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The 4th of July at the Columbia River Gorge
Columbia River and Vista House (right) from Chanticleer Point
The problem it seems with smaller towns and tony bed-and-breakfast resorts is guests are not made a priority at holidays, and it’s not much different along the Columbia River Gorge in Washington over the 4th of July. There is little benefit to publicly badmouth the owners where we are staying so I won’t say where we are because I think it is terrible that some idiots today feel the need to jump online to target small business owners who are just doing the best that they can. The crooks and major corporations are exempt from this policy, and I will blast them all day long. But not the little guys.
Bridge of the Gods links Oregon with Washington across the Columbia River
When we checked into our resort, the owner asked if we would like her to arrange an activity. I mentioned her guestbook said it was never too late to schedule a fishing adventure, and I would like to fish the Columbia River. Not a long trip, maybe just four hours. She would make a couple of calls and get back to us.
Windsurfers on Columbia River in Stevenson, Washington
On our way out to tour the Columbia River Gorge, we stopped by her office. She was in the back on the phone and did not hear us come in. She was talking loudly. “Oh, yes, I agree, all of the information is on our website and our guests had access. Yes, they should have booked with you before arriving, and I don’t blame you for wanting to spend time with your family.” In other words, it was our fault that we could not go fishing. The resort did not send us an email about needing to book activities in advance.
I am so freakin’ busy selling real estate in Sacramento that I had zero time to even peruse the website to confirm our reservation before we departed on our vacation. We made those reservations for the 4th of July in March, for crying out loud.
Kiteboarders leap into the air at the Columbia River wind tunnel in Stevenson, Washington.
Instead, she offered the opportunity to board a large sternwheeler in town, filled with college-age revelers and families with screaming toddlers, to sit body-to-sticky-body in the 90+ heat and bang around on the water for two hours. Which is not at all like fishing.
Stevenson Waterfront dock on the Columbia River features Adam and Elizabeth Weintraub.
Then, all of the restaurants in the area closed at 8 PM. So, we could not make a dinner reservation at 7:30 and ended up ordering take-out from a Mexican joint. Thank god for the in-room wine bottles on the wall, is all I have to say. Now, I realize there are more problems in the world that my complaints might seem small and insignificant in comparison to but it doesn’t matter.
Latourell Falls Bridge built in 1915 along the Historic Columbia River Highway
I really dislike having to make reservations for anything. Preplanning, bleh. But you either adapt or you starve to death. It’s not like the old days when you could go on vacation and do whatever you wanted at the spur of the moment, just go with the flow, because there are too many people in the world. It’s hard to predict exactly how I might feel at a certain hour of the day. In my real world of selling Sacramento real estate, I am organized to the 10th degree and all of my activities are generally scheduled. I prefer more leeway when I’m on vacation.
Happy dog at Clark and Lewie’s Restaurant along the waterfront in Stevenson, Washington
Like, when I’m in Hawaii, most of the resorts require dinner reservations, and it doesn’t matter where you stay. Although, I will say at least the Four Seasons staff will come to your room and serve dinner. You can’t come up off the water for dinner whenever you feel like it; although, you can in Vanuatu. In fact, you can go to dinner in your swimsuit and barefoot if you want at The Eratap, and enjoy a 5-star meal.
The thing is when you visit other places, you might find your expectations are dashed when it comes to service, and if you want to be in that place, that’s what you get. It comes with the territory. I don’t regret coming to visit the Columbia River Gorge just because we could not go fishing or get dinner at a preferred time.
Train tracks, highway and river along the Historic Columbia River Highway at Bridal Falls Wayside
We enjoyed a lovely lunch on the Columbia River at Clark and Lewie’s, a beet salad with greens, candied pecans, cranberries and grilled salmon on top. Plus, we enjoyed watching people kiteboarding and windsurfing on the river and met a beautiful dog who was initially tied up outside the restaurant but cried so much they let him inside. Afterwards, we hiked a little and toured the Historic Columbia River Highway, stopping along the way. I hope you enjoyed the photos of the Columbia River Gorge.
Photos by Elizabeth Weintraub, Sacramento
Florence, Oregon: Siuslaw River and Heceta Lighthouse
Stained glass pinwheels and flowers outside shopkeeper’s in Florence, Oregon
One of the tourist books at our resort in Yachats mentioned a restaurant for foodies in Florence, Oregon, that no longer exists, as we discovered when we went on a hunt for it. The day was gloriously beautiful, with warm sunshine wrapping her rays around my shoulders, making the weather comfortable enough to remove my jacket and tie its sleeves around my waist. After wandering the gift shops to pick up gifts for my hard-working Elizabeth Weintraub team members back in Sacramento, we set out to find a place for lunch.
I asked one of the shopkeepers about the restaurant, which is when I received a long explanation about who used to own it, who sold it to whom and why it’s closed now, none of which was putting any food into my stomach, and ended with the shopkeeper saying, “But this is a small town and I just keep to myself.” The pace in Florence, Oregon, is much more laid-back and relaxed but not quite as slow as say, Hawaii, or Mexico. Probably because they kinda like visitors and don’t necessarily view your presence as an intrusion into their privacy.
Banks of the Suislaw River Bridge in Florence, Oregon
We tried the Spice Restaurant, known for its creative presentation of seafood and steaks, but it was closed, which accounts for the fact the door would not open regardless of how hard I tugged. No problem, there are many restaurants and cafes in Old Town Florence, and the day was still young. We were not pressed for time like we were the other day when I was forced to eat a grocery store hamburger that had been warmed up in the microwave for lunch.
There are two large seafood restaurants next to each other on the Siuslaw River: Mo’s, whose sign looks like MG than MO and immediately made me think of Booker T and the MGs and about which we had been warned about all the deep-fried stuff, and the International C-Food Restaurant, which is called ICM and features only wild-caught seafood. It seems that the tourist favorite no matter where we go is battered and deep-fried fish, accompanied by French fries: fish and chips. This restaurant was no exception, either, so I opted for a salad topped by wild Mexican shrimp.
“Oh, I don’t know if we can do that,” our waitress said, looking very concerned, almost distraught. I pointed to the menu where it featured a shrimp cocktail and then to the salad, explaining that they could simply combine the two and leave out the cocktail sauce. After lunch, we sauntered over to BJ’s ice cream parlor. It’s probably named after somebody like Bobby Jean and not what you otherwise might think. Then again, it IS ice cream served in a cake cone. And yummy salted caramel at that.
Heceta Lighthouse from Highway 101 near Florence, Oregon
I felt like we had only one option at that point. To curl up under a tree and take a nap. But my husband had more energetic ambitions. Plus, he was the one driving us back to Yachats, and we still needed to visit the Heceta Lighthouse. This still-working lighthouse was hauled up the hill in parts, some 205 feet above the ocean, sometime in the late 1800s. It features, like many, the Fresnel lens, which beams light 21 miles out to sea.
Hemet Lighthouse on site has been restored
We poked around the lighthouse house, but it was locked and we could not enter. At one time there used to be two houses on this lot, and the cement steps, created to allow easy access for getting up on your horse, still remain. I looked in the window because I can’t help myself. I love older houses, especially the vintage homes I sell in the central core of Sacramento with a sense of history. The buildings speak and can transport you back in time. The floor was wood, covered with an ornamental rug in the living room, and the dining area featured an antique table with a lace tablecloth.
In the photo below, you can view the lighthouse in the distance from the front porch and also see the ocean through the trees.
Hemet Lighthouse Keepers front porch
Road Signs and Elk on The Oregon Coast
A Bengal cat in Florence, Oregon, stares at her nemesis, a dog along the Siuslaw Riverbank.
A little unnerving are some of the road signs in Oregon. Some of them contain only one word. Which is OK, I suppose, because you don’t really need a lot of words to explain yourself if one word will do; however, I can’t help feeling it’s like using the F-word without the You: alone, the emphasis remains but without its companion pairing, it’s meaningfulness and impact seems to wane. Not to mention, it can leave you a little confused as to its actual intent. Somebody could be upset, for example, but why. When you add the “you” to the F-word, well, it becomes crystal clear what the problem is.
One of the signs that seems ubiquitous on the Oregon Coast is the one-word sign: ELK. Now, that raises all kinds of questions. You might say to yourself, does that mean one elk or a whole bunch of them? Will they be in the road or are you supposed to enjoy the view of elk in the distance? Is this another roadside attraction? Another one-word sign is ROCKS. It’s like the guys at the Oregon Transportation Department are people of brevity. At least the word is plural. Perhaps it is meant to build awareness of one’s surroundings? As my husband pointed out, at least it’s not Elk Throwing Rocks. Or is it?
Which brings me to thoughts of that elk head that is sitting in my family room on our floor, horns splayed into the view of our television screen. It’s a real elk with 5 points on a shoulder mount, and it’s in excellent condition. I first spotted him on a wall at my seller’s house in Winters. She shot Elkie herself and then had him stuffed, attached to a board in the shape of a crest and hung him in the living room of a house she bought for her dad. I’m not really a big fan of stuffed animal heads on the walls, but since I’ve been selling a few homes lately that have these prized possessions on display, I’ve become more tolerant and intrigued by them. My mother would roll over in her grave. My younger self would join her.
When my seller said her next-door neighbor had offered her $700 for Elkie, I couldn’t ignore my competitive nature; I offered her $500 if she’d let me take Elkie home. I couldn’t help it. Besides, the elk head was too big to fit into her car, and her new home in Coos Bay, Oregon, was not large enough to offer a space on the wall anywhere to accommodate him. On top of all of this, it’s not like we could call him a fixture and just leave him there. For real estate sale purposes, it would be better for Elkie to go live somewhere else. That somewhere else, I decided, against all signs of logic, was in my home.
After much pleading with my husband, he finally acquiesced and agreed Elkie could come live with us as long as she didn’t live over the sofa. Her long neck would separate us from each other and make it difficult to pass the remote or receive a foot massage while watching TV, anyway. Getting Elkie to my house proved to be more difficult than I had imagined.
Elkie would not fit in my car, not even with the top down. My team member, Dianne, tried to squeeze him into her SUV, but his horns almost punctured her stereo speakers, and after much twisting and turning, she gave up. Then, my other team member, Josh, offered to bring Elkie home. This involved a 90-minute drive all the way to Winters and back to my home in Land Park, but he was successful, and that’s how Elkie came to live on my family room floor. He is way too big to even try to hang over our sofa, which is out of the question anyhow.
There is no spot in my house for Elkie. We can’t even hang him from the ceiling, which I had considered, like that goofy movie theater restaurant and lounge in Lodi. I asked my seller if she could put an ad on Craig’s List or eBay to sell Elkie, which is when she pointed out to me that it is against the law in California to sell an elk head. You learn something new every day, don’t you?
Fortunately, my husband came up with a good idea. Perhaps an Elk’s Lodge would like a donation, and then I could send the tax deductible receipt to my seller, which she could use to reduce her tax liability next year. I called a bunch of Elk Lodges and left messages. Then, yesterday, as we cruised into the town of Florence, a CEO from one of them called back to say yes, the Sacramento Elk Lodge would be delighted to give Elkie a new home. We are driving down from our vacation resort in Yachats to Coos Bay today to visit with Elkie’s previous owner. Her home in Winters is closing in two days. This gives us several things to celebrate.
Photo: Bengal cat, Adam Weintraub
Waking Up in Port Vila is Better Than the Journey to Vanuatu
A scent of wet soil is the first thing you notice getting off the plane in Port Vila, Vanuatu, at midnight. It’s an almost overpowering odor that encompasses lush vegetation, no doubt, and that island dirt. You can feel the moisture in the air, but the smell of moisture is more prevalent. I was so overjoyed to be here that I would have kissed the ground except I was too tired to get back up. The entire trip, from Honolulu to the resort in Port Vila is about 24 hours, and I’m not even sure what day it is at the moment.
We stopped in Brisbane, Australia, went through customs and back up through security again. People have odd expressions for things in Australia. A woman asked if I was in the queue instead of standing in line, exit signs are marked WAY OUT and a restaurant server asked if I would like cereal on top of my yogurt. She could not fathom that I would enjoy plain yogurt.
The one thing I am sure of is how supportive my team has been in my absence. Those guys are simply amazing. Of course, you know, all I have to do is go outside the country without cellphone coverage or WiFi for 24 hours, and everything happens at once. A home that has been difficult to show over the past 3 months suddenly sells for list price. That sort of stuff. Or multiple offers on another home.
I’ve watched everybody spring into action to help out, and I couldn’t feel more proud of how the team pulls together. Barbara Dow is going out to Natomas to meet with 3 sellers who don’t have much internet savvy to sign an offer. Josh Amolsch is meeting with another to explain how the multiple counter offers work. My valued right-hand TC has solved so many problems that they’re over by the time I hear about them. Placer Title has been phenomenal as well.
Even though I am often reluctant to let go because I always feel like my fingers and input need to be inserted into every transaction, it’s so reassuring to know that my sellers are in good hands in my absence. My team just does what needs to be done, without question. I feel like the most fortunate Sacramento REALTOR on the face of the planet this morning.
Even if I did try to heat up coffee grounds in hot water and could not figure out why they resided at the bottom of my cup, mocking me. Because it wasn’t instant coffee. I have to go now to track down breakfast. But please, enjoy the view from my Port Vila bungalow.
Taking Along Sacramento Real Estate Clients on a Winter Vacation
Lots of people do their spring cleaning at springtime but this Sacramento REALTOR does hers in the fall, primarily because I need to be ready to hit the street running when I return from my winter vacation. I need a fresh slate in January, and to be ready to handle new listings and new sales. Every spring market is explosive. You might ask what happens to my existing business, the clients I am working with in November and will acquire in December? I’ll tell you what has worked for me over the years, and how I handle it.
First, not everybody knows (nor agrees with this practice), but I take my clients on vacation with me. Wherever I go, whether it’s French Polynesia, the Florida Keys or Viet Nam, I stay on top of my business. Nobody gets neglected nor forgotten. I still respond to email and take care of purchase offers and closings. In fact, one year on Christmas Day via spotty satellite from a remote Atoll in the Tuamotus at Rangiroa, I listed a home in Sacramento. By the time I flew to Bora Bora, I had sold the home and opened escrow.
I can always find an hour or two in every day no matter what to take care of my Sacramento clients. It doesn’t matter where in the world I am. Further, I enjoy the luxury of leading a dedicated team who support me. They are my rock and right hand.
Maybe it’s the way I was raised, but I feel a personal responsibility when I make a promise to clients that I will be their fiduciary and sell their home. It helps that I truly enjoy my job as well or I couldn’t do it while I’m on vacation. I know people think that is nuts, but it works for me. There is a stretch of solitude during the week of Christmas and a few days after that things are very quiet, and I unwind completely.
A winter vacation is the reason I work so hard like a well oiled machine in Sacramento real estate. To go away for a month. Yup, I work 11 months and go on vacation for another month. I am very selective of my clients but even more so come the fall months. Because the people I choose to work with are the individuals I will communicate with during my vacation. They have to be special. I have learned to take along only the people I like. That’s my secret for a happy and fun career.
The only thing I regret about this year’s vacation is the fact my husband has to stay home in Sacramento. He has a new job now and can’t yet take off 30 days for a winter vacation.
