ODO: 357,851
For the fist time in a long time, it is a delightful temperature outside. In fact, it’s borderline chilly! Last night we even used our lightweight blanket, and neither of us has sweat through our clothes in the last twenty four hours. We’re comfortable. Today is the day we start the long flight back to the US. Due to the absolute nonsense the US government has been up to, the FAA has “advised caution” to commercial planes flying over Central and South America due to “heightened military activity”. Absolute nonsense. This is our second last flight from South America, so we bring back as much extra stuff as we can. We are closing in on a date to ship the truck back, so want as little as possible in it when we do. Around noon, a series of loud explosions sound near by, followed by a siren. The dogs are not impressed. Apparently there is a gravel pit near by and today is blasting day.
We move the truck into a more tucked away location on the property just as the rain starts. When Berne fires up the truck, the black lab begins to cry. Poor guy, we’ve only known him for one night, and he’s sad to see us go. Our Uber to the airport is uneventful. Our first flight tries to be eventful, but United re-books us on a new flight before we know our original flight is cancelled. Amazing.
Our flight to Newark (it was supposed to be Houston) is uneventful. Our flight to SFO, uneventful. PDX? You guessed it! Uneventful, but with lovely views. Mt. Shasta and Crater Lake are on full display as we fly over. The eventful part of our day, the weather in Portland. It’s just above freezing, so this is a rough transition. We bundle up, get our rental car, and get after our few errands so we can be free to enjoy some family time.
And enjoy we do! The entire time we are in Portland it is COLD. Thankfully we have plenty to do indoors, so we stay cozy. Thirty six hours after we arrive, its time to head back to the airport, and back to SFO. The air is so clear, we get views of every mountain in the area: Adams, St. Helen, Hood, Jefferson, Sisters on the left side of the plane, and the Pacific Ocean on the right. On the way to the hotel, we start our great American-food-a-thon: Bay Area Edition with Tasty Chinese and Jack’s beef barley soup.
Which does not stop come morning. We walk to our favorite breakfast place, The Country Way, and our favorite waitress brings us our usual/favorite breakfast. Solid start. We end the day with, the favoritest favorite, Dinner With Friends. Nothing better than this to get us ready for two weeks of the complete opposite to our normal life: regular ol’ 9-5 in the office.
