Maryhill

 

This weekend we drove up to the Seattle area for a friend's birthday party. On the way back we stopped at World War I memorial at Maryhill, Washington. The memorial is a recreation of Stonehenge, and has a lot of information about why it was placed as a WWI Memorial and how it can be used as a seasonal sun chart.

There are also great views of the Columbia River.

This fall we traded in our camping trailer for a larger one. The 19’ one we drove out to Florida last year was fine for Susan and I, but a little cramped when we added Jenn. We upgraded to a 27’ with double bunks.

Sea World

On Saturday, we went to Sea World. They gave graduating Airmen free tickets for their families. San Antonio's Sea World isn't as nice as Orlando's or San Diego's, but it's still a fun day, especially if you like coasters. The Great White and the Steel Eel coasters were open when we visited in 2006 but we didn't ride them, and I didn't this time either. I did try the new Journey to Atlantis, but I was disappointed in the version here. It's lightly themed and much shorter than Orlando's.

The kids enjoyed the Shamu play area, and I enjoyed the Smokehouse restaurant. I also enjoyed the Wave Breaker coaster. It's fairly tame, and simulates riding a jet ski over the lake. They had removed the flume ride which, while not great, we had enjoyed in 2006. In its place they were building a new roller coaster. There's also an Aquatica water park here, but we didn't visit it.

On Sunday we spent more time on base, visiting the BX and walking around a field with lots of old aircraft.

Yesterday we flew home.

San Antonio

On Wednesday, Susan and I flew out to San Antonio Texas with a friend and her four kids to watch her husband graduate from Air Force basic training. This was my third time in San Antonio. We spent a few days here in 2006, and Bryan and I stopped briefly in 2017.

On Thursday, we attended the graduation ceremony at Lackland Airbase. Before the ceremony we got to see some of the base and tour the barracks. We stayed at a Hampton Inn on the west side of San Antonio.

On Friday we dropped our friends off at the zoo then spent some time exploring the RiverWalk. 

We also visited the Alamo and ate at the Hard Rock Cafe. We then rejoined our friends and walked around Brackenridge Park while they rode the train.

August in Bend

 

Earlier this month, a friend of Jenn's from the DCP came out to Bend to visit for a week. Jenn took her up to see the view from Pilot Butte, and they floated down the Deschutes.

Last weekend we took her to Crater Lake before she flew home. We checked out the view from the Rim and had lunch.

The kids completed the Junior Ranger program. 

This weekend we attended the wedding in Bend of our first Honored Queen of Bethel 11.

Summer Update

Summer has been going by relatively uneventfully. I've been working fairly long hours, often at night, watching highway construction projects in the Bend area.

In June, Susan went up to Seattle for a scrapbook event. When it was over, I flew up to meet her in Bellingham, and the next day we drove up to the border to apply for Global Entry passes. These will allow us to travel with less delay at Customs and airport security checks. On the way back we stopped at the new Cabela's in Lacey to walk around.

I've also been working on wiring and sheet rocking our pole barn. Sometimes I get visitors.

This week Jenn went down to Anaheim for a convention. She also spent some time at the Disneyland Resort. She visited with friends and enjoyed a birthday lunch at the new Lamplighter Lounge.

Flower and Garden Festival

 

On Thursday, Jenn met up with another friend at Magic Kingdom, then had dinner at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian resort. She enjoyed meeting Cinderella and her stepsisters.

Friday morning she and Bryan went back to Epcot to check out the Flower and Garden Festival and meet up with friends.

In the afternoon they to the Magic Kingdom. In Tomorrowland, there was a promotion going on for the new Incredibles movie. Besides doing some rides, they watched the parade and the fireworks.

Yesterday was their last day and it was again spent enjoying the Flower and Garden Festival. They flew home last night.

Spring at WDW

 

Two weeks ago, Bryan went out to Florida to attend training for his new job. Jennifer flew out on last Friday to visit him and WDW. Some of their friends from University of Portland were also in the area, so on Saturday they all hung out at Magic Kingdom. On Sunday they went to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

Monday they spent the morning at Animal Kingdom, then went back to the Studios in the evening, and visited with Starlord and Groot.

Tuesday they had breakfast at Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, then spent more time in Epcot.

They stayed at Old Key West the first two nights, then moved to the Riverside resort. Wednesday they spent the morning in Magic Kingdom, then spent the afternoon at the pool. In the evening they took the boat to Disney Springs, and had drinks at the Edison.