Canadian Buffoon's Back to Front Vacation - Update! 05/18 - Falling Down

[pkondz]

My Mom made this growing up all the time. Instead of a pie crust on top she would do mashed potatoes. And we would always get lemon merengue pie for dessert because the pie crusts came in 2 packs and the second needed to be used up!

Well, we can't waste
pie crusts, now can we?

Interesting... never seen it
with mashed potatoes on top.
But if it means I get a
lemon meringue pie out of
the deal, then... heck ya!

Omg I dislike people who cruise in the passing lane too. I worked with a guy a few years ago here in Texas and he got pulled over for driving in the passing lane. I'll admit I was thinking, yes, justice!

Good.
I wish they'd do that
more often.
A lot more often.
Then maybe people
would stop doing it!!!

I've been to Medicine Hat and Lethbridge. I grew up in Calgary and we were supposed to go to Disneyland with band in grade 8. Unfortunately, 9/11 happened that fall and no air travel was allowed for school trips. Then we were supposed to go to Vancouver, but the band teacher dragged her feet on the paperwork and we couldn't leave Alberta. So we went to Medicine Hat and Lethbridge. The only reason I joined band in the first place was to go to Disney. I quit the next year. My next time back was 10 or so years later and much more fun. I was following Alexisonfire to all of their Alberta tour dates.

Well... that's a bummer.
My youngest got to go to Cuba
and was pretty stoked about that.
But that was well after 9/11.

The Japanese gardens looked so nice and calm.

They are.

 

[cindianne320]

Oh man- I just miss you at WDW- we arrive on 5/16. (Though I probably have a better chance of meeting you here in MN!) I hope you and Elle have a great trip!

 

[Steppesister]

Just catching up with the chatter and announcement of your schedule. Enjoy every minute with your kiddo!!

 

[buzzrelly]

I don't do PTRs.
I like to present my trips
as a fait accompli.
Just my style.
You do you.

I don't do PTRs either. I tried once and I found myself trying to speculate on what I'd be wearing and what I'd be eating and what I'd be riding and when…I just don't plan that stuff that far in advance. I usually throw some plans in my TR like you did

"Dad. Elsa and I want to go
to Disneyworld. Can you come
too and show us around?"

Twist my arm!
I happily agreed.

Then it was:
"Dad. Elsa can't go anymore.
It's too expensive. Can we
go just the two of us?"

Twist my arm!
I happily agreed.

Then it was:
"Dad. I don't think I can
afford to go. Too many expenses."

I quickly glanced at Ruby (DW)
and said.
"How about I pay for your
airline ticket (I had enough points
to cover us both), and you
room with me, so that won't
cost you anything and you
just pay for your ticket and food?"

Twist her arm!
She happily agreed.

Wow, that worked out! I wonder if that was her plan all along

As of this writing, we leave in
just under two months.
(See ticker for deets.)

This just happens to coincide
with a group of you who happen
to be going about that same time.

So…

If any of you wish to meet,
please send me a PM.

Yay, I'll be there!

May 3rd.
MK. Also all day long.

May 4th.
<sigh>
I messed up big time.
I reasoned that we would
not likely be able to ride SDD,
even with rope drop on May 1st.
At least not without a significant
period of standing in line.
(I could be wrong)
So... I stupidly made FPs for
DHS on May The Fourth.

Well, boo. I just checked our plans and we don't match up. We arrive on 5/3 and are going to AK and are going to MK on 5/4 Bummer! I think we are heading to EPCOT in the afternoon on 5/4 so maybe if you are hopping over there after DHS we can catch up! I believe we are meeting there at 2 and making our way around the WS starting in France

 

[pkondz]

Oh man- I just miss you at WDW- we arrive on 5/16.

Well, poop!

(Though I probably have a better chance of meeting you here in MN!)

Very possible!

I do post my route
when I drive.
Keep an eye out and
next time I'm by,
let me know.

I hope you and Elle have a great trip!

Thanks!

 

[pkondz]

Just catching up with the chatter and announcement of your schedule. Enjoy every minute with your kiddo!!

Thanks, Liesa!

 

[pkondz]

I don't do PTRs either. I tried once and I found myself trying to speculate on what I'd be wearing and what I'd be eating and what I'd be riding and when…I just don't plan that stuff that far in advance. I usually throw some plans in my TR like you did

I like to keep the
surprises for the TR.

And some of those surprises
I don't know about myself!

Wow, that worked out! I wonder if that was her plan all along

I hope not!
I'd like to think I was
a little less easy to
manipulate.

Wait... I'm going to Disney.

Manipulate away!

Yay, I'll be there!

Yay!

Well, boo. I just checked our plans and we don't match up. We arrive on 5/3 and are going to AK and are going to MK on 5/4 Bummer! I think we are heading to EPCOT in the afternoon on 5/4 so maybe if you are hopping over there after DHS we can catch up! I believe we are meeting there at 2 and making our way around the WS starting in France

Well that celebration
was short-lived!



Could you pop over to the
Boardwalk area in the
afternoon?
That's about the only
way it'd work.
Otherwise...
Some other time!

 

[vamassey1]

Any photos?

I have a few. Nothing over the top but still nice and subtle. I'm combining my pictures, once I have them sorted I'll post a few.

 

[pkondz]

I have a few. Nothing over the top but still nice and subtle. I'm combining my pictures, once I have them sorted I'll post a few.

Great!

 

[vamassey1]

I do have an upcoming trip
with my eldest DD, Elle.
She's graduating with her
first degree this spring and
as a reward... well...
This is how it went.

Congrats to Elle!

"Dad. Elsa and I want to go
to Disneyworld. Can you come
too and show us around?"

Twist my arm!
I happily agreed.

Of course!

Then it was:
"Dad. Elsa can't go anymore.
It's too expensive. Can we
go just the two of us?"

Twist my arm!
I happily agreed.

Of course!

I quickly glanced at Ruby (DW)
and said.
"How about I pay for your
airline ticket (I had enough points
to cover us both), and you
room with me, so that won't
cost you anything and you
just pay for your ticket and food?"

Twist her arm!
She happily agreed.

Of course!

Besides... if I didn't get her
to go... then I might not
get to go!

Totally agree. Can not miss going to Disney!

So there you have it.

Have a great trip!

 

[pkondz]

Congrats to Elle!

She worked hard
(Is still... one last course.)

Of course!

Of course!

Of course!

Of course!

Totally agree. Can not miss going to Disney!

Nope!

Have a great trip!

Thanks!

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

We'll be missing you by 20 days. I twisted Joe's arm and we're going over Memorial Day. But this is it. The last one. For real this time




At least until the baby is 1.

 

[pkondz]

We'll be missing you by 20 days.

So... you're saying you're
rescheduling? Nice!

I twisted Joe's arm and we're going over Memorial Day. But this is it. The last one. For real this time

And... Of course with a bit of
arm twisting, you'll be going
20 days before us and... a
lso at the same time. Right?

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

And... Of course with a bit of
arm twisting, you'll be going
20 days before us and... a
lso at the same time. Right?

Unfortunately we're going the same time as my parents, and I don't quite think they'd appreciate a sudden reschedule.

 

[pkondz]

Unfortunately we're going the same time as my parents, and I don't quite think they'd appreciate a sudden reschedule.

I feel a little bad that you'll
be abandoning your parents
to change your time so you
can see me.
But I'm sure they'll understand.

 

[pkondz]

The Dullness Rubs Off

So....

Here's the deal.
For whatever reason
(and whatever reason
escapes me now)
I didn't take any notes
from this point on.

Why?

Because my mind is like
a steel trap!
Nothing gets out!


Okay, more like
aluminum...
But that's still good, right?


And... hmmm... maybe
less... trap like... more...
what's that thing with
all the holes?

Strainer?
No... not quite...
Sieve! Yeah! Sieve!
That's it.

A sieve...

An aluminum sieve.



Uh...


What were we talking about?
Nevermind, can't be impotent.



One thing I do remember is last
update's challenge to see if you
could find all fifteen "islands"
in the Zen, or stone garden.

There will always be an odd
number.
If you don't see it... you have to
keep looking.
Maybe that's the point?


I packed up my camp
and headed out.
An hour later I arrived in
the little town of Post Falls, ID.
It was on my way and...
I just thought a park called
Falls Park, would offer some
interesting sights.

The park is on the site
of an old lumber mill
that was built along
the Spokane river.

This headgate
(used to control water flow)
is one of the few remaining
structures from the late
19th century mill.

I wandered around for a bit
taking a photo or two
along the way.

One of the main features
of the park is this duck pond.
Complete with requisite ducks.

Which is good.
'Cause otherwise it's
just a... pond.

I'm not sure if the dam
spanning the river here
is newer or not.
Either way, I dutifully
took some photos
before heading back
to the car and continuing on.

I have to admit to being...
well... a bit disappointed.
It was an okay enough park...
Just... with a name like
"Falls" park... I expected
something a bit more dramatic.

No! Not that dramatic!

I did have a nice chat with a local
who told me that if I'd come
at a different time, the dam
gates would've been more open
and the almost empty gorge
I saw would've been filled
to capacity.

Ah well. Dam'd if you do,
dam'd if you don't.


And off I went.


For about the next three
hours, my view was similar
to this:

Better than Saskatchewan,
but... not by a whole lot.

Eventually, I turned off
I82 onto I84 and things
took a turn for the better.

How could it not?
82 < 84.
Simple math.

I followed along the
Columbia river;
Mt. Hood hove into sight.

Wait... or was that Mt. Hove
was hooded from sight...

No, I'm almost positive
I had it right the first time.

Steel trap, people!

After a couple hours along I84
(which is greater than I82)
I arrived at Multnomah Falls, OR.

I was prepared to be disappointed.

I was not.


I parked the car along with
several hundred of my
nearest and dearest friends
and sashayed off in search
of adventure.
(Or at least a picturesque
spot to stare at.)

The first glimpse I had of
the falls didn't really instill
a lot of confidence...

But then I got a little closer.
The view expanded,
angels sang.
I stopped sashaying
and looked on in wonder.

Now that's more like it!

I took my photos and looked for a way
to get up to the bridge.
There was a path winding up
to my left.

And the view from the bridge.

Pretty... but I think I preferred
my first view.
Dunno. Close one.


After seeing enough water
to make me feel like
I needed to pee,
I headed back down.

Uhh... hold that thought.
Be right back...





okay...
continuing on.


I find that when I scale
these hills and then
descend, I tend to like
gravity about 50%
of the time.
Not sure why.


Over the next hour,
I stopped at a trio
of Harley shops
(making five for the day)
and then called it a
day when I arrived
at my hotel in Portland.

It'd taken me three days
of long driving, but I'd
finally arrived...

In the wrong city.

But... I did have my reasons...


Map for this update:

In case you didn't see it
in the last chapter:

Did you see it in this chapter?

Coming up: The reasons

Chapter 16. Port Land​

 

[docsoliday1]

I saw it this time!!! Even on my PHONE!!


Yes I did last chapter also.

 

[KathyM2]

Pretty... but I think I preferred
my first view.
Dunno. Close one.

There was more to the view from the bottom, I'd have to agree!

What a fun road trip!!

 

[Malia78]

What were talking about?
Nevermind, can't be impotent.

 

[MamaBelle4]

What beautiful waterfalls!