Watches, Vintage, Beer, Donuts and a Couple of Nuggets

Another summer, and another opportunity to share passions about watches and get out on the road and meet amazing people. A trip about people, craft beer, some OK donuts, interesting eats, beautiful scenery, history and a few nuggets along the way. A trip along the Washington and Oregon coasts with stops in Portland, Cannon Beach and Tokeland.

July meant a trip to America's largest vintage and collectible show (their billing, not mine, but it was BIG) the Portland Expo Antique and Collectible Show where we had a booth, and travels along the Oregon and Washington coasts.

Our booth ID

I guess at over 1,000 vendors, it might very well be the largest show in America. Two years ago the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors joined this show as part of the associations northwest chapter gathering; this was repeated again this year. A sub-set of the vintage and collectible vendors, the public had access to amazing vintage watches and clocks (including In a Time Watches of course).

One of the many halls at the expo  filled with vendors (notice the Bulova display?)
Some wise friends that have traveled to the Portland vintage and collectible show for years (they call it their Christmas in July) told us to bring totes and packing material for the things we would find at the show. That was a good idea. We packed up the station wagon and roof box with lots of paper, bubble wrap and some frog boxes. While we didn't fill all of the totes, we did try hard and much of the things we did find included well-packing vintage fountain pens.

The only watch I bought at the expo but some of the pens I found
Well a trip to Portland has to include food from a truck, at a pub, at a restaurant and on the go. Do be careful though and be cautious when a hipster bartender at an upscale hotel tells you to try Russian food and drink the horseradish vodka. That can only mean Kachinka. Now the jerky and vodka, well were interesting, the dumplings delicious, and what could be described as the ploughman's, just hitting the spot.

The horseradish vodka did come with a beer chaser after all!

Let's not forget the beer. Just too many awesome places to mention. Not that Deschutes was the highlight of the craft beer experience, and it was delicious (including the Fresh Haze IPA), I just take lots of pictures of neon for my Pinterest feed (check out my neon board @inatmewatches) and thought their sign was killer.

Deschutes Portland Public House neon
Yes, lots of donuts to try. Some good, some not so good and one place that reminded me of the scene from the movie Elf where Buddy praises the accomplishments of a cafe's coffee.

I think Buddy the Elf's girlfriend Jovie might have a similar reaction to Annies
Portland, amazing; and their diverse neighbourhoods, unique as Portland is as a whole. Our trip also took us to the Oregon coast and along Washington's Olympic National Park and Peninsula and what to some might seem to be the off-the-beaten-track, Tokeland Washington.

You can't not take a selfie at Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach
Tokeland Washington, the latest census putting the population bubbling over at 150, is the place to unwind, kickback and relax and all at the Tokeland Hotel. Now, be mindful that this historic hotel was built in 1885 so it's amenities are not the Ritz. That being said, we had an amazing room that looked out at the bay, an extremely comfortable bed and we were surrounded by incredible antiques. Free Electra bikes (to ride), a resident dog who loves people, and the restaurant at the hotel, well, lets just say the hotel was one of the nuggets of our trip.

Looking back to the Tokeland Hotel from the meadow at the foot of the ocean.

You can read about the history of the property and the hotel on their website but the meandering grass meadow on the ocean side of the hotel where mowed trails leads to the ocean, deserves mention. The meadow was once the golf course for the well-to-do visitors of the hotel. 

Did I mention? Gus the Bus, the resident dog at the Tokeland Hotel, likes walks with strangers.
OK, the restaurant at the Tokeland Hotel - simply superb. The husband and wife hotel owner team (Zac and Heather) have transformed the main floor, just like their rooms, into a cool, funky vintage oasis with the dining room, looking out to the bay, being the highlight. And Heather's kitchen, the product of her talents honed at her successful Seattle restaurant The Wondering Goose was beyond amazing. Fresh is on the menu all the time (my wife had the fresh salmon one evening dinner) along with staples like the cranberry pot roast (which I had; and the jus and gravy, well, to die for) and don't get me started about her desserts.

My 1956 Omega Seasmaster accompanied by cuatro leches cake and tea at the Tokeland Hotel Restaurant
Our travels included Oregon State highways 26 and 101 and Washington State highways 101 and 105 along with the Black Ball ferry Coho traveling between Victoria, B.C. and Port Angeles, Washington. Heather has a cookbook out called Big Food Big Love (available here on Amazon) and we can't wait for her follow-up which will include her cranberry pot roast. Some other must sees: stops at Powell's Books, exploring the Olympic National Forest and Peninsula, and visiting Sirens Pub and Barhop Brewing & Artisan Pizza in the seaside towns of Port Townsend and Port Angeles.  



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