We need to use up some Asia Miles flight rewards which will expire later this year. One of the possible short trips is down to Portland. We have booked for the second weekend of June but we'll leave on the Friday and return on Sunday the 14th. The Alaska Air flight leaves from YVR; however, getting the tickets is no easy task with this particular rewards program. I spent quite a while yesterday on hold with Hong Kong. As it stands I am sure the flights are confirmed but we've not yet received the actual link to the e-tickets.
It would be so perfect if Obama's proposal of high-speed rail through "Cascadia" comes to fruition. It'd be so convenient, and it would take so many cars off the road, were there a new rail corridor between Vancouver -- Seattle -- Portland. Rail in North America is about 100 years outdated. If given the option I'd prefer sipping a beer in the dining car to racing down I-5 choking on automotive exhaust fumes, hands clenched around a steering wheel.