portland, be sure and make the effort to get to the Evergreen Museum in McMinnville. Totally worth the drive! There are also several wineries along the way there, if you feel so inclined! :-)

That's the Spruce Goose behind us... it's gigantic... longer than a Boeing B787.

This is a sculpture of Sen. Hatfield that was sculpted by Bill Bane, the brother of Vickie who is a close friend of Jan from their days in Dodge City.