Serendipity, It's a wonderful thing!

We have a "tradition" when it comes to going to Portland...we try and stay near the city, for about three days.  The first day is to go to park and settle in the campground. The second is to go to  Powell's City of Books for several hours to stock up on books for us, for Christmas and birthday presents and then to go to Old Town Pizza for a late lunch  with donuts at Voodoo Donuts after wards for a treat.  The third day we usually visit with family or friends in the area.

That usually was the plan.  I called first choice, they were booked up, so I called our second, they had availability, so I booked the three nights.  I didn't call any family or friends to say we were coming, something in me just said "to wait", so I did.

We settled in.  Later that day we noticed a group of campers across from us pulling out all of their belongings and washing everything.  There were three couples in the group.  All afternoon and evening they were at it.  In the morning, I told Jack "I think they must have encountered a bad dust storm, only thing that could have gotten that badly into every single nook and cranny!"  He thought it might be "beach sand" since we were in Oregon, and not that far from the ocean.  As he was outside, he went over to them and talked with them.  He came back and said "you called it sweetheart!  They were at Burning Man!  They are all from Holland and have just spent ten days at Burning Man!"

 

We then went  into Powell's and did our shopping, then to Old Town Pizza for our late lunch.  While there, we had a nice talk with the young man serving us about donuts.  We had heard about Blue Star Donuts, so asked him "Blue Star or Voodoo?"  He said "Blue Star, definitely!"  He said "Blue Star is quality, Voodoo is novelty".  So, we went to Blue Star.  Wow, what an experience!  It was like walking into a jewelry store and being shown precious pieces (and so were the prices).  But, the quality was really there.  We decided to splurge and buy a dozen and take them back to the Holland group!
So, box in hand, we marched over to their campsite and asked if they were ready for a break?  And did they they like donuts?  YES!  We all sat down and everyone introduced each other...to many names to remember...but we all sat around for more than an hour and talked and talked.  What fun!

I ended up spending time with Fred, who turned out to be a photographer, and as would have it we exchanged emails and Flickr accounts.  We met a couple more times to chat, but they had to finish cleaning as they were going store their RV with family and fly back to Holland on Thursday.  It was such a short visit, but we all got so much fun out of it.  It just "clicked".  Fred said more than once that he would stay in touch, read my blog, etc.  I hope so.  Life is full of surprises.

We opened up our door Thursday morning and a lovely bottle of Jonge Bols Graan Jenever was left on our door step.  ;-)

Catching up in Arizona,  Marie

Nashville Side Trips!

Nashville is close to several "other" places (besides music, that is), it only made sense to use it as a "home base" while we made side trips!  One of those side trips was to the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg TN.  Anyone who knows my husband, knows that one of the very few drinks he does drink, is Jack Daniels, so of all the distilleries to choose from in Kentucky & Tennessee, this would be the one to see!  What a great tour they give too!  Ron, our tour guide, had a great sense of humor and could answer just about any question you could come up with...all accept the famous "why the number 7"?  And the reason he can't answer that question, is because...no one knows!  Good ole Jack never told anyone!  Lots of guesses as to "why", but truth be told...no one really knows...there were no numbers 1 through 6...only number 7!  Oh well...7's a good number, and a good whiskey, just ask my husband!  ;-)  (I think he likes the hint of vanilla).  One of the funny things about the distillery, is that it's in a dry county!  They can make it there, but you can't drink it or sell or buy it there! ...well, with one small exception (of course)!  A few years ago, and a few cases of their best whiskey, the fellas at the distillery went to visit the local politicians and got to talkin' to them about this law of theirs.  They came to an 'agreement' that it would be 'alright' for them to sell special, limited bottles, that customers couldn't purchase anywhere else.  So, there are about 6 different size/shapes of these bottles that you can have engraved, that you can "only get there, at their store on site" and no where else!  Of course, we had to get one!  We thought it would be a great addition to the Thanksgiving Feast!  ;-)

Where Jack discovered the water for the distillery

Ron & Jack at the "water" for the distillery

One of the 7 floor barrel warehouses

Jack Daniels - Not a very tall man, only about 5'2"

Another side trip was to the National Corvette Museum & the Corvette Assembly Plant in Bowling Green KY.  We went to the Assembly Plant first.  Unlike the Toyota Plant, this was a walking tour, but like the other, very thorough.  It's always interesting to watch how people put these cars together; they make it look so easy, even though you know it's not!   One of the most interesting things I thought was that every car being made was already sold.  They started off showing us the colors, they always have about 10, with about 3 to 4 new ones each year.  One of the 2014 colors is a dark green that the guide said wasn't very popular, so they probably won't be keeping it - and, of course, it's the one that I liked the most!  Give that to me, in a convertible with a tan interior and top please!  Yum!

 Each car had a spec sheet attached because the "owner" has choices as to the extras he/she wants on it, so in essence, every car is "special ordered".  They can't make them fast enough to keep up with the demand...pretty cool, I think.  How many other American companies would like to be able to make that claim?  Good for them!
How many manufacturing companies can say that?

From there we went across the street to the museum.  Owners can pick their new cars up from here if they wish, and while we were there, one did!  Vroom, Vroom!  Away he drove!

Louis Chevrolet, founder's 1953 Polo White

This is where the sinkhole happened in February this year, where 8 cars fell in and were crushed.  Very sad.  One of the cars was a 1.5 million dollar car donated just weeks before the tragedy.  The museum itself is beautiful, and has a great deal of cars and memorabilia to enjoy.   On the "up side", the sinkhole has brought a lot more visitors to the museum, so that means more income, which helps them to off-set the repairs (beyond what the insurance doesn't pay) and help support the museum!  The docent said they immediately had tests done to make sure there were no further sink holes in or around them (nor across the street at the assembly plant)!  Thank goodness!

...kicking back in Nashville,  Marie


If you wish to view the rest of the photos from this trip, you can at my Flickr account at:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/74905158@N04/