The first night happened on a whim when Bunny randomly noticed Hot Tub Time Machine on the Laurelhurst Theater marquis at 7:30 pm. Desperately in need of comic relief and cooling off, we rushed out the door to catch this comedy, but as it turns out, it already started at 7:10 pm.
Hmmm...now what should we do??? Date Night starts at 7:30 pm? Never heard of it BUT Tina Fey...Steve Carrell...timely title...c'mon WHY NOT!?!
We unexpectedly stepped into this bucket of laughs targeted for an audience of outdated parents. Just what the Love Rx ordered for ol' Ma 'n' Pa! We followed with a late dinner and blazing sunset over the city from the Noble Rot deck.
Our second night was even hotter with a dinner date to Beaker and Flask, 2009 Restaurant of the Year and easily our hands-down favorite new culinary experience in Portland even if the air-conditioning couldn't keep up with their modern bank of windows.
And on the third night, we really heated things up by celebrating 10 years of sweet marriage at Olympic Provisions, voted Portland's Sexiest Restaurant 2010. We had our fill and headed up to another blazing sunset from Council Crest where we had our first kiss 13 years ago. Sharing gifts, recalling old times, and reveling in the heat of the moment...until mosquitoes and a security guard drove us away. Down to the Riverplace to toast 10 years with a Tawny Port. We were engaged here on the banks Willamette waterfront in 1997.
Continuing the celebration, we planned 10 days of camping and cleansing along the Lewis River - our Y2K wedding site. As usual, our plans changed, and we left a day late in the opposite direction - toward Bagby Hot Springs as the heat wave abruptly ended.
20 minutes down the highway toward our summer vacation destination, we found ourselves exhausted from too many dates, a big wedding delivery and cranky kids. At our wick's end, we turned the minivan around - homebound. Lil' was so confounded by her parents fickle decision-making, she vowed to not join us for camping at all. But, our stars aligned as we passed a body double for Grandpa Roger and happened upon some magic at a second-run neighborhood cinema featuring Babies, a family-friendly flick that Bunny had been looking forward to seeing since it's premiere.
Refreshed and ready for adventure, we headed out the next morning for three days of exploring the ancient fairy forest, dipping in chilly swimming holes, and healing in the Hot Springs.
Delirious from 4 days of low-calorie kidney/liver cleansing, we found our figurative Hot Tub Time Machine with a final soak in this transcendent hot tub.
We returned briefly to Portland for provisions, Bunny's Nia class and evening sunset at the historic Pittock Mansion.
Then back to camping and cleansing along Mt. St. Helens and the Lewis River where we found a tent site within audible distance of the Lower Falls.
These pure waters and surrounding enchanted forest have been sacred to humans for thousands of years. Despite the lack of calories, we were filled with joy to celebrate our Earth, marriage and children.
Mostly we moved in slow motion around the campground, but also ventured out: hiking into the crater of Mt. St. Helens' Spirit Lake for a day of divine inspiration, mountain biking along the 27-mile legendary Lewis River single-track fueled by adrenaline, and visiting with Nana and her buddy Jack who joined us for a weekend waterfall walk. Nana nicknamed River "Skeeter" in honor of his camping collection of forehead bites.
After five days fully immersed in the woods, we returned home with a deeper reverence and gratitude for this miracle of life.
