On the second day of my trip I slept a little longer than planned, but I really needed the rest. I checked out of the hotel between 6:30 and 7:00 and drove part way around Coeur d'Alene Lake. It is beautiful! I then headed toward Portland. I didn't make many stops between Coeur d'Alene and Portland, as there really wasn't much to see. I was actually very surprised at how barren the East side of Washington is. I did stop at a country market to buy some fresh cherries though. I saw a sign along the highway and I just had to stop. I love cherries! :)
Most of the rest of the drive to Portland was along the Oregon/Washington border, which is the Columbia River. The river is huge and the gorge is WINDY! I stopped at a gorgeous rest area between The Dalles and Hood River. Yeah, I put the words gorgeous and rest area in the same sentence. :) It was probably the nicest rest area I've ever seen. Hood River is where the scenery started to become breath taking! The mountains are amazing and everything was so green! BEAUTIFUL!
I arrived in Portland about 2:00 p.m. (Portland time) and found Northwest Portland International Hostel, which is where I stayed. It was the first time I ever stayed in a hostel and I liked everything about it, except for the fact that you have to try to be super quiet cause your roommates are sleeping. When you're trying to be super quiet the sound of a zipper zipping seems as loud as a foghorn!
After I checked into the hostel I headed to run some errands (buy shoes for the wedding and a wedding gift). That is when the 2nd "incident" of the trip happened. I locked the keys in my car. Ugh. Luckily the DSW Shoe Warehouse ladies helped me out and found a number for me to call. About 45 minutes later I was back on my merry little way. I headed to the International Rose Test Garden and the Portland Japanese Garden. Both were very beautiful and the smell of the Rose Garden was absolutely wonderful! It rained the whole time I was touring, but I had an umbrella so it was just fine. I also checked out Pittock Mansion. The parking lot was empty (except for one car) so I took a picture of the mansion and left. It was somewhat eerie.
By the time I got back to the hostel it was about time for the "meet and greet" party for the wedding. I got ready and drove to the bar where the party was. I got there at the perfect time...my dad's cousin, Mike (groom's father), and his wife had just pulled up. I met a lot of people and had a good time. I ended up staying later than I had planned, talking and playing shuffle board with my cousins and some of their friends, but it was great! By the time I got back to the hostel everyone in my room was asleep.
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page." ~ Saint Augustine
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