Category: TRAVEL (Page 37 of 45)

I’m still basking in last night’s comment about a resemblance to Richard Gere – “a younger version,” to add to the compliment. I’m questioning the sincerity because it was made as the Joe’s Stone Crab dinner bill was being delivered in anticipation of a generous tip. At the age of thinning hair, age spots, and wrinkles, it’s good to hear anything positive. I only wish I had the looks, talent, and money of Richard Gere and he truly is two years older, so “younger” is at least accurate. My wife was seeing me all day through the eyes of a bad cold and is tired of my retirement uniforms, so the last thing she was seeing was Richard Gere. Someone once told me I reminded them of Eugene Levy of American Pie, and he’s certainly no Richard Gere, so most likely the compliment was a bit exaggerated to loosen my wallet. By the way, my wife, or rather the “Pretty Woman,” paid for the dinner.

I did my run down Michigan Avenue and along the Chicago River Canal by the Chicago Yacht Club. I actually became aware of the “canal” aspect after watching a video at the new Chicago Center of Architecture. I heard about the museum while listening to the WXRT radio broadcast during my 5k jog. There is a remarkable scale model of the city’s transformation since the Chicago fire of 1871. The canal was part of the re-launch of the city, connecting Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River, and cleared the route for Maritime transportation from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. As a result, Chicago became a important location and began to explode in population. Also, prior to the canal, the Illinois General Assembly decided to reverse the flow of the Chicago River. This solved the city’s water supply problems, and gave the river and canal system multiple uses, with its inherent value immortalized in the design of the city flag and the creation of a Y-shaped symbol found on structures throughout the city.   

Chicago is also known for its history in the development of skyscrapers, starting with a 10-story structure in 1885 called the Home Insurance Building.  A display at the museum takes you through the current world-battle for the tallest building that eventually shifted from Chicago to New York to modern day Dubai. However, the 2,722 ft. Burj Khalifa is about to be surpassed. Models of all the prominent past and present skyscrapers, both commercial and residential, are part of this fascinating exhibit.

I then went to visit Tall Ship Windy at Navy Pier. It was just pulling out for an afternoon cruise as I arrived, but I got a glimpse of its magnificence. The ship was once part of my newly discovered Banister Family heritage, built by the husband of one of my DNA relatives. I had met her mother on my last trip to Chicago, hoping that it my lead to more information about my suspected birth mother. With respect to the family, I wanted to make every effort to at least visit the ship, however, I just missed the boat. I’m sure they would have turned-back for Richard Gere. 

Austin has changed since I was last here, four years ago. We’re staying in the downtown JW Marriott that was just completing construction back then, and we ran on the new “boardwalk” that now loops Lady Bird Lake. There are actually no boards in the suspended structure that winds along the shoreline but rather a slippery slate surface that might actually be dangerous after a rare rainstorm. We’re next headed to Perry’s Steakhouse on “Pork Chop Friday” for lunch, and meeting friends at various locations for multiple happy hours, followed by dinner at Jack Allen’s. Last night, it was Vivo’s puffy tacos, familiar Tex-Mex food but in a new location. I also had a frozen margarita with their signature orchid garnish. My wife wants to make sure we cover all of our favorite dining spots, even if it requires breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and multiple happy hours. She obviously misses the flavors of Austin.

We don’t have a rental car on this particular visit because just parking it for three nights at the hotel is over $130. Traffic is a hassle here, just like Portland. There are many other similarities between the two “weird” cities. In Austin, there are the Book People stores, while Portland easily wins with world-famous Powell’s. Portland has donuts while Austin favors tacos. There are popular food carts in both cities, but the hot tin roofs exposed to the relentless Texas sun make the chefs inside miserable and discourages diners from eating outside. Both cities also have major homeless problems, and the sidewalks are littered by abandoned bicycles and scooters. Live music also provides each city with an active after-dark scene that tends to lean more youthful in Austin with the UT campus located directly in the center of town. I feel fortunate to have lived in both cities. It’s great to come back.

Today we hope to get some BBQ at either Cooper’s convenient downtown location or at world-renowned Franklin BBQ. It’s all a matter of how long we want to wait in line. It will be crazy busy in the city today with a home football game tonight and some of the most elaborate tailgate parties you’ve ever seen in your life. We’re headed to a wedding, so there will be no time for dining-out until brunch tomorrow before we fly out. Plus, there’s a Salt Lick location at the airport, if we just don’t get enough brisket before we head back to Portland. This trip to Austin was like coming home, without any family obligations…just food obligations!

I’m whale-watching from our hotel room in Lincoln City. We haven’t seen Lincoln yet, but whale tails, spouts, and sea lions have kept us entertained.  It took us three hours instead of two to get here since everyone apparently left work early. My pulse rate is rapidly dropping as the sun sets over the Pacific. Nothing is more stressful than driving in heavy traffic. The water sparkles like diamonds and the seagulls bathe in the golden light. We chose Kyllos at the Beach for dinner, and the pups waited patiently in the car for any scraps.

We talk about retirement together and someday hope for an ocean view on the Florida Gulf Coast. Will we be able to afford both the view from home and extensive travel? Or, once we have that view, will we ever want to leave? Our hotel room has a million dollar view, but the rest of it leaves a lot to be desired. This is what you get when you travel with the dogs. “Dog-friendly” usually means that human standards are sacrificed. We have no air-conditioning, but the overnight temperatures were in the low 50’s. Doggy foot-steps in the middle of the night are noisy as nails clatter against the fake wood floors. Sheets are towels are thread-bare, the walls are thin, and I’ve already had to go to the office for a toilet plunger and a stopper for the tub drain. One should plug but the other shouldn’t! The TV operates off of multiple remotes and the wi-fi is sluggish like molasses. It’s certainly not a Marriott, even though the prices are comparable. Welcome to the Oregon Coast!

It’s morning now and the skies are blue. The dogs will go for a walk on the beach, an exciting change of pace for them. Watch out seagulls here they come! I did my run alone this morning, thinking about last year’s Hood to Coast Relay. The six runners in the first van should be just completing their final legs and will wait at the Seaside finish line for the second van of runners to leg-out their final six runs. It’s typically a thirty-hour journey for all twelve runners and each will complete about 17 miles of the 200 mile-plus course. I slept for a few hours last year in an open field, so I’m off to a much better start this morning. A night in a dog-friendly hotel is certainly far superior to a stuffy van and a sleeping bag. I’m certainly not envious of being part of this year’s Fox 12 team, and I feel their relief as they approach the end. Once was enough for this soon-to-be 67-year old man, so I’ll just enjoy a day at the beach, without having to run from Mt. Hood to get there!