The trip was a long one, about a 2 1/2 hour drive with a break. We did get a bit of shopping on the way there at the Centralia Outlet Mall.
We left around 11AM Sunday and got there around 3PM. Room 1107 provided a nice view
Mountain View of Mt St Helens
Check in was at 4PM but they let us check in at 3PM. Being a Sunday I don’t think they had any issue with it.
The Grotto In Portland
I wanted to reserve more time for this on Monday but due to its close proximity we decided to check it out Sunday instead. It was a good move, the Grotto has some Catholic persuasion and Sunday was a great day to visit. Although the bottom part was free as well as parking, the elevator ride to the top was $21.90 for two.
We did have a 7PM Michael Jordan Steakhouse reservation so we made our way back. W did stop for some supplies like Distilled water and snacks at a local supermarket called Rosauers.
It then I realized I was getting my 10k steps and 10 floors on what supposed to be a Sunday Rest.
Tried to find self parking, it was impossible, simple fix, just by the $6 Valet + TIP
The steakhouse did make a minor mistake (for us) in that they brought us the wrong food. It was the table next to us. But overall it was a fun atmosphere. Originally we were going to eat there Monday night but found out they were closed Mondays.
Bill with tip and liquor was $383.16 So the $8 valet was nothing.
Slots were OK, mixed bag of lucky and unlucky, overall we lost.
Next morning we fueled up at a local Chevron gas station that had Clean gas (no ethanol) but more expensive. Found out our players card did give us a discount. Found out there was a Costco near the area of that Grocery store we went to. Chevron more coinvent though.
After gas we checked out the International Rose Test Garden. It was in Portland as well, if we were to go again, we would go earlier in the year before the some of the roses wilted. Paid about 4.90 for parking but no entry fee. Before we left I got my floors done and close my steps. It was HOT.
Then there was a bit of sour in our trip, we decided to go to Multnomah Falls. Found out we can’t just go there, we had to reserve a spot on recreation.gov. Two dollars wasted. Because GPS took us to private parking where it was normally 20 dollars, but after 4PM it dropped to 15 dollars but you only have an hour. So $2 wasted, but what was worse was wasted time. Also found out the $2 doesn’t guarantee you parking, just permission to go there.
Parking attendant was a little gnarly too, I get it, late in the day you wanna go home, but some of us don’t know. Still $15 was worth it to me.
Added 6 more floors getting up to the bridge, but got a bunch of steps as well. I knew being in the Casino that night would finish of my 10k steps.
We got back, rested a bit then got some food at the Vista Bistro, we got there at 8:33PM and were denied seating and only had carry out. Not a huge deal, but no tip. You got rules of no late seats, I got rule of no tips for take out.
Tuesday morning we packed to go home. But 1 last stop, and what a mistake. A 60 mile drive a lot of it through traffic to get an In N Out burger.
It was cheap, 20.40 for two burgers, fries plus a drink and 2 milk shakes you don’t see in the picture.
We are not going back here again, BUT not because of the food, it is because a new In N Out was being built near the costco and supermarket mentioned earlier.
Then finally the long long trek home, left at 6:30 got home at 10:28 (beat Google) and I did have two breaks.
Overall a good trip, prices were mostly as expected, In N Out was cheaper then expected, glad some places like the Grotto didn’t charge for parking.
Today was back to work, first a dentist visit for cleaning, but got my crash case back after servicing work for longer than I have owned it.
Had a discussion with someone on getting in on Linux, looks like there is a request for a KVM host. Will add it to the image this weekend.
Also thinking about 10 inch racks, trying to print a holder for a 1L server.
Did workout, it is coming off. Lost 5 lbs since I started, amazing I did not gain on my trip.
Normally this would be a Sunday, it kind of feels like a Sunday, when I get home from a trip.
But it is Tuesday, I got two days of work before the 4th of July weekend. So not long before another long weekend I got another 3 day weekend to look forward to.
I am glad I switched my rest day from Sunday to today, did not get any steps or workouts done.
The trek was long from in and out burger to home. I took advantage of two rest stops but it was a 3 and 1/2 hour drive + rest. 200+ miles. Left roughly at about 6:30 and just arrived at 10:30, so about two 15 minute breaks which sounds right.
When we planned this trip we had couple places we wanted to go,
first was to stay at the Ilani Hotel and Casino, it was fun.
Then we wanted to see the Groto, we saw that yesterday
Today we went to the Japanese Test Rose Garden, that was fun, I got 10 floors and 5k steps.
Added 6 more floor and a bunch for steps at the Multnomah Falls, was a disappointment but did get some steps in as well.
So in lieu of a Gym Workout I am counting fitbit goals for today. It is 9PM night still young and I only need 1k more steps, I can get that in 10 minutes.
Final place we want to check out it weird, In and Out burger, thought there was close one to us but it is under construction.
Getting easier to prepare for these road trips, to be fair we only staying 2 nights so should be ok if we forgot most of things, laptop can work off of a charger nowadays, maybe dont need so many spare clothes, the critical thing is the CPAP.
Anyway early post, more tomorrow. Sneaking in pushups and situps today.
Update: looks like I will hit 10k steps and 10 floors today, I am already at 9,330 with 3 hours left to go. Just walking back to the casino will rack up enough steps or really really close.
Furthermore that frees up my Tuesday and I can just have that my rest day.
I been randomly building stuff to get my new lab up, I realize that I have to setup a kickstart that I can give to the public. I have settled on 3 different kickstarts with a version for UEFI and BIOS.
prime server = The main homeserver project I am designing
standard server = Any additional Servers that will be added to the network
workstation = Simple MATE workstation if needed.
I was trying to do this all physical, but I came to the realization that I needed to get these initially done in a VM before translating it to physical boxes.
Today was a weird day, I went to the office, finished off early with 6500 steps.
But I was so tired, not sure from the steps, dont think it was lack of sleep.
But a quick nap for lunch helped and after work too before completing the balance of my steps.
