It started out as a short trip

to see our kids & grandkids (Florida, Washington state, Montana). Then my sister Susan said we had to go to New Hampshire for my nephew's wedding. Then our good friends Judy & Bob, who live half the year here in Costa Rica & half in British Columbia on their boat, invited us to visit them on their boat in BC. Our friend Madelle said we couldn't be in Washington and not visit her in Olympia. And of course we couldn't pass thru Seattle, my favorite North American town, and not spend a few days. How could we fly across country and not stop off to see our great friends Marilynn & Ron? Eventually the trip grew to include visits to friends and family in 5 towns in Florida plus New Hampshire & Maine, Chicago, Washington (Seattle, Spokane & Olympia), Missoula Montana and up the Sunshine Coast of BC from Victoria to Princess Louisa Inlet. We were away from home for 2 months, and as usual, Gene had to drag Laurie away from every place we went! Every visit was way too short. This photo blog of our trip is pretty much in chronological order, so just keep paging down to see the whole trip.
There's a separate blog for the New Hampshire wedding at http://aimeenmichael.blogspot.com
There's a separate blog for our visits with the kids at http://grandkidsandmore.blogspot.com
Just click above to go there.
As you page down, if there are any photos you want a better look at, just click on the picture to get a larger look. Then hit the "back" tab to return to the blog. We loved our trip. We hope you enjoy the pictures.

Florida - What a Welcome!

Oh, My God - Limo Service!

Gene's nephew John (aka JR) sends a limo to pick us up at the Orlando airport - a hummer no less!

It Really Is This Long!

Our limo is fully stocked with our favorite wines. There was room for 12 people, but it was all just for us! The all black interior was accessorized with neon and completed with a great sound system.

And Here's .....Darrell!

What a Crew!

After Delivering us to JR's house (next door to his brother Jeff's house), Darrell went out with all of us for a fabulous fish dinner - in the limo, of course!

Getting Overfed in Orlando!

Nephews John & Jeff in Orlando had heard we don't get good beef in Costa Rica, so they made sure we had some fabulous steaks while we were there. Some good fish and some huge breakfasts happened also. There are always interesting people to talk to - and movies to watch on the wall-sized tv screen (as opposed to a simple "big screen") at John's - and next door at Jeff's! We also got to visit Jeanna's (JR's girlfriend) ranch. Below are a couple of pics from when Jeff and John (JR) and Jeanna were in Costa Rica a few months ago. (Apparently we were so busy having fun at John's & Jeff's in Orlando that we forgot to take pictures!)

JR & Jeanna & Jeff

Gene & His Aunt Mary Always Lots of Laughs!

Aunt Mary in Plant City lived up to her reputation and had Gene's toll house cookies waiting for him. She also fed us the traditional sloppy Joe's and jello salad for lunch. Yum!

Alternative Modes of Transportation

I love Aunt Mary's neighborhood. Everyone owns a motorized golf cart. Aunt Mary's next door neighbor Lucille took me for a ride in hers all around the community, showing me their community center, which has swimming pool, pool tables, movies, daily coffee get togethers, organized trips to places near and far, dances and God only knows what else. Aunt Mary, like most in the community, golfs at least a couple times a week. Lucille, who just turned 98, says she doesn't golf all that much any more. She gave up her car a couple of years ago so that she wouldn't have to listen to her kids nagging about it any more. When she sold the car, she bought herself a new bright red golf cart. She says her eyesight isn't what it used to be, and that although she could see the man across the room at the clubhouse, she couldn't tell who it was. She can see just fine to drive the golf cart around the community though.

Time to Leave Aunt Mary's

Seems like we just got here & now, after a lovely breakfast on the patio, it's time to go!

On to Pt Charlotte - Aunt Kay & Uncle Nello!

Aunt Kay & Uncle Nello have the wine waiting. We always have fun together. Many rounds of "the game," much wine and Aunt Kay's home cooking. Next night we go out for some fabulous seafood at a wonderful casual waterfront cafe.

Happier Now in Port Charlotte

Kay & Nello are anxious to show us their "new" house. After 2 years, the repairs from Hurricane Charlie are finally complete! But I have no photos of the house! Too much wine and conversation to take pics again, I think!

Next: Hollywood!

Following Another Tradition: We Do Breakfast at the Beach with Tony & Gail

Gene with Sara & the Kids

In Hollywood Gene gets to visit with daughter Sara & her sons Jason & Jeremy

Jason & Jeremy

Sara & Jeff

Sara's cousin Jeff (who we had seen in Orlando) is in Ft Lauderdale - so he joins Gene & Sara & the boys for dinner

How Long Can We Stretch Out Breakfast?

Most of the Day if there's Enough Conversation!

Walking on the Beach

Hollywood Beach

Sushi Blues-Where It All Began

Laurie with Junko & Melissa at Sushi Blues - where Lauri& Gene met in November of 1994
A visit to Hollywood without a feast at Sushi Blues would be unimaginable!

Oh, My! What to Order First???

Tony's Toy!

On the Docks

Goodbye to Hollywood

Thank You, JR!!!

By the time we left Hollywood, I'm sure I had put on another 5 pounds! Gail's scallop recipe alone was worth a trip to Florida. She's promised she'll email me her fish recipes. Add on Sushi Blues, Le Tub, Rainbo Cafe & the place on the beach and wow! We have to go back, though. We never found time for "Try My Thai!" As always, Gail & Tony were fabulous hosts and I really didn't want to leave. But off we went to Viera to see friends Michael & Vashti. Although only there for an afternoon and an evening, Michael managed to feed us the most delicious & tender steaks I've ever tasted - along with some delicious grilled veggies. This was more than I ordinarily eat in a day. Then he announced that we were all going out for sushi in the evening! Did I mention gaining weight? From Michael & Vashti's we headed back to Orlando to see JR again - and to return his car.
The beautiful bright red car that JR let us use to drive all over Florida for two weeks! Gene says it's a Pontiac Firebird with a TransAm engine - and that it will go from 0 to 160 miles per hour in some ludicrously small number of minutes. All I know is that it is a convertible and it's bright red! I loved driving this car! JR decided not to let us drive it to New England. I still wonder if he really understood that I had not driven an automobile in 4 years when he offered to lend it to us! Thank You, JR. You are the Best!

We Finally Make it to New Hampshire!

I'm so excited to see my little sister - actually we're both happy to see each other - see her big smile!!!

Finally Here!

We’re here! But first an extended layover in JFK, followed by an extended sit-on-the-runway experience before flying to Portland, Maine. But Joy of Joy, this was the most fabulous layover experience ever. Jet Blue's fabulous terminal filled with numerous types of eating establishments (including a bar with $12 bottles of beer and a full sushi bar), cafe tables and chairs filling up the center area, and wireless internet available throughout (Yes, my tiny E-Bay-bought laptop was waiting for me back in Port Charlotte!). We finally made it to Portland around mid-night – and opted for a nearby motel instead of driving in the pouring rain. Next day on a memory filled drive to Union, New Hampshire, I finally get my first chance for the long-craved-for fried clams with bellies. I even get to have them at “Ted’s,” the teensy drive-in place remembered from my youth. Alas! “Ted’s” is now a large eat-in place with large prices to match! A couple of little boxes of clams set us back $18! Between $12 beer and $18 clams, price-shock has definitely set in! Were those clams worth paying the price? Absolutely! I’m in heaven!

We Meet the Bride!

The New England part of our trip was to attend the wedding of my nephew, Michael. This is Michael and the lovely bride, Aimee, right after we arrived at my Sister Sue's house in Union, New Hampshire. She is showing off Kelly's bridesmaid dress.

Aimee is adorable!

For photos of Aimee & Michael's beautiful wedding - and the fabulous reception party in a grand never-used-by-animals barn, click on the following: http://aimeenmichael.blogspot.com/

The Groom & His Mom

Is my sister Sue taking this Mother of the Groom business seriously? - or maybe she's just confused by our excited arrival! Michael looks wiped out! He had just moved all the collector automobiles out of the huge barn where the wedding reception will be held.

Kelly!

My Adorable niece Kelly Megan is all grown up - and a lot of fun!!!

Baked Bean Supper

On our first day in New England we drove by a church with a "Baked Bean Supper Tonight" sign out front. Actually it was the church where Aimee & Michael were going to be married, but I didn't know that at the time. After all these years of telling Gene that in my youth we actually went to suppers on Saturday night where the main course was baked beans, I actually had an opportunity to prove it to him! It got even better when I learned that Sister Sue had promised to take a salad over to the supper and we could go along so I could show Gene that they really were eating baked beans! Everyone who knows me knows that I will eat almost anything. Baked Beans are the exception. Something about every Saturday morning of my youth awaking to the smell of beans baking away in their molasses and salt pork brine, after of course being soaked over night. For some reason that I don't recall, I was required to go to these suppers. I survived somehow because there were also plentiful amounts of cole slaw and hot buttery rolls (in addition to, of course, the traditional "brown bread," also made with molasses, which also turned me off, although later in life I came to like brown bread. Go figure.) There also were always dozens of fresh made pies of all kids - blueberry is still one of my favorites. And of course apple pie with chedder cheese. Don't ask me why. It's just, like my Dad always said: "Apple pie without cheese is like a kiss without a squeeze." I certainly never learned to make baked beans, but being a true New Englander, I always knew that they had to be soaked all night and then cooked all day in a "bean pot" (see picture), they had to have molasses and salt pork, and that they had to be made every Saturday night, in quantities large enough to have some available as a side dish with every meal for the rest of the week. Apparently some of the rules have changed since this bean supper was held on a Thursday night - and I later saw a sign at a church in the next town for a bean supper on the following Tuesday night. Some things have changed in New England, but the necessity to consume beans certainly hasn't. Gene now believes me, but he elected to skip the bean supper that night and join everyone else for lobster!

Arrival Nite - Lobster Feast

On our arrival nite in New Hampshire, the whole clan indulged in a lobster feast at Sandy Point Restaurant on Lake Winnipesaukee. They claim to serve the "finest Lobster Dinners in the Lakes Region." They just may be the best lobsters anywhere (except those served in my sister's kitchen!) Joining us and my sister Sue & husband Snooky and the bride & groom and my niece Kelly, were my son Mark & his wife Debbie and my beautiful grandchildren Megan and Austin, who had flown up from Florida for the wedding.
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze3nm2c/restauranttakeoutmenus/id14.html

Bride & Groom

Mark & Debbie & My Beautiful Grandchildren

Mark & Debbie and Grandkids Megan & Austin made it in from Florida in time for the 1st Nite Lobster Feast!

New England Wedding

For a Whole Lot More on Aimee & Michael's beautiful wedding, see the Wedding Blog at:
http://aimeenmichael.blogspot.com

Wakefield Inn

Our Bed & Breakfast in Wakefield New Hampshire

Our Room

Everywhere We Looked We Found Some Other Fascinating Detail!

The Spiral Staircase

And Fabulous Gourmet Breakfasts Every Morning!

This historic inn is incredible! We felt like we were reliving history while we were here.

For more on this wonderful place, see:
http://www.wakefieldinn.com/

The Long Road Home

Trip to Sweden, Maine to Grandmother's House!

Grandma's House

Our cousin Phyllis still lives in the house that was Grandma & Grandpa Ridlon's when we were kids! A few things have changed. The living room is where the kitchen used to be. The kitchen is where the living room used to be. A bathroom with shower and flush toilet has replaced the old outhouse!

Strange how I remember Grandma's house having a HUGE front yard!

The Well House

And the Old Well House is Still There!

Cousins

New Englanders Know How to Feast!!!

Last Nite - One More Lobster Feast

Sister Sue & Snooky

Know How to do a

Feast!!!

How to Eat Lobster

You Eat the Whole Thing?!!!

Kelly Megan: Can I help you with that Lobster???

Sister Sue & Snooky

Sugar Shed - Maple Syrup

A Find Along the Road: a Sugar Shed!

Pine River Pond

Susan Loves Her Kitty!

someone once told me:

Dogs have Masters...

Cats have Staff

The Kangamagous Highway

Somehow it's time to leave New England already. When we planned the trip, it seemed like 10 days might be too long. As it turned out with travel time and all it was really only about a week - and I wasn't ready to leave. I wanted to spend more time with my sister, more time in Maine, more time just exploring some more places in New England. And of course more time for food!
I could tell we had eaten well by the way my slacks (didn't) fit by the time we left. We had done things like sneak off with Susan for "the pink place" in Milton for lobster rolls at noontime the day of the rehearsal dinner. Some of us followed up with ice cream sundaes. That night, the rehearsal dinner was an order off the menu affair, so I was forced to order another of my favorites, fried scallops, which were the most delicious, tender, sweet scallops I have ever tasted. Somewhere along the line while we were there we indulged in strawberry shortcake (the real kind). Another time there was blueberry pie. The day of the wedding we stopped off at the "Poor People's Pub" in Sanbornville for clam chowder on the way to the event. Just a little something to tide us over until the reception where we would gorge on barbequed pork and chicken with all the fixings! One evening Snooky cooked some fabulous halibut. One day we snuck off to "the pink place" again so I could finally get my long craved for coffee frappe. On another day we all had giant hot fudge sundaes. On the day that we went to Maine we stopped on the way home for one of the most delicious - and biggest - fried clam feasts I've ever seen! On our last night at my sister's, she and husband Snooky treated everybody to the best kind of lobster feast at their house. There was massive amounts of lobster, steamed clams and mussels, and corn on the cob. We all ate til we were ready to split. There were lots of leftovers.
Sadly, it was time to leave. I tried to make it more fun by making us each a fabulous lobster roll from the previous night's leftovers. We would have a picnic along the Swift River, taking the long was around to get to our departure point, Manchester, from where we would fly to Chicago the next day. I've been wishing ever since that I had made us two lobster rolls each for that trip. Whatever was I thinking?

Is Any place more beautiful than New Hampshire?

The Swift River

Beautiful Day on the River

Down River

Next We're Off to Chicago

to Visit Friends Marilyn & Ron at their New Condo

Park Across the Street & View from 22nd floor Condo

Afternoon at Millenium Park

Flowers Everywhere! In Baskets & Pots & Window Boxes & Hanging Baskets...

Chicago is Covered with Flowers!

An Overnight Stop in Seattle

Dinner above Pike's Place Market at a great Bolivian Cafe - the Copacabana!

A Nitefall Ferry Ride

And Tomorrow...

The Bus to Spokane!

My Beautiful Daughter Angelique

We arrive in Spokane to discover...
that Jorden has grown another foot!

And Angelique figures that in another couple years, Markie will tower over her, too!

It's so great to see them, I can hardly stand it.

To see a Lot more pics of Angelique & the kids, see: http://grandkidsandmore.blogspot.com

After spending some time with Angelique and Jorden & Mark in Spokane, we drive to Missoula, Montana to visit Rob & Polly and their boys Evan & Logan. Markie went with us to Missoula - and had a great time with his cousins!

Carousel for Missoula

Rob & Polly's Outback Steakhouse was Presented with this Replica of one of the Carousel horses in appreciation of their support of the Carousel for Missoula project. For more about the fabulous project which brought the carousel to Missoula, see http://www.carrousel.com/ When your son is the proprietor of an Outback Steakhouse, you always get (over)fed well while visiting! Seeing Rob & Polly and the boys was absolutely fabulous! But leaving was hard. For more photos of our children & grandchildren (Angelique and her boys Jorden & Mark in Spokane and Rob & Polly and their boys Evan & Logan in Missoula) see http://grandkidsandmore.blogspot.com

Madelle's House outside Olympia

Madelle's House outside Olympa

After spending some great time with Rob & Polly and the Boys in Montana, and then some more time with Angelique in Spokane, it's time to head back to Western Washington - and Madelle's house in Olympia.

Madelle's Deck: One of the World's Most Relaxing Places

Driving Fools!

Judy & Bob arrive from BC - then Larry arrives from California

Pour some more wine - Serve some more Food!

We Always Eat Well at Madelle's!
Where Did You last get served Arugula?
Fabulous Fish! Scallops! Grilled Veggies!
Buying Veggies from the Veggie Wagon!

LA NIÑA!

Sechelt - We finally get to see La NIÑA!!!

How can I do an "en-yeah" on here???

The Infamous Egmont!!!

We Made It to Princess Louisa Inlet!

This place is amazing! The glacier-cut granite walls of the gorge rise over 2,100 meters and we are surrounded by waterfalls in all directions making their way down the cliffs. Across the inlet as we arrive is the dramatic Chatterbox Falls, which we will later see close up by kayak. Accessible only by boat or plane, there's a peacefullness here that is indescribable. The marine park was voted the "most scenic natural anchorage" in the world.
James F. (Mac) MacDonald gave the land surrounding the inlet to the public, saying that it should never be owned "by one individual" and that he didn't want it ever to be commercialized.
For more about this magical place, see:
http://www.bigpacific.com/whattodo/princess.html
http://www.princesslouisa.bc.ca/

All the Waterfalls!

We could have happily stayed at Princess Louisa forever...but a couple of nights was great!

And Kayaks, too!

Judy the Director! Laurie the Dancer!

Total Relaxation at Princess Louisa

Judy Tells Tall Tales!

Boating Cuisine! And Judy had Warned us at Madelle's not to expect all that gourmet stuff once we were at sea!!!

Judy's Got Everything Under Control!

New Friends
Boaters are Friendly People
Fun to Run into the Same People at the Next Port

We leave Princess Louisa in the quiet of the morning fog - with more ports to see

Back to Egmont

Back to Egmont today!

Joyce fed us another Feast - followed up by Oh, My God, Blackberry Pie to die for!

This place is awesome. I could definitely live here!

Las Chicas Antiguas at Egmont

The Cabin & The Boathouse

To Nanaimo

We're off today for Nanaimo. Good Bye to Egmont - but Joyce says we can visit again!

My favorite shot from Nanaimo

In this upscale, kind-a-snooty port, this guy is just enjoying his afternoon!

Chemainus

The Town where every wall is Art!

Chemainus

Where are we going today, Captain Bob?

I loved waking to the sound of the engines reving up; then I'd run up on deck to ask Bob where we were headed that day. So peaceful on the water early in the morning.

To Saltspring

Great Day for Sailors
But not such a great day for us
Our portside engine dies between Chemainus & Saltspring
Captain Bob expertly pilots us safely to the docks in Saltspring

Bob & Gene in the Galley

Docked at Saltspring
Discussing that expert docking on one engine?

Another Delicate Operation

The Master of the Sewing Kit!

Gene repairs his torn backpack

Another New Friend

We meet Donna on the docks in Saltspring while she waits for her husband Jan to arrive in his beautiful sailboat with the red sails

And of Course...

We all Celebrated when he finally sailed into Port!

Gene Likes Boating!

Yup! Definitely! We are having a Great Time!

Saltspring Sunset

We Head Out for Sidney on Shimmering Waters

Leaving port this time is really sad because Sidney will be our final stop with Judy & Bob. They then get to spend another month on the boat, but we'll be heading home after that.

Is He Sad?

Is Gene just feeling sad because this is our last port?
Or is He just awestruck by the amazing job we just all did coming into port on one engine?

Breakfast in Town

Believe it or Not -

Judy & I were a lot happier than this picture makes us!

The Most Beautiful Port Yet

Flowers Everywhere on the Docks in Sidney

Ferry from Sidney, BC to Anacortes, WA

Really sad morning leaving Judy & Bob and the wonderful time we had on the water. Now we're returning to the US - Washington State again. I've always loved the ferries. We passed right by Friday Harbor on San Juan Island where I used to live on the crossing. Made me kind of homesick! But what views on the crossing. And soon we'll be in Seattle (my favorite US city, where I also used to live) - after a 2 hour bus trip south from Anacortes.

The Moore Hotel

We have got in the habit of staying at the Moore Hotel when we're in Seattle. It's probably was once a grand downtown hotel. It has seen better days, but is now being renovated/restored little by little. We love the big rooms with high ceilings and grand open windows (no A/C). We enjoy the friendly and helpful front desk people. We're impressed that wireless internet access is available in the lobby. Even more we love that it's 2 blocks from the market at a quarter of the price of the upscale place around the corner!
http://www.moorehotel.com/

Fish Stall at Pike's Place Market

This is the famous fish stall at the market where they throw the fish around for their customers' entertainment!

Color!

Colors are always more vivid here!

Jack's Fish Place

Always have to stop at Jack's in the Market. Fried cod this time. It doesn't get any fresher than Jack's. Great chowder, too. If I lived in Seattle, I'd have to eat here at least once a week.

Our Favorite Morning Coffee Shop

Half a block from our hotel - they make an awesome morning latte!

One of the Many Great Musicians in the Market

And When You Need Solitude

Waterfall Park: One of downtown Seattle's most relaxing places to read a book. On the site of the saloon where the forerunner of United Parcel Service was started by a couple of 19 year old boys who delivered packages on foot in 1907

The 30 Hour Impro-a-thon

It's been years since I lived in Seattle. I miss the Pioneer Square Theater. Seems like there were all these great little theaters back then. Maybe they are still there, but I don't know how to find them. But then we fell across this great improv group - Unexpected Productions - that plays in the old Market Theater. They were doing a 30-hour non-stop improv show from Friday at 6pm til Midnight Saturday. We got in on the action Saturday night, sitting in front row seats (for $12!) and of course getting picked out (and on) for a little fun. The "Laurie & Gene characters" (puppets) became part of the show! I love the atmosphere around the market. For more about this cool group - and the Market Theater, go to http://www.unexpectedproductions.org

A Seattle Find: Mae Phim

Just a couple blocks up from the ferry landing at 94 Columbia St is a jewel of a food find: Mae Phim restaurant. They serve up great thai food for $5.50 a plate! For shrimp instead of chicken, pork or beef on any of their extensive menu choices, pay an extra $1.50. If we lived in Seattle, I'd probably eat there every day (or at least once a week!) Since we don't, we've gotta get back to Seattle to do this place again!
http://www.maephim.com

Dim Sum - Another of Our Favorites!

Couldn't very well do Seattle without at least one feast at a Dim Sum restaurant. House of Hong is great!

409 8th Ave S - Seattle

You're Right: A Lot of Our Traveling Relates to Food!

Doesn't Everyone's?

So Many Choices...

We're Gonna Hate Leaving This Place!

15 Pounds Heavier - Time to Go Home