Road Trip with Shaun, SF to Portland

Our first true vacation and road trip. Destination, Portland Oregon.

After I experienced my first earthquake, Shaun arrived at a closed rental car place, we got our second rental, we were off.

Our first stop was Pt. Reyes Lighthouse, Day 1 and already stopped by a cop, then a heard of cows! We ate Oysters at sunset near Goat Rock Beach and Bodega Bay. Shaun was an incredible driver all the way to Ft. Bragg, where our dinner was memorable only for reasons why it shouldn't be memorable!

On Sunday, we rested in the pool and went to the Pgymy Forest, and then I can still taste the dessert at the beautiful and quaint, Moose Cafe. We then toured the headlands and turned in to our hotel, which was the Lighthouse Inn at Point Cabrillo Light. Dinner was at Cafe Beaujolis, locally grown restaurant.

On Monday, we received a tour of the Lighthouse after breakfast and headed to 101 to the Avenue of the Giants and a random, unplanned location, Eel River Brewery, organic and amazing especially the Organic IPA. Tonight we "couch surfed" at Jesse's House, an interesting experience, one I would try again.

Tuesday started at the Samoa Cookhouse, we went through Shasta with the final destination of Ashland for some Shakesphere. It was beautiful.

Wednesday, we went through the Rogue National Forest which I thought would have been the most memorable scenary until... Crater Lake. I think Shaun will always remember my reaction, my awe to such stillness and beauty.

Thursday, we hit Alpha Bits Cafe in Oregon, visited the Heceta Lighthouse and made our way to Rogue in Newport. Not only did we get to tour the brewery and drink brews like 100 Meter, Cham a Mellow and Juniper, but we even got to visit the Distillery where I loved the Spruce Gin. I visited the Yaquina light solo and it was the most memorable sunset. We had to stop at Mo's for some Clam Chowder, a must!

On Friday, we hit the Oregon Brewer's Festival and wish I could say I remembered Higgin's Restaurant after the festival. Our favorites:
Diamond Knot Brewing Co. Industrial IPA
Dick's Brewing Co. Dick's Lava Rock Porter
Grand Teton Brewing Bitch Creek ESB
Green Flash Brewing Co. West Coast IPA
Hopworks Urban Brewery Hopworks Organic IPA
Kona Brewing Co. Wailua Wheat
Mad River Brewing Co. Steelhead Double IPA
McMenamins Fulton Pub & Brewery Monkey House NW IPA
Oregon Trail Brewery Oregon Trail Wit
Russian River Brewing Co. Pliny the Elder Double IPA
Standing Stone Brewing Double IPA

We ate and drank our way through Portland area at places such as Byways, East Wind Drive-in, Farm Cafe, Arleta Library Cafe, Pambiche, Tin Shed, Stumptown, Laughing Planet, Ken's Pizza and Vodoo Donut.

We managed to visit the Falls, Fish Hatchery, the Gorge, Walking Man Brewery, Mt. Tabor, Edgefield and the Portland Art Museam.

Tubisms

"Tubisms: Cars"@ W. 24th Street between 10th and 11th avenues

One weekend a month for five months, Kathryne Hall and assistants approached ordinary cars and uncoiled fifty-foot long tubes to twist and wrap over, under and through each car (in this picture Shaun's car).

The installation remains up for only a few hours while the artist stays on site to record reactions and engage with viewers about the piece. Tubisms: Cars is a reminder and example of the constant possibility for constant change in the urban landscape.

Austin City Limits and Live Oak Brewing

I still have yet to find the line up of some of my favorite bands from the festival, Ghostland Observatory was top on the list. It was an incredible festival and once again we supplemented with lots of great eats and brews.

At the Ginger Man in downtown, we enjoyed:
Live Oak Liberation
Real Ale Lost Gold IPA- TX
St. Arnold Elissa IPA cask - TK

We also visited Lovejoys Tap Room & Brewery and enjoyed the Hop-Ocalypse. Hop-Ocalypse is brewed in Maryland, at a small brewery, Clay Pipe Brewing Company. It was on this trip that we also tried the Racer Five IPA.

Of course the trip would not be complete without a visit to a brewery on the way to the airport, so we stopped at Live Oak Brewing. Incredible beers that are unfortunately only available in the state of Texas.

"Yeast are domesticated animals," said Chip, the Brewer at Live Oak

Toloache

Toloache, located on West 50th between Broadway and 8th Ave. is Chef Julian Medina's contemporary Mexican Bistro. I hope it remains a hidden gem. The best part was the staff who was firmly grounded in authenticity, and mouth watering viewing of the chefs from the Ceviche Bar/Brick Oven. A perfect setting to catch up with a friend over the tasty cocktails and margaritas, I highly recommend sharing the guacamole trio, small plates, ceviche and tacos. Tacos range from baja-style hamachi to foie gras and dried grasshoppers! The staff was eager to please. Toloache, is a noun, a flowering plant famed in Mexico for it's use in love potions.