I spent the first week of August exploring the state of Oregon, a place I had never been to before even though it’s my neighbor to the north. On my road trip, I stopped in Ashland, Portland, Hood River, and then drove the entire Oregon coast home all the way back to California.  It was a lot of driving but I wanted to visit my northern neighbor by car to see the mountains, rivers, and explore the towns.

I had to make my way through several northern counties in California before crossing the border. The golden plains turned to hills and then mountains covered in forests as I made my way toward the Pacific Northwest. It was almost dusk as I crossed the border into Oregon where I stopped on the side of the highway to photograph the “Welcome to Oregon” sign as semis whizzed past me at high speeds almost blowing me over.

At sunset I arrived in Ashland, Oregon and I had just enough time to make a last seating for dinner downtown. I dined under globe lights in an outdoor cafe and while I ate I struck up a conversation with a local theater manager. She offered me a quick walking tour of the town after dinner, pointing out various sights I should see during daylight. Friendly locals always have the best tips and remind me of the kindness of strangers.

The next morning I set out on foot to explore the town in daylight and snapped a few photos with my phone. Ashland is known for its theater productions but I will remember it for its small town charm. Highlights: the interior of the historical Ashland Springs Hotel which will transport you to another time, and the very cute shops and restaurants next to Lithia Park.

After soaking up the parks, cafes, and shops I headed north to Portland. I didn’t get to spend anytime in Bend, which I’ve heard is really wonderful and in hindsight I wished I’d budgeted an extra day to see it.

Arriving in Portland my immediate impression was the opposite of Ashland. It was big, crowded, and confusing to navigate. I checked into the Hoxton hotel and headed to the rooftop bar to relax with tacos and sunset views.

I loved the interior of this hotel, its decorated with a cozy mid century vibe (see more pictures here) and it was a cozy place to relax and have morning coffee.

I explored Portland on foot for two days. They take pride in their local motto “Keep Portland Weird” and I had mixed feelings about Portland downtown, but I found some spots that were cool like Pioneer Square and the Pearl District.

In Portland I discovered (and I had been warned) that the city struggles with a serious homeless population. The downtown areas are covered in tents and there were a lot of transients walking around. It’s tragic and those of us who know San Francisco are acutely aware we have the same problem. I don’t know the solution but I do know it impacts the vibe of a city.

The highlights of Portland for me were popular Powells Books, the Saturday Portland market, and my outdoor lunch at Luc Lac kitchen. My most favorite stop was my hike through Washington Park to the zen Japanese garden, it was so beautiful and worth the long walk to that side of town and uphill hike through the park.

I left Portland and headed east to Hood River, a town I’d been wanting to see since reading about it. The drive east is beautiful, winding through the Pacific Northwest along the Columbia River, it’s hard to keep your eyes on the road with such natural beauty all around!

Hood River looked like a place where they’d film a Netflix series. You know they type: a few charming downtown streets filled with shops, cafes, and breweries, surrounded by craftsman style homes, where life moves slowly and it feels like everyone meets for coffee every morning and knows everyone in town.

I rented a private room at the best Airbnb that was decorated with such cute and quirky furnishings and decor.

I had two amazing experiences in Hood River, the first was whitewater rafting with ZooRaft. So much fun! As a solo passenger I was partnered with a really cute family and spent a few hours riding rapids and drifting down river with them. It was one of the most pleasant travel experiences I’ve ever had, being on the water riding through a canyon surrounded by beautiful forests.

Hood River is a place where there are a lot of outdoor adventures: windsurfing, kayaking, and hiking, no wonder it’s such a happy place to be!

Another highlight was the Gorge White House, a stop recommended to my by my cousin. This farm had orchards and flowers and delicious hard cider, I highly recommend this place if you’re ever in Hood River!

I left Hood River and followed the Columbia River to the coast. What a beautiful drive!

I took two days to drive the Oregon coast home, it was a long but another extremely scenic drive. I started in Astoria where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean and turned south down Highway 101. Astoria has a really cool maritime museum and a really cute downtown where I stopped for an early dinner at a great brewpub.

I stayed for a few hours then headed down a gently winding highway to stop in Seaside for dinner and to sleep for the night.

I could tell why Seaside was a vacation destination. It had a very cute downtown and beautiful beaches! I stayed at the chic Saltline Hotel for the night and was lucky to catch a beautiful sunset.

I stopped in Cannon Beach for a quick walk along the beach and to check out the famous rock. It was crowded with tourists and I could see why, Cannon Beach felt like it was straight out of a movie with its shops, manicured gardens, and seaside homes with stunning ocean views.

I stopped briefly in Depoe Bay to check out the views and grab some coffee. Wow what amazing vistas!

My final stop was Newport where I had dinner by the waterfront where all the locals enjoy amazing seafood.

My favorite coastal towns along Highway 101 were Seaside, Cannon Beach, Depoe Bay, and Newport! Thank you Oregon, my neighbor to the north, for showing off your scenery!

My  trip to Oregon had highs and lows. Travel isn’t always rainbows, but knowing that I still do it for the new experiences and vistas. Travel always teaches me something and I come back with stories to tell, like the motel where I was scammed! I made the mistake of not checking reviews and ended up at a total dump that used fake pictures to advertise and had no room available when I arrived. Thankfully I got my money back but that wasn’t a pleasant experience.

This road trip was a solo adventure. I’m lucky that Matt is the kind of person to say to me “go, explore, have fun!” while he handles the family obligations. When I travel solo I have a lot of freedom and solitude and I gain clarity being alone with my thoughts. I also have an opportunity to meet locals and strike up conversations with strangers I might not talk to if I was traveling with others.

Exploring new places makes me feel alive, and I always return from a solo trip as a relaxed, inspired, more evolved version of myself.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://distancebetweenplaces.com/?p=100

Having hot water is one of the most vital resources a homeowner can have. Taking showers, doing dishes, and washing clothes all require this valuable commodity.

Water heaters can malfunction at any time with no warning. Learning to troubleshoot problems with your water heater can be a lifesaver.

If you’re unfamiliar with how to navigate your water heaters system, it’s okay. We’ve got a guide on learning how to fix your water heater. 

Troubleshooting Your Water Heater

Listed below are some of the most common problems you can encounter with your water heater. Keep reading to find out simple solutions for these problems.

Thermostat Issues

If the water in your sink or tub is too hot or too cold, there could be a thermostat problem. Testing the thermostat with a voltage meter can let you know if the component is faulty.

Dripping Valves

Does the hot water in your home not last long enough? This could be a problem with dripping valves or fixtures.

Use a wrench and check all the connections on the pipes and hoses around the water heater. Ensure everything is tight and locked correctly.

Puddles Under the Water Heater

You may have found a puddle of water under the heater unit. Is it a leak or just condensation?

If you’ve recently installed a new water heater, condensation is present on many newer models. Monitor your water heater as it turns on.

Condensation tends to build up after the first few minutes a water heater turns on. Approximately one half-gallon of vapor can form from the unit powering on. 

Winterising

Is your water heater freezing when the temperatures get cold outside? Frozen water heaters can cause severe malfunctions. 

The heater may require extra insulation around the main unit. If this doesn’t seem to help, consider purchasing insulation for your pipes. 

Recognise and Diagnose

Pay attention to how your water heater functions. Get familiar with the noises it makes and the cycles it goes through. This ensures your ability to notice small changes that could lead to bigger problems later. 

If you simply can’t fix it yourself, consider investing in a brand new water heater from your local plumber

Did you miss our previous article…
https://distancebetweenplaces.com/?p=98

I have this thing with the wood aisle at Lowes. They have a great selection of short poplar pieces in various sizes and they always inspire ideas, like these table leg candlesticks from last year and these basket planters a few months ago.

I spied a chunky 3×3” piece and thought, hmmm, if I wrapped that in marble contact paper I bet it I could make them look like a high end marble candle holders but on the cheap. I liked this style but wanted a trio in different heights.

These candle holders have a high end look but were really cheap to make. I wrapped wood cut at different lengths with black marble contact paper and topped them off with spray painted copper caps to create them. (Compare to versions like this and this that are way more expensive.)

To recreate these here’s what you need: one 3x3x48” poplar square; black marble contact paper; 3/4” copper caps; gold spray paint, black spray paint (optional); spray adhesive; super glue; sanding wedge; scissors; miter saw.

I found the 3x3x48” poplar square but you could also use 2” square or 3” round circle pieces too!

The copper caps I found in the plumbing department, the 3/4” size fits standard taper candles. There are various kinds of copper pipe connectors and caps in the 3/4” size, I chose the simple cap for my project.

Trim the blocks to desired height, these are 5”, 6 1/2” and 8” height. Sand the edges to remove any roughness.

I spray painted them black thinking the contact paper would stick better to painted surface instead of raw wood. Here they are without the contact paper wrap and these look good too!

Of course you could paint them any color and add the copper cap top in its raw state or painted a contrasting color.

A larger group of these wood candle holders would make a great Halloween candelabra!

The faux marble surface is created by wrapping the blocks like a present.

The one thing about contact paper is it has an adhesive back but to make it stick better, unwrap the block and give it a light coat of spray adhesive for greater adhesion then rewrap.

Wrap the long sides first then trim the edges and fold them over the top and bottom.

I spray painted the copper caps with gold leaf spray painted and super glued them to the top. Voila!

An easy project for adding faux marble decor to your space! You could use the same contact paper to create bookends, cover trays or desktops, planters and canisters too!

Did you miss our previous article…
https://distancebetweenplaces.com/?p=85

Kitchen design incorporates a variety of elements. Each plays a vital part in bringing your concept to life, from what appliances you choose to the color scheme for your worktops and interiors. One area that is not just important for function but also style is your countertops. This surface area will give you a foundation to prepare food and also ties your design ideas together. 

How do you decide on the best option with the vast array of countertop materials to choose from? Check out some of the popular kitchen countertop materials below to find out:

Quartz countertops

Quartz is an excellent example of getting a high-end look in your kitchen without the high maintenance compared to other materials. It is one of the hardest minerals on the planet and is resistant to staining and marks, which is perfect for a busy family kitchen. This material is also extremely durable, and there is more consistency within the colors from slab to slab. The finish of quartz has a glossy look and creates a luxury aesthetic in the kitchen space. Take a look at some of the best quartz kitchen countertops for examples of this material. 

Marble countertops

Marble is synonymous with luxury and is used in low-traffic kitchen spaces. The material is more fragile than other options as it has a porous surface and may stain easily. This natural material is beautifully unique and can vary from slab to slab in color and veining. There is a range of matte and glossy finishes depending on your requirements. 

Granite countertops

Granite is a natural product that originates from a variety of sources across the world. It has a raw and unmatched beauty, and the look may vary from slab to slab. While this material is durable, it does require some maintenance, such as sealing every 10-15 years. This sealant protects the granite from oil penetration and staining, so ask your vendor what is required when selecting this material for your kitchen. 

Solid synthetic countertops

Solid surfaces made from synthetic materials are a popular choice in kitchens. This countertop material is nonporous and is heat and stain-resistant. Over time you may see some scratches on the surface, but these can usually be removed with buffing. If you’re looking for a consistent color or pattern match, this is an excellent option as there is a wide selection of colors and styles. Most solid surfaces have a matte finish and vary in price depending on the color choice. 

Solid wood countertops

Wood is another option for kitchen countertops, especially if you want to add warmth to the interiors. However, it is mainly recommended that wood be used as a focal point rather than the whole surface of the kitchen. Wood is high maintenance and scratches easily. It is also susceptible to damage from water and general kitchen items. This style of countertop is usually matte, but you can have a high gloss applied to the surface for a smooth appearance. 

Did you miss our previous article…
https://distancebetweenplaces.com/?p=80