Parents-Only 4: Back to Portland

I will bring you exciting news soon, but for now let's wrap this trip up. K? 

We're currently still in Cannon Beach, but we're up early this morning for some hiking and a return trip into Portland. We're also up early because we want another trip to the local bakery and we don't want the locals getting the good stuff. Hmmmm. Crullers.

The first cruller wasn't as good as the day before - is it ever?- and then we felt a little guilty about eating all those pastries, so we headed to a state park for a hike on this trail. This trail was the same one Louis and Clark used to look for a beached whale back in the day. I"m not sure why they picked this route, for its damn steep. Why not go inland a little and go around the steep head? Sacagawea must not have been directing this particular sidetrip, no woman would use this trail instead of a slightly longer but flat one.

We had friends on the trail.

But except for those two, it was just us and peace and quiet. Except for our post-pastry huffing.

Like so many hikes we do near the Pacific Ocean that are steep at the beginning, we thought that surely it would level off around the next corner? And then you turn the corner and no, it does not level off. So upwards we go for about 30 minutes. The state park was smart and put educational signage every few hundred yards so we could stop to read and catch our breath. Or pose for pictures for the same reason.

We did make it to the top. Phew. And no, this is not Lois and Clark's fort, it's just a camping site in the park.

Just past that camping site is a tiny trail that takes you out to the edge of the cliff, where you can see the reason we did the hike: Tillamook Lighthouse. See her? Barely, I know, through the fog, but there she is, a mile out to sea.

A few pictures, then mostly shivering, and we decide to head back.

The trail is a loop, and since we came up it one way, we decided to go down the other way. The "other" way is a little more remote and since it rained recently, more muddy.

But definitely beautiful. No feet-stuck-in-mud moments could detract from the beauty.

What could detract from the beauty, though, was the strange sound we heard and Keith saying that sounds like some sort of animal followed by are these tracks? This picture is the first time I saw the tracks because I just kept walking when I heard him say that. I was a little more intent on getting the hell out of there.

He thinks it was an elk track.

I did stop for a wee little bit when the trail brought us back out to the edge of the cliff. Ahhhh. This little moment will be the last we see of the Pacific, until a future vacation brings us back. Or until we win the lottery and I get to buy that house in San Fran I've always wanted. Fingers crossed!

The goal for the day was to end up back in Portland, but hotel check-ins being what they are, we had some time to kill. On our first day, the very chatty construction guy in the train from the airport told us about Pittock Mansion, and we decided to stop there this day. It was just outside of Portland and fairly easy to find, but that doesn't mean there wasn't low blood sugar and grumpiness towards other drivers and the passenger on the way there. It must just not be possible for everyone to relax for the entire vacation. 

Before I tell you about the mansion, I should point out that we're moving soon and we already have a house picked. When we were at this mansion, we knew our buyers were very interested, so we had the vacation to think about what we might want in a future home. And I had plenty of epiphanies in this gorgeous home.

Like here I'm thinking ooooooh, a grand staircase. Yes!

A phone shaped like a face to summon my servants Keith and the boys. Heh, who am I kidding, I am the servant.

A whole room for GG to iron our clothes. 

Hand-carved woodwork everywhere. Please.

Large windows and chandeliers, yes. That furniture, not so much. Yeees, I know it's period furniture, but I just don't like. Nor do i like overly done drapes, but if I were a millionaire like Mr. Pittock, I suppose I'd feel differently.

View of Portland and some trees on the property? Uh-huh. Momma likes.

The kitchen and butler's pantry was badass, but this is the only picture we got. Too bad.

Moroccan inspired design? Yes.

Sleeping porch, nice.

Shower that appears to hug you while you shower and sprays you all over? Very nice.

And not a bad front entrance, either.

From the grounds you can see down into Portland, which is where we headed for a fairly low-key night. Oh wait, no. No. That's not right. We made friends at an Irish pub and stayed up way too late. It's allll coming back to me now.