Wow! I have put this post off for a month and lots has happened…
We started the second of our three weeks in Troutdale at Sandy Riverfront RV Park with many, many houses to view in our quest to find our next home. We estimate that we eventually saw about 100 homes, most as simple drive-bys. Our real estate broker took us into several and we also went to a few open houses. It is very hard work and pretty frustrating trying to find a home to purchase in the Portland area. The buyers hold most of the cards as they set a deadline for offers and receive multiple bids. We made a offer on a home in Tigard but at the last minute decided it wasn’t the right choice for us. The home ended up selling for $211,000 (24%) over the asking price! We revisited a home we had seen in Happy Valley and it was still available and we GOT IT! We are now the proud owners of a home on Tranquil Street in Happy Valley. Details to follow in this blog.
In the meantime, we had a few other adventures up here in the northern part of Oregon.
While staying at the Sandy Riverfront RV Park in Troutdale we noticed this historic home nearby on the Historic Columbia River Highway. So on Saturday, April 30 we decided to check it out. As it turned out, that was the first day they had opened since prior to Covid. We arrived about an hour before they closed and we were treated to a free private tour of the home lead by a very knowledgeable young man.
The Harlow house was built in 1900.
Old kitchens aways fascinate me. Right about now I would trade our RV kitchen for this one - if it only had a microwave!
I wish I could remember the word under the mantel. It was all hand tooled.
In front of the Rhododendrons at the Harlow House
We were told that Troutdale might have been named Carpdale. Originally there was a very large trout farm but before the trout had been farmed they had considered carp.
Sunday, May 1 - Sandy Riverside RV Park
Taking it easy and enjoying a relatively rare sunny day in northern Oregon
On Tuesday morning, May 3rd, we pulled the offer we had made on a home in Tigard. I had woken in the middle of the night feeling it was the wrong decision given that we were bidding against 9 other offers and to stay in top contention had made an offer well above the asking price. After that decision was made I asked Mark to consider a home we had seen the previous weekend. As luck would have it, it was still on the market. It was a beautiful home but not quite perfect enough so we had put it on the “maybe” list. Well, after viewing about 100 homes and going through the painstaking offer process a couple of times we decided this house would be “perfect” after we put our personality into it. The house had previous offers but buyers backed out when they learned that the sellers needed to stay in the home through mid-July. Well, since we’re living in our RV, we can work with that! We put an offer on the house Tuesday afternoon and the sellers accepted it that evening. We are thrilled that we will be living in Happy Valley, the very city we had our heart set on from the beginning. The house meets so many of our requirements including a close proximity to Portland Airport (about 30 minutes), and green space behind the property. We could not be happier to have found this little gem! We hope that many of you will come and stay with us once we get settled.
16811 Tranquil Street, Happy Valley
Our little subdivision is called, “Scouters Meadow.”
Wednesday, May 4 brought us another glorious sunny day sandwiched between several wetter days. We took advantage of the weather and visited the beautiful Portland Japanese Gardens.
Part of a sake cup display
The bonsai were amazing!
Bonsai wisteria
A 150 year old Mountain Hemlock
A 500 year old Rocky Mountain Juniper
The Japanese Maples were so beautiful!
A cannot resist taking photos of interesting flowers and blooms.
Beauty everywhere you look
Rock gardens
There is even a viewpoint where you can see Mt. Hood.
It is so difficult to narrow my photos of the Japanese Gardens down to just a handful. Let these just be a teaser. When you come up to visit we will take you to the gardens.
Driving through Downtown Portland
After an exquisite day at the Japanese Gardens we decided to treat ourselves to dinner at a local hangout in Troutdale called Bandits. It lived up to all the 5 star reviews.
OMG! Beer battered fried dill pickles with ranch dressing!
On Friday, May 6 we headed back to the shops on the Historic Columbia Highway in Troutdale for their first of the season “First Fridays.” Because of the rain it was a smaller event but we had a good time looking around the shops and meeting this character on the sidewalk.
Saturday, May 7 was another rainy day so we stayed inside and played card games. We also enjoyed a snack of sharp cheddar cheese and pretzels - just like I remember growing up. We would go to the home of our Aunt Helen and Uncle Cecil just a few blocks away in Temple City. Lots of aunts, uncles and cousins would be there for dinner. Afterward, the grownups would play poker and there was always a basket with cheddar cheese and Rold Gold pretzels.
Sunday, May 8 was Mother’s Day. We started the day at the Troutdale Station Food Carts. What a great idea! There are a couple dozen food carts (trailers) serving food on the perimeter of a big building full of big sturdy wooden benches and tables. The food is multi-ethnic so everyone can get just what they like. When it’s cool or rainy outside they keep the windowed “garage doors” closed. If it’s a nicer day, they open up to the outside. I don’t remember what Mark had but I had a delicious sandwich from a little French Cafe inside the building. Oh, and there is a huge bar with many, many beers on tap and several wine choices.
After lunch we headed out on Highway 84 toward Multnomah Falls. We parked in a shabby lot and took a private shuttle over to Wahkeena Falls. From there we hiked the .6 miles in the rain to Multnomah Falls. We were thankful for the rain. Our shuttle driver said if it hadn’t been for the weather there might have been many more people there.
Wahkeena Falls
This was an unnamed waterfall along the path between Wahkeena and Multnomah. Apparently, if the falls are seasonal, they do not rate a name.
Maidenhair Fern - a favorite of mine. Maybe I’ll be able to grow it here.
We made it!
Yes, we were wet, but happy!
The Benson Bridge is the footbridge that traverses Multnomah Creek between the two cascades of Multnomah Falls. It was built in 1914 and has survived fires and boulders crashing into it.
Looking over the side of the bridge
Dogwood in the foreground - Multnomah Falls in the background
We were able to take a very short walk to Bridal Veil Falls because the shuttle company we rode with had a private entrance to the falls. Otherwise, one would have to walk in 1.5 miles and back out the same distance.
Along the walk to Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls
Selfie in front of the falls
Just Mark
Interesting fiddleheads
Using the long exposure feature on the iPhone
As we continued east on Highway 84 we saw numerous waterfalls all along the route.
Look closely and you can see two waterfalls.
The scenery was dramatic!
We rounded out our day with a drive across the Bridge of the Gods that took us into Washington State.
We followed signs to the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center in Stevenson, Washington.
There were some wonderful exhibits including this one featuring Native American jewelry
This is a Fishwheel. It was positioned in a narrow channel where millions of salmon steelhead and sturgeon passed through. This contraption swept through the silvery hoards and seized tons of fish and dumped them into bins and boxes bound for canneries. Fishwheels were banned in Oregon in 1926.
“Built like a Mack Truck!”
Look at the size of that log!
I found this interesting.
The Baron Eugene Fersen from Russia founded The Lightbearers, an international organization to educate humanity about humanitarian concerns. The Lightbearers entrusted fine paintings, antique furniture, art, glass and funds to preserve their history and help build the Interpretive Center Museum.
Amazing detail on the piece above
This is a hinge!
Donald Brown helped found the Skamania County Historical Society in 1926. He also had an intense interest in catholic rosaries. His immense collection is on display.
The largest rosaries I have ever seen!
We drove back over the Bridge of the Gods into Oregon and stopped at Cascade Locks.
On Tuesday, May 10 we drove to Happy Valley for a meeting with our new State Farm agent. Before meeting her we decided to try the Happy Valley Station Food Carts.
This will definitely be one of our “go-tos” once we move to Happy Valley.
After our meeting we drove to Scouters Mountain Nature Park. This little gem is just a short 10 minute drive from our new house.
A walk through Scouters Mountain Nature Park
On Thursday, May 12 our wonderful Real Estate Broker and friend Steve Micek and his wife Karen invited us to their beautiful and warm home in Portland for “Happy Hour.”
Mark, Robin, Karen & Steve
We arrived to find that Steve had prepared a delicious gourmet meal of homemade Caesar Salad and Jambalaya. Dessert was an amazing berry pie ala mode. We had to laugh because we thought we were stopping by for Happy Hour but were treated to an entire dinner. So now “Happy Hour” has a whole new definition when we are with Steve and Karen. We are so fortunate to have two wonderful new friends as we begin our life here in the Portland area.
Not only is Steve a talented cook but he is a bonsai artist. He and Karen have a beautiful terraced yard showcasing Steve’s beautiful bonsai trees. This panoramic photo does not do it justice.
On Friday, May 13 we left our sweet site on Beaver Creek.
We drove about an hour to Roamer’s Rest RV Park, in Tualatin southwest of Portland. We will be here for two weeks.
The view of the Tualatin River just behind our RV
We took a little walk near the RV park and I enjoyed taking photos of wildflowers
Here is a typical activity while we are here in Tualatin.
Mark has been practicing piano inside our RV. He sets his keyboard up on our bed!
On Sunday, May 15 we decided to drive over to the coast and chose Lincoln City Day as our destination.
We stopped and had a picnic lunch inside the car at this beach.
Sights along the way
We enjoy roadside signs and learning about the history of the area.
Lincoln City seems to be a Mecca for glassblowing and other arts. We stopped at Alder House and watched a glassblowing demonstration.
This is “Treasure,” the glassblowing artist.
Almost finished
Anyone can treasure hunt on the beaches of Lincoln City. Throughout the year about 3,000 locally hand-blown glass floats are placed on the beaches for anyone to find. If you find one it’s “Finders Keepers!”
Here’s Mark at Fogarty Creek. From here we followed the creek to where it met the ocean.
Robin & Mark at Fogarty Creek Beach
Fun with the Pano setting on my iPhone
Our next stop was Siletz Bay National WIldlife Refuge.
We took a nice little walk…
…and saw a Black-tailed Deer.
A wild Oregon iris
Our final stop for the day was Mo’s Restaurant for dinner. This was the view from our table.
On Tuesday, May 17 we went for a little drive and stopped at this viewpoint to see Willamette Falls.
The view from the highway side of the Willamette River
The view from Oregon City
There is still a working paper mill here
This was the nation’s first hydroelectric power plant which then delivered its power to Portland several miles away.
Enjoying another Happy Hour at our site in Tualatin
On Thursday, May 19 we met up with friends Tish and Steve Saddoris for lunch at The Garden View Restaurant near Oregon Gardens. It has been so much fun to reconnect with Tish (we graduated from Temple City High School together) and get to know Steve. It’s wonderful to have Oregon friends!
After lunch Mark and I went to The Oregon Garden for the second time. We love it so much here that we became members. It will be fun to see it through the different seasons.
There were so many beautiful views in the gardens. These photos are just a small representation of what we saw.
Wisteria on a water tank
The Hiroshima Peace Tree in the Peace Garden
“This tree was grown from a seed collected from a tree in Hiroshima that somehow survived the atomic bombing of the city on August 6th, 1945. Let it serve as a continuing reminder of our desire for peace.”
Lots of colorful flowers
I am so enamored by the Dogwood trees.
On Friday, May 20 cousins Rich & Joy Shonfeld joined us at Roamers Rest RV Park for a couple of days.
We took a little walk near the campground and Joy shared her love of birds with us.
More pretty wildflowers
A camp neighbor told us about some baby raccoons in a tree in the campground. Isn’t it sweet! Cousin Joy took this photo with her long lens.
Happy Hour in Tualatin - does it get any better than this?!
On Saturday, May 21 Mark, Rich, Joy and I drove the 5 minutes to the Tualatin River Natural Wildlife Refuge. We spent a couple of hours in the morning hiking through the refuge and looking for birds.
Joy was the first to spot this heron.
Rich, Mark & Joy
Now that’s a lens!!!
On our walk
A haven for birds and other animals
We had lunch and then drove up to Portland to visit Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden.
There were so many different, beautiful and sometimes quite old rhododendrons.
Joy, Robin, Mark & Rich
Cousins, Mark & Rich
Mama and her ducklings
There is a bald eagle nest in at the gardens. We could see the male from the parking lot and also while we were in the gardens. I took photos with my iPhone but they do not compare to these photos Joy took with her long lens…
Bald Eagle photos courtesy of Joy Shonfeld
Of course we have to pose in front of the “Rhodies!”
I had a difficult time choosing just a few rhododendron photos so I hope you enjoy all the beautiful flowers!
After our time at the Rhododendron Garden we drove Rich and Joy over to Happy Valley to see our new house. Of course we could only drive by but we did get out and take the little hike up the hill behind the house. There is a nice deck just out in the middle of nature. I can see my grandkids making this a temporary outdoor clubhouse! (If you look closely you can see our house in the background. It is the darker house on the right.)
Mark and Rich surveying the land
We left our new neighborhood and drove the 10 minutes to Scouters Mountain Nature Park.
This time we were able to see Mt. Hood from the park.
On Monday, May 23 I drove back to Happy Valley to meet my new friend, Carol Chen, who has lived in Happy Valley for many years. Our mutual friend, Tish Saddoris connected us. Carol and I had a great time chatting and enjoying lunch at Biscuits Cafe. We hit it off right away with so much in common. We plan to get together to do crafting, etc. After lunch, Carol took me on a drive in the surrounding area.
Robin & Carol at the Jonsrud Viewpoint in Sandy, Oregon
The view
Friends Steve & Karen Micek invited us to a jazz concert at Revolution Hall in Portland on Tuesday evening. Mark and I arrived a little early and explored the building.
Here is Mark with one of the paintings of Linus Pauling.
The Stanley Clarke Quartet played and they were fantastic! We had a great time enjoying the music and the energy on stage and in the audience.
On Wednesday, May 25, Mark and I went to the Italian restaurant Pastini in Tualatin. A big thank you to our kids and grandkids for the Mother’s Day gift certificate.
The food was delicious!
Friday, May 27 was the day we finally signed the documents on the new home! We drove to the title company office in Clackamas before heading to Eugene for a few days. Pictured are dogwood blossoms on one of the trees outside the building. This was a giant “PHEW!” Moment for us.
On our drive from Clackamas to Eugene we passed several fields of solid white flowers.
I did a Google search and learned about meadowfoam, a flower grown in this part of Oregon that is prized for the oils extracted from the seeds and used in cosmetics.
Mark and I spent 5 nights at Rich and Joy’s home while they were in Redding, CA visiting family. We enjoyed their beautiful home, the real kitchen, shower with unlimited hot water and water pressure and their two sweet kitties.
“Benjie”
“Coco”
When we arrived at the Shonfeld’s Home in Eugene on Friday evening we were greeted by a wild turkey (which we later learned Rich and Joy had named, “Uno”) and this pregnant deer that frequents the property. Her name is “White Ears” and her baby is due very soon.
Rich and Joy have created a wonderful home (or the Shonfeld Ranch as Mark likes to call it!)
On Sunday Morning Mark took advantage of the good weather and 5 acres to fly his little radio-controlled plane.
On Sunday we made plans to meet up for lunch at Ninkasi Brewing’s “Better Living Room” restaurant with cousins Lindsey and Brian Coombs who also live in Eugene. It’s so great having family in Oregon!
We had such a nice time with Brian and Lindsey and can’t wait to spend more time with them in the future.
My new friend at the restaurant
Lindsey had some great recommendations for places to visit in Eugene. We headed over to Hendrick’s Park after lunch.
We enjoyed walking through the rhododendron gardens.
Oregon Irises
White Bleeding Hearts
There was so much beauty everywhere!
I love the tiny blue flowers.
Of course we needed another photo in front of the Rhodies!
Rich and Joy returned from their trip to Redding on Tuesday. We enjoyed the afternoon and evening with them and spent Wednesday morning together before Mark and I took off on our next adventure.
Mark and Rich spent a little time putting up fencing to keep the deer out of Joy’s garden.
Joy, Robin and “Coco” on the porch
On Wednesday afternoon, Mark and I took off again in “Benny” while towing “Sparky.” The adventure continues while we wait to take possession of our new home in July. We will spend the next two weeks exploring Oregon’s amazing state parks before venturing east to visit my sister and brother-in-law, Lynda and Dana, in Dodge City, Kansas. “On the road again….”
