After 2 wonderful days with Elizabeth and Rich in Portland Oregon, we said our goodbyes and slept very well following our superb Italian meal. The drive back to our hotel was some 15 minutes and we chatted about a range of things including political issues here in the USA.

Morning came very quickly, we packed and prepared to checkout and then Ken caught a cab to Enterprise Car Rental, where he picked up Ford Explorer, plugged in the GPS and then made our way from Portland to the resort township of SunRiver where re stayed at the beautiful Stone Ridge resort. We arrived after some 3 hours 40 minutes of driving through scenic countryside.

Our accommodation was a resort home of 3 bedrooms, lounge, dining and 3 full en-suite. We decided when booking to leave the Upstairs Masterbedroom and en-suite locked and rented the other two bedrooms . We had full access to the rest of the Villa/ home.

We stayed close to the resort on the first day, walking in the general area, before touring around other parts of SunRiver. We had dinner the first evening at the Central Grand Resort and Golf Club. We talked our way through Burgers and beer and Jeanette had a salad. A terrific venue, busy but with tables well separated conversations were easy.

Back to our villa where we enjoyed desserts and coffee, before turning in. This had been a most enjoyable day to renew our friendships with Tom and Cathy, although Tom is suffering from broken ribs following a fall. He allowed Ken to drive around the resort.

The next morning brought perfect weather with a very light breeze.

After breakfast we decided to sit and talk before driving through the resort and then parking away from th3 lake and waterways, before walking through the SunRiver township, which has undergone a full renovation since our last visit.

Lunch was at the local Brewery and Restaurant where we enjoyed an excellent lunch menu.

In the afternoon Ken went swimming, then a visit tonSiodlands Golf Course here in SunRiver. Recognised as one of the very best resort courses in Oregon and the North west of USA. Ken and Cathy also went for a swim at th3 indoor “Shark” pool set up, just fantastic.

Dinner tonight was at the specialty Mexican Restaurant where Tom had fortunately made a booking. It was extremely busy with tables turning over 2-3 times over the evening. We thoroughly enjoyed the food.

Following dinner back to our Villa where we talked for about 90 minutes but Tom was clearly struggling with his Ribs. The Resort had brought a reclining chair in for him to sleep in.

Our time together is passing quickly and we depart ermy the next morning to return to their city of Eugene, which is @ large provincial rural city. We are staying at Embassy Suites and we find it very comfortable. We are close to the freeway and th3 Airport is a short 20 minute drive tomorrow morning.

We have dinner tonight at the Hop Valley Brewery House, a unique institution here in Eugene. It is packed and despite going early we are still required to wait for a table, but the former brewery site now converted into the brewery restaurant is really rocking, with mostly younger people. Ken takes photos of thebrewery, bar and eating area as well as the many memorabilia and merchandise offerings. Food and drink is excellent.

Following dinner we say our farewells, it has been a short but most enjoyable get together. We thoroughly enjoyed refreshing and reconnecting after several years. We felt sorry for the pain that Tom is experiencing with his broken ribs, but delighted that they made the arrangements to meet.

We are tired but excited as we start to make our way from Eugene to Orlando via Phoenix flying American Airlines. I am writing this account several days following, so little did we appreciate the shambles and difficulty we would encounter and the costly but fortunate way out. I will elaborate tomorrow as we fly to Orlando, then get picked up and driven to Cocoa Beach before our Disney Cruise from Port Canaveral.