Just back from two weeks and a day on the road. Our destination was Victoria, BC for the annual Classic Boat Show, but we decided to take four days to get there from Colorado so that we could enjoy the trip along the way.
First Stop - Birding in Utah
We knew we wanted to go back to the Bear Valley Migratory Bird Refuge north of Ogden , remembering what a wonderful place this was when we stopped over during a road trip to Olympic NP in 2016. We had an eight hour drive from CO to Ogden and spent the next morning birding.
Here's what we saw.
A parade of pelicans...
A convention of egrets...
And a host of other wonderful birds...
Then it was on to Boise where we stayed at the very cool Modern Hotel and Bar and had dinner at Fork, both of which were a repeat from our 2016 trip.
Next stop was Hood River, Oregon, again duplicating what we did in 2016--staying in a lovely hotel on the Columbia River. Here's the view from our window. The grounds were just lovely, with flowers everywhere and lush lawns the likes of which we haven't seen in quite a while.
Final stop before Victoria was Port Angeles, Washington, where we took the 8:20 am ferry to Victoria, BC.
Pro Tip: the night before our ferry, we stopped in at the ferry terminal to check things out because we are both belt-and-suspenders travelers and had the best ice cream at Welly's in the terminal building. I still don't know what "blended New Zealand style" means, but it was awesome!
What We Listened to Enroute
First Degree, by David Rosenfelt - the second in the author's Andy Carpenter lawyer series. Andy is bright, self-effacing, and definitely a first-rate smart aleck. The plot was good, and this time Andy had to get his girlfriend/private investigator acquitted of murder, so the stakes were truly high. A wonderful road trip book which helped the time and miles fly by.
The Dark Hours, by Michael Connelly - the fourth Renee Ballard book and another one in which Renee calls on her friend and mentor, Harry Bosch, to work with her when an investigation links to one of Harry's old unsolved cases. Michael Connelly just never disappoints, and this proved to be another great road trip book. Not too scary but tense enough to be captivating.
We also started A Walk in the Park, a nonfiction about hiking in the Grand Canyon, but quickly discovered that nonfictions just don't work as well on the road. I will restart this again as it was promising, just not the right time for it.
Up next is a week in Victoria, BC. See you on the flip side.
Hi Jane, It sounds like you guys had a great time driving from Colorado through the Pacific Northwest. Been to Utah never been to Oregon which I know is beautiful from the Oregon Coast pictures I've seen.
ReplyDeleteI must try the Renee Ballard series I would begin at the beginning. I find that reading books in audio is becoming my preferred way to read.
I had wanted to spend some time on the Oregon coast but decided to spend a week in Victoria instead. Next trip!
DeleteRenee Ballard is a great character--from Hawaii, a surfer, a dog owner--I like the way Michael Connelly keeps expanding his Harry Bosch universe.
I love the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge! I try and go every spring when there are more nesting birds; the last time I went in the autumn I didn't see very many...but you got some great shots. Is it still the alternate auto route right now? Because that route seems to get you closer to more birds imo. Glad you had such a good trip! :D
ReplyDeleteSpring is definitely the best time to visit Bear River MBR, but it was still worth stopping for. Yes, the alternate route is still going, and it did eventually take us by some great flocks of birds. We did the trail by the visitor's center but saw and heard nothing while walking it.
DeleteThat's a great trip and you have some wonderful photos of birds. I love pelicans, but never saw so many in one place.
ReplyDeleteI think Idaho and Oregon need to go on my bucket list.
I love pelicans too! I always thing of Finding Nemo when I see them :)
DeleteSounds like a wonderful trip, Jane! I remember seeing a lot of the white pelicans when we drove through Klamath Falls several years ago. I don't think I'd seen anything other than brown pelicans before that!
ReplyDeleteI think I've been to the hotel you stayed at in Hood River. but I can't remember the name. Columbia River Hotel & Spa, maybe?
Looking forward to hearing about your stay on Vancouver Island. It's my happy place!!
We stayed at the Westcliff Lodge in Hood River--same place as in 2016, but with a new name. They had updated the rooms since we stayed there last time, and it was really nice.
DeleteVancouver Island is wonderful. Will post about it this coming week.