It started with Andy wanting to take her new car for a drive. Not just a spin around the block, but a real journey — one with snacks, stories, and a border crossing. Once the itinerary took shape, it stretched into an 18-day adventure, woven together with friendship, roadside quirks, and the kind of meals that linger in memory.

Andy picked us up at home, her car gleaming with anticipation. We packed it full — snacks in every nook, pillows fluffed just so, and a few “just in case” goodies tucked into easy-to-reach bags. I slipped on my Reliefband, the trusty little device that keeps motion sickness at bay. Jay settled into the backseat like a quiet compass, ready for whatever the road would offer.

The first ten days unfolded like a reunion tour — each stop a visit with dear friends who’ve shaped our lives in quiet, meaningful ways. Before the landscapes changed and the border beckoned, we were wrapped in the comfort of familiar faces and shared stories.

Ashland, Oregon — Mark and Cindy

Our friendship with Mark and Cindy stretches back more than 40 years, to the days when we all worked together at Kaiser Hospital. What began as professional camaraderie has long since deepened into something much more personal — the kind of friendship that weaves itself into the fabric of your life and becomes family.

Their home in Ashland has become a place of rest and belonging, where laughter flows as easily as conversation. The moment we arrived, it felt as though time folded in on itself — the decades between our first meeting and now collapsing into the comfort of shared memory.
Cindy’s casseroles were more than food; they were memory-laced offerings that tasted like love. And one afternoon, she made grilled cheese sandwiches layered with the best homegrown tomatoes ever — simple, yet unforgettable, the kind of meal that lingers in your memory because it’s seasoned with care and friendship.

Around their table, we played Zilch, teased each other like siblings, and slipped easily into the rhythm of their world. The games, the laughter, and the gentle ribbing reminded us that joy doesn’t need grand gestures — it lives in the everyday moments of being together.

Cindy also asked me to make a sticky rice dessert, and I was delighted to find all the ingredients at the local grocery store. Preparing it for her felt like a small gift in return for all the warmth she and Mark have given us over the years — a sweet way to add my own flavor to our shared table.

Ashland gave us rest, yes, but more than that, it gave us momentum. It reminded us that friendship is not static; it grows, adapts, and continues to surprise us with new chapters. Before leaving, we promised to return next year for another visit, and this time to see Come From Away together at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. It felt like the perfect choice: a story of unexpected connection, just like ours — a reminder that sometimes the most enduring bonds are born in places you least expect, and carried forward by love, laughter, and trust.

Eugene, Oregon — Dr. Phil Polido and Family

Our next stop took us to Eugene, where we reconnected with Dr. Phil Polido, once my breast surgeon, now a cherished friend. His steadiness during one of the most vulnerable chapters of my life became a quiet anchor, and seeing him now, outside the clinical setting, felt like turning a page and finding a familiar voice in a new chapter.

We visited his hillside home among towering evergreens, peaceful and unmistakably Oregon. I finally met his wife Linda and son Josh, whose names I’d heard for years but hadn’t yet matched with faces. Phil was proud of everything — his home, his family, the life he’s built beyond medicine.

Their newly adopted dog, Lucy, had arrived just days before but already followed Linda with devotion, while the cats perched like sentinels, making sure she didn’t forget who really ran the place. Out by the barn, horses and a donkey grazed along the hillside, their quiet presence adding a pastoral rhythm to the day.

Phil picked up lunch, and we gathered around the table, sharing stories and laughing until our cheeks ached, the kind of laughter that bubbles up from joy and settles into memory. Though brief, the visit was deeply meaningful. It reminded me that the most powerful connections don’t need long hours or grand gestures, just a shared table, a few good laughs, and the feeling that you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.

Portland, Oregon — Bridges, Books, and a Table of Plenty

From Eugene, the road carried us north to Portland, where the city’s energy contrasted with the quiet of Phil’s hillside home. For two days we leaned into the joy of being tourists, letting the city surprise us at every turn.

We crossed Portland’s iconic bridges, each one a gateway to another view of the city’s character. A city tour gave us the lay of the land — murals splashed across brick walls, coffee shops tucked into corners, and the hum of a place that thrives on creativity. Powell’s City of Books was a highlight, a cathedral of stories where time slipped away.

Evenings brought their own delights. One dinner in particular stands out — a restaurant where every choice on the menu felt wonderful. We lingered over dishes that were both comforting and inventive, savoring flavors as much as the conversation. Portland gave us bridges to cross, stories to discover, and a table to gather around

Vancouver, Washington — Monette, Sean, Opel, and Ester

Crossing into Washington brought us to Vancouver, where friendships forged abroad found new roots. Monette and Sean had recently moved from Alaska, and their transition south seemed to open a door not just for themselves, but for those closest to them.

Opel, Monette’s best friend, followed soon after, weaving her own story into Vancouver’s fabric. And Ester, Monette’s mom, flew out from Alaska to join us, bringing with her the warmth of family and the continuity of generations.

Sean and Monette had crafted an itinerary better than any Trafalgar trip could have done — thoughtful, seamless, and full of personal touches. Their planning took us to places that revealed the beauty of the region: the misty charm of Bridal Veil Creek, sweeping views of Mt. Hood, and the serenity of gardens like the Japanese Garden and Leach Botanical Garden. We visited The Grotto, wandered through waterfront parks, and capped it all with a visit to the best farmers market ever — stalls overflowing with fresh produce, handmade goods, and the hum of community.

We first met in Portugal in 2022, strangers brought together by a Trafalgar itinerary that quickly became something more. Last year, we traveled together through Italy, deepening the bond with shared meals, laughter, and discoveries that stitched our stories together across borders. Now, in Vancouver, it was the first time we gathered together in the United States — a milestone that made the reunion feel even more special. What began on Trafalgar trips abroad had now found a new chapter here at home.

Gathering together in Vancouver felt like a reunion of threads pulled from different corners of the map, now tied neatly in one place. The laughter was easy, the stories layered with both old memories and new beginnings. Vancouver wasn’t just another stop on our itinerary; it was a reminder that friendship and family can migrate, adapt, and flourish wherever they land. And as we parted, we carried with us not only the joy of this visit but the anticipation of what lies ahead — looking forward to our future meetings and travels, wherever the road may lead us next.

Vancouver, BC and Seattle, WA — The Journey’s Crescendo

From there, the road carried us north to Vancouver, British Columbia. Crossing the border felt like stepping into another chapter — the city’s skyline rising against the water, its neighborhoods alive with culture and charm. We wandered through bustling streets, admired the harbor views, and let the city’s international flavor remind us how travel expands not just horizons, but friendships.

Our final stop before heading home was Seattle, Washington, where the city’s iconic skyline — the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and the hum of its neighborhoods — offered a fitting crescendo to our journey.

One of the most memorable experiences was visiting the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit, where Dale Chihuly’s breathtaking glass sculptures shimmered with color and light. Walking among the installations felt like stepping into a dream scape — delicate forms suspended in air, vibrant blooms of glass echoing the natural world, and reflections that seemed to multiply the wonder.

We also wandered through Pike Place Market, where the air was alive with the scent of fresh flowers, the calls of fishmongers tossing salmon, and the hum of artisans selling their crafts. It was a feast for the senses, a reminder of how markets can embody the spirit of a city.

Another highlight was the Seattle Underground Tour, which revealed the hidden layers beneath the city’s streets. Exploring the old passageways and hearing stories of Seattle’s early days gave us a sense of the city’s resilience and quirky history — a reminder that every place has chapters tucked just out of sight, waiting to be rediscovered.

Seattle gave us art, flavor, and history — a city that felt like both a destination and a farewell. It reminded us that every ending is simply the start of another story waiting to be told.

After 18 days, the road brought us back home, our hearts full, our memories layered with friendship, laughter, and discovery. More than the miles traveled, it was the connections renewed and the new chapters opened that defined this journey.

On the drive back, we passed snow‑capped Mt. Shasta, its peak gleaming against the sky like a quiet guardian of the road. The sight was breathtaking, a reminder of nature’s grandeur and the way journeys are punctuated not only by the people we meet but by the landscapes that frame them. Watching Shasta rise in snowy stillness felt like a benediction — a final gift from the road before home welcomed us back.