~Saturday, August 8, 2020~
Day 55
It’s a Lake Oswego day...a bit drizzly at the beginning but cleared up by mid afternoon. Tracy, Tim, Jeff and I along with Sadie, took a walk to the local farmer’s market where we were met with a masked crowd, light music and around 20 or so booths. We found out dogs were not allowed into the main market area, so Jeff and Tim went in first and later came back with tonight’s dinner of fresh wild salmon and delicious berries. They decided to head back to the house while Tracy and I took our turn to check out the scene. After purchasing my delicious Greek pastry, I was drawn to a balsamic vinegar/olive oil station and was sold instantly on the Fig Vanilla Balsamic from Celia’s Gourmet Foods. Absolutely delicious. Tracy has purchased from them before, buying the same flavor, but also the Hickory, which was amazing as well. To sample their product, they had to come up with alternatives due to COVID. Instead of a piece of French bread or cracker, they had little plastic tiny vials (¼ tsp. amount) that you just pop open and sip. And they’re recyclable. Hopefully Mimi and Dave will enjoy it as nothing beats a great balsamic vinegar in a pantry. Tracy bought a few vegetables before our final stop to the floral booth. I’ve never seen anything like it. We had seen many people walking around with these gigantic, stunning bouquets so had to check out this special booth which is quite large, with at least 40 different types of flowers that you can have custom made for $25 or pre-arranged for $20. Tracy opted for custom. And as you can see, beautiful!
Back at their place, we had a quick lunch of Thai leftovers before heading out for a wonderful hike at Latourell Falls along the Columbia River Gorge.
The Gorge is known for its spectacular hikes. Tip: Make sure to check which trails are open due to COVID and fires. With its stunning waterfalls, lush greenery, and dense trees, this is an absolute must stop. The loop trail is about 3 miles that climbs up above the falls and back down again. It felt good to get some cardio in.
After we got back to their place, Tracy stayed to get some things done while Jeff, Tim and I walked over to Stickman Brew’s for a delicious beer. It’s right on the Willamette River in Lake Oswego, and it was the perfect time of day to be there with the sun setting and perfect temperature. So needless to say, we had a late dinner (around 10:00). Pasta, corn, salmon, green beans and salad. Yum! Then to cap off the day with a game of Wits and Wagers. Looking forward to kayaking tomorrow!