Columbia to Columbus - A Gift For You

 

 

 

 

My phone rang in the middle of the night. It was 2am PDT. Generally speaking, I wouldn't have bothered but being out of town, I didn't want to miss an important call. It was our security provider calling to report issues with our home phone line. Still half asleep I was slow to process, clarifying what the issue was. She explained that while they were detecting phone line issues there were no alarms. Wanted to know if we wanted them to dispatch the cops to check out our phone line. Uh, no! Spooked me. It was hard to go back to sleep.

I've made countless visits to the Portland/Vancouver area to see and ski with Glenn, and for whatever the reason - perhaps none - it seems to pour rain the day I leave more often than not. I keenly remember these occasions only because I wake having to run in a downpour thus having to pack wet running clothes for home. Ugh! This visit was no different. I was up at 7am and after glancing out the hotel room window could see that it was coming down in buckets.

Taking it in stride, I got into my running clothes then headed out to the streets of Vancouver. Rather than run along the river I decided to run north on Columbia Ave towards Glenn's house and back. It's all uphill from the river, but a gradual one. Ran to Glenn's place and turned around. Felt odd not stopping in. Ran back past the hotel all the way to the Red Lion at the Quay then finally back to the Hilton. I ran through Esther Short park both on the ascent and descent stopping to pat the bronze statue - "A Gift For You" - on the head, just as I have for the past 15 or so years. Notice numerous homeless folks gathered in the pavilion or park's ornate shelter house.

Back in the hotel, Mindy was already out of the shower but in the bathroom. I started the final packing while waiting to shower. Once out of the bathroom, Mindy shared that she was ill and had a UTi, a urinary tract infection. She was in tremendous pain, too, so she called brother Craig who called in a prescription to the local Fred Meyer. I hoped it was the one at Columbia Shores, just down the road from our hotel and our breakfast venue. It was. It's my guess that she got the infection from the all the hot tubbing we did all week. I was showered and packed by 800am. The kids were quick to ready. Jacob takes the fastest shower in the west. We left the hotel near 845am. Mindy called Glenn to tell him that we might e a little later for breakfast. Instead of 930am, she guessed 945am.

Missed the correct turn onto Columbia Shores drive and somehow ended up on 14 E. Yikes. Had to go to the next exit which was about two miles past our destination to turn around. No biggie. Bella headed inside Fred Meyer with Mindy while Jacob and I waited in the van. Rain, rain, rain. It was a gloomy day. I was looking forward to home but still a little melancholy just the same. That's pretty much par for the course. Mindy sent me a text. Didn't have the meds Craig prescribed. He had to call in another. Long wait. Maybe half an hour. Time-wise, we weren't in a big hurry. Our plane wasn't scheduled to take-off until 2pm PDT. I think it was near 955am when Mindy finally came out of Fred Meyer. In addition to the prescription, she bought some over the counter pain meds exclusively for Uti's. Seemed to already be taking the edge off. Speaking of off, we were finally off to breakfast.

Glenn was there and waiting at a table at the Quay already enjoying coffee. Not a lot of customers but still the same slow service as the Saturday before. The food is good and the staff friendly, just slow. I was patient. Finally coffee. Yum! At one point or another we all headed to the large picture windows overlooking the Columbia looking to spot sea lions. Yep, we saw them poking their heads up. presumably feeding on the salmon, or whatever else lurks in those waters. Glenn shared that there's a lively local debate about their presence and potential over feeding. Somehow I think that humans are much greater harm to the fish population than that of sea lions.

Ordered the same thing I did Saturday, an omelet with sausage, cheese, peppers, etc. It came with hash browns and toast. Very filling! Couldn't finish but came close. Glenn declared the breakfast check his. Thanks Glenn. Despite taking our dear old time, it was 1120am when we waltzed out of the Quay to our cars. Glenn pulled around to the minivan so we could transfer the cooler full of food as well as a box of dry goods and booze. Gave him the tire chains too, so he can return them for a full refund since they went unused now for the third time in a row. Said our goodbyes and gave him a hug and headed our separate ways. Shortly before that I clarified where we might best refuel before returning the rental van and then how to pick-up 14E. Easy directions. Columbia to McLaughlin to Chevron then the freeway entrance is right there. Cool! Honked as Glenn stayed straight on Columbia St heading north back towards home.

Filled up with gas. Took about 4 or 5 gallons. Not much, having just filled up in Govy Camp the morning prior. Off to the airport and Thrifty rental return. We've rented from Thrifty numerous times thus know the exit and area well, which is just east of the airport off Airport Way Dr on Holman St. Turn right at the Shilo Inn. Didn't take long for the return. Never does. They are very efficient. had our receipt and luggage curbside within a few minutes. Oops! Noted that we left Glenn's cooler tray in the rental. Also left several cans of soda and bottled water. Nevermind, the attendant said they'd dispose of the soft drinks. Sent Glenn a text about his cooler tray should he care to stop by Thrifty to get it.

There was a full shuttle pulling away but another right behind it. We were at the airport in no time at all, still before noon. Check-in and security were fairly quick. At our gate and waiting by 1215pm. Bella picked up a souvenir for her pal, Makayla- a miniature Oregon suck mascot. Soon joined by the McVey/Harmer contingent. As it often does, the wait to board went fast. Soon it was 130pm and we were boarding our plane for home. Still pouring rain in Oregon. All four of our flights were completely full, but we had favorable boarding numbers so sitting next to one another wasn't an issue. We ran into the same family we flew out with from CMH.

This time I grabbed an aisle next to Mindy and Bella. Jacob sat with Lane and Darwin while Jordan and Brad took seats one row back. Brad slept most of the flight into Chicago. I read mostly, but also did a little sleeping, especially as we sat waiting to take off on the tarmac. We were socked in with clouds and rain so we couldn't see much before, during and after takeoff. Too bad. The Cascades are gorgeous from the air. Sadly, didn't get to see Yellow Stone either. Instead, just clouds. Oh well!

As with most west coast/east coast flights, the day goes by incredibly fast. We landed in Chicago at 745pm CDT. Where had the day gone. Our departing gate for CMH was just down the way a few. Having not eaten since 10am PDT, we made a beeline to the McDs that was right there. Of course it had the longest line too, and they weren't very efficient. By the time we got our food, our flight for home was boarding. We opted to carry it unopened on board. We couldn't help but laugh at Jacob who in the short walk from McD's to our gate somehow misplaced his soft drink. Tisk tisk!

The flight from Chicago to Columbus is always a fast one - up and then down. I read most of the way - about 40 minutes - before they asked us to return our tray tables and to prepare for landing. Making it even faster, we landed from the west heading east. which hasn't been the case the last several years. Nice! Felt and smelt good to be home.
Baggage claim was fast. All 7 of our bags were some of the first off. Not sure how that worked out. but hey!

And since dad was picking us up curbside, we didn't have far at all to walk. I knew he was there waiting in the cell lot having sent him a text as soon as our plane landed. Loaded for home in a hurry. Dad wasn't very talkative, but I was. Shared lots of stories. Dad helped us carry everything in the house. The house seemed to be all in order - nothing amiss. By then it was near midnight. We quickly unpacked only those things absolutely necessary to call it a night, which wasn't too much. I quickly got my home PC back online and began downloading pictures while also enjoying a cold White Rajah. Yum! Good to be home.