Washington/Oregon 2021 - A Last Look - Mt. Hood

 We arrived at the lot to return our rental car. The manager, the same one we had doused with windshield washer fluid at the beginning of our trip, came out to tell us that we would be better off returning the car at the airport as his shuttle wasn't running yet and he wasn't sure when it would start, which seemed odd, but off we went to the airport. 

Going up to the counter to check in, we were informed that, although both our bags were within the weight limit for two people, one was too heavy than the allowable weight of a single bag. We went off to the side to shift contents. It was an awkward moment. I felt the eyes of the people in line judging us and our level of  traveling competence. 

After a few last minute purchases, tee shirts, hoodies, airline passengers are captive consumers, as I learned while working at a store in O'Hare. We were taxiing towards the runway. We had, during our stay in Portland, searched fruitlessly for a peek at Mt. Hood. Clouds, rain and location had thwarted our efforts. But, as we moved towards the runway, off to the left we saw the snow covered peak out the plane window. As we lifted off into the air we viewed three majestic peaks on the horizon, each dusted with a coating of mid June snow. 

Washington/Oregon 2021 - Traveling and the U.S. Health Care System

 Without going into lurid detail I needed to visit an urgent care facility our final day in Portland. It kept me pretty much in the hotel room for the majority of that day but I was rather over the devastation that was Portland at that point, so, no great loss. My husband, with my complete blessing, headed off to Nordstrom, getting lost both coming and going by his later account. 

But back to the urgent care. When it became apparent I was having a problem my husband called the first phone number that came up on his phone. Oddly, they had no physical site, they only came to the patient. They then informed us that they would not see us because we were from out of state. The women at the desk at our hotel, who were wonderful throughout our visit, not only found a nearby urgent care site but also made an appointment for us.

Now, because I am covered by the ACA, my insurance is not accepted outside my state. Thankfully the fee was affordable but brought to my mind, once again, the horrible and unfair conditions of our country's health care system. What might have happened had the problem been more serious? Though I pay for insurance "in network" care was unavailable to me. 

We are the only industrialized country without a system of national health care. We also, because our health care is allowed to be profit making, spend more on it per capita. Some might yell "socialism". I call national health care a system that is fair, efficient and rooted in common sense and decency.

Washington/Oregon 2021 - The Columbia River Gorge

 A faceless interstate highway lead us to a historic, 2 lane country road which runs high above the Columbia River. The lush green we had become accustomed to lined the sides of the road. Overhanging trees created verdant tunnels. 

Our first stop was Vista House, a lookout point graced by a beautiful Art Nouveau observatory dating from 1915, unfortunately closed due to covid restrictions. The lookout gives you an expansive view of the river and gorge. Even with the observatory closed 2 levels of platforms outside still allows you to experience the beauty of the surrounding area. 

As we drove further occasionally some of the former roadhouses, dating from the 1920's, could be seen set among the thick foliage. We headed for the first of the several waterfalls in the area. They plummet over the tall rock walls of the gorge, cut by the river over the ages, adding their water to it's wide expanse. Some of the falls are thin ribbons, others raging torrents that seem almost boastful of their incredible beauty and immense power. Some fall from the walls directly into rocky stream beds becoming rapids, others cascade, collecting in pools or streams before rolling over another rock ledge taking a more indirect route to the river below. 

As we reached Multnomah Falls, the second highest year round waterfall in the U.S., the number of people increased. From a historic lodge, with the gift shop ubiquitous in almost all U.S, scenic spots, a trail leads up to a bridge which spans the falls providing visitors with an up close view of the roaring waters. The water catches on rock and ledges during it's descent adding dimension and texture to the spectacle. 

Instead of taking the highway from the falls we decided to take the small road back in the opposite direction from which we had come. The sunlight filtered thorough the canopy of trees as the sun broke out giving us relief from the rainy gloom. As the clouds dissipated we were treated with a clearer view of the river below. We stopped at Vista House for a final look, now cloud free, of the Columbia Gorge before heading back to Portland. 

Washington/Oregon 2021 - Portland's Japanese Gardens

 A friend who had lived in Portland for several years had told us that the city's Japanese Gardens would take us half a day to explore. We went through them in an hour and a half. This was partly due to the pouring rain we sloughed through the morning we were there. Though lovely they are relatively small, and, to my mind, not worth the rather hefty admission charge. 

After wandering a bit we found cover from the relentless rain and, consulting the map of the gardens, realized that we had seen everything. The rain kept us from fully exploring the mountain top park where the gardens are located. The park is a lush oasis. In addition to the Japanese Gardens there is a Rose Garden, Portland calls itself the Rose City, and the city's zoo.  

We decided, as we had spent far less time than we had allotted for the gardens, to take in the Columbia River Gorge and it's waterfalls, which we had originally planned to visit the following day. We returned to the hotel and got directions and maps to the gorge from the two lovely, gracious, helpful ladies at the reception desk, they were a delight to deal with the entire length of our stay, and were on our way to the waterfall wonderland. 

Washington/Oregon 2021 - Portland

Perhaps if  I had had the opportunity to visit pre covid. If I had visited before the economic devastation and the weeks of riots and demonstrations had ravaged the city, things would have appeared different.

What we found as we drove through the streets was a city looking as if it was emerging from war. Scores of empty storefronts, blocks of buildings with windows boarded up, a homeless problem that, even city leaders admitted, had reached crisis levels. Tent cities have been created under roadways and vacant lots. The tents of the homeless lined entire city blocks. The inhabitants of the tents, dirty and bedraggled, wander the streets, sometimes converging in groups on corners. Windows of bars and restaurants were covered with paper, closed, some perhaps permanently. Small parks and squares are barricaded, fenced off and graffiti scarred. I heard on the news one local official say that it would take as long, if not more, than 2 years for the city to recover. To me this assessment seemed overly optimistic. The city had a desolate, almost desperate air. 

Like many west coast cities it had a provincial feel. Perhaps, being developed so late they haven't had an opportunity to mature, perhaps they do not care to. They are content to be what they are, not striving for more. Unlike my home town of Chicago, which, despite occasional missteps, looks forward to the future, while respecting the past. Bold, arrogant, aggressive yet well mannered and genteel all at once. 

For a city so rich in moisture Portland lacks the lushness it could possess. It's streets bare of greenery. It seems to disregard it's past. Historical structures are intermixed with bland, unimaginative concrete structures. Form follows function, except the form is missing altogether. I found myself wondering what was sacrificed, what had been lost forever for so little gained. 

Perhaps it is me. Maybe my life in one of the world's great metropolises has made me demand more. I am certain there are those that are content in Portland as I am content in Chicago. Perhaps, even at it's best, Portland is just not for me. 

Washington/Oregon 2021 - Damn GPS

We stopped by my niece's house the next morning to witness the aftermath of the wedding and say goodbye before heading off to Portland. Apparently the festivities had gone on until the wee hours of the morning. My youngest nephew had been up until midnight before rising at 3 a.m. to catch an early morning flight back home to Baltimore, my new nephew in law had forgotten where he had left his phone the night before, finally finding it in his pants from the previous day which were themselves found, crumpled, in one corner of the bedroom. As we left my grandniece had her head in my niece's lap as my niece braided her hair. It is a sweet ritual between them. It brought back memories of my final day at my nephews house 6 years before, the two of them, my grandniece only 6 at the time, in the bathroom, singing at the top of their lungs to the radio as my niece, curling iron in hand, tamed my grandniece's then unruly hair. 

Getting to Portland was easy enough. We took the wide interstate highway this time, as opposed to the more scenic route we had used coming in. Nearing the city we decided to give GPS one last opportunity to guide us through the city streets to our hotel. Once again we found the technology lacking as it began to send us, as it had before, driving around in circles. Once again we switched the damn thing off and went by instinct, eventually finding our destination without her assistance.

Checking in to our beautiful, historic hotel, opened in 1913 it is on the nation's historical registry, we discovered that a sizable number of covid mitigation measures were still in effect. Masks required in all indoor settings, many businesses still shuttered, a combination was needed to access the restrooms in the lobby of the hotel, along with public restrooms in several other places. We felt as in we had taken 2 steps backward as back home Chicago had fully reopened, without capacity limits and dropping mask mandates for the vaccinated. 

We went to the only operating dining option in sight, a sports bar, for lunch, before retiring to our sumptuous room for some well deserved down time. 

Washington/Oregon 2021 - Operation Wet Reception - Plan B

 As the rain fell the bridal party leapt into action. Tables and chairs were carried to the tent set up in the back of the house for just such an event. As I mentioned in an earlier post, my niece's planning was meticulous, rain is commonplace in that area of the country. Food from the buffet was hustled inside from the front porch. I, my husband and youngest nephew, watched the proceedings from under the protection of a large tree while we ate. If anyone had questioned us my husband and I could use the excuse of advanced age for not assisting, my nephew was on his own for an excuse.

Everyone resettled under cover except for one tiny, blonde girl in a pink fantasy princess dress who twirled around in the rain, her curls flying around her beautiful face, getting soaked and having the time of her young life. Toasts were made by the grooms best friend from the age of 14, who challenged anyone who dared say anything negative about the groom to a Indian leg wrestling match, the bride's best friend and maid of honor, who had changed into sweats, her dress from the ceremony having gotten drenched when she was helping to move the wedding to the tent, and my brother, still holding back tears, somewhat unsuccessfully at that point. He spoke of watching the old movie "Father of the Bride" and remarking to his wife that walking a daughter down the aisle was something he would never experience. He spoke, humorously, about the night he learned that they had been gifted with a third child. My niece was unexpected as her brothers were 11 and 13 at the time. He spoke of his respect and affection for the groom and the happiness that he had brought to his treasured daughter. He hugged his daughter and son in law. It was a beautiful and heartwarming moment. 

The bride and groom shared a first dance, including a dip which the groom managed to execute without dropping my niece on her head. My brother shared a dance with his daughter, another of a number of beautiful moments of that day. We left in the rain to return to our hotel promising to drop by the next morning before heading off to Portland.