Departure Day (Reed)

We woke up and went right into action. Sam and Ben’s departure was just a few hours away. We loaded up the van, had a quick breakfast in the hotel lobby, and left for the airport. On our final drive together in the Covid Wagon we listened to our favorite songs of the trip. After saying goodbye and ending our voyage together, I headed to a nearby parking lot to regroup and plan for the rest of the day. In just a few hours I would be picking my dad and sister up from the airport to begin the second segment of the trip. Making this journey with Sam and Ben was a blessing and something I will always remember and reflect upon. In a way this trip was a sample of the West. I hope this trip will be a catalyst for many future outdoor adventures for all three of us.

The arrival of my dad and sister inherently involve a new dynamic of the trip. This will be something to which I will have to adjust. After such a great two weeks, I am looking forward to a great second segment ahead.

Ben entering the PDX terminal

After their arrival we visited the Portland Japanese Garden. The garden was established about twenty years after World War II in an effort to mend cultural relationships between Portland and Japan. The serene nature of the Garden certainly serves as an oasis among the urban environment of Portland. Thank you, Mr. Tchoukaleff, for recommending that we visit the Garden!

One of the views in the Portland Japanese Garden

Downtown Portland and Mount Hood from a Japanese Garden terrace

My sister, Kendall, and me at the Portland Japanese Garden

After visiting the Garden, we went to dinner at McGrath’s Fish House, a northwestern seafood restaurant in Vancouver, Washington. My dad and sister had been up since 3:30 AM this morning, so we settled into bed early.