Despite the fatigue, I was excited to be back. Summer in the Pacific Northwest is idyllic, and Oregon was home for five years. We arrived in the middle of a heat wave with temperatures soaring over 100 degrees, but the landscape was still green from the winter and spring rains.
Tom and I rented a car and drove to his parents' house in Hillsboro. The weekend passed quietly as I jumpstarted my summer tan and fought off jet lag. Tom's parents took us out for Mexican food, which is the only cuisine that we've found lacking in Melbourne. We really enjoyed Sunday's family dinner with Tom's siblings.
Tom and I rented a car and drove to his parents' house in Hillsboro. The weekend passed quietly as I jumpstarted my summer tan and fought off jet lag. Tom's parents took us out for Mexican food, which is the only cuisine that we've found lacking in Melbourne. We really enjoyed Sunday's family dinner with Tom's siblings.
The Marshall house sits near the start of the Rock Creek Trail - a scenic greenway extending 3 miles south from Rock Creek Blvd, and then for a short on-street connection before arriving at Orenco Woods Nature Park. Having always resided in southeast Portland, learning the west side was new.
The next week flew by in a flash, despite the long days. Monday began with wedding errands - dress fitting, ring and marriage license pick-up, and a visit to the reception venue. In the afternoon, I visited our old neighbors in southeast Portland - Georgia, Jonathan, and Ellen. It was great to be back in the neighborhood, but I couldn't believe how much had changed in just a year - notably different restaurants and traffic patterns.
That evening, Tom and I met my friend Kyle for a drink at Wonderly in northeast Portland. Our friends Kyle and Dani live in the same neighborhood, so we stopped by their house on the way home for a surprise visit.
Anna and Alex flew in from Denver on Tuesday, and picked me up on their way to the coast. Cannon Beach was bustling with people, presumably seeking refuge from the heat wave in Portland. We purchased the obligatory chocolate-covered "sea foam" and dined at Pelican Brewery; night cap at MacGregor's Whiskey Bar.
Staying overnight at the coast is special, allowing you to experience the shifting tides and lighting. The next morning, low tide at Haystack Rock revealed a large section of tide pools. I had never seen so many starfish or pelicans!
Afterwards, we hiked from nearby Ecola State Park to Indian Beach. This easy 4-mile trek winds through tall old-growth trees and coastal ferns before ending at a scenic beach. How I've missed these trees!
That afternoon, we drove north along the coast to Astoria, with lunch at Fort George Brewery.
We then returned to Portland to meet my parents and Rita - who flew in from Pittsburgh and Tampa - at our vacation rental house in southern Beaverton. Dinner at Breakside Brewery.
Thursday was my parent's 37th wedding anniversary! Tom left for his bachelor party in Lincoln City, while I finalized wedding details. I met my work friends, Gus and Thavi, for happy hour at our favorite bar, Loyal Legion.
On Friday, Anna and I hiked on Mt. Hood. Mirror Lake is an easy 4-mile wooded trek that leads to an alpine lake.
On Friday, Anna and I hiked on Mt. Hood. Mirror Lake is an easy 4-mile wooded trek that leads to an alpine lake.
I miss Portland's close proximity to epic outdoor adventure, but traffic has certainly worsened - especially based on where we were staying. On the way back through town, we met Rita and Patrick at breweries Great Notion and Brujos.
Anna and I had our nails done on Saturday before the wedding rehearsal at the Marshall property. Following the rehearsal, Tom's parents hosted a welcome dinner for an intimate group of family and friends, particularly the out-of-towners. We loved catching up with everyone and sharing our experience from our first year abroad, but I felt uncomfortable being at the center of it all - which is when the butterflies set in!
