A Day at Susan's, the Long Ride Home and Wrapping This Up

Susan left for her class around 8 and I had breakfast and then headed out into her backyard to do a little weeding.  I haven't done any for a month and Lord knows there will be plenty to pull when I get home, so it's good practice.  She bought this place all on her own and it has wonderful little features like cedar lined closets and coved ceilings.  Here are a few pictures of the before and after...just so you know I DID actually do something today.

We had dinner at a pub called Waddell's which had a great menu and a cider that was on the sweeter side.  I think I prefer the dry ciders.  I packed up and rode down to the train station, which is about 5 miles from Susan's house and found out that ticket agents and baggage handlers don't open until 10 p.m.  We played a couple of games of Farkle and Susan soundly beat me and then I talked her into heading home.  When the baggage agents opened their window, I bought a bike box, made the necessary changes to the handlebars and took the pedals off, and rolled my bike in, fingers crossed that that it wouldn't get damaged.

It was 10:30.  Word came that the train was running late...the 2:45 a.m. departure became a 5:00 a.m. 

departure.  When I boarded, the train was pretty full and there were no double seats...I picked an aisle seat beside a young, sleeping girl and tried to drift off.  I woke again when we pulled into Pasco and just stayed awake the rest of the trip. People watching on the train is pretty entertaining.

I arrived at Portland's Union Station just before 1p.m., put the bike back together and headed to my parent's house...but not before I had to wait for a large ship to pass under the bridge I was on.  So much of life is waiting, isn't it?

My parents are downsizing (Dad is 92, my mom is 87) and moving into an Independant living situation, so I drove over with them to their new place and helped them unload "the first load".  

I know I am fortunate to be able to go on the adventures that I do.  I am in good health, have the means and the time to be able to pull it off.  I don't take it for granted, I am truly grateful.  I tell people that I feel I have this small window where I can physically do these things and I am going to do them.  The Canadian Rockies was a stunning showcase of natural beauty.  I was not turned off by "tourist places" and the Canadian people, were endearing.   Thanks for coming along with me...Time 

to plan another adventure...