Pacific Coast Adventure - Day 7 - Land of the Giants

Breakfast this morning was good as it has been the case every day. The hotel greeted us with a large basket of granola bars and peanuts as we boarded our motorcoach. It was very nice of them to give us a mid morning snack..

Avenue of the Giants

Making the drive along old U.S. Route 101 we entered the Avenue of the Giants.  In 1960 a freeway bypass was completed and assumed the designation of Route 101. The Avenue was then designated as CA Route 254. The northern entrance of the Avenue is south of Fortuna, California. The highway is notable for the Coastal Redwoods that overshadow the road and surround the area. It is from these towering trees that the Avenue of the Giants takes its name. Within Humboldt Redwoods State Park, along the Founders Grove nature trail, are two special examples of the many giant redwoods found near the South Fork of the Eel River. We made a stop at Founders Grove for a bit of a stretch, scenic trail walk and a few photos. The Dyerville Giant, we happened upon, was recognized as the “Champion” Coastal Redwood as certified by the American Forestry Association until it fell on March 24, 1991. Before it fell, it was at least 362 feet tall (estimates from two different sources measured it at 370 feet after it fell). That is 200 feet taller than Niagara Falls or comparable to a 30-story building. It is also 17 feet in diameter and 52 feet in circumference. It probably weighs over 1,000,000 pounds. It is estimated that it may take centuries for this magnificent tree to surrender its nutrients to the wildlife and flora around it. Long may it rot in peace.

Built as a logging railroad in 1885 by Charles R. Johnson, the “Redwood Route” was a logical vehicle for moving massive redwood logs to Mendocino coast sawmills from the rugged backcountry. The train played a vital role during this time in transporting families and workers who set up the various logging camps along the route and in doing so, became an entirely different type of line. It played an important part not only in the area's industrial life, but also in its social and cultural activities. The nickname “Skunk” originated in 1925, when motorcars were introduced (today sometimes referred to as railbuses or railcruisers). These single unit, self-propelled motorcars had gasoline-powered engines for power and pot-bellied stoves burning crude oil to keep the passengers warm. The combination of the fumes created a very rank odor, and the old timers living along the line said these motorcars were like skunks, “You could smell them before you could see them.” Hardly the unmistakable smell of a skunk, at least not any of those found on the roadside in the summer, but pungent nonetheless I’m sure.

Scatter Lunch!

Our lunch stop in Willits was what is referred to as a “scatter lunch”, meaning everyone heads off, or scatters on their own for lunch. A few of us found a place called the Loose Caboose Café just off Main Street and stepped inside. Since today was National Hot Dog Day we decided an appropriate lunch for today would be, you guessed it, a hot dog. Not just any hot dog, mind you, but a Skunk Train Chili Dog.  With a cool glass of water to finish off lunch we exited the Loose Caboose Café. Having done our duty in honor of the day we met up with the coach looking forward to arriving in San Francisco.

Later that afternoon we enjoyed a short rest stop in.................., home of ................ Creator of "Peanuts". We stopped at the Visitors Center housed in the old Train Depot.

Crossing the Golden gate Bridge and through Golden Gate Park we made our way to Fisherman’s Wharf area and our hotel for the evening, The Radisson Fisherman’s Wharf.

Italian and The BV

We had enough time to check in and freshen up for dinner. Dinner was on our own this evening so several of us thought about Italian and North Beach/Telegraph Hill. I called Frank while we were on the road and asked him to find us a good Italian restaurant for this evening.  In a short while he came back with E’Tutto Qua which is located right in the heart of San Francisco's North Beach. Reservations for Marsha, party of 7 for 7:15 PM and we were all set. Two Taxis and a short ride later, we were there. We did make a quick photo stop, though at the lower end of San Francisco’s famed Lombard Street. Coming back from an dinner our taxi paused at the upper end of Lombard Street with a great view of Coit Tower. We took a few photos and headed to our next stop.

The building housing E’Tutto Qua has a lot of history behind it. It was originally built by Amadeo Giannini, founder of Bank of Italy which he later renamed Bank of America. You can still see his "BA" logo in the stonework above the door. Two story high arched windows surround the dining area, giving views of the neighborhood. Following this delicious homemade Italian feast we made our way to one of San Francisco’s landmark establishments, The Buena Visa Cafe, or BV as it is known locally is where Irish Coffee was first introduced to America in 1952. Established in 1891 as a boardinghouse, the first floor was converted to a saloon in 1916. It served as a warm meeting place for the hundreds of fishermen and handlers who worked for the nearby Sardine Cannery. OK, so I didn’t pull this one out of thin air. Frank and I saw a short installment of The BV on Emerill Legasse’s Originals on the Cooking Channel a couple of weeks ago and decided, “We’re there. Let’s go!” So Emerill deserves the credit (well, some of it anyway) for turning us on to this place. Bartender Paul Nolan, a fixture at The BV since 1978 (made this wonderful elixir for each of us just like he did for Emerill. Ahhhh! What a perfect end to a perfect day of touring. I’ll sleep well tonight, I’m sure. A full day of touring in San Francisco awaits us tomorrow. I’m excited! Can't you tell?

Pacific Coast Adventure - Day 6

Redwood National Park

We awoke this morning with great anticipation. No, it was not the smell of breakfast in the air, although it was wonderful; today’s the day we visit another of our scenic National Parks. More than just tall trees, Redwood National Park the park protects vast prairies, oak woodlands, wild riverways, and nearly 40 miles of pristine coastline, all supporting a rich mosaic of wildlife diversity and cultural traditions. So, following another good night’s rest, the call to board the motor coach was heard and shortly after 8:00 AM we were on our way. Saying our farewells to the Oregon coast for the final time we made our way across the northern California border, stopping briefly at the National Redwood Forest Visitor Center at Jedediah Smith State Park. We watched a short film presenting some history on the giant Redwoods which are known as California Coastal redwoods. The coastal redwood region is a narrow strip of land extending 450 miles from southern Oregon to about 150 miles south of San Francisco, with by far the greatest concentrations of redwoods occurring in Humboldt County in Northern California. These redwoods have an average lifespan of 500-700 years and the coast redwoods can live to more than 2,000 years and grow to over 360 feet in height. Their great longevity is not why redwoods are called sequoia sempervirens, or sequoia ever-living. Rather, the scientific name refers to their ability to sprout from root stock as well as from seed. An interesting factoid about the Redwoods is that they do not have a deep root system so they bind together with other redwood roots to form a stronger root base. 

Crescent City - for lunch

Back on the road again we had a short drive to our lunch stop for today. We got back on the road for a short drive to our lunch stop in Cressant City, named for the crescent-shaped stretch of sandy beach south of the city.

Crescent City's offshore geography makes it unusually susceptible to tsunamis. For example, much of the city was destroyed by one generated by the Good Friday Earthquake off Anchorage, Alaska in 1964. More recently, the city's harbor suffered extensive damage and destruction due to tsunamis generated by the March 11, 2011 earthquake off Sendai, Japan. Several dozen vessels and many of the docks they were moored to were destroyed as wave cycles related to the tsunamis exceeded 8 feet.

Lunch today was delayed. The restaurant we planned on dining was closed! Imagine that. With a little searching of the immediate area we found a couple of possibilities quite close by; the Grotto Restaurant and the Harbor Deli fit our hunger just fine. We scattered off the coach and had a very rich lunch, satisfaction all around. Next stop was Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, home to the "Big Tree".

I took a path toward the “Big Tree” and saw ferns everywhere. A few steps more into the woods on the foothill trail and we came upon several fallen trees. Photo ops abound.

Bob(to the 4th power) in front of the “Big Tree” (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

  

On the drive an elk refuge area appeared and we were treated to the sight of a female and then a sizable herd all standing together like they were posing for our cameras (or maybe it was us being photographed by the elk. You decide.)

We entered Eureka, California and shortly before arriving at our hotel for the night, the Red Lion, we passed by Carson Mansion, better known as The Ingomar Club. The Ingomar Club is a private club based in the Carson Mansion, one of the most notable examples of Victorian architecture in the United States. According to research, the Club was founded "to own and maintain a club headquarters for the meetings and enjoyment of its members; to create, establish and maintain an association of gentlemen for the preservation and protection of historic 'Carson Mansion'; to promote interest among its members in athletics, yachting, golf, swimming and related activities; to promote good fellowship, and to associate together those interested in the field of fine arts, music and culture". While for many years, the Club operated with minimal scrutiny, it has not escaped controversy, both due to a long-standing policy of male-only membership and sexual harassment claims by former employees.  The flowers outside were beautiful and a few photos later we continued on our way.

Dinner, Lumber Camp style

Dinner this evening was promptly at 6:30 PM at the Samoa Cookhouse,  the last surviving cookhouse in the West, continuing the tradition of serving lots of good food - lumber camp style! It was featured in Coastal Living magazine in May 2003. The tables are set in long lines and the food is served family-style, or guess lumber camp style is more appropriate. Salad, soup, huge loaves of bread, boneless fried chicken, ham, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, tea water and coffee and of course spice cake for dessert to top it off.  Next to the cookhouse is a logging museum with artifacts reminiscent of the bygone days of logging in northern California.

After getting our fill we were back at our hotel for the night to rest up for tomorrow’s adventure and arrival into the City By the Bay, San Francisco.

Pacific Coast Adventure - Day 5

Crater Lake

Breakfast this morning was wonderfully nourishing as has been our breakfasts every morning.  We could get used to this real fast! We boarded our chariot and made the 2-hour drive south and then east along route 42 toward Crater Lake National Park.  Lunch today was going to be on our own so we made a brief stop in Roseburg at a Safeway to pick up some picnic supplies. Well stocked, we continued onto the entrance of Crater Lake National Park traveling along the West Rim Drive. The mountain road we traveled to the Park Visitor Center gave us a casual reminder to a road we traveled on our Colorado/Utah tour two years ago. Moki Dugway in Utah was a road traveled those of us lucky enough to be a part of will not soon forget. (I just heard stories but I can imagine what it was like).

Crater Lake is a caldera lake and is the main feature of Crater Lake National Park. It is famous for its deep blue color and water clarity. The lake partly fills a nearly 2,148-foot-deep caldera that was formed around 7,700 years ago by the major eruption and subsequent collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama. No rivers flow into or out of the lake; the evaporation is compensated for by rain and snowfall at a rate such that the total amount of water is replaced every 250 years. At 1,943 feet it is the deepest lake in the United States and the seventh deepest in the world. (No, I didn't take this photo but it's a pretty cool aerial view).

Traveling along the West Rim Drive brought us some of the most striking vistas of the tour. Mere words cannot describe the beauty. Instead, check out some of the photos below. Wizard Island, which is viewable from just about every overlook in the Park is a volcanic cinder cone forming an island at the west end of Crater Lake. The top of the island reaches 6,933 feet above sea level, about 755 feet above the average surface of the lake. The cone is capped by a volcanic crater about 500 feet wide and 100 feet deep. A tour boat is available to take visitors to Wizard Island for about 6 hours, including the ride over and back. The only issue was, it's a little over a mile down to the dock and then the same back up. Owing to having to remain on schedule we decided it was best to view Wizard Island from the Lodge. (I did take this photo, though)

We continued on the West Rim Drive until we reached the Rim Visitor Center where we disembarked to enjoy our picnic lunch and a bit of hiking (but not too far). Of course I used this opportunity to get my (and Frank's) National Parks Passport Book stamped as did a few of the group. This is a wonderful way to remember the visits we make and have made to our National Parks. I know Frank enjoys getting these stamps at the Visitor Center and it appears a number of our group feels the same way. Only 1/4 of a mile's walk to the east brought us to Crater Lake Lodge, or The Old Lodge as it is popularly known. There, several of us stopped to enjoy our picnic lunch while others found a setting more amenable to enjoy their lunch. Did I mention that on the West Rim Drive we saw patches of snow on the side of the road? I guess we are higher up in elevation than I thought.  After our picnic lunch, some time to shop and enjoy the vistas we again boarded our coach and headed south along route 230/62 to our home for tonight, the Springhill Suites by Marriott in Medford, Oregon.

The drive took us along the Rogue River just past Shady Cove. The River and Gorge were formed by Collapsed Lava Tubes rather than through erosion. An interesting bit of information this.

Well, we've made it Medford in time for dinner and a restful night's sleep. Dinner was at Porter's at the Old Train Depot, in Medford. This meal was included and we had the choice of Prime Rib, Chicken or Sea Food Pasta. After dinner we did a group photo on the steps of the Train Depot, then climbed back aboard our coach. On the way back to the hotel we had an optional drop off at Wal-Mart since it was next door to our hotel. As for me, I headed back to the room to get ready for our next day.

Tomorrow takes us to another one of our National Parks, Redwood National Park.  Stay with us. We'll keep you filled in and more pics, too.

Pacific Coast Adventure - Day 4

Coastal Driving

Leaving our hotel in Portland, we made our way down the coast so the seaport town of Newport, Oregon. Newport is a bustling town of over 10,000 inhabitants. Historically, the Bayfront was Newport’s economic backbone, housing a port for the commercial fishing and wood products industries. Today, the Bayfront is still home to one of Oregon’s largest commercial fishing fleets. The Bayfront is a working waterfront one where the Travel Masters enjoyed shops, restaurants, sites of the fish processing plants all in turn-of-the-century storefronts from a bygone era.

After a wonderful lunch overlooking the port and some time for a bit of shopping, we boarded the coach and took the scenic drive along the coast. Truly, there were wondrous sights out of the windows as we were treated to the towering surf crashing onto the rocks on the right and huge forests of trees on the left. Quite the delight for the eyes as well as the stiff necks we all got turning from left to right to take it all in.

The Dunes

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area stretches approximately 40 miles along the Oregon Coast from Florence to Coos Bay.  Formed by the ancient forces of wind, water and time, these dunes are like no others in the world. The Dunes are a unique area of windswept sand that is the result of millions of years of wind, sun, and rain erosion on the Oregon Coast. These are the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America. Some dunes tower up to 150 meters above sea level. Will we be dune buggying these sandy wonders? We shall see. OK, we did. Sandland Buggy Tours providing the Travel Masters with unimaginable thrills from the top to bottom of many of the scenic dunes in the National Recreation Area. Our guide was informative and a bit daring as you can see by the photos covering approximately 8 miles of dunes and 2 miles of ocean beach. The Wind-sculpted sand dunes towering to 500 feet above sea level provided the Travel Masters an unbelievable experience!  Climbing and descending through the most beautiful, impressive dunes was an unforgettable experience many, if not all us will treasure. 

Coos Bay at Leisure

We arrived at Coos Bay, Oregon in late afternoon with our evening ahead us free to explore. Prior to Europeans (and us) first visiting the Oregon coast, Native American tribes claimed the Coos Bay region as their homeland for thousands of years. Members of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, Siuslaw and Coquille tribes lived, fished, hunted and gathered along Coos Bay and its estuaries, along rivers, and in meadows and forests. We will most likely do none of that, preferring instead to enjoying a delicious meal and an evening at leisure wandering through the town. Our hotel for the night, the Red Lion Hotel Coos Bay is another fine property that we have been treated to on this tour. Comfortable beds and even a watering hole for those who choose to imbibe.

OK, so dinner for me this evening was a simple one.  No further comment 

Tomorrow, Crater Lake and on to Medford, Oregon.  Can't wait!

Pacific Coast Adventure Day 3

A Mountain, a Gorge and the Falls

After another delicious breakfast at the hotel we packed up to leave Seattle with many fond memories and continue our journey; today it’s Mount St. Helens and beyond. We traveled south through Tacoma and Olympia until we reached the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake. This is the original Visitor Center which was built in 1993 and is operated by the Washington State Parks Department. As you can see, a few of the group are getting a Mount St. Helens education at the Visitor Center.

At 8:32 Sunday morning, May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted and blew down or scorched 230 square miles of forest...30 years later, recovery at Mount St. Helens continues.  Shaken by an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, the north face of this tall symmetrical mountain collapsed in a massive rock debris avalanche. In a few moments this slab of rock and ice slammed into Spirit Lake, crossed a ridge 1,300 feet high, and roared 14 miles down the Toutle River. We all have seen the story and its aftermath in the news but to see it up close (relatively) from the comfort of the Visitor Center, brought into sharp focus the power of Mother Nature.  We enjoyed watching a 13-minute video on the history of Mount St. Helens and the eruption that changed the face of the mountain forever.

Leaving Mount St. Helens we traveled along the Mount Hood route to the spectacular Columbia River Gorge. We took in the scenic views along the route of Mt. Hood and the Cascade mountain range. The Gorge is a spectacular geological wonder. The Columbia River is the second largest river in North America, starting in northern Idaho and southeastern British Columbia, and traveling over 1,200 miles to the ocean.  

Through millenniums of geologic events, waterfalls have found their home in the Columbia River Gorge. What we saw today was no exception. One of the most scenic of the waterfalls, Multnomah Falls is the second highest year-round waterfall in the United States.

Multnomah Falls drops in two major steps, split into an upper falls of 542 feet and a lower falls of 69 feet, with a gradual 9 foot drop in elevation between the two, so the total height of the waterfall is a convenient 620 feet.  A few of the group made the trek out to Benson Footbridge, a 45-foot long bridge 102 feet above the lower cascade of the falls. Great for taking photos which many did and will no doubt be reflected in the complimentary DVD we’ll give to each member of the group after the trip. A brief stop at the gift shop for the souvenir hunters among us and we were off to hotel for the night near Portland, Oregon. The Red Lion on the River – Jantzen Beach is our home for tonight. One thing about the tours with Premier World Discovery, the hotels are always first rate! What a wonderful location, right on the Columbia River on Hayden Island with a view across the Oregon/Washington border. It doesn’t get any better (..or does it? We still have six more days of this).  Dinner was on our own this evening so a few of us went to the hotel and enjoyed an appetizer along with a tasty beverage while seeing great views of Mt. Hood and Mount St. Helens all while sitting right on the Columbia River. We all called it an early evening, to prepare for our big day going on our Dune Buggy tours!


P.S. Hey Bob! I published these without the photos.... Just so you could read... Photos will be added soon. 

Pacific Coast Adventure - Day 2 touring Seattle

Seattle, From Bottom to Top

After a restful night’s sleep and a delicious breakfast, we boarded our motor coach and began our city tour of Seattle with a visit to the University of Washington campus where we drove by the new Husky stadium where the University of Washington Huskys play in the NCAA Pac-10 conference.  The stadium will be opened for play this coming season.  Continuing on to downtown Seattle we visited or drove by a few of Seattle landmarks.  If you remember the “Sleepless in Seattle” with Tom Hanks and Megan Ryan there was a scene that was filmed on a houseboat. Well, we drove by that houseboat and memories of the movie came into focus.  We visited Chittenden Locks and Fish Ladders. While driving around tow we enjoyed views of Seattle’s iconic and most famous landmark, the Space Needle.

Our tour ended with a visit to Pike Place Market, home of the flying fish. Quite a sight to behold, watching fish flying all over the place. Of course no one was able to step in and try their hand at catching one only staff does the tossing. Besides our fishermen do their best work with a rod and reel.

One of Seattle’s most famous businesses, Starbucks got their start here and the very first Starbucks store, still serving up at the original location. We broke for lunch and a bit of free time to walk around, take it all in and maybe do a bit of shopping. Beautiful flowers everywhere, bakeries tempting our nostrils with the aromatic smells of freshly baked breads and pastries, the freshest seafood you’ll find anywhere and of course, art and jewelry vendors and stores displaying their goods for the shopping masses.

Following our lunch and a bit of a walk-around we again boarded the coach and headed 30 miles north of Seattle to Everett, Washington for a very interesting and informative tour of the Boeing factory, home to the 747, 767, 777 and 787 Dreamliner production lines. Our tour director, Sandy led the way while I stayed behind to get my broken camera repaired. By volume this is the largest building in the world, covering over 98 acres of space. It’s big enough to hold Disneyland with 12 acres left over for parking.  We could not get very close to the actual aircraft production but we sure could tell there was work in progress. Over the years several prominent dignitaries have toured the Boeing facility. Most notable of them is U.S. President Bill Clinton, Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating, His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, the Duke of York and now, the Travel Masters and Grand Travelers!

After dealing with heavy traffic at rush hour the group still returned to the hotel on time. A quick freshen up and on to dinner on our own at one of Seattle’s many restaurants.  Several of us decided on dinner at The Crab Pot, on Alaskan Way, right off the bay. So four taxis worth of our group left the hotel all made it there safely for dinner. The Crab Pot put us all in the right frame of mind for some of that fresh seafood (some wanted a burger) like we saw earlier today at Pike Place Market. I had a very delicious dinner of delicious crab legs (must saw the best I ever had) along with a tasty beverage to top it off. A truly wonderful way to end the day.

But wait! The day’s not over, is it? Before we left from Northwest Arkansas on this fabulous tour, I purchased enough tickets for each of us (that were interested) to voyage to the top of the famous Space Needle to see the wondrous landscape of Seattle by the light of day and the dark of night, illuminated of course by the man-made glow of city lights through the beautiful skyline. Our timed entry to the elevator was for 8:30pm. Little did we know that one of the elevators was down for maintenance and that only two of the three elevators would be in service.  Were we going to make it to the top of the Space Needle and see the Seattle skyline change from daylight to darkness? Thanks to bit of good fortune and a fast elevator (packing us in like sardines), we made it to the observation deck, 520 feet above street level. The view was breathtaking to say the least. We could see Mt. Rainier in the distance albeit barely, but we could see it. We’re told that it’s viewable only about half of the year. Good thing we were in the half that could see it.

So, after taking it all in from the top of the city we rode the elevator back down to the reality of the street and started for our hotel. Several of the group decided to take the monorail back but don’t think anyone took the S.L.U.T., Seattle’s new mass transportation vehicle. Officially, it’s called the South Lake Union Streetcar, but in the neighborhood where the car runs it’s called the South Lake Union Trolly, hence the unfortunate nickname of the S.L.U.T. I’m sure it wasn’t the name that stopped anyone in the group from riding, just a decision not to.  We’ll ride the trolly in San Francisco for sure, though.

Arriving at the hotel we said our good nights and headed off to slumber to be rested up for tomorrows events.

Pacific Coast Adventure Day 1: Traveling the Friendly Skies

They say timing is everything and today we had it down to a "T". What exactly does that mean, anyway? Oh well. I'll have to look that up. Moving on... We arrived at Tulsa International Airport and did the Kiosk Check-in at the United ticket counter, getting our groups through in a rather quick pace. Then we were all off to security. No line, to speak of, which in itself is amazing! We put all of our belongings on the conveyor belt and then stepped into the pod for a complete body scan. I don't know what they saw or didn't see but I got told to, "step to the side" and then I received my first "pat down". A few simple pats up and down (not as bad as the news sometimes makes it out to be). I joked, "a little to the left", but she said "that costs extra", so I moved on!  Once we were all done with security and into the concourse I realized that I didn't get to kiss my husband goodbye and that I had left him at check-in with the Grand Travelers... Oops! We called each other and waved from a far then proceeded on our way :(  (Thanks, Frank for helping us get through Check-in so smoothly! Kiosk check-in by yourself, not to mention a group of 17, can be a little overwhelming your first time through).

Flying the Friendly Skies
Several of us stopped for a quick cup of coffee (to go, of course) and we made our way to the gate. We had about 15 minutes until boarding, just enough time to get re-organized. Our plane was over-sold (naturally) so they offered a $200 credit to anyone who would like to give up their seat. No one budged. So then they offered a $300 credit. We had 34 in our 2 groups all on a mission to make it to Seattle so we turned down the offer. We calmly but excitedly made the walk down the jet bridge and onto the plane. Seat belts buckled, all electronic devices turned off and we were ready to push away from the gate and taxi for take off. On time departure flying from Tulsa to Denver! Great way to start! After the flight attendants passed through the cabin dispensing drinks, we received a very nice greeting over the public address system. "Welcome aboard to the Travel Masters & Grand Travelers. We Hope you'll enjoy your Pacific Coast Tour". Then they said something about being in good hands with Marsha & Suzy. Thanks, United for the welcome. Flying time to Denver was a little over 1 1/2 hours and was about as smooth a flight as can be. After we landed we found out our gate was changed. Little did we know that this change was for the better. We arrived at Gate B22 and had to stroll all the way to Gate B18. Pretty sweet, considering we had about 15 minutes now until boarding time. A quick pause for the cause, grab a bite (to go) and we headed to B18. I didn't even have time to take a seat in the boarding area. It was forward, march right onto the plane.  Now, safely buckled in our seats we were ready for the second leg of this journey. Hey! DirecTV is onboard this flight! Most of the group though, took this opportunity for a cat nap, conserving energy for the fun-filled days ahead. Or maybe it was the lack of sleep. (I'm voting for lack of sleep.) I thought it would be a good time to blog our first day, so here I am one-finger typing on my iPhone (in airplane mode, and of course my iPad is packed away where I can't get to it). Just when I'm really getting into this, the pilot announces we'll be landing soon so I must turn off my phone.  To be continued...

On the Grounds (get it?) in Seattle (Grounds? Coffee? Seattle? Starbucks?... Awww, forget it, lol!)
I'm back! We are now checked in our hotel the Sheraton Seattle Hotel. A nice property located in the market area. You know, where they throw the fish? We will see that tomorrow. Maybe even catch a fish since we do have a couple of avid fishermen in the group. Although maybe it's not quite the same thing. Our room is clear up on the 24th floor looking out onto the city. This will be good practice being up high for when we go up really high tomorrow evening in the Space Needle. Several people went out for a little exploration walk before dinner. Me? I caught up on a few emails from work and blogged just a little more here! Time for dinner... I'll be back later...

Dinner Time!
Tonight we are having our "Welcome Dinner" just down the street. This is one of those customary first-night get-togethers that help us become acquainted with our traveling companions. 21 Travel Masters, 17 Grand Travelers and 10 travelers from New York make a total of 48 folks sitting at one really long table! We had 4 choices: Chicken, Steak, Fish & Chips or Cajun Pasta. It all looked really, really good!  Dinner was followed by a mini strawberry cheese cake which was yummy! You could start to see the tired eyes in many of the group by this time. A number of us were ready to call it an evening and make a quick hike back to the hotel to our rooms. Looking forward to being refreshed and ready to go tomorrow.

Leaving our heart in San Francisco (and Portland and Seattle....)

Leaving on a Jetplane

Well, today's the day. The start of the Pacific Coast Adventure tour to Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and points in between. Our good friends from Grove, Oklahoma, The Grand Travelers are joining us on this 9-day odyssey. I say "us" but I'm not actually going. Marsha will be leading the Travel Masters group and I remain behind lending support (and a little bit of envy) to the group while they're away enjoying the Pacific Northwest. 

Early to bed...too early to rise

I got little sleep last night. At around midnight I kept waking every hour worrying that I would oversleep. I didn't. Finally got up at 4 am and got ready. Fed the kittens, loaded bags in the SUV, departed the house just about on time and made our way to the departure location, arriving a minute or two after 6 am. Several of the group were already there (no surprise) as was the motor coach (pleasant surprise) ready to transfer us to Tulsa International Airport for our 9:30 am flight to Seattle (with a stopover in Denver). Doors opened and the group came on in to doughnuts and coffee, Breakfast of Champions. 

Luggage? Checked. Boarding pass? Check. Say, "See ya" to Frank? Uh oh!

The drive to the airport was probably uneventful. I wouldn't know because I went on ahead. My job for this morning was to locate the elevators and the United ticket counter, finding the quickest and most reliable way there once the group arrived. The motor coach pulled in to the Arrival terminal to unload the group. I say Arrival terminal because motor coaches can't fit under the walkways/bridges from the parking lot to the departure terminal ticket counters at Tulsa International. An inconvenience but we've become accustomed to it. Luggage in hand we made our way from the coach, through the walkway to the waiting escalator and elevator. Some took the quicker way down, using the escalator which many of the group took the less cumbersome elevator.  
Checking in at the United Airlines counter went about as smoothly as it ever has. The United ticket agents were very helpful in getting us all checked in and on our way. No snags, no issues, just 34 anxious and ready travelers wanting to get to the gate. Speaking of heading to the gate, there's always that one obstacle in the way before reaching the gate. No, it's not the rest rooms, although they are a very important part of any travel venture. The TSA Security Checkpoint. Once again, a very smooth transition through security. So smooth in fact that as the last of the Travel Masters made it though security, so did Marsha. So, here I am standing behind the barrier unable to proceed through since I don't have a boarding pass (did I say I'm not going on the trip?) waiting and hoping that Marsha would realize I'm not there so we could say our fond farewells and happy journeys and maybe share a hug and a kiss. No such luck. I get an "I love you" holler from across the great divide between the secure passage to the gates and the non-secure waiting area. So I did the next best thing. The Grand Travelers' group leader, Susie was just about to enter the checkpoint when I stopped her and asked her to give this to Marsha. A hug from me! At that point I left the airport and made my way to my vehicle to return to work. I did get a photo-kiss from Marsha in the form of a text message. I guess it'll do (sigh).
So, if you happen to see Marsha in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco or any of the points in between be sure and tell her, "You owe Frank....big time!" I'm sure it'll get a laugh, or at least a chuckle out of her, but duck just in case.  Love you, Babe and have a good, no make that, great time on the Pacific Coast Adventure!

There will be more posts along with some photographic evidence of the tour in the days to come. So keep watching...and reading.

Need a State Map?

	Do you need a simple prepared map that you can print at home, at school, or in the office? Look at the link below for list of maps formatted to be viewed, printed, or downloaded. http://www.nationalatlas.gov/printable/reference.html#list

Healthy Plane Travel

This article is from www.greatist.com

Flying is the most popular form of long-distance travel. It’s convenient, fast, and increasingly affordable. And while flying isn’t always the most comfortable experience, there are several steps you can take before, during, and after your flight to make it safer, healthier, and less stressful.

PRE-FLIGHT

To help ensure a safe and healthy flight, take these steps prior to boarding.

What to Pack

Bring a travel-size bottle of hand sanitizer to prevent picking up germs often prevalent on planes. Small packets of powdered drink mix make it easy to stay hydrated and avoid sodas. Emergen-C is a smart choice, packed full of essential electrolytes and chock-full of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps boost your immune system to fight off in-flight bugs.

Bring your own filtered water bottle and a neck pillow (those filled with pellets pack very well) to make you more comfortable as compared to flat pillows (often covered with germs) airlines provide. Lavender-scented pillows will help you relax.

A few high-quality protein bars and packets of trail mix are much healthier than in-flight snacks. Check the sugar content and look for bars low in sugar but high in protein and vitamins. For longer flights, pack a pair of slippers or flip-flops in your carry-on to aid circulation and comfort. A sleep mask may help you rest on longer flights, and also helps convince your brain it’s time to sleep by filtering out sunlight during daytime flights.

What to Wear

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes and shoes you can slip off easily. Dress in layers. You’ll be ready for a change in climate and any temperature extremes in-flight. Avoid tight socks. Even on short flights, they can restrict circulation to the legs and feet.

How to Prepare

Airline travelers are 20 percent more likely to catch the common cold. A few days before flying, take extra vitamin C and B-complex vitamins to boost your immune system. For longer flights or multiple connections, eat a meal containing lean protein (chicken, seafood, fish, or eggs), whole grains (toast, hot cereal, or dense bread), and water-rich produce (watermelon, salads, or citrus). You’ll stay fuller and more hydrated and may to able to skip unhealthy airline food altogether.

IN-FLIGHT

Take steps to stay healthy and comfortable during your flight to avoid a post-travel slump. If possible, choose a seat at the front or rear of your section for more leg room. One in every 4,500 flyers will develop a blood clot within 8 weeks of flying. People who fly for more than 4 hours at a time are more likely to develop blood clots.

To boost circulation on longer flights, walk to the bathroom or up and down the aisles frequently. Yoga or gentle stretches every 30 minutes decrease your chances of blood clots and muscle cramps. Use hand sanitizer or cleansing wipes to clean your armrest, seat belt buckle, and other frequently touched hard surfaces.

Drink from your own filtered water bottle, as mentioned above. Note: The EPA discovered 1 out of 7 planes had tap water that did not meet federal standards and contained the bacteria coliform and E. Coli. This contaminated water may be running in the bathrooms and galley area where food and drinks are prepared, so use bottled water to brush your teeth. Wash your hands frequently and use a paper towel to turn off faucets and open doors.

A WORD ABOUT DEHYDRATION

Dehydration can be a huge in-flight problem. The air in planes is extremely dry. While people are most comfortable at a humidity of about 50 percent, the humidity in planes can be as low as 1 percent. This can lead to more rapid dehydration and is far less noticeable than you might think.

To stay hydrated, avoid sodas, alcohol, and caffeine prior to and during flight. Drink 8 ounces of water for every hour of flight. Apply lotion to your hands, face, and feet on longer flights to combat dry skin. Forget salty snacks and eat salad, fruit, and other water-rich foods instead.

WHAT YOU’RE BREATHING IN MAY HARM YOU

As safe as flying is, there are risks involved with spending several hours in a confined space with stale, recycled air and strangers who may or may not be carrying germs. There is poor air circulation inside the aircraft. When planes sit on the ground, and the ventilation systems are shut off, pathogens begin to spread and settle. 50 percent of the air on a plane is recirculated. The rest is fresh air cleaned by a filtration system. Air filters in need of cleaning or replacement often help to spread germs during and between flights.

PREVENTING ILLNESS

Even when people wash their hands in plane bathrooms, microbes and pathogens are often left in water on wet counters or other surfaces. Most illnesses are spread by direct contact, like coughing and/or sneezing on people. Diseases controlled by vaccinations in the U.S. can be spread on a plane. It takes just 1 non-vaccinated person to spread potentially life-threatening illnesses. Bring a medical grade mask to cover your face and protect it from sick people you may sit near. Although pillows and blankets are cleaned regularly, there is no way to know what germs lurk behind, embedded in the material. Using the headphones airlines provide carries the same risk of exposure as liquid-based pathogens left behind by another person. Bring your own headphones, blankets, or pillow to prevent exposure to these hidden health dangers.

AVOIDING JET LAG

Jet lag can be a real concern, especially if you’re traveling several time zones away. You can take several steps to lessen its effects. Take a second watch or travel clock set to your home time. This will keep you aware of when you should be sleeping or awake. The best rule of thumb is to sleep in-flight if you would be sleeping at home. Stay awake otherwise. For a few days prior to your trip, adjust your sleep pattern by one or two hours at a time to be closer to your destination time zone. If possible, schedule your flight so that you arrive in the evening and go to bed as soon as you get to your hotel. The extra rest won’t hurt and you’ll wake up in sync with your environment.

SNAKES ON A PLANE

Should you find yourself on a plane with one or more snakes, you can usually identify the venomous variety by their hear tor diamond-shaped heads. Non-venomous snakes generally have heads continuous with their bodies. If you spot a snake on your plane, ask to speak to the nearest Samuel L. Jackson. If the snake is swallowing your seatmate’s head, it’s best to ask to be moved to another seat. You just might get a free upgrade to First Class.

POST-FLIGHT

What you do immediately following your flight, especially a long one, can be just as important as the steps you take before and during your trip. Drinks as much water as possible as soon as possible after landing to replenish your body’s supply. Eating water-rich foods will help, too. Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing to aid in stretching and circulation post-flight.

Avoid alcohol or caffeine if traveling to a distant time zone. These may affect your adjustment and further dehydrate you. Forget socks and wear comfortable shoes. Your feet and calves may be swollen due to sitting for extended periods. If on a layover, walk outdoors to stretch, aid circulation, and get fresh air. Avoid sitting for long periods at the airport. Consider checking your carry-on to avoid any soreness from lugging around that extra weight.

Flying is the fastest way to travel. By taking these steps, you can ensure your journeys are more comfortable, safe, and pleasurable, especially if you fly frequently or for great distances.

Travel Masters’ Kitchen - Oatmeal Cookies

Peggy Nichols’ Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cup flour
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups oats (quick)
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup white sugar
1 cup nuts

Directions:
Cream shortening, sugar (brown & white); add eggs and vanilla.
Mix together.
Add flour, salt and baking soda. Mix together.
Add nuts and oats and mix by hand until well blended.
Divide dough and shape on wax paper 2 inches by 12 inches.
Freeze overnight.
Cut about ¼ inch thick and bake at 350 until golden brown.

Travel Masters’ Kitchen - Mexican Casserole

Peggy Nichols' Mexican Casserole

1 Lb. Ground Beef

1 Can Ranch Style Beans

1 Package Taco Seasoning

1 Onion

1 Can Spanish Rice

Velveeta Cheese

Crushed Corn Chips

Brown Meat and Onions. Mix in Taco Seasoning. Cook until done. Add Rice & Beans. Pour into casserole dish.Layer Cheese on top. Add Corn Chips on top.

Bake covered at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes

 

Need it quick:

Put in microwave on High for about 5 minutes until cheese is melted.

The Gentle Giant . . . Robert Wadlow

One of the really neat things about group travel is you'll never know when something you may see or do on a tour will trigger your thoughts to an event or item from your past.

Case in point. Yesterday, July 9 was the Travel Masters' "Meet, Greet & Eat" event at The Wooden Spoon in Gentry Arkansas. This monthly get-together allows members of the Travel Masters to socialize, talk about past and future tours and have a bit of lunch.  (Ok. Insert commercial plug, here. The Wooden Spoon is one of our favorite local eating establishments in the area. The food is delicious, the restaurant is always clean, there's a family atmosphere throughout and the service is superb.) On our recent Mystery tour (see previous Blogs) one of our stops was in Alton, Illinois, the birthplace of one Robert Pershing Wadlow. Who's he? Only the tallest man who walked the earth, all 8 feet 11.5 inches of him. There's a life-sized statue of him in a park where the school he once attended stood.

One of our travelers, let's call her Dolly, remembered that her mother once met Robert Wadlow when he visited Northwest Arkansas in the 1930's. She got a postcard photograph of him standing alongside of his father. It was the kind of postcard that one used to find at arcades or fairs, or in my case, on the boardwalk at Seaside Heights, New Jersey during my youth. She took the card up to Robert and he graciously signed the back of the card for her. She kept that card for years before passing it along to her daughter. Dolly had long since forgotten about the card until the day she stood face to knee with the statue of Robert Wadlow on our Mystery Tour's visit to Alton.

When she got home she decided to see if that card was still around. It was. Hidden away with other assorted items long ago placed in a box for safe-keeping.  She retrieved it and brought it to our Meet, Greet & Eat to share with the group.

This is one of those fascinating moments that traveling with a group, our group, lends itself to: making new memories and oftentimes rekindling old memories. So, get off the couch and Come Join the Fun! You'll never know what lies ahead.