| Welcome to The New Coffee Room. We hope you enjoy your visit. You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Join our community! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| GEORGE!!! You can't go on your trip on Friday.... | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 17 2014, 04:28 PM (438 Views) | |
| Catlady | Sep 17 2014, 04:28 PM Post #1 |
|
Junior Carp
|
....until we approve your itinerary. So?....And?... |
![]() |
|
| George K | Sep 17 2014, 05:23 PM Post #2 |
|
Finally
|
Here's the agenda. Depart Chicago (Union Station) this Friday at 2:15 PM on the Empire Builder (train #7). Overnight through the twin cites to Minot ND, continuing west to Spokane. At Spokane, at 3AM, the Empire Builder splits into two. #7 continues to Seattle, and #27 (our part) goes to Portland. Arrive in Portland Sunday at about noon - if the train runs on time, which it never does. I plan on about 3 PM. Sunday PM - see downtown Portland, Japanese Gardens, and whatever else. Monday, Sarah wants to see Mt. Hood. It's going to be an all day trip (100 miles each way), but that's what she wants to do. I'm just along for the ride. Tuesday AM, more in Portland, and then catch the Coast Starlight at 2 PM for SanFrancisco. This train usually runs close to on-time, so we arrive in SF at 8AM. We're staying at the Holiday Inn Fisherman's Wharf - about a block from where we get off the bus that takes us from Emeryville (the Amtrak Stop). I bought a Hop-on, Hop-off 48 hour ticket, so we'll tour the city from the bus, and decide what we want to see on Wednesday. Thursday we'll repeat the tour, and perhaps take the night-time tour. We board the California Zephyr at 8AM on Friday, headed home. |
|
A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
![]() |
|
| Catlady | Sep 17 2014, 05:45 PM Post #3 |
|
Junior Carp
|
Sounds good. The Japanese gardens don't take much time at all. You should also go to the rose gardens. Supposedly the best in the world. The Heathman Hotel has a fabulous cocktail lounge -- with great live music. A wonderful stop before (or after) dinner. Are you going to Timberline Lodge on the Mt. Hood tour? Wonderful place--a WPA project. Go on a ski lift for the best views and picture taking. |
![]() |
|
| Steve Miller | Sep 17 2014, 07:58 PM Post #4 |
|
Bull-Carp
|
That's a great way to see San Francisco. Trying to walk it is way too much work. Enjoy!
|
|
Wag more Bark less | |
![]() |
|
| Kincaid | Sep 17 2014, 10:44 PM Post #5 |
|
HOLY CARP!!!
|
Wow this Friday?! The 19th? Time flies! Can't believe it is here already. The weather will be perfect for after dinner cocktails at the Departure restaurant on Sunday - say about 7 p.m. Fun views of the city from the rooftop on the 15th floor, a nice breeze in the warm summer evening. Lovely! Went looking for gallery photos there and found this: http://www.thenines.com/things-to-do-in-portland |
| Kincaid - disgusted Republican Partisan since 2006. | |
![]() |
|
| George K | Sep 18 2014, 01:51 AM Post #6 |
|
Finally
|
Is Mount Hood something we should spend all day Monday on? From what I gather, it's about 100 miles each way. I don't mind the drive, but I don't want to do it if there are better things. Sarah also wants to do this: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g52024-d653867-Reviews-Portland_Aerial_Tram-Portland_Oregon.html worth it? |
|
A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
![]() |
|
| Chris Aher | Sep 18 2014, 03:06 AM Post #7 |
|
Middle Aged Carp
|
Mt. Hood is great but Mt. St. Helens is awe inspiring. They are roughly the same travel time from Portland, about 2 hr drive. Weather will be a factor. Neither will be as good if they are clouded over and if it is raining, I wouldn't bother. We visited both this summer. |
|
Regards, Chris | |
![]() |
|
| Red Rice | Sep 18 2014, 03:08 AM Post #8 |
|
HOLY CARP!!!
|
Hope you have a great trip George! Very cool that you're traveling with your daughter! |
|
Civilisation, I vaguely realized then - and subsequent observation has confirmed the view - could not progress that way. It must have a greater guiding principle to survive. To treat it as a carcase off which each man tears as much as he can for himself, is to stand convicted a brute, fit for nothing better than a jungle existence, which is a death-struggle, leading nowhither. I did not believe that was the human destiny, for Man individually was sane and reasonable, only collectively a fool. I hope the gunner of that Hun two-seater shot him clean, bullet to heart, and that his plane, on fire, fell like a meteor through the sky he loved. Since he had to end, I hope he ended so. But, oh, the waste! The loss! - Cecil Lewis | |
![]() |
|
| George K | Sep 18 2014, 03:12 AM Post #9 |
|
Finally
|
That is, by far the coolest. She's 26, and has become a good friend. Much to my delight, I have introduced her to the joys of Scotch (and Irish) whiskey. So, we're bringing along a (small) assortment of spirits that we can enjoy as we travel. |
|
A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
![]() |
|
| Red Rice | Sep 18 2014, 03:26 AM Post #10 |
|
HOLY CARP!!!
|
That is perfect!
|
|
Civilisation, I vaguely realized then - and subsequent observation has confirmed the view - could not progress that way. It must have a greater guiding principle to survive. To treat it as a carcase off which each man tears as much as he can for himself, is to stand convicted a brute, fit for nothing better than a jungle existence, which is a death-struggle, leading nowhither. I did not believe that was the human destiny, for Man individually was sane and reasonable, only collectively a fool. I hope the gunner of that Hun two-seater shot him clean, bullet to heart, and that his plane, on fire, fell like a meteor through the sky he loved. Since he had to end, I hope he ended so. But, oh, the waste! The loss! - Cecil Lewis | |
![]() |
|
| Mikhailoh | Sep 18 2014, 03:42 AM Post #11 |
|
If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
|
Sounds wonderful. Turns out we will be flying into SF on Sunday. Unfortunately Tuesday and Wednesday we will be up in Bodega Bay and Jenner, the Russian River area. Too bad we can't have dinner in Sausalito! |
|
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball | |
![]() |
|
| Riley | Sep 18 2014, 06:18 AM Post #12 |
|
HOLY CARP!!!
|
Hopefully you don't mean as you travel literally.
|
![]() |
|
| Klaus | Sep 18 2014, 06:21 AM Post #13 |
![]()
HOLY CARP!!!
|
It would be kind of cool if you'd go to dinner with her and somebody would look at you and say in a disapproving voice "you could be her father". |
| Trifonov Fleisher Klaus Sokolov Zimmerman | |
![]() |
|
| big al | Sep 18 2014, 08:10 AM Post #14 |
|
Bull-Carp
|
Bon voyage, George. I hope your trip goes very well. I'll look forward to your report when you return. Big Al |
|
Location: Western PA "jesu, der simcha fun der man's farlangen." -bachophile | |
![]() |
|
| Aqua Letifer | Sep 18 2014, 08:34 AM Post #15 |
|
ZOOOOOM!
|
Oh snap, it's this week? Take care, y0! Beware guys in suits who handcuffed themselves to their briefcases. |
| I cite irreconcilable differences. | |
![]() |
|
| brenda | Sep 18 2014, 11:01 AM Post #16 |
![]()
..............
|
To which George would reply, "Well, yes, I am old enough to be her father." And then he would say nothing more, but smile. |
|
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.” ~A.A. Milne | |
![]() |
|
| Mikhailoh | Sep 18 2014, 11:15 AM Post #17 |
|
If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
|
|
|
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball | |
![]() |
|
| Kincaid | Sep 18 2014, 01:20 PM Post #18 |
|
HOLY CARP!!!
|
That is a good point - I'd say that Mt. St. Helens is a just a tad farther, and the road is a bit slower and curvier, but I would definitely agree that St. Helens would be much more awesome to see. It should be good weather for either this weekend. Mt. Hood - a bit closer and easier to access, a bit cooler temps because of the elevation, super cool WPA lodge and the place they filmed exterior shots for The Shining. Probably a few wayside attractions (might still find a few vegetable/fruit stands or other tourist shops selling bears carved with chain saws, etc.). If you like that sort of thing, you can ride the ski lift up to the top and then ride down the alpine slide - kind of a go-kart in a concrete half pipe. Mt. St. Helens - can't see devastation of a landscape like that anywhere else close by, great visitor's center, can stare down into the caldera and see the mountain rebuilding itself, the road up has a bit of backwoods, Deliverance feel to it. |
| Kincaid - disgusted Republican Partisan since 2006. | |
![]() |
|
| Kincaid | Sep 18 2014, 01:40 PM Post #19 |
|
HOLY CARP!!!
|
I tell you I suck at tourist-y things to do in PDX. I looked at bunches of stuff on trip advisor and that is a good guide - very many interesting things to see if you like "that sort of thing". Probably be very enjoyable just to hit some of the neighborhood cafes and sit outside and people watch - there is a reason that they say Portland is weird and people want to keep it that way. The tram is cool as any tram out there - neat ride high over neighborhoods and great views on top of the hill, but nothing more than that. It is free to ride down, so you if you want you can park at the hospital and ride down and then take bus/trolley around down town and back to the bottom, then walk back up through some trails to the top. Or ride a bus up to the top. I think I read somewhere that a day bus pass is about $5. http://www.oregonmetro.gov/sites/default/files/walk_there_portland_4T_trail.pdf Edited by Kincaid, Sep 18 2014, 02:37 PM.
|
| Kincaid - disgusted Republican Partisan since 2006. | |
![]() |
|
| Catlady | Sep 19 2014, 07:24 AM Post #20 |
|
Junior Carp
|
Just try not to get into any arguments during the car ride to the train station! |
![]() |
|
| Optimistic | Sep 20 2014, 05:47 AM Post #21 |
|
HOLY CARP!!!
|
That's the best I love train rides, but aside from city transport and short tourist rides in NH have not yet taken a ride on one in the States. Your trip sounds amazing, GK! |
|
PHOTOS I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week, sometimes, to make it up. - Mark Twain We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. -T. S. Eliot | |
![]() |
|
| Kincaid | Sep 22 2014, 08:36 AM Post #22 |
|
HOLY CARP!!!
|
Had a very nice meet up last night with George and his lovely daughter. Very pleasant company - I wish I could have taken them more on a tour of the town or been able to hang out with them today. I fretted quite a bit about where to recommend for dinner but it turned out excellent - the Portland City Grill on the 30th floor of the Bancorp Tower. Only thing that could have made it better would have been a table by the window and a bit more time to visit. The weather was perfect last night. Today they are headed up to Mt. Hood and I am hoping it is not too layered in cloud cover. And they are getting out just in time to head south to San Francisco - supposed to be 100% chance of rain tomorrow! |
| Kincaid - disgusted Republican Partisan since 2006. | |
![]() |
|
| Kincaid | Sep 22 2014, 08:36 AM Post #23 |
|
HOLY CARP!!!
|
Oh, and there should be a few pics soon enough as proof of life. |
| Kincaid - disgusted Republican Partisan since 2006. | |
![]() |
|
| Mikhailoh | Sep 22 2014, 09:00 AM Post #24 |
|
If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
|
Excellent! |
|
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball | |
![]() |
|
| brenda | Sep 22 2014, 09:04 AM Post #25 |
![]()
..............
|
|
|
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.” ~A.A. Milne | |
![]() |
|
![]() Our users say it best: "Zetaboards is the best forum service I have ever used." Learn More · Register for Free |
|
| « Previous Topic · The New Coffee Room · Next Topic » |






That is perfect!



11:32 AM Jul 11