we got up earlyish and headed away into the beutiful landscape of mt hood     we made a small stop at government camp.. the home of High Cascade  the first snow board camp that both Sam and Gabe took    here’were markign the site of the original ‘cobra dogs’  hot dog stand , that both sam and gabe loved so much… so I put a samstone there . no sign of them now.. but they are rumored to be coming back   next stop was Madras Oregon.. funny since I hacve so many freinds from Madras INida .    then  a beautiful  and trecherous canyon to look  into    we got to Bend about 3..checked   into our house.. then had a great luch. Agfterwards grocery shopping that included oysters ! later  on  we met Paulo , Tara and Morgan .. and we took them out for beer    lots of good old friends at this meetup.. morgan, tara, paulo …    we need to scale it up !   after dinner a nice wal to town.. where Diane postarks some important stuff.    then a locally curated trip down town . 

 

including a visit to a hidden bar in the attic of a hotel ok. barily keepign it awake here.. more tomorrow

nite all. nite sam

-me  

our wonderful friend  Raya flew in today around 10:30. Shawn was here too. so the 5 of us spent the day exploring beautiful Columbia river gorge. It is east of the city and surrounds the columbia river with many wonderful trails and waterfalls. It was deeply damaged last fall bu the eagle creek forest fires. Many of the  trails are closed. but we found a few to explore today.. Here’s bridal veil falls. 

 

from there we went to the very crowded.. and very impressive multnomah  falls.. Sam and sawyer were once here.. 

 

from there we went to latourell falls.. there were upper and lower falls.. far fewer people here.. which was nive.. a beutiful trip 

 

kids right on the edge !!

 

gabe and I had to go in !

 

aropund 6 we headed back to portland. Shawn took off for seattle . 

we started to show Raya areound SE. 

 

we were waiting for a table at a well recommended resturant (pok pok).. at the bar they owned across the street I tried freind anchovies.. 

uh.. no.. 

 

 

we couldn’t eat them all, so we took them with us to give to a lucky cat

 

whic made dianes purse smell pretty funky !

 

we foudn a cat !

 

at midnight, diane and I picked up backy and Max !.. the family is now complete (as complte as it can get) 

we took them to Cartopia.. bit only one resturant was still open at 1 AM.. we had a crepe 

 

ok.. alost 2:30 am.. and a busy day coming.. 

 

more tomorrow

 

nite all, nite sam

-me

 

 

Lots goign on today ! Biggest thing is that today Max turns 30 years old. ! he’s brilliant, fun and loving He lives the life he loves.. Im so proud to be his dad.   I love you Mutz !!!!

 

He and Becky will be coming out here tomorrow for a family vacation .. ca’t wait. 

 

TOday is also father;’s day.. I absolutely love being a Dad it’s my highest and best calling. my kids are the thing i’m most proud of.. and most defined by

 

Fathers day is both sweet and sad for me.. I love being with my boys..and miss Sam every day.. 

 

I also miss my dad Hugh 

My dad remains my model of what a man should be.. 

thinking of my father in law Gabe as well. A gentle and loving man

to mark all the day bruaght, we decided to go to the cape. We drove abotu 2 hours to Cape Lookout.. we kied abour 8.6 miles.. first out to the lookout.. then down to the beach. 

 

love those slugs !

 

we saw quite a few whales

 

 

 

 

milliopede !

 

we made it down to this wonderful beach.. tehre were only about 6 other folks on the entire beach 

 

sam was on my mind all the day

 

ok.. that was a lot of activity today.. lots of pics, I know

Happy fatjers day to all you dads out tehre

 

Happy birtday Max !

more tomorrow from vacation !

 

nite all. nite sam

-me

 

Diane and I got out on the road early for a run.. we found our way to beutiful laurel hurst park 

\

 

we wnt home and met up with gabe.. and chcked out oen more rental.. then we walked across the riv er to the outdoor market. 

 

grwat food, and music everywhere 

 

from there we tried ot head up to the farmers market, only to find the one we were headibg to was on ly hekd on Wednesdays 

 

we tried to stop at voodoo donoughts, but the lines were insane, so we went to blue str donnuts nstead.. great choice !

 

soe cool combo of basic bourban and bergomot . 

 

we stopped at powels books which was a trip. I looked for old science books 

 

around 3 we headed home to meet up wiht our freind Shawn . . On the way across the river, we spotted this weedding 

 

we met up with shawn then got back in the car and headed for the japanese gardens 

 

super pricey.. but worth it. !. We saw these amazing Bonsai trees 

 

the japanese gardens were beutiful and prsitine.. 

\

 

couldnt resist taking this picture of the fountain.. gabes just standing in front of it 🙂 

 

we then headed across hte street to the rose gardens 

 

a sundial in portland.. now thats Irony !

 

then back home and a delicious dinner at ‘Pokeman’.. a great hawain poke resturant 

 

somewhere in there Gabe called to confirm he’d be runetng one of the units in this house.. jsut around the corner from our Airbnb.. and right on hawthorne,.. an awsoem place !

 

from there we walked across the ladd to ice cream.. we ran into ‘chad’ the robot again 

 

and this guy on the roof 

 

we found soem cool snails as well 

then a long walk home 

 

akllk in all more than 12 miles today.. not bad

 

what a wonderful town !

 

nite all. nite sam

-me