Day 1-- 11/28/2019

感恩節那天聽說南加大雨傾盆，而西雅圖卻是一個大晴天。女兒帶著我們來到一個國家級的曆史景點地標--華盛頓湖Chittenden Locks，這是太平洋海岸最早建立的閘欄，也是唯一一個能容納出海船隻之地。在這裏，湖海相連, 湖水海水相匯，一道道階梯狀的閘欄由低往高處延伸，不同的落差，不同的水流，調節著湖水海水的高度，也為三文魚的洄流提供了安全的產卵、繁殖場所。我們站在寒風中，看著從大壩流出的湖水，匯入大海，又看著船隻隨著湖麵與海麵的漸漸接近水平，然後揚帆啟航，奔向大海。

 

 

 

 

 

隨後，女兒帶我們來到Kerry Park。在那裏，西雅圖整座城市的風光盡收眼底，隻見地標式建築太空針清晰地聳立在一座座高樓間，俯瞰著不遠處波光粼粼的太平洋海麵。我們走著，看著，聊著，比較著加州的黃金海岸。雖說它們都屬太平洋海岸，加州海岸因著陽光而明媚，這裏的海岸卻因著海那邊的山巒多了一分寧靜和秀麗。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

緊接著，我們前往李小龍墓地，因為女兒介意墓地，我和她就在附近的一個大公園裏遊走，某人一個人前去瞻仰李小龍。從墓地歸來後，某人給我看了他拍的照片，說墓地的風水好，麵湖，眺望群山，說昨日11月27日是李小龍的生日，墓碑前擺放了不少鮮花，邊上尚有些來敬拜的西人。當女兒問及李小龍和成龍有什麽不同知識，某人滔滔不絕地介紹起李小龍的功夫和生平。正如網友7grizzly在我前麵的博文裏說的，死而不亡者壽。李小龍對中國功夫的傳揚和他自己的傳奇功夫，讓在他死後這麽多年(47年)後仍然被人紀念，瞻仰。

 

 

 

 

 

感恩節幾乎所有的商店餐館都關門了。我們在暮色中驅車去了西雅圖的九九大華，買了很多菜，那天晚上女兒動手烤了她準備好的火雞雞胸脯，我則煮了一些她愛吃的家常菜，一家人一起過了一個快樂的感恩節。

 

感恩的話是老生常談，而那一天當我行走在山坡，見到不同景色的海岸線，我從心底裏要對女兒說一句感謝的話。做父母的希望孩子能站在我們的肩膀上，有一個更高的起點和更遠的視線，而我們父母其實也是借著孩子的目光和視角看到了新鮮事，孩子是父母的一麵鏡子，更是我們目光的延續和伸展。

 

Day 2---11/29/2019

 

俄勒岡與華盛頓州隻有一河相隔，寬寬的哥倫比亞河把兩個州分割開來。俄勒岡的首府波特蘭離西雅圖隻有三個小時的車程。29日又是一個大晴天，我們準備動身去波特蘭。上午十點半多，我們從西雅圖出發，沿著5號高速公路，一路向南。快到波特蘭時，在車道的左側，終於近距離地看到了美國第四大河流--哥倫比亞河，它寬寬長長，在陽光下泛著銀光，深綠色的河麵上卷著一朵朵白浪。

 

抵達波特蘭後，我們直奔第一個目的地Pittock Mansion。這個號稱波特蘭最精致，最有影響力的曆史豪宅博物館坐落在山頂上，因為圓形建築，每個方位都有很好的窗景，可以鳥瞰波特蘭整個城市的風光。我們買了門票($13, 有點不值)，走進了擺著各種各樣聖誕裝飾的三層豪宅。當得知這個豪宅最先的居住者Pittock先生是俄勒岡報業大亨後，不僅聯想起矗立在加州太平洋沿岸的Hearst Castle， 雖然同為報業大亨，同是曆史性建築，然而，Pittock Mansion和Hearst Castle是根本無法同日而語的，其富庻程度、其豪華和氣勢都不是一個級別的，好比一個鄉下財主和上海灘大亨那般的小巫見大巫。

 

下山後，我們開車前往波特蘭的華盛頓公園，在漸漸泛黑的暮色中走訪了全球玫瑰測試花園，欣賞了綻放在冬日裏的嬌豔玫瑰，單瓣的，多瓣的，粉的，紅的，淡黃的，應有盡有，品種之多之全讓我們頗為欣喜。天色很快黑了下來，我們離開了公園，前往賓館小憩片刻後，去城區吃飯逛街。節日的mall裏火樹銀花，我們走進了一個號稱是世界最大的獨立書店, 一個據說擁有新書、舊書、絕版書的書店。徜徉在這樣的書店，一個曾宣稱自己一輩子要讀的書都已在大學讀完、來美後從此不給自己買書，也不看書的某人竟一頭紮進了李小龍的陳列書架上，欲求李小龍英文版的自傳書，為他家中的中文版同名書匹對，還不厭其煩的讓書店管理員去庫存裏尋找一本顯示在目錄上的書，最後還是沒有找到，隻好買了另一本李小龍功夫介紹的書離去。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day  3-- 11/30/2019

那日，我們起了個大早，吃過早飯後直奔俄勒岡著名的哥倫比亞河山峽。我們先到了一個名叫"新娘麵紗"的瀑布，隨後又前往Multnomah瀑布。此瀑布在世界上排列第三，位於委內瑞拉天使瀑布和美國優勝美地瀑布之後。M瀑布中間建有一座橫跨的石橋，將瀑布分為上下兩截。 我們迎著凜冽的山風，腳踩著結冰的山路，欣賞著一簾雪白的瀑布從高處一瀉而下，細細的白紗被風吹起，飄逸地拍打著已經結成雪白冰花的岩壁上，潭麵的四周也結著厚厚的冰，圍著流動的瀑布形成了一個大圓圈。

 

 

 

 

 

中午時分，我們驅車前往著名的Mt. Hood。冬日的山巒銀裝素裹，青青的鬆柏樹上壓著厚厚的白雪，道路兩旁的積雪被掃雪機切割成了矮矮的雪牆，偶爾可見冰柱掛在路邊的房頂上。我們沒有帶雪鏈，租的車也不是全驅動，所以盡管十分向往深處的雪景和風光，卻不敢逗留太久，匆匆幾張照片和一些錄像後便離開大山，奔向另一個目的地。

 

 

 

 

 

山道彎彎，近三個小時的車程，把我們帶到了海邊，一個名為Twin Rocks的地方。隻見靠近沙灘的海麵上，聳立著兩塊巨大的礁石。據說，這礁石在此屹立了上百萬年，被風蝕浪琢變成了今天這個模樣，它們像一對大象一前一後，又像一對戀人拉著手不離不棄。這時，四點鍾的海麵正迎來日落，銀灰色天空下，一抹絢麗的晚霞如一根彩帶漂浮在海的上空， 點綴著漸漸幽暗的海麵。

 

 

 

 

 

 

作別雙石海灘後，天色已晚，我們折身返回，在途中參觀了一個在北美排名48位、日產16-17萬磅高品質奶酪的工廠。我們隔著玻璃窗觀看廠房設備和流程，並在那裏吃了晚飯，吃了冰淇淋，然後打道回府。

 

 

 

 

 

 

俄勒崗以沒有銷售稅而著稱。而我們終究沒有太多時間購物，最後算是趕在商店打烊之前，女兒買了一隻新手機，讓此次Oregon之行更加物有所值。

 

Day 4--12/01/2019

12月的第一天，西雅圖的天空開始飄起了雨。 我們睡了個懶覺，起床後，女兒幹了點工作上的活，全家吃過午飯後，去了IKEA, Costco和99大華， 給女兒的糧倉居所做最後的補給。晚上回到家，某人忙著組裝新家具，而我則在廚房忙著做飯，洗洗刷刷。像天下所有的父母一樣，總想著走之前再為她做些力所能及的事。

 

Day 5--12/02/2019

新一周的周一。女兒原來是準備請假陪我們的，不料年底有項目壓著。平日裏女兒沒有車，坐公車上下班，難得那日有車，老爸提出要送她一次。她們走後，我把這幾天我們睡過的床單、被子扔進洗衣機裏洗好烘幹，再套回去。中午時分，一切收拾停當後，我倆提前離開了她的住處。

 

兩人在google導航下走了一段海景山路。 離飛機起飛的時間還早，我倆坐在麵向大海的車裏，看著眼前平靜開闊的海麵和峭壁下鬱鬱蔥蔥的樹林，想象著詩句裏"春暖花開，麵向大海"的意境，隨後開車在附近的公園轉了一圈，在紀念印第安人的博物館裏裏稍作逗留，便動身去機場。不料西雅圖的市中心嚴重塞車，一英裏多的路程開了40多分鍾，讓原本綽綽有餘的赴機變得心急火燎，就此也理解了女兒為什麽選擇不買車。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

出門萬事難，有人說，所謂的旅行就是從自己呆膩的地方去了別人呆膩的地方走一圈。而對於我一個比較喜歡宅在家裏，不喜歡到處奔波的人來說，自己的家是個呆不膩的地方。天下最好的地方就是自己的家，金窩銀窩不如自家狗窩，說的大概就是這個意思。(下圖是飛機降落前用華為手機拍的夜景)

 

 

Like the previous three trips to Seattle, it was nighttime when we landed. The city welcomes us with its serene beautiful skyline, the colorful neon lights lit up the dark sky. The freeway we took after getting out of airport is No. 5, an interstate highway that runs across from CA to WA, the same highway we frequent in CA. However connected, the same freeway in Seattle is 1000 miles away, 20 hours’ drive from our California home, a distance not easily to be transcended.

 

My daughter was in her red new sweater when she met us at the gate. It’s chilly. I wrapped her with the coat in my hand, hugged her and hurried inside. She prepared crisp roasted turkey and carrot for us.  They were delicious, and my husband complimented her in a flattery way that she is a better cook than me. Sure, that’s mom’s wishes too.

In the next few days my daughter showed us around a few new places in Seattle, and we went as far as to Oregon this time, a neighboring state bordered by Columbia river. Our five days’ trip can be briefed as follows:

Day1: Seattle, WA

a. Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, a national historic landmark, “the first lock facility constructed and remains the only one capable of handling Ocean-going vessel. At the time, these were the only locks in the country accommodating tidal fluctuations and separating fresh and salt water”.

b. Kerry Park. It provides a perfect viewpoint of overlooking downtown Seattle. From there, we relish the towering iconic Space Needle thrusting out of the surrounding skyscrapers.

c. Bruce Lee’s cemetery. Being a fan of Bruce Lee, my husband finally had a chance to pay respect to him. It turned out that the day before his visit is Bruce Lee’s birthday. Flowers were displayed in front of the tombs (his and his son’s) to honor a dragon that was buried here, a legendary Kongfu master whom people still remember today after his death for almost half a century.

Day 2: Portland, Oregon

a.    Pittock Mansion: A historic House Museum situated at the mountain area was originally resided and owned by a business tycoon, a British born journalist. However magnificent the location and window views are, the mansion is in no way comparable to Hearst castle.

b.    Washington Park: Strolling along the canopied forest, we found International Rose Test Garden a gem, where myriads of different roses are nurtured, a few of them still blooming in the cold winter.

c.    Powell bookstore: The world’s largest independent bookstore, where new, used, rare or out-of-print books are sold. My husband, who claims to have finished all his life-long reading at college, asked a store assistant to locate a Bruce Lee’s English version biography book, but to no avail. He ended up buying a book of Lee’s kongfu.

Day 3: Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

a.    Columbia River Gorge: Our trip is highlighted by the visit to the Multnomah Fall. Tucked away in the depth of Columbia river gorge, the Multnomah Fall is ranked the 3rd place in the world, right after Yosemite’s fall. After stopping by a gorgeous waterfall called Bridal’s Veil in the pristine cold morning, we braced to Multnomah Fall. The view is stunningly beautiful, unique in the freezing winter, when water drops spilled from the falls were frozen to white snowy ice hanging on the cliffs. I slipped and would have fallen to the icy ground, had it not been propped up by a kind visitor in the back.

b.    Mt. Hood: Our drive to Mt. Hood was later hindered by the snowy road condition. But a brief drive-thru at the lower elevation gave us a glimpse of the winter mountain, where inches tall snow carpeted the surface, and coated heavily over the tree branches. The fresh snow, glistening under the sun like shining stars, helped create a dreamy white wonderland.

c.    Twin Rocks beach: A- three-hour drive through meandering mountainous road took us from the mountain to the sea. Coming from southern CA, we are never short of beaches. But a look at Twin Rocks beach still excited us. Two elephant-shaped rocks standing side by side are said to be chiseled by the wind and wave over million years, a testimony of nature power.

d.    Tillamook creamery: In the twilight on our way back, we visited Tillamook creamery, the 48th largest diary processor in North America. Through the window, we toured the facilities and watched the cheese being sealed into a 42 pounds’ package. Before we set out again, we had dinner there, treating ourselves to their freshly made ice creams as a desert.

 

Oregon is known as a state without sales tax. To complete our trip, my daughter and I rushed to a big mall before it closed, and she bought herself a new iPhone, making this trip more worthwhile and memorable.

We reached home a little after 12.

Day 4: 12/01/2019

It was drizzling on the first morning of December. We had a lazy relaxed morning, before she had to get up and work on her project for about two hours.  Then we hit the road again around 2 pm, shopping at Ikea, Costco and 99 Ranch, to replenish her daily supplies.

Day 5: 12/02/2019

It’s Monday, and my daughter has to go to work, as an important project is due in a week. After sending her off to work, we cleaned up her apartment, finished the laundry and packed for our leave. It was about 1:30 when we drove by her office and dropped off the key. I hugged her and waved good-bye as she went back to the glass window building. Our flight is 6:55 pm. With five hours to go, we leisurely toured the city with Google’s GPS. When we left for airport at 4:20, we never expected the traffic in downtown Seattle to be so horrible, worse even than LA. One-mile long drive took more than 40 minutes, slower than if we walk on foot. What we thought to have ample time for the flight ended up with a hasty rush.

It is always nice to be back home, a sweet home.