Every year since our daughter was very young, we have gone North to see the family.
As you can see by Itzl's concerned look, this group is for us to check in at to let people know we are alive, doing OK, and not affected by such things as heat, blizzards, floods, wild fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, power outages, earthquakes, or other such things that could keep us off DKos. It's also so we can find other Kossacks nearby for in-person checks when other methods of communication fail - a buddy system. Members come here to check in. If you're not here, or anywhere else on DKos, and there are adverse conditions in your area, we and your buddy are going to check up on you. If you are going to be away from your computer for a day or a week, let us know here. We care!
IAN is a great group to join, and a good place to learn to write diaries. Drop one of us a PM to be added to the Itzl Alert Network anytime! We all share the publishing duties, and we welcome everyone who reads IAN to write diaries for the group! Every member is an editor, so anyone can take a turn when they have something to say, photos and music to share, a cause to promote or news!
OK, we do have a diary schedule. But, when you are ready to write that diary, either post in thread or send FloridaSNMOM a Kosmail with the date. If you need someone to fill in, ditto. FloridaSNMOM is here on and off through the day usually from around 9:30 or 10 am eastern to around 11 pm eastern.
Monday:
BadKitties
Tuesday:
ejoanna
Wednesday:
Caedy
Thursday:
art ah zen
Friday:
FloridaSNMOM
Saturday:
Most Awesome Nana
Sunday:
loggersbrat
Most of Mr. Zen's people are gone now. His great aunt is an elderly nun in Little Rock, Ar and the next relative is his aunt, his mother's sister who is a year older than I am and married to my best friend. They live now in Gold Beach, Or. My daughter and I head north to see them in a couple of weeks and then beyond.
I would like to stay at the treehouse treesort in Takilma, Or. We zip lined there a couple of years ago and it was great fun to zip along high up in the trees. When I saw the treehouses, I knew I wanted to come back to stay one night. I don't know if we can still get reservations but we aren't going until the middle of October and the season is over by then. We kind of drift along, hitting things as we come to them. A smartphone makes traveling on the fly easier because you can get info just ahead of arriving.
I would also like to go back to Lincoln City and stay at the Ester Lee Motel on the cliff edge. The scenery is stunning, the rooms are tiny, and its just down the road from Drift Creek Rd. That goes back to a trail that takes you to Drift Creek and a huge suspension bridge. The hike is ok for all and not too long and the sounds of the creek and the falling leaves are magical. When you get to the bridge, the creek comes blasting out of a hole in the side of the canyon above your head. It is something to see and hear.
But then, it is Portland. We love to walk the city, go to the parks (some put the number at over 300),sight see and eat. Portland has lots of good food, lots to see, 7 bridges and a diverse population. We decompress there. I am ready to go now but have obligations until Oct 12th. Then we are escaping, leaving Mr. Zen to take care of the animals and garden for a couple of weeks. He manages every year, and probably enjoys the quiet.
We will do other things along the way but I never know what they will be. My daughter is a master at finding things to do so I leave it up to her. This year, I will be learning how to use a smartphone and that ought to make the trip interesting. She can teach me to find weird stuff too.
I am open to suggestions if you have any tips on fun to be had betwixt Los Angeles and Portland.