Ooroo from da Guru

It looks as if we seem to have survived the trip to Portland, Oregon last weekend. There was a big Antique show on in the Portland Expo center and Ruth said she was in desperate need of stock for her stores. We climbed into the big tin crow for the hour flight, grabbed a rental car and tried our hardest to get lost like some bloody Tommy Tourist.

We headed north from the airport and crossed a large river that was actually the state border, so we had in fact left Oregon and stayed in Vancouver, Washington. We managed to jag a great hotel overlooking the river but we had to go through the "Bronx" to get there. It looks as if the downtown of Vancouver, Washington had died of natural causes a decade previous. Every window had bars on it and the streets were actively patrolled by a motley crew of assorted vagrants, drunks, hookers and bums. For seventy bucks a night we got a room with breakfast included. The dining room was built right on the waterfront which made for great views while stuffing our faces.

Saturday turned out bright and sunny for our "antique-a-thon". Ruth had us at the front doors of the Expo center in time for the 8 o'clock opening. There was a mad bull rush for the doors as all the bargain hunters, armed with their best plastic negotiating weapons of choice (credit card) did battle with other like armed individuals. 1600 dealers from all over the Pacific northwest turned up for the feeding frenzy. Unfortunately I only lasted for 4½ hours before having to find some other activity. Ruth being the trooper that see is, stayed until stumps at 5 p.m.

Sunday saw me dropping Ruth of a 8 o'clock for more antique hunting. I went off in search of a roadster/hod rod show. I must have covered more territory than the early explorer and only ended up Tommy Tourist of Portland thing. I couldn't find the place for the car show so I headed back to meet Ruth. We then spent 4 hours walking around the antique show together.

We got to Portland airport and hour before the gate was meant to open thinking that we just get our seats and chill out for a while. The airline had other ideas. The plane that was meant to be used for us was sent to Spokane and back as those passengers has plane problems. We were scheduled to be home in Boise at 11 p.m. but we actually got in at 12:30 am. After 5 hours sleep it was off to work, I had meetings scheduled until 6 p.m., so it was bloody long day for the pair of us.

Gotta go.

Stay Happy ;-)

Fitzy