VISTA HOUSE

Each year millions of visitors take advantage of the highway system, heading east from Portland, Oregon through the Columbia River Gorge.  In the harried pace of today it is sometimes easy to miss the full beauty of the area.  That is, until you come around the bend near Corbett at exit 22.  On your right is the famous basalt promontory known as Crown Point,  topped by the majestic observatory known as Vista House. 

Vista House is a hexagon building located 733 feet above the Columbia River and was designed by Edgar M Lazarus.  

Completed in 1918, after nearly two years of construction, Vista House is a museum that welcomes more than a million visitors each year and serves as a memorial to Oregon pioneers and as a comfort station for travelers on the historic Columbia River Highway.  

The hexagonal building features a domed rotunda 44 feet in diameter and houses restrooms and a gift shop. The rotunda is 55 feet high with stairs that lead to an elevated viewing platform at the base of the dome. The exterior is of a gray sandstone, with a roof of Terra Cotta green and gold glazed tiles.  The interior is a mix of Alaskan Tokeen Marble and Kasota Limestone.

Vista House is owned by the Oregon Department of Transportation and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 5, 1974.  Crown Point was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1971.  Suffice it to say the views are spectacular. 

Revenues from the gift store and the espresso bar are used to help support the educational and volunteer programs provided by Friends of Vista House as well as special Vista House projects that help preserve and maintain the building. 

For further information head over to their Facebook page.  

DOOR SLAMS SHUT 7 TIMES

Last Monday should have been the first of 14 days sailing aboard the Norwegian Jewel, exploring the beauty and majesty of all that Alaska has to offer.  Unfortunately the travel gods were fuming that day. 

My alarm rang at 3:30am but I was up before the alarm sounded.  I was scheduled to depart from the Medford, Oregon airport aboard a Delta Airlines flight for a short hop up to Vancouver, BC, Canada.  I had reservations on the Norwegian Jewel for a 14-day cruise scheduled to depart Vancouver at 4pm.  My flight arrival should have been at 9:53am and I was looking forward to having lunch onboard the Jewel at noon. 

Now you are probably asking “Why would she fly on the same day as her scheduled cruise?”  As a very seasoned traveler, having traveled since 1978, I am all too familiar with that old adage “Never fly on the day of your cruise.”  It’s common knowledge that one should fly, at minimum, the day prior.  Just too many things can go wrong and you don’t want to “miss the boat”. 

Only twice during my travel career have I attempted to fly on the same day as my cruise departure, typically caused by availability of award travel.  Both times it proved fatal.

The first was on, what should have been, a quick flight from Medford to San Diego.  With wheels down and a few hundred feet from touchdown our captain suddenly aborted the landing, rapidly and steeply climbing toward the heavens.  Just minutes later came the dreaded announcement advising there was an active shooter at the San Diego airport and all runways were closed to incoming traffic.   Who could predict such an event?  Our plane would be diverted to another airport and the conclusion of that story will be kept for another day. 

This past Mondays adventure represented the second time I have tried to fly on the same day of my cruise departure and it proved to be a very frustrating day.  My Delta flight from Medford, Oregon was scheduled to depart at 5:40am.  Walking into the terminal around 4:30am I was immediately confronted with a line of passengers stretching almost the entire length of the ticket counter area. 

DOOR #1

I had efficiently completed the online check-in process and had even prepaid my baggage fees prior to my arrival at the airport.  Unfortunately I was still required to wait in line for a passport check, have my baggage tags issued and to drop my bag.  With only 1 person working the ticket counter, the line progressed at a snails pace.  Finally I was next in line.  I glanced at my phone and the time was 5:23am.  As I handed my passport and boarding pass to the agent I was greeted with a snarky “You are too late for check-in.”  and was abruptly handed a red card entitled “Need Help?”.  The next words I heard were "You need to call the number on the card for further assistance".  

Trying to reason with the gate agent proved to be futile.  Obviously she was not a morning person.

I stepped away from the ticket counter and placed a call to the “Need Help?” number given as 1-855-548-2505 to inquire about alternative flights.  I was told I would be unable to use my existing ticket as it had been marked “NO SHOW” by the gate agent.  I was furious to say the least.  I had been standing in line for close to a hour and she had marked me as a “NO SHOW”.  

I explained the situation to the agent on the phone and with considerable time and effort I managed to get the “NO SHOW” status removed.  Now I was free to re-book my flight and reuse my existing ticket. 

DOOR #2

As I attempted to re-book my flight with the agent on the phone, I was informed that Delta had NO seats available out of Medford for the entire day.   

I then made my way back to the ticket counter and asked the agent why she didn’t make an announcement for passengers on DL4749 to move to the front of the line.  Her sarcastic response was “The PA system is way over there and I am here all by myself so I don’t have time to do that.”   I once again asked the gate agent if she would re-book my flight but her response was “You need to call that number", pointing the my little red "Need Help?" card.

I ended up purchasing a ticket to fly Alaska Airlines from Medford to Portland departing Medford at 7:37am.  I determined that Delta had a flight from Portland to Vancouver at 11:15am so I booked the flights and was able to reuse my old ticket but was required to pay an additional charge of $96.40.

DOOR #3

Immediately upon landing in Portland I turned on my cellphone to receive numerous messages from Delta that my flight departure from Portland had been delayed 1.5 hours.  Once again I had been re-booked for a 1:15pm departure.  Unfortunately this would put me into Vancouver at 4:18pm and the ship was scheduled to leave Vancouver at 4:00pm.

DOOR #4

I attempted to book an earlier departure out of Portland but ALL flights on ALL airlines were sold out. 

DOOR #5

I placed a call to Norwegian Cruise Lines to let them know that I would not be boarding at 4pm but would join the cruise at Ketchikan, the first port of call.  I was advised that the option was available but it came with a price tag of $778. 

At this point it became evident that the cruise was not going to materialize so the difficult decision was made to simply return to Medford.  Another ticket purchase, another $249 expense.

The time was now 12:10pm and I was scheduled on a flight back to Medford at 1:40pm. Lunch seemed appropriate, another $28.20 expense. 

DOOR #6

The departure from Portland was on time.  Our scheduled arrival into Medford was 2:40pm but we managed to loose another 15 minutes, flying around smoke I suspected, landing in Medford at 2:55pm.  Our plane stopped on the tarmac and the captain made an announcement that we would need to wait for the ground crew to arrive. We were only 15 minutes late.  Where did they go? 

DOOR #7

Once inside the Medford terminal I made my way to the baggage claim area as I needed to file a claim on my luggage.  My bag was checked to Vancouver and I was now back in Medford.  The office was closed with a sign on the door saying a person would be available 25 minutes after flight arrival.  Nothing else to do but sit and wait 25 more minutes.

Finally completed my lost baggage claim and walked out the door of the airport.  The time was now 4:30pm.

After 14 hours of total frustration, a flight to Portland, lunch at the airport, and a flight back to Medford, two things became ever so evident and should be a lesson to anyone reading this . . . . .

ALWAYS FLY AT LEAST 1 DAY PRIOR TO YOUR CRUISE DEPARTURE

ALWAYS PURCHASE TRAVEL INSURANCE

 

ROGUE VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY

After the loss yesterday of our little Yorkie Beau, I felt compelled to donate dog food to a local animal shelter.  I reached out to the Rogue Valley Humane Society located at 429 NW Scenic Drive in Grants Pass, Oregon. 

As I turned into the shelter I noticed several dog pens in an open field on my left.  They were created with a chain-link type of fencing and each included a white igloo style dog house.  Most of the runs seemed to be occupied. I was later told these were the fire rescue animals. 

Entering into the main office you are confronted with a check-in counter.  I was surprised by the number of employees behind the counter in this relatively small facility.  I inquired if the facility accepted dog food donations and was assured they did. 

Accompanying me to the facility was my daughter Sandi, grand-daughter Danielle  and great grand-daughter Alyssa.  Alyssa loves cats so we asked if we could go to the viewing area.   

In order to view the cats you must first sign a register and wash your hands with a sanitary sterilizing soap. There were 4 separate rooms for just cats, some older, some sick, some kittens.  A couple of the rooms are equipped with viewing windows and have an employee inside for assistance. 

While Sandi, Danielle and Alyssa were enjoying their visit with the cats, I was introduced to Margaret Varner, Executive Director of the facility.   I enjoyed listening to her enthusiastically talk about the facility, their employees, both paid and volunteer, and the goals and vision for this non-profit organization.  I was pleased to learn that Rogue Valley Humane Society is a ‘no-kill’ facility and Margaret drove this point home by relating a story of a dog named “Honey” that was in their facility for 5 years before being adopted.  This warmed my heart. 

Just through the back door of the office is the small dog area.  Each dog has an individual pen with a common area for interaction and play time.  A volunteer, or paid employee, was sitting in the common area interacting with the dogs.  I noticed that 2 of the pens were closed and locked with the dogs still inside.  When I inquired if they were “in time out” I was told that they did not associate and interact well with other dogs so they had separate play times. 

I was impressed with the overall feel of the facility and it’s cleanliness.  If I were looking for a dog or cat I would certainly consider the adoption route offered by the Humane Society.  

They produce a newsletter titled “Paw Prints” which features a Kanine Kronicles and Kitty Korner section, along with other useful and informative information.  You can sign up to receive the eNewsletter at the Rogue Valley Humane Society website.  

The organization is non-profit so funding is from grants, donations, adoption fees and fund raisers.  On Saturday, September 8, 2018 at Tom Pearce Park from 2-7pm you can enjoy “Blues, Brews and Barbecue”.  Tickets are $25 and are available at the Humane Society office.

If you are looking for an affordable alternative to veterinary services, check out VetIQ.  Just opening on June 23^rd of this year, they offer rabies vaccines for $20, nail trims for $20, smart start puppy packs for $65 and microchip pet ID for $20.  No appointment or exams are required.  For further information check out VetIQ Pet Care.

The RVHS Thrift Store is located at 119 Redwood Avenue, phone 541-955-3367.  The Humane Society is located at 429 NW Scenic Drive, Grants Pass, Oregon, phone 541-479-5154.  For more information, to donate or to volunteer visit them on facebook or at www.roguevalleyhumanesociety.org or www.RVHS-OR.org. 

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Last evening represented opening night for the Andrew Lloyd Webber teen musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”.

Presented by The Teen Musical Theater of Oregon (TMTO), the venue was the Craterian Theater at the Collier Center for the Performing Arts in Medford, Oregon.  This was a family-friendly teen musical consisting of 2 acts with a total running time of 90 minutes, including intermission.

The story is the reimagining of the biblical story of Joseph (played by Holden Jones), his father Jacob (played by Trenton Jantzer), eleven brothers and the coat of many colors. 

As the favored son of his father Jacob, Joseph stirs the jealousy of his brothers who conspire to sell him into slavery in Egypt.

Joseph finds himself in the presence of Potiphar, but ends up in jail after refusing the romantic advances of Potiphar’s wife. While in prison, Joseph discovers he possesses the unique gift of interpreting dreams.  This gift places him in front of the mighty, but troubled, Elvis-inspired, Pharaoh.

Joseph’s dream interpretation, and his solution to Egypt’s famine, elevates him to Pharaoh’s right-hand man and reunites him with his family.  When his starving brothers arrive and plead for mercy, from the now Princely Joseph, they fail to recognize him as the brother they had betrayed.

The story is told entirely through song with the help of three female narrators (Katie Joos, Maddie Day and Maya Patridge).  This musical is full of catchy songs in a variety of genres, from French ballads (“Those Canaan Days”), to country-western (“One More Angel in Heaven”) to calypso (“Benjamin Calypso”), along with the classics “Any Dream Will Do” and “Close Every Door.”  The musical was high energy, very entertaining and audience engaging.  

Performances are at 7:30pm on  August 4^th , 9^th , and 10^th with a 2pm matinee on Saturday, August 11, 2018.  For more information or tickets head over to the Craterian Theater website.  Adults $25, Youth $15