American Cruise 2nd

Tuesday September 17, 2019

Mt. St. Helens (Top Blown off)

Land Slide Remains

Mt. St Helens was “awesome”.  Recalling from 1980 in Wisconsin, our experience was just “Ash Clouds”.  But here we see the true experience of the event.  Literally blew the entire top of the mountain off.  Created the largest land slide know to humans.  Taking out everything in its path for some 20-30 miles.

Beached Ship to Disembark

Incredible!!   Flooding, mud, ash.  The visitors center had a very visual video of the event.  Very worthwhile visit.

Multnomah Falls

Our next visit was Multnomah Falls.  Rainy day but a   90 min bus ride there and back, but well worth it.  Interesting docking, beached the ship for a forward ramp departure.  There are over 1,000 falls in this gorge area, many inaccessible by normal  public transportation, back pack and hike only.  So we were grateful to see this one.
magnificent view of the falls.

WAAAM Museum

Packard

Afternoon we experienced the village of Hood River.  Toured the WAAAM ie; Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum.  Over three football fields of displays, all under roof.   Amazing!  Everything you can imagine on display, most in working order.  Easily could spend a full day here.  On to Dalles, Oregon tomorrow.





Wednesday September 18, 2019

Fort Dalles Anderson House

After a mid-morning breakfast, decided to take the “Discover Dalles” Shuttle. A hop on hop off tour of the area.  First stop the Columbia River Gorge Discovery Center.   Geological history as well as settlement history.  Then on to Fort Dalles Museum, a United States fort settlement providing protection for explores of the Northwest.  Lots and lots of history.  Final stop downtown tour of a “Neon Sign Presentation”.  Very interesting presentation of the development of Neon Signs.  More history, but good.

Neon Sign History

Thursday September 19, 2019


Continuing our journey upstream on the Columbia River to Pendleton, Or.

Pendleton

Hamley Resturant

Ship at Dock

Underground Bath

Brothel Option

Underground Gambling

Here we get to tour the “underground city”.  Created primarily to harbor cheap Chinese labor to build the railroads, expanded

Pendleton Woolen Mill

 to provide pleasure for the American Cowboys, brothels, gambling, drinking, bathing, etc.  Lunch at Hamley’s Resturant and then on to “Tamastsklit Reservation Culture Center.  (Try to pronounce that)  Anyway, very interesting.  Then on to the Pendleton Woolen Mill.  Many of you may know of the Pendleton products, expensive!

On the way back to our ship we viewed a video on “The Manhattan Project”.  This is the area it all took place.  The secret building of the “Atomic Bomb”.    

Hundred of thousands of people employed without a clue as to what was going on.  Scary

 but true!


Friday September 20, 2019


Our final leg and journey up The Snake River, final destination Clarkston.  My brides birthday today, Happy Birthday to Shari Mae.  I won’t say how old!   Chose to relax our final day on board.  

Tomorrow bags out and early departure for the airport at 8:30am.  Listened to the final presentation from our Lewis and Clark on board Historian.  He did a great job and certainly educated us in the settlement of the great Northwest.  Our trip rose river depth some 750ft from start to finish.  Numerous locks rising some 70-90’ each.

Snake River

See ya at home!

American Crusie 1rst

Friday September 13, 2

Red Lion Hotel

Red Lion Hotel

Well another adventure for the Kime’s.  Left Orlando airport on Alaska Airlines on a non-stop flight to Portland, OR to board American Cruise Lines, Columbia & Snake River eight day Cruise.  Met our good friends Bill & Judy Hesser joining us from Oshkosh, Wi on the cruise.  Unfortunately, there travel plans got complicated by airline mechanical problems missing a connection, causing a sleep over in Seattle, but finally making the ship after a full 24hr miserable travel day.  So much for “Friday the 13^{th ”} and a full moon!  Our day was much better, arriving 20 minutes ahead of schedule.  Anyway, that’s why it is always good to plan an extra day ahead for a major trip, and we both did the Pre-cruise overnight at the Red Lion Hotel in Portland.

American Song

Saturday September 14, 2019

Morning began with a delightful breakfast with Bill & Judy finally joining us.  This was followed by our Cruise Director briefing and Boarding instructions.  Boarding began at 10:30am and our state rooms were ready.  Very nice ship, American Song, built in 2018, so new.  184 Guests.  33

Boarding American Song

Very comfortable ship, lovely state room.  We were actually supposed have boarded American Pride, a Paddle Wheel Boat, but due to a river lock closed, we start on Song and will transfer to Pride after the Lock.  A little inconvenience but not too bad.  Our journey will take us from Astoria, OR to Clarkston, WA / Lewiston, ID.  Pulled away from the dock at 1:30pm in Portland in route to Astoria for overnight docking.

The afternoon while in route to Astoria, we had a presentation by a historian covering the exploration and discovery of the Columbia River.  Signed up for side trip excursions offered for the upcoming week. Dinner around 7pm, early bed after a full day.

Sunday September 15, 2019

Red Lion Hotel

Up Early for a Hop on Hop Off tour of Astoria.  Shuttle to downtown quick walk through the farmers market.  Stopped in front of “Liberty Theater”, the first acting job for Clark Gable.   Then on to Maritime Museum.  Astoria Column, a 125 foot monument showing the 300 years of competition between Spain, England, France, Russia and the United States.   Magnificent view after climbing 164 steps.  Finally, the tour of the Flavel House Mansion.  The wealthiest family in Astoria.  Fun day.  Walked to check out the marina before returning to the ship.

Monday September 16, 2019

Early morning departure from Astoria.  Beautiful river scenery.  Excursion today to Mt. St. Helens.  But first a presentation by our on board Historian covering the Lewis & Clark Expedition.  Of course including a major part of the Columbia / Snake Rivers.  Awesome story with a bit of humorous presentation.  Our departure for St. Helen was 1:00pm.  Recalling the famous volcanic blast from 1980 affecting the majority of the United States.  More to come another day.

Cabo Sat 1/26, Sun 1/27/2019

Cabo – Sat 1/26, Sun 1/27/2019 

Mango Deck

Well last full day so decided to make it a “beach” day.  Most popular beach recommended is Medano Beach.  Arrived around noon, so lunch in order.  Found a place called “Mango Deck”.

Medano Beach

  Most know what beach life is, ie; Umbrella’s, deck chairs, and beverage of choice.  Well how can I describe this.  Um. Maybe like Las Vegas Strip on the beach or New Orleans Mardi Grai on the beach.  Well, let’s just say “very” active.  Tequila shots everywhere.  Bikinis galore.  Sexual innuendos sold. Marketing hawkers everywhere.  (Kathy purchased) Stage contests that we can’t discuss.  Well not the beach we intended, but entertained us for a couple of hours, then the “old farts” left.  I think we were the oldest there.   We could still hear the music from Mango Deck  at our Condo at 3am in the morning, we think just on weekends.

Kathy Purchase

Leaving around 3pm, took a little road trip North along the beach observing the resorts along the way.  Stopping downtown Cabo for some side street shopping and a specialty coffee shop.

Dinner at a lovely Italian restaurant off the beat and path.

Italian Dinner

Saturday, prepare for departure around 11:30 am for a 2:46pm flight, change in Houston.  Back to Orlando 11:00pm, so it will be a long day, home by 1:30 prox.

Cabo summary, It was a great week!  So happy Kathy and John could join us but missed Tom & Helene.  Not sure a return is in order for us, “been there done that”.  But glad we did.  Very heavy tourist area.

Cabo - Friday 1/25/2019

Cabo – Friday 1/25/2019

Today a “Road Trip”.  Decided to get out of Cabo tourist area and take in a little “local” color.  Headed up Hwy 19 NW to Todos Santos.  About one hour, maybe 45 miles,  just in time for lunch.   Their name to fame is the famous “Hotel California”. 

Hotel California

 

Hotel Court Yard

While not connected directly to the famous Eagles Song  “Hotel California”, the song certainly made them an attraction.  Nice place with lodging, dinning, bar, and gift shop.  The “Banos” doors an attraction itself, click to enlarge.  (wish I could do that)

Bano's

 

Lunch Pecaddos

Anyway, found a more local place for lunch, (Pecados), shared a burrito and burger along with a Margarita of course.  After lunch inquired about a public beach seeing they are located right on the Pacific Ocean.   Directions challenging and lots of bumpy dirt roads.

Lunch

  Lots of local color as well.  Finally asked a young man and daughter, pretty good English.  Continued on our way, lost again.  Connected with the young man again on way back.  Stopped and he said “follow Me”.  Got to the beach and tried to tip him 30 peso’s  but he adamantly refused.  Found this to be indicative of the locals.  Nice people.

The beach was very long and sparse with people or dwellings. 

Beach

Not a good swimming beach, way too much breaking surf.  Beautiful sand though.  Spent a little time walking and then decided to head back towards Cabo.  Late afternoon DQ desert.  Stopped at a Casino, Kathy & John a small try at slots, a small donation.

Back to the Condo, make plans for our last day.  

Cabo- Thurs 1/24/2019

Cabo – Thurs 1/24/2019

Whale Watching!  Beautiful day, sunny temps Mid 70’s.  Arrived at Cabo Whale Watching at 11:30 for a noon departure.  Young German Lady led us with a young male assistant.  Boat was a 32’ Whaler type boat, open bow but covered top.  Captain was local Mexican.  After  some safety briefing we headed out of harbor.  Life jackets on. 

Some scenic discussion on the way out of harbor.

Our first sighting was a “spectacular” Humpback Breech".  Rare but beautiful.  Numerous more sightings of Humps and Tail Dives.  After some time, Capitan opted to move to hopefully a move active spot.

 Unfortunately, the wind picked up creating some four foot swells, bringing spray over the bow and all very “wet”.  Oh well, part of the adventure.   More sightings with a partial breech.  After 2-1/2 hours we head back to harbor.  A good trip but a little wet.

Head back to condo, shower and dry.  Dinner out to a local steak house, “Patagonia”.  Kathy, John and Shari ordered Tenderloins and I did Rib Eye.  Tenderloins great, Rib Eye not so good, tough, unusual for Rib Eye.  Oh well.  Anyway, the place was quaint and nice. 

A little bit off the beaten path.  Waiter offered us four free Tequila shots for the bad steak.  Feel better now!  Back to Condo for an early night in.

Cabo - Wed 1/23/2019

Cabo – Wed Jan 23, 2019

After a morning Mexican breakfast in the shopping food court

Mexican Breakfast

we decided to check out the Visitor of Tourism Center located in the Harbor.  Not much new as most attractions are “hawked” by local vendors.  Some interest in perhaps a road trip away from the tourist area to a local community, Maybe “Hotel California”, perhaps Friday or Saturday.

Leaving the Tourism center, we stopped at a “Dolphin Center” where you can swim and touch.  We opted for a “Window View”.  Further on in the Harbor we found a local feeding Seals.  They were very loud and begging to be fed.

Begging Seal

  Tourist of course offered fish scraps to attract.  One person held the fish tale by their mouth as the seal jumped air born to retrieve.  Fun!

feeding Seal

Our day ended with the dinner sunset cruises.  Boarding time at 4:30 for a 5:00pm departure.  Line already fully formed at 4:20pm.  Nice boat offering Sun Set cruise to the Big Sur Arch, probably one of the most photographed natural settings in the world. 

Arch

Slow cruise from harbor to Arch, then after sun set along the Pacific Coast.  Two Hour duration.  Absolutely beautiful!  Enroot, Mexican Dinner served and an open bar, mostly beach drinks and Margaritas.  A wonderful experience.

Resident

  More pictures than I know what to do with.  Again, the wealth of coastal housing is unbelievable.  Hardly a foot print left to build.

 

Sun Set / Foot Print ?

Back to Condo to finish another wonderful day.

Cabo Mon 1/21

Cabo – Mon, January 21, 2019

Lunch WTF

Well we moved a little slow in the AM, adjusting for travel fatigue and the two hour time adjustment. 

Marina

 Went shopping to provision the condo with some basics, ie; booze, water and ice.  Wal Mart of course.  Time Share sales people everywhere, even in the Wal Mart isles.  Swear if you can “breathe” down here your selling time shares.

Shopping done, we headed downtown to the marina area.  Lunch or meal of the day at WTF.

Shopping Mall

  Let your imagination define the meaning of the acronym. Food was good! Margaritas Great!

My Guest House

  After lunch we walked the marina and found a bank to convert some US dollars to Pesos.  18 Pesos to One Dollar.  Did some shopping downtown.

Took a road trip up the mountain to the “High Rent” district.  Wow!  Awesome homes.  No idea this kind

My Cottage

of wealth in Mexico, of course we are in Cabo.  Drove back down to the beach area.  Actually looking for the “private beach” for our Condo Association, but not sure we found.

Anyway, spectacular views and incredible properties.

Bob designated driver again.  Navigations getting a little better.  John helpful by drawing a map as we go.  Traffic still an issue to learn, in one word "caution", nobody yields or stops it seems.  Speed bumps only form of traffic control, and they are "big".

Back to the condo for a quiet evening and a gorgeous view of the “Full Blood Moon” on our balcony.

  Infinity swimming pool right off our balcony, but water is cold, not heated,

Full Blood Moon