Today 2July2023

I am not feeling well this evening. I had Mexican food at the Aloha Mazatlan Restaurant and a small margarita (usual, salt, over ice), and dinner is not settling. I think my colon is messing with me again, and resisting all the jokes that come to mind, I will just go with “this too will pass.” This has squashed my plans to clean and organize the house this late afternoon. I am tired, too; I think everything I did today may have worn me out.

Returning to the early afternoon, I boarded Air Volvo after showering and dressing. I headed to Susie’s place at the hummingbird house in Portland (Tigard) at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. The traffic was light in Beaverton. I noticed various Sheriff Deputy SUVs for Washington County, but nobody pointed radar guns and gave out tickets on a lovely early afternoon Sunday. No smoke. Clear skies and a pleasant breeze.

Anassa, the weekend nursing aide and filling in for the holiday weekend, had Susie ready when I got there and popped Susie from the wheelchair into the co-pilot seat of Air Volvo. Anassa found it challenging to get Susie inside without hitting Susie or her head on the doorframe–I have the same issue and hit my head a few lifts back. But, without incident, Susie was safe, and we headed out for a driving holiday.

I believe the traffic was light in Beaverton as everyone was in Portland, well, at least on the highways, and we soon slowed as we made a giant circle. I first headed towards Seattle on Highway 5 and only slowed to a stop when approaching Vancouver, Washington’s draw bridge. Once across the Columbia River, which looked fabulous with Mount Hood aligned to the river making a perfect view, we headed towards the east. The plan was to enjoy the crazy road on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge (sometimes a squeezed two-lane paved road) and turn back at The Bridge of the Gods at Cascade Locks (on the Oregon side).

The traffic became light, and the road had two lanes with passing lanes and pull-offs, as is usual here in the Pacific Northwest. The road often has no shoulder, and there is only a light barrier, should you crash, that could slow you from plunging into the forest and then dropping into the waters of the Columbia River if the trees don’t stop your acceleration, sometimes at a great height. The trail-like road climbs and then descends multiple times and seems quite long compared to the usual straight I-84 on the Oregon side of the Columbia. One bridge is memorable as it is narrow and seems pasted on the side of a cliff. The passenger-side view is breathtaking and terrifyingly high above the Columbia–a clear view or plunge of hundreds of feet. The bridge has a very light railing that is not very tall–yikes.

Just as I was wondering what I had done wrong, the sign for The Bridge of the Gods appeared, and soon we were slowly climbing the two-lane, no shoulder, no walkway, 140′ +/- above the Columbia River bridge. The traffic clogged the bridge, and we got to sit on the bridge for twenty minutes. When the U-Haul went by, the bridge did spring a bit–causing eye rolling from me. The higher roadway is metal grids and thus is see-through–a feature I did not appreciate as we moved slowly toward the toll booth–an impressive view straight down. Susie loved the view, and I took pictures as there was little more to do than creep across the metal grid and bounce when oncoming traffic heavy trucks passed.

After we paid $3 for our toll, Air Volvo launched on I-84, headed, now in Oregon, back towards our starting point. We stopped at McDonald’s for some chocolate shakes. Susie quickly chokes, so thick liquids are the best, and a shake works. I had to hold the shake for Susie as Susie’s hands were also not working; when she was tired or sleepy (like sitting in Air Volvo), Susie could not make her hands work. I held the cup, and she directed the straw, sipped, and we spent fifteen minutes enjoying about 20% of the shake.

Aside: I brought a cup with ridges for water, which worked for Susie–she sipped some water while we traveled. The wet, cold shake cups did not work.

I made the return trip, avoiding most traffic by using Highway 5 (South) back, and closed our large circle. Soon, I arrived at the hummingbird house; Anassa popped Susie out of the Air Volvo by sliding Susie into the wheelchair–tricky. Susie was ready for a late lunch/snack. She also retained her shake as she liked that too. I left with a kiss, and Anassa rolled Susie in her wheelchair to the shared dining table.

I returned home and had, as I described, dinner. I then rested and seemed to have reached my limit for today. I also did the 4:35PM status meeting for the work project. I return to work for my first shift on Monday and wanted to know what was happening. So far, folks are happy.

I started the morning at 7:30ish and wrote the Saturday blog for most of the morning. I also did the laundry and consumed cold Popeye chicken for lunch.

I will read and take it easy for the rest of Sunday night. Thanks for reading.