Category Archives: Travel Journal

Our travels take us to interesting spots around the world and close to home. Join us on our journey.

Beautiful Day on the Oregon Coast October 23 (Day 52)

Posted on October 26, 2014 by noconbach

The massive Pineapple Express storm was predicted to ravage the area, but we ended up with beautiful sunny skies as we drove from Portland to Astoria, Oregon. Astoria was again named after that fur trader, John Jacob Astor. The family … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel Journal | Tagged bridge, John Jacob Astor, Oregon, Peter Iredale, rain, shipwreck, wind | 2 Comments

From Sea to Shining Sea!

Posted on October 24, 2014 by noconbach

After 52 days and more than 7,000 miles, we have reached the Pacific Ocean! Another writer has described this journey more poetically than we ever could: O beautiful for spacious skies For amber waves of grain For purple mountain majesties Above … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel Journal | Tagged America the Beautiful, Atlantic Ocean, From Sea to Shining Sea, Pacific Ocean | 2 Comments

Back on the Oregon Trail to Washington October 21 (Day 50)

Posted on October 23, 2014 by noconbach

We followed the Columbia River Valley on our way from Yakima to Portland. This meant heading west across the Cascade Mountains. So we had a big revelation: East of the Cascades = dry. West of the Cascades = wet, very … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel Journal | Tagged Bonneville Dam, Columbia River, fish, Oregon, rain, river, salmon, Washington, waterfall, windmill | Leave a comment

Y To Z in Washington (and Toppenish too) October 20 (Day 49)

Posted on October 23, 2014 by noconbach

Yakima was a familiar name, since Michael’s brother has a big Yakima ski rack on the roof of his car. (The original Yakimas did come from Yakima.) Zillah was a new name for us and Toppenish was an unexpected treat. We didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel Journal | Tagged apples, art, fruit, hops, murals, Teapot Dome, Toppenish, Washington, wineries, Yakima, Zillah | 1 Comment

It’s a lot less rainier in Rainier October 19 (Day 48)

Posted on October 21, 2014 by noconbach

Now that that pun is out of the way, we had a glorious day to explore Mount Rainier National Park. We’re in the middle of the Cascade Mountain range that runs through Washington and Oregon, actually all the way from … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel Journal | Tagged hiking, Mount Rainier, mountains, national park, volcano, Washington | Leave a comment

We’re off to see Seattle October 17 to 19 (Days 46 – 48)

Posted on October 20, 2014 by noconbach

Throwing Fish and Eating Chocolate in Seattle… The first stop in Seattle is always the Public Market along Puget Sound… specifically the Pike Place Fish Market. Whenever a customer orders a fish, workers shout to each other and fling the … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel Journal | Tagged Bill Gates, Cafe Besalu, Chinatown, EMP Museum, Fremont, Fremont Brewery, Kerry Hill, Mt. Rainier, Pike's Market, Seattle, Seattle Seahawks, troll, Washington | Leave a comment

Vancouver makes us smile :) October 15 and 16 (Days 44 and 45)

Posted on October 17, 2014 by noconbach

We may have seen our last roadside wildlife for a while. These goats seemed to be bidding us farewell from the mountains on our drive to Vancouver. The land west of the Rockies was brown and dry until we came … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel Journal | Tagged Canada, Inukshuk, nude beach, Pacific Ocean, Stanley Park, Vancouver, wildlife, Wreck Beach | Leave a comment

Canmore to Kamloops, Canada October 13 (Day 42)

Posted on October 16, 2014 by noconbach

We had a big day ahead, a 500-kilometer drive from Canmore to Kamloops. How could we not get up early with a sunrise like this? We drove through the Rockies with roads cut through the mountains… and into the mountains. … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel Journal | Tagged Canada, chestnut, golf, hockey, John Jacob Astor, Kamloops, salmon, sunrise | Leave a comment

Banff, the First F Is Silent, October 11 to 12, Days 40 to 41

Posted on October 13, 2014 by noconbach

We are in Banff, the ffamous ski destination in the fforests and mountains of western Canada. The people are so ffriendly, they offffer a ffree breakffast! So the key to pronunciation of Banff is to ignore the spelling; it is … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel Journal | Tagged Banff, Banff Springs, Bow Lake, Canada, fire, Lake Louise, Lake Moraine, mountains, O Canada, skiing | 2 Comments

Elk-rick Woods at the Banff Springs Golf Course – October 11

Posted on October 12, 2014 by noconbach

We watched some interesting action at the Banff Springs Golf Course, one of the world’s best courses in one of the world’s most beautiful settings. (Any similarity to the great golfer, Eldrick Woods, aka Tiger, is totally unintentional.)

Posted in Travel Journal | Tagged Banff, Banff Springs, Canada, elk, golf, Rockies, Tiger Woods | Leave a comment