Oregon

Oregon ended up looking almost exactly as expected. The photo above was taken 30 seconds before a hailstorm did a tapdance all over us. It took Mr. Bromeliad four hours to dry out.

Our beautiful hosts served us a full breakfast every morning, including segmented grapefruit. Nobody's cut up my grapefruit for me since I was 5.

Green everywhere, but it's moss and lichen, not leaves - yet. This is on the way back from a hike to Salt Creek Falls. Through the snow. In the rain.

Below is crazy coastal foam. Never seen the likes.

Away

We are away a few days visiting Oregon for the first time, which - based on the current weather report and general reputation - I expect to look like this.

Images: Stefan Soderstrom and Dane Peterson via Aubrey Road.

My first flight October 18,1985

Kauai 2010 - a touch of green

Saturday was the coldest day yet this winter.

Hard to remember that there are green things living in other places.

Hawaii decor inspiration

The Koa Kea Resort at Poipu Beach, Kauai. We stumbled on it after a walk along the shore. I love it when an interior so perfectly and soothingly reflects the natural setting outdoors. Now I'm craving turquoise and green in my urban grey abode.

Images: Lobby images are mine; room images are from Koa Kea's website.

And it's . . .

. . . Hawaii, as you may have guessed by now.

Kauai, again, and the Big Island. Airfare was $250 a person. With a combination of staying with friends, points, mileage and brown bagging, we spent less than $50 a day per person for everything.

A few photos to warm the soul.

Where we went

A hint.

Gone awhile

We are here.

Be back in 10 days.

Vintage metal chairs

Still in the Sierra foothills with a photo series heavily devoted to rust. These are vintage chairs and an old truck parked outside of Cooper Vineyards in Plymouth, California. Generous wine tasting here. If you can only hit one, this is it.

Sierra foothills wine country

This weekend, we visited friends in Sacramento, who took us to Shenandoah Valley wine country for tastings.

The wineries along the Sierra foothills are more laid back than those in Napa Valley. Also, they do not charge for their tastings. Friendly people, good wine, autumn color, cheap fun all around.

The first two photos and last photos are from Wilderotter Winery. The middle is eucalyptus growing at the Dobra Winery in nearby Plymouth.

$40 to Bombay India? Or, the places you may or may not go

Achim Franz via National Geographic

Haven't done a travel post lately, but we are all in a feverish pitch here about maybe or maybe not going to Mumbai, India (aka Bombay) for $40 plus taxes and fees on British Airways. We have four tickets.

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

Or not. British Airways says it was a pricing error and won't honor the tickets. That's the sort of talk that gets frequent flyers all crazy, engenders 57-page threads on Flyertalk and even spawned its own blog. If British Airways backs down, this will be our biggest boo-boo deal since the $33 trip to Cyprus we scored in 2006 in business class.

You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

Of course that would then mean going to Mumbai twice for no reason whatsoever.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.

Rent a car for $10 a day

You're all ready to buy 12 discounted Lack tables from the Red Hook IKEA when you realize you have no car to haul them home in. For only slightly more than the cost of one iconic side table, you can actually rent a car in New York City.

The Alamo sale is good until August 25, but the deal is buried on the web site. Follow this Alamo link for the good stuff. At this price, you might consider driving from Ohio to the Red Hook IKEA. (Or driving just to come see us.)

Maui roundup

Days: 8
Airfare: $250 per person from Newark to Oahu on Continental. Miles from Oahu to Maui.
Hotel: $0 (Stayed with friends.)
Car rental: $0 (Friends loaned us a car.)
Food: $120
Gifts: $100
Gas: $30
Most unusual experience: Stalking goats on Haleakala
Best easy snorkeling: Kama‘ole Beach Park III
Most aesthetic beach: Black Sand Beach at Wai‘anapanapa State Park
Wish we would have: Worn more sunscreen
Glad we: Met so many great people.

Back from the road to Hana

Honokalani Black Sand Beach

Got a little obsessed with the black sand at Wainapanapa State Park on Maui's north shore.

The top of the world - Haleakala, Maui

Tom took a trip to the ridge of Haleakala, normally a restricted area, with two local friends. When 7,000 feet up, you look down on the clouds.

Variegated Maui