Day 2

 Thanks to the jetlag we're not too tired this morning. The flight from Seattle to Portland was on a turboprop Bombardier and soon after take off we were above the clouds admiring the old volcanos summits: Mount Rainier first, then St Helens, Mount Adam thereafter and Mount Hood before landing. Everybody enjoyed the flight, it was a good introduction to the Northwest with its peaks. As soon as we had the car we headed to Trader Joes in Portland. What a blast to be in this store after 5 years. We probably bought too much stuff but Lola and I were so emotional about being in this store. Look! The chocolate chip cookies! Look! The blue corn tortilla chips! Look! And look and look! With the trunk full of groceries we leave Portland to Government Camp to meet our friend John and his family. On the way the jetlag kicks in. We are a couple of hours ahead so I start to search for a back road for a nap. We get lucky: we end up on a beautiful fishing farm with an idyllic setting: trees, mowed grass and all the gear to keep Jeremy busy. Even Lola gets into it. They get 3 trouts and I get my nap; deal! We have to give the trouts though, but everything is well organized here: it's a donation to the Salvation Army!

After this nice stop we head to Government Camp where we meet John and Timber and their 2 kids. It's quite something to see John again after all these years. From teaching windsurf on Baja California to climbing 14,000ft peaks in Colorado we have some good shared memories. It feels good. And the Indian Pale Ale beers are the cherry on the top!
By 4pm we are quite pooped though. We drive to the nice camping spot they set enjoy the beautiful surroundings, plenty of gigantic Lodge Pole Pines, and crash to the sleeping bags right after sunset!