19th Annual Trina, Sue, & Elaine GetAway Trip

So friendships that last 30-40 are irreplaceable.    I am lucky enough to have two great friendships that have lasted through the years.    Twenty years ago when I was living in Seattle and my friends were in Portland, we took a trip to Southern California.    It was so much fun and we found that it kept the friendship stronger.    So we decided to start a tradition.    We have been to England, Germany, New York, Savannah, Charleston, Las Vegas, California multiple times, Oregon and Washington multiple times.   The places we go are fantastic but the real highlight of the trips is the time we spend with each other.   Only one year was skipped.   Next year we plan a BIG one for our 20th but haven't quite figured out the destination yet.

This year we stayed local so we could save up for an international (maybe?) trip next year.    We started in Roseburg touring wineries.   Our favorite in the area was Kings Estate which is very elegant with lovely lavendar fields and gardens.    We took a little break from wine tasting to drive part of the waterfall highway that goes east of Roseburg and hiked to a few falls.   Our favorite wine tasting experience was at Abecela where we had a fun sommelier and a pretty path to walk.   The 2009 Estate Malbec was fantastic.   

From Roseburg we headed to Salem for a slumber party with Sue's Mom, Betty.    We had so much fun with her and she baked us such wonderful treats that I think we may have to make Betty an unofficial member of the girls trip.   Then we headed to Forest Grove for the last night.    We tasted wine along the way and Sue and Trina liked the wine at St Innocents (wonderful Pinot Noirs) best while I favored the Canna's Feast wines (great italian style reds).   We had a great suite at the Grand Lodge McMennamins.   The evening was beautiful so we played scrabble at the outside bar before heading in to dinner.    After a yummy breakfast we drove out to Hagg Lake for a little walk to burn off some of the food and wine we have been enjoying.    Then one last winery, Montinore before heading home.    Another fabulous trip!