Farmers' Market

This is a mobile trailer- mounted wood-fired pizza oven. Ed was very intrigued.

Seattle Olympic Sculpture Park

In an effort to see everything we're supposed to see, on our first day we headed to the Sculpture Park which is very close to the Pike Place Market.

We snapped this shot of the Space Needle while we were stuck in traffic. There's a lot of traffic here.

This is one of the sculptures. Ed kept stopping young people (in their 20s) if they knew what this is.

Good old Richard Serra. He's everywhere!!!!

A water feature.

Mt. St. Helens

We didn't get very close to the mountain, but the Visitors' Center has a great video that explains the eruption. Who remembers that it was 1980? It seemed not so ancient to us. There were all kinds of warnings but no one expected it would blow off such a large chunk of the mountain and send debris 10 miles into the air.

On to Seattle!!!!

Portland--Council Crest Park and Elephant Deli

If you ever get to Portland, you've got to go to this deli. It's fabulous.

This is a very high point in Portland. On a clear day I'm sure you can see a lot. However, it isn't often clear here.

In the distance is the Columbia River. The river that runs thru Portland is the Willamette.

Portland--Keller's Fountain and a Distillery

So this fountain is dedicated to Ira Keller who was an outstanding philanthropist in the city of Portland.


It takes up an entire city block in front of one of their performing arts centers.

Quite an impressive thing.

The high temperature on Tuesday was 61.

Well worth the visit.

Ed was fascinated by the idea of a distillery. This is a very extensive place. We visited their tasting room and tasted grappas, brandies, etc.

I had to restrain him or he would've send a gift pack to a lot of his friends and family.

Portland--The Japanese Garden

This is a shot from inside of the teahouse looking out toward the gate.

A cherry tree in bloom.

A water feature. We took a guided tour with a docent who explained the three basics: water, plants and rocks.

The Japanese Garden is located in Washington Park which is a huge park located in a very high part of Portland.

It is very beautiful here.

Portland has not even experienced the blooming of their roses yet. They are having a very late Spring. This is a viburnum in bloom.

The docent explained the meaning of all these objects.

Upon entering the garden, the first thing to do is purify yourself by washing your hands.

Portland--The Mt. Hood loop.....................

This is Multnomah Falls, a 620 foot drop and the second highest year-round waterfall in the U.S.

Here is Ed and the dogs with Sagagewea(?).

This is Bonneville Dam with the floodgates open to relieve the river of snowmelt, etc.

This is the "fish ladder" that the salmon and sturgeon climb.

Another shot of Mt. Hood.

We are at the Sunday Brunch at the Lodge at the foot of Mt. Hood.

This is an okay lodge, but the best one we've seen so far is the one at Yosemite. I'll let you know if there's one that's better on this trip.

You can ski here year round.

A random skiier.

This is the elusive Mt. Hood.