Monday, August 12, 2013

Vacation Journal - Getting There

So we get up pretty early on Thursday, because the girls get up pretty darn early.  Every.  Single.  Day.

Head back out on the road for the short leg of the scenic drive.  Once again, Sofie does not use her break time on the road the way we'd like.

Check in is 4pm, but we got there a little early and decided to see if the place was ready.  It was!

UNPACKING TIME!!!!

Checked out the kitchen, made a list and went grocery shopping.

Wulf and Steph were about 2 hours behind us, so we had plenty of time to do the errands and settle in.

When they got here, no one felt like cooking so we went to Nana's Irish Pub a block or two away from their hotel room.  The food was good.  It was a hoppin' place.  Pretty packed.  Service, meh.  Lost a sale on a round of drinks because they never checked on us during the meal.

After dinner, we walked around a bit then stopped at a local watering hole by the Chowder House.  Sand Bar.  Friendly bartender.  Good drinks.

Picture courtesy of Google Street View

Picture courtesy of Steph



Wulf and Steph stayed at The Whaler.  Nice economical rooms with a view.

Tomorrow, all about our Cottage!

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Vacation in Newport Part I

I have not seen the Pacific Ocean in 17 years.  I have not seen my friends Steph and Wulf for at least 10.

The vacation gods smiled upon our date choosing, and I was able to do both Aug 1-8.

First, THE DRIVING!

On the way in, we decided to take the scenic route.  84 to 97 through Bend then 20 to Newport.  It was a beautiful drive but a few things did not go as planned of course.

I bought the dogs harnesses and a seatbelt gadget that did not work with a darn.  There is no way they would have been able to sit up with those.  So against what I wanted, we just put up the center divider in the truck and they rode in the back seat.  Heaven help us if we got in a wreck.  I am going to take apart the seatbelt things and redesign them to work for medium to big dogs.  Plus, the way seatbelts stop now, the way they had it was just dumb.  It was too hot for them to ride in the kennels in the back of the truck.  Luckily, they were both mellow and just slept or looked out the window.

Sofie did not understand why we take road breaks.  Penny did.  Penny would do her business right away.  Sofie NEVER did business on the road breaks.  She just held it until after dinner every night.  I can't imagine that's comfortable, but I can't think of a way to MAKE her go.  At least she got to stretch, walk around and sniff everything.

We stayed at a generic Hotel 6 or 8, I can't remember.  It was OK, not great.  But with two dogs, who cares.  It was obviously an old smoking room because it stank.  But it was right by the outside exit.  Since I was taking Sofie out every half hour in the hopes of a dry hotel room, I was thankful for the placement.  She finally went at around 9pm, in the rain of course.

Meals with two people and two dogs is interesting.  Hubby gets his meal, I wait with the dogs.  I go get my meal, he waits with the dogs.  Lots of fast food.  I have never been so eager for a serving of vegetables after 3 meals of fast food eaten in the truck.  Next time, packing a cooler and picnicking.

How Penny spent 90% of the trip:




How Sofie spent 90% of the trip:



Tomorrow:  Arrival at Newport!