Finally, we are off! After a lot of pre-trip planning, organizing, and packing too much,
we are off headed North!
Our plan is to head north to British Columbia and Alberta. We are planning sightseeing
stops at Portland and Seattle before crossing the border to Canada. In Canada,
we are planning several stops, including Vancouver, Whistler, Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff,
and Waterton Lakes. We will head back into the US in Montana and head home through Montana,
Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. The plan is for 52 days, returning home July 9th.
Our planned route:
We pulled away from the curb at 9:30 on Sunday, headed over to I-5 and north. Although
we got some rain, there were no issues and an easy drive to Yreka (just south of Oregon) arriving
about 3:00. Just hooked up the electric, put out the slides and leveled the RV for a quiet rest for the night.
We continued to travel up I-5 on Monday and Tuesday, arriving at Columbia Riverfront RV Park north
of Portland where we stayed three nights. We had a beautiful spot facing the Columbia River and
enjoy watching the ships and barges transit the river.
The Columbia River is the largest river on the Pacific side of North America. However, it has only
about half the water flow at its mouth than the Mississippi River, and far fewer folk tales and songs.
But we enjoyed our view and ship watching.
Row, row, row your boat
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Gently down the stream
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A beautiful sunset on the Columbia River our first night!
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Portland
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We wanted to see what Portland was all about, or at least a tiny taste of it.
We decided to transit the city like common folk, so we used the Portland TriMet
system for our transportation for the day. Portland is well known for its variety
of means of transportation, including bikes, e-bikes, walking, e-scooters, MAX (light rail),
streetcars, buses, and cars. The city is also tolerant of its "outdoor living residents" which
are visible in many areas within the city.
Wednesday, we drove to a Park-N-Ride north of the city and bought our day HOP passes, mine $5,
Becky's $2.50 (senior). We caught the MAX train heading into the city, got comfortable (just past rush hour),
and after two stops, "everyone off the train!" There was an "incident" ahead on the track between
a train and a car; we were not told who won. We were told that a shuttle bus would come to pick us up.
However, after 25-minutes, a train pulled back in at the stop and we boarded and continued with our journey.
Just part of the experience.
For our first stop, we rode the MAX train through the city to the Portland Aerial Tram.
"Portland Aerial Tram is located at 3303 SW Bond Ave, Portland, OR 97239
--the most transportation-diverse intersection in the nation. You'll marvel at the modes people use to access
the Tram: streetcar, light rail, bus, car,
biking [huge bike lot at base of tram], and walking." The tram is a transport to the Oregon Health &
Science University's (OHSU) main campus. At the top terminus of the tram is a nice overlook and viewing area.
It was a great view looking over the city, rivers, bridges, and, of course the traffic!
At the top, I took a picture of the Moda Center (home of the NBA Portland Trail Blazers) where the day before
we arrived our Golden State Warriors finished a four-game sweep of the Trail Blazers in the
NBA Western Conference Finals. It would have been even better if we were there that day to get out our brooms
and contribute to the sweeping party afterwards! GO WARRIORS!
After heading back down, we took the MAX back to the city center and the Pioneer Courthouse Square.
We looked around the city center area for a bit before heading to Jake's Grill for lunch. I had one of the
best Pastrami sandwiches I have had, highly recommend it.
After lunch, we walked back to a MAX stop and caught the train to Portland Washington Park.
There are several attractions in the park but the only one that caught our interest was the
International Rose Test Garden over 600 varieties of roses. A rose by any other name is ... well, it is still a rose!
After trudging through the rose garden, we got back on the MAX and headed back to the RV.
Good day. There was not a lot of sightseeing in Portland, but we wanted to experience a part of
the Portland ambiance, and we did.
Our chariot arrives
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Portland Aerial Tram
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Our ride to the top
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The Moda Center
Where the Warriors swept the Portland Trail Blazers!!!
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Pioneer Courthouse
The second oldest federal building west of the Mississippi.
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Pioneer Courthouse Square
Across from the courthouse
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This is all there is to know about roses!!!
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