12 Hours and 100 Miles

Kevin and I have been great friends since we worked together in Miami in the early 2000s. He always shows me a good time when we get together, and today was no exception.

After picking me up at my hotel, we drove to Elmer’s, a Northwest favorite, for breakfast. Here, Kevin introduced me to German pancakes, billed as “almost as big as Crater Lake!” And they were! I couldn’t believe how large mine was, but it was so delicious, especially with the lingonberry butter. The texture of the pancake reminded me of a crepe, but with crispy edges. Yum!

My German Pancake with Lingonberry Butter

From there, we crossed the Columbia River to Washington State and made a brief stop at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. I had visited the park and toured the frontier fur trading post on previous occasions, but this time I was more interested in the site’s later history.

Although we didn’t have time to walk around, we were able to drive past the Vancouver Barracks, one of the nation's most historic military posts, where we saw the East Barracks and beautiful houses on Officers’ Row. At the visitor center, I was surprised to find another park with interpretive displays in the bathrooms. I even peeked into the men’s room to grab a photo of its ceiling.

The Later Buildings at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

Ceramics Found by Archeologists Inspired the Painted Ceilings in the Visitor Center Bathrooms

After a drive through Vancouver’s downtown waterfront district, we then crossed the Columbia River back into Oregon.

I had one more National Park Unit that I wanted to visit, so Kevin drove us to Tualatin, Oregon, where we stopped at the public library to check out an exhibition on the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail and then walk the adjacent Ice Age Floods Loop Trail.

I learned that each time Ice Age Floods surged beyond the confines of the Columbia Gorge, they covered the lowlands of current-day Portland and the Willamette Valley with waters up to 400 feet deep. The library exhibit was small, but informative, and the trail was very cool, encouraging us to celebrate Tualatin’s Ice Age legacy.

Ice Age Floods Exhibit at the Tualatin Public Library

Kevin and Sarah Having Fun on the Ice Age Floods Trail

The highlight of the day, however, was a classic wine tasting at Dobbes Family Winery in Dundee, Oregon, where Kevin pours on the weekends. Kevin just started working there, but I could tell from the staff comments that he is already one of the family. The wines were delicious, and we even got to taste freshly picked pinot noir grapes. I loved meeting the team, especially Sarah, Kevin’s boss.

Wine Tasting at Dobbes Family Winery

After we left Dobbes, Kevin gave me a quick tour of Linfield University, where he recently attained his Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) certification. What a beautiful, tree-filled campus.

It was now time for dinner, and we decided on a pizza at Geraldi’s, an authentic East Coast deli serving homemade Italian fare. And not just any pizza, but the Barile, Geraldi’s signature! The Barile was described as “Spaghetti mixed with marinara sauce, chopped meatballs laid on top of a cheese pie all baked together into one amazing masterpiece!” And it was! I’d never had a spaghetti pizza before, and although it may sound odd, the combination was delicious.

Linfield University and Pizza

After ending the day with a walk around the charming town of McMinnville, and after sampling a few more wines there, Kevin drove me back to my hotel so I could pack for my morning flight to Vancouver, British Columbia.

As usual, my day with Kevin was nonstop fun. As he described it, Kevin gave me 12 hours and 100 miles of adventure in one day. What more could I ask for!