Sights of the Northwest

On the local news just now reported that the sun made a brief appearance just before it slipped into the Pacific.

That’s how it is in Portland where it rains enough to convince the faithful to build arks.

Riley, Ace of Dogs, dresses for the weather just like everyone else.

The squirrels are in full winter coat and eat massive amounts of corn and peanuts on my sister Lorri’s balcony.

And Tony the Ornate Box Turtle has it made; out of his habitat, he makes a beeline to the hearth only inches from the burning wood and heats up his exterior like any good turtle would.

Oliver and Dani made reservations for a champagne brunch cruise Sunday on the Willamette River yesterday, and we had a great time… eating, well, like we were on a brunch cruise.

We were aboard the trusty Columbia Gorge sternwheeler whose captain who started as a deckhand, then became a pilot six years later, and he’s been the skipper now for two decades.

Passengers were invited to the wheel house and we each got a turn at steering which the skipper made it look easy….. it isn’t. But after a while you can get the hang of it.

From astern my course looked similar to the giant slalom at first, but more or less straightened out toward the end.

Dani did well when she took charge.

Lorri and I were glad we didn’t have to wash dishes in the galley and could just stroll about the deck, living like Molly Brown, but our trip turned out much better.

Dani helm