Portland, OR

WOW, visited Lori, my best friend from High School and her husband Mark and stayed at their beautiful home for a wonderful visit and YUMMY home cooked meal, just 5 miles from downtown. We went to the Portland museum (because we are museum people after all)...great car exhibit, saw a Duesenburg, Tucker, Pace Arrow to name a few. Pictured is the Plymouth Explorer, didn't even know this car existed ! Visited the famous Grilled Cheese Grill where we had, of course a grilled swiss cheese mushroom and turkey sandwich with the mandatory (if you choose to order...) cup of tomato soup (as they say....what would you dip your grilled cheese in, if not a cup of tomato soup?)Had a great time and are staying in Bremerton, OR, not the best place to stay, but we are at a Hampton Inn (really comfy beds !!!) and the ferry is just outside our hotel to Seattle. We plan to ride the motorcycle the next couple of days, weather permitting....TBA

Wine Tasting

Left Pendleton and visited a couple of wineries. 1st one was Maryhill(recommended by my best friend from High School, who we are going to visit in Portland)....beautiful, good wines and a great summer concert series that I'm bummed we won't be around to go to....Styx and YES, Michael McDonald to mention a couple. We then went to a winery I found that was rated 5 stars....What a story...we went into the mountains a ways then up a long gravel road (fearful we wouldn't be able to turn around with the motorcycle trailer once we got up there.....but alas we could. We proceeded to have a fun tasting at this funky place and I ended up bottling, corking and foiling my own bottle of Port, what a fun, unique and great experience.

Pendleton, OR moving toward Portland

Went to this town on the way to Portland....Went to an old established saloon/hotel for a great dinner. In the morning took a tour of the original Pendleton Wool Factory then, Eddie found this interesting tour called "Underground Tours" turns out there were these tunnels carved out by Chinese people under established bldgs who were hired by the merchants of the town, to stop outlaws from stealing merchandise when it arrived at the station. Anyway, totally worthy tour....very interesting and a little creepy.

Boise

Great time in Boise. Drove by this amazing oldest synagogue west of the Mississippi. Saw an amazing art exhibit at BAM (Boise Art Museum) artistic versions/interpretations of shoes....way cool. Boise is a nice town, who knew?

The synagogue's wood-shingled 1896 building blends two architecture styles popular with turn-of-the-century Jewish congregations. The exterior is in mainly in the popular Rundbogenstil style, though the tall windows flanking the large, rose window are in the form of Horseshoe arches. This Moorish Revival detail continues on the inside, where the Barrel-vaulted ceiling is supported by Horseshoe-archs. The architect described the building as designed in a modern Moorish style.[5]

from Jackson Hole, WY to Twin Falls Idaho

Wow, had a great day today ! Had breakfast and went to the few art galleries we missed the day before in Jackson Hole then drove through beautiful green expanses and mountains (still snow on them) to Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho...what a fantastic hike through the volcanic rock. We could see the rolls of lava movement, now black rock.....very cool. Pretty little magenta, yellow, purple and white flowers scattered about the black volcanic rock landscape. We went on a hike which ended at a volcanic rock cave that we hiked down into and out of...WAY COOL hike !!! We will go from Twin Falls tomorrow morning and
onto Boise which looks like a cute little downtown and we understand there is a synagogue to see there (AhavathBethIsraelSynagogue5866.jpg‎)

What's up in your world....send us emails or comment on our blog and let us know how you are.

Grand Tetons/Jackson Hole, Wy

Had a beautiful ride from Yellowstone, through the Grand Tetons to just past Jackson Hole...overnighted just outside of J.H. and then spent the day going to several art galleries and stores. Went to a great local brewery for lunch......should have gone for dinner, but ventured out to another place....got one meal comped....but that's what it is traveling....not every experience is perfect. Nice weather today, so it was great to walk around. Off to Crater National park tomorrow and working our way to Portland, OR to visit my best friend from High School.

off to Jackson Hole, WY

Had beautiful weather today and took the motorcycle out for yet another wonderful ride. Off to Jackson tomorrow for the next couple of days. Really enjoyed being in West Yellowstone really cute town.

Yellowstone Natl Park

WOW, great day driving in Yellowstone. Had dinner and shopped. Enjoyed the town more than Cody,WY. On the bike tomorrow for a nice ride around.

Mr. Buffalo walking in the middle of the street, they always have the right of way, it's their turf, after all.

Cody, Wyoming

Went to The Buffalo Bill Historical Center...Amazing !!! Had many sections...Whitney museum of Indian artwork including oils, bronze sculpture and contemporary pieces too. They did a really great job on the exhibits. There are other sections dedicated to The Plains Indians and their culture, Guns from the very beginning of gun manufacturing to today, including Teddy Roosevelt's gun, in fact several presidents had guns made for them including Kennedy and Johnson, also a complete section on Buffalo Bill. We spent several hours there and had a great time. Overnighted and left for Yellowstone in the morning.

in Thermopolis, WY

overnighted in Worland, WY from Deadwood, nothing to speak of..but beds were comfy. Arrived in Thermopolis, WY....largest hot springs etc....Went to the state park for a free soak, very friendly and great pools. Also experienced the WY Dinosaur museum, which had a lot of authentic dinosaurs and great information. Then we went to see the petrogliphs....very cool..... 10,000 yrs old. Will include pics later. This 'funky' 1949 'updated' motel, called The Rainbow Motel, has kinda slow internet.

Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse

Beautiful clear warm weather today, perfect for our long ride from Deadwood to Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse. It's great to go to places I've heard of (Eddie's been) and to see them in person, up close......quite marvelous. So much history and information....pretty fascinating. Today we go to Spearfish where there are a couple of really great hikes we heard about from a local merchant.

On our way to Deadwood

Today was a driving day. We stopped in La Crosse, WI for lunch and to see the town. Drove along the Mississippi River...very big ! Stopped in a town to overnight and now we are on our way to Deadwood, S.D. The weather is rainy, looks like we are only going to be able to get on the bike in this area on Wednesday, we'll see. There are plenty of other biking opportunities coming up.

Day 5

Tomorrow we leave to go toward Deadwood, South Dakota.

Went to The House on the Rock yesterday....amazing collection of "stuff". The actual house is dark with all of these little dark alcoves for sitting. Then there's his collection housed in several rooms in 2 other buildings. The guy, Alex Jordan, was obsessed with collecting and adding to the house.

Today was Frank Lloyd Wright Day doing the estate tour (4 + hrs) touring the grounds from the children's school to the actual house. What an amazing and talented man. The house is fascinating and the style we absolutely love. The influences of Asian art is throughout the property.

We have now expanded our travel scope, in general, from museums, landmarks and presidential libraries, to now include any Frank Lloyd Wright property or commissioned property, i.e. the Johnson Wax building in Racine, WI and Taliesin West in Arizona. We will be planning another driving trip to include those and more. Back to this trip.....

Day 4 Milwaukee,WI

Left Chicago......stopped at the famous Original Walker Brother's,known for their deep dish apple pancake, yum yum ! From there we went to the Harley Davidson museum. We loved it ! Totally worth the trip there. Stayed in Madison, Wi where it rained allnight. Much cooler than the 95degree weather we had in Chicago. On our way to Spring Green,Wi to The House on the Rock and Frank Lloyd Wright's home, Taliesin. We're looking for cheese...it's very green here.
Pics will be added. Couldn't get connected to the internet last night.

Day 3 still in Chicago

Took the train to downtown Chicago and spent all day at the Art Institute. Last time I was there it went on forever and it did again, though we were in the new bldg and I didn't even realize we were in the new bldg till the end of the day. Then went to Lou Malnati famous deep dish pizza and it was worthy. Totally exhausted by the end of the day. Off to Milwaukee today to the Harley museum and then driving tonight toward Spring Green for another Frank Lloyd Wright experience.

2nd Day Chicago

We went to the Frank Lloyd Wright house/studio tour today and walked around the Oak Park neighborhood. Also went to the Unity Temple that he also designed. Having dinner in this area. Tomorrow, The Art Institute and roaming around downtown Chicago. We may do a lake/dinner boat ride, haven't decided yet.

To Chicago

Off to Chicago for 2 days to see The Art Institute and go to Oak Park to see Frank Lloyd's houseand a neighborhood of his houses.

First night in Lafayette,IN. Tomorrow we're going to work out in the morning
and then get in the car and go to The windy city to The Art Institute (Chicago).

Driving to Cinncinati then to Indianapolis.

Wanted to include a picture of my feet, manicured toesies and all,but I can't figure out how to post it from my phone.....ugh !

On The Road

We finally made it out of the house at 10 ish this morning,yeah !!! We're on the 40 going toward Knoxville,TN.

Departure Date

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ NEWS FLASH ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

M & Ed leaving early morning June 6, 2011.

Stay tuned.........