Oregon, 2026 - Monday - Tuesday, June 29-30, 2026

 

Monday morning another typically rain squall peppered Oregon coast today. As we are departing tomorrow, our mission now is to wipe out as much of the foodstuffs we have left. Cereal and oatmeal were consumed, together with a banana and more orange juice. As we had specific tasks and destinations for the day, we were headed and ready to leaved the house by 11:30, pulling ourselves away from the unfinished puzzle.

Today, we are going to visit Sean Eustice and Grant Phillips, two friends of Darcy’s. Two years ago, Darcy became a registered officiant in order to perform the marriage ceremony for these two here in their Oregon coast home where they live. The home (now a compound) is along the Siletz River, just a few miles from our location. The turnoff of US 101 at Kernville. Grant’s parents purchased the original cabin and eventually an adjoining lot and built a larger two bedroom home, and now, most recently, a “barn” that looks out over the river and is actually a studio with space for a ceramics studio, with potter’s wheel and kiln as well as a loft bedroom and bath.

We arrived shortly after noon and received a warm welcome from Sean, Grant, and their dog Olive. Olive was most talkative as we walked in the yard, but as Darcy warned, ignore her and she quickly calmed down and leaves us alone. We received tour of the two homes and the Barn (studio) and enjoyed tea and coffee with the fellows. A large fenced-in garden with a greenhouse, apple trees, and raised beds for vegetables is visible from the front porch of the studio, one that instilled envy in all Omaha gardeners. Of course, the cool and rainy coastal environment is very conducive to vegetables. So much so that we witnessed something we never see in Omaha - parsley bolting to 18” high!

We left Sean & Grant and drove north to Depoe Bay for lunch at The Sea Hag Bar & Diner, a fish and chips emporium along the highway. Deb & Mark each enjoyed some clam chowder, agreeing that this sampling was the best of the trip. Don picked a huge seafood salad, while Ann chose salmon with chips. A good and filling meal, our final professionally prepared meal of the trip.

Next stop was the hardware store for some household purchases and then back to the house for some puzzle building, reading and resting. At 5:00 we had our customary wine and dined on leftovers which we had been accumulating in the refrigerator. We tuned in on the Orange Felon Antics on PBS Newshour and then enjoyed a marathon of eight episodes of the 1st season of Ted Lasso. Deb & Mark were happy to introduce this show to Don & Ann, and also gave them the opportunity to rewatch the interactions of these characters prior to the new season breaking next month.

Tuesday being a travel day, it was early to bed; the morning arrived quickly, Mark was out of his room and checking the fog rolling in from the ocean by 5:30 and Deb was soon out also. We finished our packing and began policing the area. With Ann as our directoress, we secured the house, closing down all the blinds, stripping the bedding and towels for deposit in the laundry room, and clearing the refrigerator of anything that might spoil. Ann’s nephew and family are scheduled to arrive from their home in Portland on Thursday so we needed to prep for the cleaning crew who was to immediately follow us and prepare for the new arrivals.

Our goal was to be out of the home by 8:30. We would have achieved it except for a small problem with the car keys. They had gone missing. We knew they were most likely somewhere in the vehicle as Don was able to start it and back it out of the garage. We moved seats, took all of the luggage back into the house in case the keys were in the bags (if the keys were out of the car in the luggage, then it wouldn’t start- right?) Don finally discovered the set tucked along the driver’s seat, next to the console. We reloaded the vehicle and left for the drive back to Portland. 

We arrived at the airport at 11:30, right on schedule. We said our goodbyes; Don & Ann were driving north into Washington state, visiting with some friends and then journeying onward in their quest to visit the all the U.S. state capitals, this time Olympia, Washington.

Our flight was on schedule. We checked our two bags, grabbed our small backpack containing our meds and other small electronics and went to our gate. Deb had secured 1st class seats for this trip, so we settled in, accepted a glass of wine, and readied for a smooth journey. As we started towards our runway, the United Airlines pilot came on to inform us that the new United computer in Chicago had determined that the plane was over loaded and so we had to go back to the gate. One passenger was released, the Pilot vented on the poor gate agent about the bosses. We were off again and this time (although lighter by virtue of one less passenger and a lot less fuel having been burned in the taxi maneuvers), we were off.

Our meal, previously chosen from the website, was coq’au vin, with a lightly dressed vinaigrette salad, a roll and a luscious lemon tarte with a Rasberry compote drizzled on top.  Tasty. As we crossed the western border of Colorado, the pilot again addressed us; there were horrible thunderstorms in the Denver area and the FAA had closed the airport. As we had burned all that fuel driving around the tarmac in Portland, we didn’t have enough fuel to just circle until the airport reopened; therefore, we were setting down in Grand Junction, Colorado to wait out the storms and re-fuel. The good news for two passengers whose eventual destination was to be Grand Junction, their trip just got shortened. Over two hours later, we were cleared to leave; the bad news: there was a two hour wait for the stairs to let off the couple who were going to deplane in Grand Junction. They would just have to continue on with us. (There were roughly nine UAL flights that were stuck in Grand Junction due to the storms, the stairs were in great command it seems.)  

We arrived in Denver, anxious as to the next portion of the trip. Every other flight had also been delayed, so we ran/hobbled from gate B38 to B8 and boarded our final leg home. The flight attendant poured us a glass of bubbly, we took our first sip, and toasted each other on a long day’s travel. NOT YET! This pilot came on the speaker to inform us that the Chicago computer had decided that this plane needed repairs and was not flight worthy. We all trudged off, leaving our champagne behind and back into the airport. 40 minutes later we went to a nearby gate for a new plane. The same crew was aboard, but alas, the flight attendant did not bring our wine with her.

We settled in for a quick five hundred mile flight over lightning storms to Omaha, landing at 12:01 AM on July 1, just before the rain also landed. As we taxied to a stop, the pilot again came on the speaker, we would have to taxi over to a holding area while they cleared another plane from our landing gate. Finally, 12:30 and we crawled off of a United airplane, vowing not to travel with United again! Of course we will not be able to keep that vow, considering how much of the Omaha market this carrier has, but it felt good to complain.

After 40 minutes, our bags both arrived (a miracle).  Abigail was there to pick us up, and we were home shortly after 1:15AM. Poppy the cat was a bit aloof, but quickly warmed up. We crawled into our own beds at 1:49 and were soon comatose, tired but well travelled.

Oregon 2026 - Saturday-Sunday, June 27-28, 2026

Saturday Morning - ahh, the weekend! How is this day any different than any other vacation day on the Oregon coast? It’s not. Another gray day with the temperatures in the mid to upper 50º F temperatures. The ocean pounding away at the beach with a mesmerizing roar.  A fire in the fireplace.  All is right with the world.  Mark prepared bacon, fried eggs and toast with orange juice for the late morning meal. Cereal with fruit and bananas were also on offer. This was a wonderful, lazy day.

We spent the afternoon chatting, and, when the weather cleared a bit, Ann and Deb walked on the beach. Deb had so been looking forward to her beach walk and her anticipation was justified. She collected a few rocks for her collection back home and thoroughly enjoyed the stroll. She noted however that the climb back up from the beach seemed more strenuous than she recalled. 

We worked on the million piece puzzle, snacked for dinner, and watched some television between snoozes. The day ended as it began, quietly and lazily.

Sunday morning breakfast was hot oatmeal with berries, bananas and some of the remaining sourdough toasted and slathered with marionberry jam. Very Tasty. Determined not to let the day descend into another of restful indulgence, we broke camp and piled into the rental car to explore.  This time we headed north towards Lincoln City. We stopped for lunch at the Wildflower Grill, a local dining favorite. Deb ordered the Wildflower soup and salad, Don opted for Fish & Chips; Ann chose the fish tacos so that she could sponge some of Don’s fries. Mark thought he was ordering the Wildflower soup and sandwich combo, but ended up with a large cup of soup, a ham & swiss on a po’boy roll and chips. All the menu stated was Wildflower soup of the day. When we inquired, we learned that the soup of the day, every day, was clam chowder! As our tasting of clam chowder continues, this was not the best. A bit more bland than some we have tasted. Overall the meal rated well, though. 

As we departed, the weather remained clear, allowing us a chance to pause and admire all the wildflowers and shrubs planted along the walkway to the restaurant; towering flowering pea, a vibrant plant our phones identified as falling stars or Valentine flower, and one of the largest lavender bushes we had ever seen.  A beautiful display. We continued northward, our destination being Tillamook and the Tillamook Creamery.

Tillamook is famous for its ice cream, dairy products and cheese. This verdant valley fed by the Tillamook river, is perfect for grazing dairy cattle, providing wonderful milk for all things dairy. The Tillamook Creamery is a co-operative venture, with all the dairy farmers providing the raw milk for its products. In the mid 1850’s the farmers of Tillamook, having more milk than they could ever use, began to make cheese and butter but found it almost impossible to get the products across the mountains to the Portland for disbursal. So they built a boat, running three or four vessels before finally creating one that could complete the journey - christening it The Morningstar of Tillamook. A replica drawing of the sailing ship now adorns every package of Tillamook product. 

The creamery facility is also a wonderful visitor center where one can overlook the creation of the cheese, following the process from overhead galleries with explanatory signage. There is even a mocked up area where children can nurse mechanical calves with a bottle, and attach milking equipment to a large demo cow’s udders. Don and Deb procured large ice cream cones to sample, Mark took more than his allotted share from Deb’s cone as he was instructed to hold it for a moment, and Ann went wandering off to see if they had a product to indulge her lactose intolerance (they did not!)

We returned to Salishan with our purchased samples, and changed (sort of) for our 7:45 dinner reservation. Our dinner destination was Tidal Raves restaurant in Depoe Bay, a wonderful seafood restaurant with views of the bay. A blackboard listed all the seafood and the nearby towns from which it was sourced. Don & Ann both chose a halibut served over house made gnocchi, the halibut sourced from the town of Newport. Deb and Mark chose a grilled chinook salmon served over a blue cheese potato gratin, the salmon sourced from Coos Bay. Don & Ann each picked a N/A IPA beer while Mark enjoyed a glass of St. Innocent Pinot Noir and Deb had her first trusted me prepared dirty martini of the trip. A delicious meal.

By the time we left, closing the restaurant, the rain had returned.  We arrived home safely and worked the million piece puzzle for a bit before retiring after another wonderful day on the coastal plain.

Oregon 2026 - Friday, June 26, 2026

This morning was a quiet one.  Raining early then just cloudy and cool. Mark assumed cook’s duties this morning and whipped up scrambled eggs with baby shrimp tucked into the curds.  Surprisingly tasty, accompanied by orange juice, coffee and toast. Shortly after noon, the crew popped into the chariot for some sightseeing. We hoovered south on highway 101 towards the destination of Newport. 

We stopped at Yaquina Lighthouse for some history. This 93 foot tall lighthouse is Oregon’s tallest. It is one of  a string of lighthouses built along the Pacific Ocean coast to allow shipping and to open up the region to commerce.  The construction of Yaquina Lighthouse was begun in 1871 and the light was first lit on August 20, 1873. The light was visible for 20 miles out to sea, courtesy of a Fresnel lens manufactured in Paris, France in 1868. The lens was shipped across the Atlantic to Panama, carried overland across the isthmus and then continued its voyage up the Pacific coast to Oregon. In the 1930’s the 4-wick lamp fueled by oil was replaced wth a 1,000 watt electric theatrical lamp of 130,000 candlepower. In 1939, the U.S. Lighthouse Service was incorporated into the U.S. Coastguard which took over control of the lighthouse, its structures and supervision of its keepers. 

In 1966, the era of Lighthouse Keeper ended as a computerised light was installed. A GPS system has since replaced most navigation, but the lighthouse remains lit for those vessels not equipped with GPS equipment. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management now administers the sight and conducts tours of the lighthouse and staffs the facility with Rangers to provide lectures about the lighthouse and it’s animal and sea life in the tide pools.

The  other attraction at Yaquina Point are the small islands just off shore which are part of a designated bird sanctuary.  We were able to spot Brown Pelicans, Pelagic and Brandt’s Cormorants, Xantus’ Murrelets, Pigeon Guillemot, Seagulls trying to steal eggs, and Turkey Vultures swooping down to scare the small birds and steal some eggs. We talked  at length to a volunteer Ranger, Wil(helmina) who provided us with some background and information on all the wildlife. She was just getting off of her shift and so walked with us towards the parking lot.  A younger tourist woman was walking  up the path towards the lighthouse, with a young pit bull type dog pulling on the leash. As she walked past the “No Pets Allowed” sign, Wil said “I’m sorry, Ma’am, no pets are allowed as this is a bird sanctuary.” The woman looked over her shoulder, kept going and said “This is a service dog.” Wil said,”Service dogs don’t pull at their leads.” The woman ignored her and kept on going. Wil muttered that she was off duty and didn’t want to lose her temper, so turned towards the  parking lot and left. We are not sure not sure if the dog was a bitch, but we are certain about the woman!

We then continued south into the town of Newport. The fishing industry and warehouses here are gradually giving away to tourism, but the town still bustles. We stopped at a local jewelry shop that Ann frequents to find earrings to match a ring she had purchased last year.  It was a Herkimer diamond, which I had never heard of but are only mined near Herkimer, N.Y.  Considerably less expensive than regular diamonds but very attractive, nonetheless.  Afterwards we went looking for the “hundreds of seals” that generally hang out at the local pier only to find one poor, lonely bull seal with the whole pier to himself.  We have no idea where the others are hanging out these days but when we find out, we will send someone to tell him.  We stopped for a late lunch/early supper at the famous Mo’s Diner for our afternoon repast. Deb & Mark enjoyed wonderful clam chowder accompanied by a bowl of fried onion rings for the table. Ann ordered fish tacos and a small shrimp salad (which proved to be too much food, so the salad became take-out) while Don enjoyed a large seafood salad.  We finished the meal with a shared piece of peanut butter cream pie, which was delicious.  Deb is still talking about it!

 On the drive home, we stopped at the roadside Chester’s Market for additional provisions and then, some of us returned for a rest. Don & Ann, however, went for a walk along the beach which was cut somewhat short by rain. Meanwhile, Mark made Deb a Dirty Martini (it is Friday after all!) which she couldn’t finish because she was too full of chowder and onion rings!  We then worked on Ann’s million piece jigsaw puzzle, watched PBS Newshour for updates on the Orange Felon, then Washington Week with The Atlantic. The weather cleared and we watched the sun sink into the wide Pacific Ocean.

Oregon 2026 - Thursday, June 25, 2026

Another cloudy day on the Oregon coast. The sun is trying to break through the clouds early as the morning rain stops. Ann & Deb step out for a walk of 3/4 mile to the shops for some bakery goods, while Mark works on his blog posting and Don enjoys his morning coffee. The ladies return laden with a fresh loaf of sourdough, some frosted cake donuts, a couple of marionberry jam-filled bear claw pastries. Marionberry fruit is a cultivar of blackberry released on 1956; it was bred in cooperation with Oregon State University and is named after Marion County, Oregon. Oregon accounts for 90% of the frozen blackberries grown in the U.S, most of which occurs in the Willamette Valley region.

After a leisurely late morning of coffee and pastries, we regroup and load into the RAV 4 for an afternoon outing. Our first stop is the Alder House Glass Blower, where we peruse all the hand blown glass objects. One of the artisans is explaining the process to  a tourist group watching him create, while we make decisions on purchases. Deb invests in a set of earrings in the shape of a martini glass with an olive in each glass. Don and Mark discuss buying a pair between them, but then they would have to get their ears pierced, and an argument would ensue as to who would get which ear punctured; as no consensus could be reached, the plan was abandoned for the time being.

Next on to the Mossy Creek ceramic gallery. There are 8-12 different ceramic artists represented in the gallery; although the types of pieces (glasses, cups, bowls) were similar, the coloring, styles and shapes were all different. After careful consideration, Deb again made a contribution to the economy.

We pressed onward to the Freed Art Gallery to view their fine art offerings. Nothing much was purchased, but Deb noted that the metal windmill art sculpture she had purchased 20 years ago in Santa Fe was still available and displayed in the front garden of the Gallery. Based upon the current prices, she seems to have made a worthwhile investment.  

Next on the agenda was lunch. We made our way to the nearby Squatchsami Restaurant/Diner. Coincidently, Darcy had texted Deb the day before that this establishment “had the best fish and clam chowder in the area.” The grilled cod was delicious, the chowder was very good, and the feta/spinach salad was tasty, but a bit overdressed (evidently the chef didn’t get the correct current dress code!)

After lunch, we drove back towards the home base with a stop at Salishan Lodge. We learned that the lodge, first opened in 1965, was where Don and Ann honeymooned all those many moons ago (1972.) Although the structure is now 61 years old, it, like the Hosfords, has aged well. The greenery and trees have grown tremendously, but the attached golf course is still well used and there were plenty of people around.

Back at our lodgings, we rested or napped as the case might be and then, as the evening rain began, we left for our 6:00 dinner reservation at The Side Door Restaurant.  Unpresupposing from the outside, it was a pleasant lodge-style look on the interior. Although the menu was fairly extensive, we were bent on seafood for the evening. Don chose the fried halibut dinner for the “hellavit”.  Deb chose the crab cakes and jumbo prawns over mashed potatoes, Mark chose the char-grilled wild salmon (no tame ones were available,) while Ann chose the seafood ragu. Mark & Deb enjoyed a glass of Willamette Valley wine. The real star here was the marionberry cobbler alla mode which was why Don chose the restaurant. Deb had the warmed bread pudding, and Ann the coconut gelato. Mark wielded the spare spoon.

We returned home in time to catch the last half of the WIFA World Cup match between Turkey and the U.S. It was tied up 2-2 going into the last 7:00 minute extra. With 30 seconds left Turkey scored to make it 3-2. Unfortunately for Turkey, given the unfathomable point scoring system of the tournament, Turkey was going home in any event and the U.S. were advancing into the next round. The match was played in Los Angeles, so the partisan crowd were not too happy with the last minute score, but Turkey was ecstatic with the win and U.S. was living with it in order to move on.  After the game, we learned that our eldest, Ed, was actually in the stadium!  Since we didn’t actually spot him in the crowd, we were glad he sent pictures as proof.

After the match concluded, Don, Mark & Deb viewed a portion of their PBS Newshour. Ann is working on a multi-million piece puzzle  and wished us each a good night as, one after the other, the rest of us straggled to bed.  Another great day of vacation in the Northwest.

Oregon 2026 - Wednesday, June 24, 2026

After a fairly restful night, given the two hour time differential, Mark was up at 5:30, and out to gaze upon the ever restless Pacific Ocean as it crashed into the sandy beach below. What a sight and sound. For flatlanders from the Midwest, this coast provides a never ending fascination! 

Today was a slow start, Ann preparing hot oatmeal for those who find that kind of gruel tasty, which is three of the four members of the party. We spent most of the morning chatting and staring out the windows at the sea. The weather today is surprisingly warm and sunny. We went for a short walk along the roads of the Salishan subdivision to find the new access path for the beach, although we did not take the time to walk the beach this day. 

Shortly after noon, we loaded into our white chariot to head for Depoe Bay, the name being both a bay and a town, some 10 miles south of our location. As it is summer and the weather is warm, and the town is full of tourists. The whale watching boats were streaming in and out of the bay, ferrying the tourists out to look for the elusive cetaceans as they are straying close to the shore in search of food. The whale watching center in Depoe Bay has a marvelous display to teach one all about whales. As an example; the large gray whale, about the size of a school bus, consumes over 2,000 pounds of krill shrimp a day. That is a lot of very small crustaceans to scoop up; no wonder the occasional Pinocchio gets caught in the mix!

We stopped in for a late lunch at The Horn Public House & Brewery, overlooking the harbor, next to the iron bridge that stretches across the mouth of the Depoe Bay harbor. We watched the small craft come and go, fantasizing about which of the craft we would most like to own. Lunch was seafood chowder, fried cod with fries, cole slaw and some cod tacos. Very tasty, and delivered by a spritely young server whom Deb & Ann speculated must spend at least an hour each morning applying her facial make-up - quite a work of art!

After lunch we walked alongside a wall topping the sea break for some distance as we returned to the car, then drove back towards home base, first with a diversionary stop at Boiler Bay turnout for another view of the seemingly boiling ocean below, followed by an additional stop at Chester’s Market for needed supplies. Upon return to Salishan, we unloaded the car and plunked down in front of the windows to watch the sea for a while, during which Mark & Deb enjoyed a glass of wine. By 6:00, it was time for the news, first a 25 minute lecture by a U.S. Senator speaking on the Senate floor about the vast corruption of the Trump Administration, with fact after fact about all the graft and grift that is occurring with the family and friends of our wanna-be king. Next it was time for our daily dose of the PBS Newshour. Since we were all well sated from our late lunch, our evening meal consisted of snacks of crackers, cream cheese spread, small plates of miniature shrimp ala’ the gray whale, with some cocktail sauce. 

Don wandered off to the lower level to read for the evening, while Ann, Deb & Mark watched some television until shortly after 9:00. Deb headed for the bedroom, while Mark, Ann & Don watched the tide roll in - admittedly not real eventful but, again as flatlanders, if not exciting, then at least exotic!?! A fitting end to a relaxing first day in Oregon. 

Oregon - 2026, Tuesday Traveling

We are on the road again, or rather headed into the air again. On Tuesday morning, June 23, 2026, we were up and awake by 5:30 (or 6:30 for some) to double check our luggage and await the arrival of Darcy to ferry us to Eppley Airfield for the beginning of another adventure. She arrived mostly on time by 9:15 and we were loaded and on our way. At Eppley, we met our traveling partners, Ann and Don Hosford for a Southwest flight to Denver. 

As the College World Series had ended on the day before, giving Oklahoma a well earned win over North Carolina in the third and final match, the airport was teeming with fans. We were hard pressed to find seats in the waiting area. After a very full flight left for Denver, the crowd thinned and our 11:00 AM flight departed about 30 minutes behind schedule. Smooth flying on a full flight and an almost clear day.

We arrived in Denver, and learned that our connecting flight to Portland was delayed for an hour. Just enough time to stop and grab a sandwich for lunch: a pair of ham and butter on baguettes, a BLT on whole wheat, and a berry and yogurt purée for the healthy amongst us. The Denver to Portland leg likewise was a totally full flight. We had forgotten what it is like to travel in the summer vacation time. Lots of children and then, upon landing in Portland, the line of wheelchairs waiting in the jetway was jarring. We counted seven waiting wheelchair.attendants and two more at the top of the jetway. Uneventful flights with some napping involved.

In Portland, we secured our rental chariot, a 2026 Toyota RAV 4, a three year earlier version of what Deb drives in Omaha. Don is the designated driver for the trip, so we plugged Deb’s iPhone into the dash and plotted directions to our first destination - Powell’s Books. For bibliophiles, this is a west coast Mecca, similar to Strand Bookstore in NYC. Three floors covering a half block stretch of downtown Portland. We spent nearly an hour here, wandering the aisles, refraining from impulse buying, mostly. Deb and Mark managed to walk out with only four or five tomes, Don refrained, as he still has a huge credit at The Bookworm in Omaha to clear, and Ann just didn’t find anything worth lugging home.

Following Powells, we plotted a course to McMinnville towards the Oregon Hotel, our dinner destination. We arrived around 7:30, found a nice table for four in this renovated and quirky hotel built in 1905. The pub food was basic and tasty, a pair of Wedge Salads topped with steak points, a well appointed cheeseburger with fries, and a house soup and side of Cole slaw. We departed McMinnville fully sated, and pointed our chariot toward Lincoln City, Oregon, along the coast.   We arrived in Lincoln City and then 5 miles along the highway to our final destination, an amazing home overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the Salashan subdivision. 

We disembarked from the vehicle in the dark; we were immediately immersed in the sound of the ocean, the odor of the sea and the saltwater air on our skin. We stumbled in, finding our assigned bedrooms, crawled into warm beds and were out like proverbial lights. 11:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time, or 1:30 AM body time. A long day but not arduous, although we did put in some walking miles at the airports. So starts our weeklong vacation (can you vacation when you are retired?)

Wednesday, April 14, 2026 Reeth and Hawes

Wednesday morning we arose with no specific plans in mind. We again had our bangers, bacon, egg, toast and coffee to begin our day. the weather was cool, breezy and rainy. As we ate breakfast rather late, we decided we could do without a lunch as we had dinner reservations at another local pub for 6:00. We showered, Deb in warm water, Mark starting in warm water, which turned to ice halfway through the process!

The facilities in Dinmore Cottage are very nice, but the hot water system is an Immersion system, similar to a coil you plug in to drop into a cup of tea. The heater takes time to heat the water up. It is on a timer and so, if your heater is scheduled for evening bath time and you want a morning shower, one needs to make some adjustments to the timer or flip switchs to turn the hot water on and wait for it to warm up again. Since the cottage is not in use everyday, all day, but a holiday rental, this plan makes sense. All power in the cottage is electric, from the space heaters to the kitchen appliances. 

For an American family used to continuously available hot water from a gas fired heater, this is a “novelty” to which we must learn to adapt. Such a hardship - but the price of learning how the rest of the world works. There is also a ceiling heater in the bathroom that ties into the light fixture. It is operated by a pull string switch. Great concept, until someone tugs too hard on the string to turn it back off and breaks the string! Again, we will learn.

After resting a bit after breakfast, reading the NYT and the Omaha World Herald for the meager obituary listings, we are ready to attack the day. Today we decide to do a walk-about of the village of Reeth. First stop is the Scenicview Gallery, to check on publication of the 2027 calendar. We have, each year since our first trip, had one of their gorgeous calendars on or kitchen wall. The photography is stunning; all scenes of the Yorkshire Dales area, mostly up and down the Swaledale area. For the 2026 calendar, which wasn’t available when we were last here, we had tried to order one on-line, which was entirely possible, except they were unable to mail to the USA due to the new tariff rules. Our solution was to order and pay on-line with the shop mailing to our friends in Ireland, who in turn mailed it to us at home. 

We walked into the shop, and there was the 2027 calendar, printed and ready for purchase. The owner remembered our troubles from last year’s purchase attempt! He happily sold us next year’s edition which we will tuck into our luggage and hope we don’t misplace at home before January 1, 2027!

Next stop was around the corner to visit some of the craft shops. We stopped at The Nutmeg embroidery shop and Deb procured a couple of very cute embroidery crafts that she thinks she can do at home while watching TV during her retirement. Next door was what we thought was an art gallery, but was actually an artist’s studio and she was sitting there with the door open. We stepped in and then had a wonderful 45 minute visit with Jane Ellis, local artist. We were very taken by some of her work; unfortunately, whatever she had available was framed and too large for our luggage. We were however able to secure a few of her line drawings for cards which we tucked away.  It was Jane who told us how much we had missed by not heading up the Northumberland coast from Seahouses to visit the small villages and castles.  Deb is still trying to figure out how to get one of her large drawings home!

Next a stroll along the green to another craft shop, the Fleece. Mark chose to spend this time sitting on a nearby bench on the green, admiring the beauty (not dozing as there was a rather stiff breeze, but happily ensconced in his Abigail knit hat and windbreaker). Deb spent some time in the shop visiting with the staff and made some small purchases. The shop was actually an artist’s co-op set-up and had some really interesting one-of-a-kind knickknacks, exactly what we don’t need!  Next we crossed the green to the Post Office/ Grocery Shop for some provisions, more eggs, a bottle of Moreland Gin (brewed here in the Swaledale) and a bottle of shampoo. Another lovely visit with the proprietress, and then back up the green to Dinmore Cottage. By then it was cocktail hour and time to sit with our glass of wine prior to ambling back across the village green to our 6:00 reservation at the King’s Arms Hotel.

Built in 1734 by a wealthy local lead mine owner as a private home, The King’s Arms Hotel is one of Reeth’s most iconic buildings. Affectionately known to locals as The Middle House due to its central position among the trio of historic Buiildings facing the village green, it has long been at the heart of village life. The King’s Arms is a warm and welcoming inn, retaining many of its original 18th century features. Exposed oak beams and a magnificent large open fire — the jewel in its crown. Period sash windows, stone fireplaces and historic staircase make this hotel a living piece of Swaldale heritage.

The current establishment is under new ownership and menu. At dinner Deb chose duck breast while Mark picked lamb loin. Both were accompanied by fresh vegetables, asparagus, roast carrots and ramps, A very enjoyable meal. Mark topped it off with a wee dram of Laphroig and an ice cube. We returned to our cozy cottage, lit the fireplace and enjoyed our quiet evening, retiring around 10:00.

Thursday Morning, we finished our breakfast and routed ourselves across the moor towards Askrigg, the village we had stayed in on our last visit. We then turned  west towards Hawes as we needed to gas up the vehicle. We parked up and walked the market street of Hawes. We window shopped, stopped in a small Jewelry stall where Deb picked up a pair of amethyst earrings. She had lost one of her current set some time ago, and this simple pair was a great and relatively inexpensive replacement.

We stopped at a small clothing shop where, two years ago, Mark had purchased his “cow suspenders,” known as braces to the locals. Deb spotted a really cool credit card case and after much weighing of color and texture, a sky blue version was calmly tucked away for her future use. We enjoy Hawes greatly as it is the setting for some of our favorite Yorkshire Dales mysteries by author David Gatward. The hero is a former big-city detective who finds himself as the chief of detectives for the Yorkshire Dales area, headquartered in Hawes; Harry Grimm by name.

The town businesses and the surrounding area are intergral to the novels and the places and shops are like characters in their world. A favorite eatery for the Detective Grimm: the Penny Garth Cafe. We passed by and could not resist the temptation to stop in. We sat to enjoy a mug of tea, a coffee, two bowls of absolutely scrumptious mushroom soup, and split an area specialty “Eccles cake,” a pastry with a fig raisin filling and perfectly beautiful crisp, flaky crust.

We walked back to the local Sparta grocery store and picked up a fresh supply of fireplace logs and returned to our vehicle in the parking lot.

Leaving Hawes we next motored towards another favorite stop, Aysgarth Falls and its National Park Center. The aforementioned “orange cone” season caused us a lengthy detour, following multiple “road diversion” signs, but we finally pulled in, parked, used the public facilities, and then stopped into the cafe for the real prize, a chocolate-vanilla swirl gelato cone, one of Deb’s favorite treats, and something we cannot travel to the Dales without obtaining at least once.

Returning to the Dinmore Cottage, we built a fire with our newly acquired firewood supply, broke out two of the airplane sized vodka “shooters” that Deb had brought along and constructed our first Dirty Martini in the Yorkshire Dales. Unable to locate vermouth at the liquor store we had settled for a very dry small bottle of white wine. We also lacked a standard shot glass, so the head bartender had to fall back on past skills of eyeballing the measurements. The results was acceptable. We broke out some cheese and crackers and dined in. TV was watched and we were under the duvet before 10:00.

Friday morning we cooked our last full breakfast, leaving enough sausage and eggs for the evening meal and then struck out towards the northern portion of the National Park for a bit more driving. We ran across an offshoot road towards the village of Crackpot and decided to explore. Some travelers strike out on an unfamiliar road and become lost but in the Dales you can experience an adventure and great beauty!  We were still sort of lost, however.  We wended along a hillside on a narrow one lane road that, thankfully, provided no oncoming traffic so reverse driving skills were not called into play. We drove up and over the fells, and back down towards Swaledale. 

Next we drove northward across some high and unbelievably beautiful open moors following the river and its falls as they run to the East. This is spring, the ewes were all out with their double sets of newborn lambs. As they ran across the fields, they were actually gambolling. what a sight. New lambs everywhere. We know that the price of wool is to the point of making it almost useless; we only have found lamb meat on one restaurant menu, so we are left wondering what happens with all the sheep. Something to investigate. The sky above these peaks is ever changing, from blue to cloud streaked, to totally cloudy. At one point our windshield wipers were beating double time, the next moment we were lowering the shades on the bright sun. Astonishing beauty was everywhere. 

Back at the cottage, we began our packing process and then had a last martini while Mark prepared a dinner from our remaining larder.  Sausages sliced into rounds and sautéed, then added into the scrambled eggs, accompanied by some red wine and double thick toast. It may not sound like much but it was delicious. We burned the last of our logs, tidied up the kitchen and tucked in for our last night in The Yorkshire Dales.

Sunday, April 12, 2026 - England

Sunday morning we awoke in our snug little cottage with a whole week of adventures ahead of us. A late brunch; Mark has to prepare his traditional English breakfast, although without the small fried tomato nor any baked beans. (We forgot those at the grocery run yesterday.) Fried egg, back bacon, sausage (banger) and toast & rhubarb strawberry jam accompanied by copious amounts of coffee. Sunday, there was little traffic about as we traveled again to Leyburn to pick up some additional supplies. Deb purchased a small ceramic pot from her favorite hardware/notions store and we laid in some more provisions from the Co-op store. The weather was drizzly rain and very cool, also a bit breezy; we are beginning to think we may have not packed enough warm wear. 

Returning to the cottage, we dined on some chips, crackers and cheese and watched the History Channel for an hour before crawling back up the steps and into our bed. Not a very exciting day, but we were glad to refresh our memories of the glorious Yorkshire Dales moors and byroads.

Monday morning, we again were up and breakfasted before heading out for a bit of some exploring. There seems to be the same orange cone season around the Dales as we encounter at home. Our Google Maps were not very helpful as to roadwork, but we found our way around via the various diversions, and finally arrived at Tan Hill Pub, Britain’s highest altitude pub. This visit has become a tradition with us, we enjoyed a late lunch of cheese, fruit, an ale, and a glass of wine. Our original route was thwarted by more road diversions, so we found an alternative and made our way back to our home based in Reeth. 

Reeth, in North Yorkshire, is in the civil parish of Reeth, Fremington and Healaugh. It is the principal settlement of upper Swaledale, the valley formed by the river Swale. The village dates back to the Saxon era and by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066, it had grown sufficiently in importance to be  listed in The Domesday Book. It later became a center for hand-knitting and the local lead mining industry was controlled from here; it was always a market center for the local farming community.

In May and June of each year, Reeth becomes the hub of the Swaledale Festival, a two-week celebration of music and guided walks. It is a center for hiking and bicyclists as it is along the Penine Way, a cross country hiking trail. There are, surprisingly, three public houses (The Kings arms, The Buck Hotel, and the Black Bull Hotel) plus some fine dining in the Burgoyne Hotel. All are within 3 minutes walking distance and most feature pretty authentic pub food.  We hope to dine in all four on this trip.

Following our return from Tan Hill, we rested for a bit and then walked across the village green to The Buck for some pub food. It was a bit crowded as there was a football game on the television, (Man City vs. Chelsea, Chelsea won 3-0.) Deb ordered a roast beef with mashed potatoes and a Yorkshire pudding. Mark opted for the burger and fries. Both meals were huge servings but we worked at it and made a pretty good showing!

After our dinner, we walked back across the green for some exciting TV time in the cottage, ending our first weekday in the Yorkshire Dales.

Tuesday morning we got an early start with just a piece of toast and a split banana. We mounted our trusty Mercedes and headed northwest toward the coast and the destination of the village of Seahouses in Northumberland. We are going here because of a chance conversation with a Dutch woman (now living in Malaga) at the car rental location in Leeds.  She was a lone traveller returning her car and she raved about Northumberland and seeing the puffins up close. Since the route was straightforward, most of it on the divided motorway, we decided this was a must-see and we had not been to that part of Northumberland.  We passed through Newcastle and eventually reached Seahouses. We had pre-booked a boat trip out to the uninhabited Farne Islands to view seals, puffins and other birds. Seahouses is also where most of the equipment and boats for sea rescues in the Northeast are located.  They have a museum with some fascinating history and the many rescue successes and failures over the past 150 years.

The Farne Islands are first recorded in 651 AD then they became home to Saint Aidan, followed by Saint Cuthbert. Among other acts, Cuthbert introduced special laws in 676 protecting eider ducks and other sea birds nesting on these islands. These are thought to be the earliest bird-protection laws anywhere in the world. There is no permanent population on the islands, although as they are now property of the National Trust, trust rangers do live there part time to care for the wildlife. Over the centuries, there have been many lighthouses on the islands. There are currently two, although they are automatic and no longer require lighthouse keepers.

While we enjoyed the day, the boat cruise was less than stellar as it was hard to see out the windows and the outside seats were all taken up by families with young children and dogs (not sure as to why the dogs wee along - perhaps they were training to be bird-dogs!)  Also we could not understand one word of the commentary because of a raspy loudspeaker.  We’ve come to find out (from a lovely woman in Reeth whom you will meet later) that if we had gone north of Seahouses (considered a tourist trap) we would have seen incredible coastline with castles and really quaint villages.  Maybe next time!

Returning to Reeth, we were back in time for our dinner reservation at The Black Bull Hotel Restaurant. We dined on a beef and ale pie and a spicy tagliatelle. Both meals were very tasty. We retired to our cottage for some more TV on the History Channel. We are learning a lot about ancient Britain and its history.

Thursday, April 9, 2026. Ireland and England

Thursday morning was a lazy time for the old folks, but a busy time for the youngsters. Garth headed into work today in Donegal at Abbot Laboratories. Zoe loaded the kids in the car for a very busy day. First stop was at the Fun Zone Place where the kids got to run around with their buddies, burning off excess energy while Zoe enjoyed a coffee and visited with some mothers. Then Esme headed off to a buddy’s home for a play day while Zoe returned home to pick up the Nebraskans. While Zoe took Arthur for a scheduled visit to the audiologist for an exam and hearing test, the adults, accompanied by our tour guide 9 year old Iris, were dropped at The Model, a former school building turned into an art gallery. We viewed art works on display and enjoyed a coffee, a slice of banana nut bread and huge chocolate chip cookie.

Leaving the museum, Iris led us on a “curated” walk through downtown Sligo ending at her favorite place, Fabio’s Ice Cream & Gelato Shop. While waiting for Zoe to arrive for the meet up, Iris and Deb partook of the products on offer (Deb and her love of the frozen desserts!) When Zoe and Arthur arrived, they purchased a pair of small cones as well as a take-way portion for the absent Dad and Esme. We walked back to the parking lot for the car, pick up of Esme and drove home.

We had earlier engaged the services of a local girl, Holly, as a babysitter for Thursday evening, and the adults drove back into Sligo for a restaurant meal. Zoë & Garth had selected an upscale place, Otto’s and we enjoyed sit down service, cocktails, some nice starters and gourmet pizza. One dessert was ordered and shared, together with an excellent bottle of wine as recommended by our waitress. Alas, after the cocktails and the pleasant conversation, no one remembered to write down the name of the wine (it was a wonderful red!)

Following dinner, we walked a few blocks to a famous pub, Connelly’s, for a nightcap. The place was packed and every TV was tuned to the playing of the Master’s Golf tournament where Rory McIlroy was in a commanding lead. Garth was the Designated Driver of the evening, so Mark, alone, was forced to try what is reputed to be the world’s finest tasting Guiness on offer, while Zoe selected a Jameson and ginger ale and Deb stuck with her red wine. We had a wonderful (if shouted) conversation and finally arrived home at 11:00. Deb had prepaid the baby sitter, so Garth drove her home while the rest of the troupe headed for beds.

Friday morning, our final full day wth the Highland family. We spent the morning with coffee, talk and wrangling children. After a quick lunch, we loaded into two vehicles for driving into Sligo for some errands. The day before, Mark had been tasked with measuring all the kitchen cabinet door fronts. They are currently a bright glossy red hard vinyl and the plan is to get new doors. Our first stop is the cabinet door shop store (a real place called Silver’s.) While Deb took charge of corralling the children and assuring that nothing was damaged by them as they roamed around the display floor, the other three adults discussed various options with the owner. While no final decision was made, options were discussed and the measurements were left for calculation of an estimate. 

Next, Mark and Garth departed on their own, while the other five headed to a store for some grocery shopping. All returned home and groceries were stowed and, as the afternoon was depleted, it was time for children to relax in front of the idiot box (television) while Zoe prepared dinner and the other adults enjoyed an appropriate beverage. We dined on a wonderful bolognese sauce over fettuccine noodles, plus some broccoli as a green. Dessert was a homemade cherry-apple strudele. After dinner, Mark and Deb took some time to pack their luggage for the coming early departure, and the children watched a promised movie while the adults visited (some dozing,) The children went down amidst much crying at our impending departure, tears and kisses were exchanged and they were tucked into their respective places.

Saturday morning we were awake by 4:30 for our early departure. Amazingly, Iris popped out of bed and was standing in the hall way for a final hug and kiss. Deb went into the bedroom for a quick hug with Esme and then Zoe appeared in her robe for a quick send off. She gave us a travel mug of coffee, some fruit for fuel and a last kiss goodbye. 

During the week, a protest had erupted around Ireland, centered on the cost of fuel (occasioned by the Israel/ U.S. war on Iran.) The resulting fuel cost increases were causing major hardship for businesses, trucking, delivery of products and enormous increases in cost of agriculture. The protesters were out clogging the roadways; tractors and semi-trailers were staging a slowdown on all major highways, especially around Dublin. Their aim was to get the Irish government to reduce or rescind the heavy taxation levied on fuel in order to ease the burden. The impact to us was  potential delays in  our three hour trip back to Dublin Airport and a missed flight  departure. 

We were on the road by 5:00 with Garth as our chauffeur. Although this was early and it was a Saturday, we weren’t sure of the impact on the roads. The traffic was light, and as we neared the airport, Garth took us off the freeway and onto some back roads to skirt any potential trouble spots. We arrived at the airport in good time, around 8:15 and said our goodbyes to Garth; immediately inside the terminal, Deb realized that her phone was missing from her coat pocket - a quick call to Garth and he swung back around to the departure area for Deb to retrieve her instrument, crisis averted.

Our flight to Leeds-Bradford airport in the U.K. was on time and we arrived in England by 11:30, ready for the Yorkshire portion of our spring holiday.  Our bags showed up (unlike in 2023) and we are off to find our low cost car rental! We had called to request an automatic car and said we would pay the difference.  Unfortunately, the only automatics they had were a LARGE SUV or a Mercedes sedan.  They said both would be the same upgrade price and insurance, which was much more than already paid.  So much for saving money.  So here we are driving around Middle Earth in a black Mercedes.  Mark is driving like a pro and I never worry.  We take our time, admiring the scenery and head to Leyburn for groceries and some soup & scones at The Post Horn, our favorite watering (and de-watering place!).  The weather is very, very cold and rainy and Deb does not feel dressed for the heavy winds and sleety rain.  Once we have picked up groceries for breakfast and some wine for tonight at Campbells, we head the 7 miles to Reeth and our home for the next 7 nights, Dinmore Cottage.  It is small and charming with all the mod-coms and a fireplace that works, which we start immediately.  By 7pm, we are snug in front of a TV that we can’t figure out how to work too well BUT with a glass of wine and some snacks.  To bed by 10pm and we slept like (very big) babies.

Ireland and England 2026, April 6

We are once again headed for Europe. We spent the past weekend overworking ourselves, hosting Abigail, Darcy and Bud (with attendant canine grandchildren,) for pancakes Sunday morning and then the rest of the afternoon in the gardens trying to clean up the areas prior to our departure. Monday morning, finished packing, Mark made the 2026 initial lawn mowing foray, and Deb was out in her pajamas cleaning up a pile of weeds and  doing some pruning. Darcy arrived at 1:30 to transport us to Eppley Airfield for our flight.

We arrived in Chicago a bit ahead of schedule and then spent some time at the food court eating an overpriced cheese pizza with glasses of red wine ($57.00 !!) Departure for the direct flight to Dublin was on time and we were boarding by 8:25 and off the tarmac by 9:30, eastward bound. An uneventful flight on an almost full plane but we were lucky to have a pair of aisle seats with an empty seat between us. Deb dozed a bit, Mark logged a fitful 26 minute nap and we landed slightly ahead of schedule at Dublin. Rapidly clearing customs & immigration, we waited over 45 minutes for the luggage to arrive. No mishaps and all three checked pieces made it through.

Zoe was there to greet us, and after a quick coffee, we loaded into her car for the three hour drive to Sligo, our destination for this trip. Her children are on spring break which is the timing for this trip. Garth took a few days off as well and all were happy to see us when we arrived around 2:00. We visited for a bit and had a quick cup of homemade mushroom soup before retiring to our guest bedroom for a bit of a nap in an effort to get a jump on the inevitable jet lag. 

Garth had been cooking dinner all day and we, after a glass of wine, we sat down to a delicious meal of chicken curry with veg.  Yummy!  Deb broke out some gifts for the children and after they were down for the night, we sat up and talked until the old folks were ready to pass out from their strenuous day of travel. Sleep was welcome and there was no lingering awake this night.

Wednesday morning broke clear and sunny, a relative rarity for the northwest coast of the emerald isle. Mark was up early, and the kids, who had been up and waiting, were quick to commandeer him into a game of Monopoly, the Omaha version, we had brought with us as a gift. Mark was the banker, and the kids were quickly into the game. Predictably, some squabbles broke out and attention lagged. Only one child made it around the board before the game was brought to a halt. 4 year old Arthur was struggling with the concept of “go to Jail” and didn’t understand that he lost a turn. Such is life kid!

While the children went outside to enjoy the day, playing in the yard and squabbling a bit, the adults enjoyed their coffee and plotted the day.  After a light lunch (with homemade ice cream sandwiches!!), Garth and eldest daughter Iris elected to remain home and the other five of us were off for a bit of sightseeing.

We drove northward a bit through the village of Grange, past the summer home, Classiebawn Castle, of the famous Lord Mountbatten. It was in the harbor of Mullaghmore that Mountbatten kept the boat which was blown up and he was killed, all the handiwork of the Provisional IRA, in 1979. Mountbatten was a maternal uncle of the Prince Phillip and a second cousin once removed of Queen Elisabeth II. He was a favorite uncle of the then Prince Charles. 

We drove on past and down to the beaches and cliffs of Mullaghmore Head. Across the Donegal Bay, were the scenic Slieve Mountains.

We drove into the village of Mullaghmore, a favorite summer resort town with a number of vacation homes. Lightly populated in this off-season time, it was very picturesque. There were walkers all along the roads; we were able to get some truly magnificent pictures of the scenery.

After a quick stop for ice cream for the kids (and Deb) we returned home, where Garth had prepared a wonderful roast chicken with vegetables together with some roasted potatoes. We enjoyed some wine, the kids opened another round of presents, this time books, and then they were off to bed following their bedtime stories from the new books. We again enjoyed a lovely evening of conversation and catch up, then into bed by 11:00 and fast asleep. We are becoming rested after a busy two days.

 

Southwest Driving Trip - The Road Home

Thursday morning, we arose at the normal time, enjoyed the sunrise over the Santa Catalina mountains, and also enjoyed a cup of coffee and some toast and fruit. We packed up our trusty RAV 4, said our goodbyes to Tom, Kevin and Liam, the Scotty dog; then, departing Tucson around 10:30 via I-10 heading in an easterly direction through Deming, NM where we joined I-25 heading north. 

We passed through the town of Truth or Consequences (founded as Hot Springs in the late 19th century.) According to Wikipedia, major settlement of Hot Springs did not begin until the construction of Elephant Butte Dam and reservoir in 1912 as part of the Rio Grande project. The city changed its name from Hot Springs to Truth or Consequences as result of a radio show contest. In March of 1950, Ralph Edwards, the host of the NBC Radio quiz show Truth or Consequences, announced that it would air the program on its 10th anniversary from the first town that renamed itself after the show. In a special election on March 31, 1950, the residents of Hot Springs voted 1295 to 295 to change the town’s name to Truth or Consequences, and the program was broadcast there the following evening. 

During our drive, we decided to snack on our stash of goodies that we had hauled along with us. Deb reached into the arm rest for her bag of Haribos Gummy Bears. Word to the wise: do not leave a bag of Gummy Bears in the vehicle parked in the Arizona sun for six days. They had melted into a colorful conglomeration. She tried to pry a few loose and finally had to resort to gnawing on the whole mass. The chocolate bar fared a bit better, it hadn’t puddled into a mess, but it still was a bit worse for the heat.

Continuing north, we arrived during rush hour at Albuquerque. The traffic on I-25 was horrific, as multi-lane roads merged and spun off. At one point there were 10 lanes of northbound freeway traffic, turning it into a huge parking lot.  We eventually pushed through and wound our way north to the outskirts of Santa Fe, where we had booked a LaQuinta Inn for the evening. Our good luck with LaQuinta ran out. This hotel was a large three storey facility with over 300 rooms. The price for our double bedded room on the first floor was only $76.00 including taxes, and we were tired, so we accepted the offer. We asked about a king size bed room, but that was extra and so we opted for economy.

We dined in the room on leftover sandwiches from the day before, some Cheezits, an apple and some wine from our stash. We watched a bit of TV and were asleep before 10:00 PM.

As we had showered at Tom & Kevin’s the morning before, we saw no need to shower. Mark misread his clock and was up by 4:45, and misquoted the time to Deb as “5 minutes to six” when she inquired sleepily from her bed. We were dressed and ready to carry our luggage out at 5:30. Unfortunately breakfast did not open until 6:00! We opened our door and noted that there was a shopping cart piled with clothes and a suitcase just outside our door, pushed up against the stairway leading to an upper floor. It seems we had gained a neighbor during the night who was sleeping underneath the stairway, partially hidden by their shopping cart!  Deb had texted Abby that this was the kind of motel where they find your body parts strewn across the desert.  This seemed to confirm that, although, since it was only 31 degrees, I am sure our neighbor was freezing.  Thinking about it, we hope he was alive!

We packed the RAV 4 and walked to the lobby for the included breakfast. The normal sausages, this time both link and patty, breads, biscuits and gravy and a waffle machine.  There was no attempt to stir up the freeze dried eggs to simulate fresh; they were just cooked in a sheet pan and then cut into cubes, roughly 1 1/2 inches to a side. The flavor (such as it is) was the same, but the presentation left something to be desired. Considering the $76.00 price point, we just shrugged, ate and refilled our coffee mugs for the road. We saw no reason to stop at the front desk to turn in our new neighbor and disturb his slumber, so finished up, hopped into the car and hit the road.

According to our trusty iPhones, the distance to Omaha from Santa Fe was calculated to be 13 hours. As the morning wore on, we discussed our choices and made a decision not to push the whole distance. North of Trinidad, NM, we left the interstate system and started our journey on two lane roads to Red Cloud. US Rte 60, headed east, thence on to US Rte 383 across Kansas, then north on US Rte 183 into Nebraska and switched to US Rte 136 in Alma, NE continuing east to Red Cloud and our reserved room at our favorite Hotel Garber in downtown Red Cloud.

This is our third stay at the Hotel Garber, and it felt like coming home. This is a down time for tourism in Red Cloud and south central Nebraska. In another week, there will be  influx of tourists for the annual Crane Migration with their stopping point some 75-100 miles north on the Platte River, between Kearney and Grand Island, but Red Cloud and Webster County have not yet been able to parlay this into much of a bonus for them.

It was really, really windy and cold outside so walking to the bowling alley (great Rubens) or the Palace restaurant (not as grand as it sounds) was an uninitiated option.  Juan’s Tacos next to the hotel was packed and we have, by now, run out of sandwiches and mostly wiped out our supply of Cheetos and chips, so we cleaned up and then headed downstairs to the dining room and treated ourselves to a lovely dinner.  We enjoyed a cocktail each and then dined on delicious wild rice and mushroom creamed soup (recipe by Brandi).   Deb ordered the steak points over potatoes, and Mark enjoyed a chicken Marsala with mashed potatoes. We enjoyed a nice glass of wine, and as we were the only diners in the entire dining room, we had a visit with the hotel manager/bartender/waitress, Brandi, with whom we had become acquainted on our previous visits. So glad we stayed in for dinner.

We retired to our room, fell into the wonderful king sized bed, and watched a little TV before dropping off shortly before 10:00 PM.

Saturday morning we packed up, went down to the dining room for a continental breakfast of bananas, scones, toast, juice and coffee. After loading up the RAV 4, we walked across the street to the National Willa Cather Center, and toured a wonderful photo display in the gallery: a series of photos taken over a 10 year period tracing the Underground Railroad stops from Louisiana up to freedom in Canada. We visited with staff, made use of the facilities, purchased a trio of books and headed out to home.

We pulled into the driveway of the house at 1:53 PM, having logged some 3,200 miles on this round trip journey to the Southwest. Poppy the cat was very glad to see us, although she spent most of the evening nipping at Deb to show her love/frustration. She also proved to Mark that the automated, self cleaning litter box was not really up to a 10 day absence. However, the helium filled balloons left over from Deb’s birthday party on February 21 held up amazingly and were still floating in the air!

 Could we have made better time flying? Yes. Could we have enjoyed it as much? No. We didn’t kill each other, although Mark didn’t know until we reached Santa Fe that Deb had secured a sharp kitchen knife in the armrest area of the car for possible protection from “thugs, hooligans” and other unsavory characters. Luckily he didn’t qualify!