TEC Tours & Travel 503.390.8232

We want to thank everyone for their concern and let you all know that Tom is alive and kicking!  His tests came out better than we had hoped and he is now working on some aggressive life style changes to improve his health and keep his heart going strong.

Our summer hours are Monday through Thursday 11AM to 3PM.  We will, of course, be at the office for earlier departure times on tour days!  If you need travel planning outside of these hours please call for an appointment, we will be happy to work out a date and time!

As many of you have noticed, and asked about, I have not been in the office for a few days.  The reason for that is that I had to take Tom in to the ER last week to have his chest pains checked out.  We are still waiting to see when his stress test is scheduled and to find out what is going on with his ticker but now that we have seen our own wonderful Dr Wang we feel better!

I will keep everyone posted but know that if you go to the office and we are closed on a day we would normally be open this is the reason!

Thank you all for your kind words of support, we adore you all…..

Teri and Tom

TEC TOURS SPRING NEWSLETTER

Even though it didn’t seem like it was ever going to get here I think we are safe in saying that Spring is here!  We are going to operate on that premise and offer our list of tours which will include such fun titles as, A Cheesy Day Out, Jetting on the River and A Wine Country Farm Tour.  You know that we try to do different and interesting trips and we think we have come up with some good ones!  We hope that you will continue to tell your friends about us, we appreciate your support and have extended our ‘tell a friend’ program!  When you bring a friend on a tour you are EACH going to get a $5 credit on your next tour!  And there is no limit to how many of these you can earn!  Now, remember, we do more than just day trips.  We are a full service travel agency so give us a call when you need to plan a trip out of town because…we can do that too!
Powell’s Books is on  for Thursday April 26th 10:30AM-4:30PM $39.50
includes lunch (this is the Powell’s downtown Portland)

Our ever popular Culinary Lunch at OCI in Portland will be May 3rd 10AM – 2PM $26.50 (This is a Thursday)  I know what I’m having for dessert!!!

Join us on Wednesday, May 9th for a Garden Center Day!  We leave at 10AM and return at 4PM with lots of treasures for our yards!     $32.50

If you have never had a Brazilian Grill style dinner you need to come with us on Thursday, May 17th to Portland. 4:30pm to 8pm  $48.50 This is such fun and you will be stuffed so wear loose fitting clothing!

Wednesday, May 23rd is our Cheesy Kind of Day out.  We will be visiting a wonderful cheese store & old time photo shop (hence the cheesy) along with lunch at The Blue Goat (wonderful pizza!) in Amity! 10-4     $35.50

May 31st brings another Mystery Trip and all I will say is wear closed toed shoes.     10-4                                                                               $46.50

Queen’s Jubilee Tea.  This year marks Queen Elizabeth’s 60th Jubilee and we are celebrating with a special tea on Tuesday, June 5th.  $34.50
11AM-3PM (depending on traffic!)

Evergreen Aviation Museum, Thursday, June 7th             $57.50
We have tried this tour before and are aware that it is a bit on the high side but you are getting a museum tour, lunch AND an OMNI MAX movie!!  This is a FULL day trip at the wonderful Evergreen Aviation Museum and we really hope that you will join us this time….it is quite the adventure!

Been to the beach lately?  Come with us to SEASIDE on Tuesday, June 12th.  Lunch at Camp 18 then free time at Seaside!              $48.50

It is time for the Greek Fest (Portland) on Thursday, June 28th  $39.50
We have reserved the full sit down Greek meal and you will have plenty of time to wander, listen to music and shop for Greek goods (& goodies!).

If you missed our Jettin’ on the River last year here is your chance to come along for the fun!  Monday, July 2nd, Join us for a wet and wild 2 hour jet boat ride and lunch at No Ho’s Hawaiian Cafe! Bring something to keep yourself dry while onboard (think raincoat in July) 10AM-4:30PM $69.50 ($40 of this is the boat ride and WELL WORTH IT!)
Sisters Quilt Show on Saturday, July 14th.  We anticipate this will sell out early so be sure to get your name down fast!  9AM 6PM (lunch on own)                           $39.50

Pacific City and lunch, Wednesday, July 18th      9AM-4PM            $48.50

Jersey Boys!
I pre buy the tickets so payment is due at the time of booking and will be non refundable unless I can resell your seat!  12:30pm – 5:30 PM     $113.00

Spring newsletter

We all know what annoys us when we fly but what is it that annoys flight attendants? According to two flight attendants that made an appearance on Good Day Oregon today there was quite a long list.
One of the top offenses – practicing yoga in the galley! Yes, that is right. Apparently some passengers think it is ok to practice their yoga moves while in the flight galley while the attendants are trying to work.
It seems some passengers also feel that flight attendant’s personal property is up for grabs as well. One such incident was described when a passenger took a flight attendant’s sweater, complete with wings, and used it as a shrug (or snuggie) and was refusing to return it when asked.
And I will never, ever use the seat back pockets again after hearing what has been found in them…nail clippings being some of the least offensive….
I do remember the days when flying was a fun and adventurous experience. We dressed nicely, looked forward to the trip, anticipated the meals on those cute little trays and real, albeit miniature, silverware. Everyone was polite and no one had to take off their shoes to go through a long security line only to hurry up and wait for boarding to crowd into tiny little seats with less and less legroom.
Yes indeed, those were the days…..

I was so fortunate to grow up in Alaska. I cherish the memories of being outdoors all of the time, hunting with my Dad, fishing, trapping (yes, I know, not PC today but I make no apologies for 40 plus years ago), ice fishing (very, very different than river, lake or ocean fishing) and camping, camping and more camping! The Fur Rondy, a celebration of those trapping and fur trading days, snow shoes (wow, now THAT is a workout), cross country skiing, downhill skiing (which I was NOT good at), ice hockey, high school football games (sometimes in the snow). Snow…yes indeed, lots and lots of snow. Except, it seemed, for the start of the Iditarod! Some years snow had to be brought in to town (Anchorage) for the start of the race. Some years it was far from a problem. It didn’t matter which way the snow situation shaped up though, the excitement was always there. Barking dogs, kids running around trying to see all of the dogs at once, mushers checking their teams, tourists checking out the mushers and their teams, locals acting ‘cool’, locals showing how much fun they were having, locals freezing their you know whats off but loving every minute of it!
So what could cause all of this excitement and willingness (by volunteers) to go to the trouble of bringing IN snow? The Last Great Race On Earth, the Iditarod. The Iditarod trail that the race follows is actually the freight route to Nome used by mushers before modern technology. The history of the Iditarod trail goes back to the 1800′s when settlers arrived by boat to coastal towns such as Seward and then moved overland to the gold fields. During the winter months the only way to travel along the trail was via dog sled and winter in Alaska lasts a long time! After the gold rush wound down people returned to where ever they came from and the trail wasn’t used much.
In 1925 there was a diphtheria outbreak in Nome and the only pilot that was considered able to make the flight in the extreme conditions was ‘outside’ (the lower 48) so the serum was taken by train to Nenana and a dog sled team relay began that lasted 6 days in temperatures that averaged 40 below zero. The serum was delivered, many lives were saved and a legend was spawned that lives on with a statue of Balto, the lead dog on the team that ran the critical last two legs (in a blizzard with 80 mph winds) in New York’s central park.
We were taught that bit of history in school and I am happy to pass it along to my grand children today. I plan on putting together a tour to the running of the Iditarod. Remember….it won’t be 40 below in Anchorage!
For more in depth information on this wonderful tradition please check out the official pages of the iditarod race at http://iditarod.com/

Join us for Wicked at The Keller in Portland on Thursday, March 15th for the 2pm matinee performance.  Round trip transportation and tickets $110.00.  We must purchase these tickets in advance so full payment is required and non refundable!

Updated newsletter

TEC Tours & Travel 503 390 8232
Feb Mar Apr 2012 tours
You spoke, we listened! You wanted more trips, we have added some and deleted some that did not have any interest. You wanted larger type, you got it!
Unless otherwise noted all tours leave at 10AM and return at 4pm!

February 5 – Madame Butterfly! depart 12:30pm 2pm performance – price is now determined by ticket price!
February 9 – Newport Lunch Izzy’s Buffet with a view! depart Departs 9am, casino time, lunch & more return 5pm $39.50
February 16- Culinary DINNER at OCI departs 4:30PM returns apx 8pm $38.50
February 22- Mystery Trip! $46.50
March 2 – Bob’s Red Mill Day Out! 8:30am-4pm $34.50 includes lunch & surprise dessert!
March 7 – 10:30AM-1:30PM Tea at Bauman’s $36.50
There is a minimum of 15 required!!!! Call soon!
March 20 – Mystery Trip $46.50
March 29 – Culinary lunch at OCI 10:30AM – 2PM $21.50
April 11 – Columbia Gorge Hotel lunch 8:30am-5pm $48.50
April 17 – Mystery Trip $46.50
April 20-23 Las Vegas with Justin! Minimum required so please call soon. Includes air, hotel, transfers $429.50pp

We are finalizing a Vineyard tour and adding some more April trips, updates will be sent out as soon as these are finished!

As always, we VALUE your input, please let us know where YOU would like to go, what YOU would like to see and do!!

I’ve been off line while I do my civic duty as a juror.  I am still on jury duty and am finding it not only interesting but it is renewing my patriotism and appreciation for this wonderful country that we live in.  While I am not at liberty to discuss the trial details I can say that one can, indeed, expect a jury of one’s peers in this day and age and expect a fair trial.  Each of the jurors is taking this duty seriously and I am looking forward to the discussions during our deliberation phase!

Now, on to travel news.  Wow, did you see the news about the turbulence incident with the AA flight?  That must have been incredibly frightening!  For turbulence to have been bad enough to send a service cart through the ceiling panels and then hit a flight attendant it must have been CAT or Clear Air Turbulence and unexpected.  I’m trying to find some more information about the turbulence itself but no luck so far!  In all 6 of the 9 crew were injured and 1 passenger was thrown from her seat into the aisle.  An ER physician was onboard as a passenger and he treated the injured as the flight continued to it’s destination in Miami.

Planning a trip to Oahu?  Let me give you a tip on a great place to get a good lunch (where the locals eat) for a great price!  The He’eia Pier & General Store & Deli at Kane’ohe is a great place to grab a plate lunch (a great Hawaiian lunch of meat and sides that is delicious!) such as guava chicken (yum) and macaroni salad with soft taro mixed in.  (taro is what poi is made of but don’t let that stop you from trying this!)  Once you have enjoyed lunch head to Let Them Eat Cupcakes in Honolulu for dessert!  Here you will find cupcakes with exotic tropical flavors such as Lillikoi, Guava and Li Hing Mango along with the more traditional chocolate, vanilla, red velvet, peanut butter and more.  While you are in the islands you MUST have some Hawaiian Sun drinks.  They are my favorite and each time I go I swear I am going to bring back cases of my favorite, guava passion fruit, but then I fill my suit case with other things and, well, there you go, I’m juiceless once again…..so enjoy a few for me!

Aloha!