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Saturday, August 31, 2013

EUGENE, SISTERS, BEND AND PRINEVILLE OREGON


Somewhat reluctantly, we left the Oregon coast with the amazing beaches, fantastic lighthouses and the azure Pacific Ocean.  

Our destination  was Junction City, a suburb of Eugene Oregon to visit the "little boy" that grew up next door to John and I.  That "little boy has turned out to be an extremely successful organic farmer and business man.  

Gabe and Sophie Cox began their venture, Groundworks, with just five acres and now they farm one hundred thirty acres with greenhouses to extend their growing season for over sixty varieties of fruits and vegetables.                                                                              Groundworks is now a family business with the addition of their two sweet girls, Hanna and Nola. 
Almost fifty percent of their sales is at farmers markets in Portland, Bend, Eugene.  Check out their website while traveling through Oregon.  You just may be fortunate enough to shop at their huge booth.  

After being treated to two huge trays of fruits and vegetables, we said good-by to the Cox family and headed toward Sisters, Oregon.  




The road to sisters provided two sights: a road construction site on Oregon 126 that will eliminate many curves in the road.



The closer we drew to Sisters, we saw lava flows from ancient volcanoes, snow capped mountains and wildfire ravaged mountains.


Finally, we arrived in Sisters. 







The three sisters are volcanic peaks in the Cascade Volcanic Arc in the Cascade Mountains. Early settlers named the peaks Faith, Hope and Charity.  


 At the feet of these three peaks is where we were, in the town of Sisters, Oregon.  

Three sisters2.jpg
Note the llava flow on the lower left half of the photo.





Finding a  parking spot for fifty six feet of motorhome and trailer was not an easy project, but at the end of town, we found the Sisters Elementary School that had a huge, mostly level, parking lot and a very congenial administrator who allowed us to park there overnight.  She and her husband are planning to hit the road in two years in their fifth-wheel.

We were also greeted by this creature!

Defensive mode

Does not know I am there
   
The town is for tourists with many quaint shops.  I am not much of a tourist town person and a little goes a very long for me. 

John is the shopper / looker.  I find that a bit unusual.  I always thought women were supposed to be the shoppers. Just calls us the "Odd Couple."


                                
                                                Our linner (lunch and dinner)

Mine was a spinach and veggie enchalata with verde' sauce black beans and rice.   

John chose the Halibut, rice, black beans and Mexican veggies.                                                                                                


With our appetites satisfied, we headed back to the motorhome for a peaceful night's sleep.  We came upon this beautiful piece of art. "The Wild Stallion."





Thursday, we were off to Bend to visit with our friends Doug and Sherry Sheridan of Aloha Llamas.  
It had been ten years since we had been together when I flew to Oregon to choose a breeding llama to "introduce" to my lady llamas.  Ohhh, what beautiful crias (babies) we had!  Thanks again Sherry and Doug.

I was so excited to see them that I totally forgot to take any photos, so I have grabbed their photos from their website.


Time passed too quickly and we left for Prineville, Oregon and the Crook County RV Park.  More on that later.  

Till next time....God bless you all mightily!










Saturday, August 24, 2013

HUMBUG! AND PORT ORFORD

We spent a week at Humbug Mountain State Park.  The site was comfortable with privacy on each side.  We had electricity and water for twenty dollars a night. 

We especially liked the access to the beach.  It was a bit of a hike, but so worth it, both pleasure and exercise wise.  

Olivia led the way to the beach, usually not allowing any tension on the lead. 

We began the hike on a paved portion that quickly turned to rock and sand.  









Oliver and I ventured off the path, under the 101 bridge to walked down by the stream that so gently flowed into the pacific.

There, before us was our first venture onto Oregon beaches.  What an experience this was.

We are accustomed to the Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico beaches and this was a huge change!  


This grainy photo was shot with my phone's telephoto lens.  It is not good, but gives family back home an example of how mountains drop into the Pacific.  

Oliver and Olivia took their first wades into the ocean.  

Olivia enjoyed the surf while Oliver quickly learned to scamper up the beach and out of reach of those cold wet waves.  His idea of fun was to investigate the driftwood that was strewn about the beach.  




It was so nice to be able to let them off lead and run until their energy was spent.












Each time we would leave the beach we would take a last look at the Pacific then turn to head home and turn to see the return path.





The dogs trek home was much slower going home than it was heading to the beach.  As a matter of fact, so was ours!  



We took a break from the  Humbug beach and visited Battle Rock City Park.   Some of our history disturbs me.  One culture walking into the lives of another and taking their land, their livelihood.  
The tree in fog was sitting on a rock in the water.  At low tide, people could walk to it, then at high tide it was a tree on an island.  

We had a great view from our position on the hill. 


 


Cape Blanco was on our adgenda the next day.  Of course, a new site meant a new hike for John and I.  

Are you seeing a pattern here?

If you are new to the blog, seventeen months ago, John was fighting for his life and on a respirator.  Now he is hiking, climbing mountains and dunes.  The hikes are long and hard.  This one started by an easy jaunt through  the grass. 


 Around the curve, this is what we saw.  A walk into Jurassic Park!  Ferns that were almost as tall as I.  




And the trail goes on.....and on.  We walk through ripe raspberries on both sides of the path, lovely wildflowers and maybe wild blueberries.  




















The reward of another long walk!











Our next stop............. Port Orford, Oregon.  We were pleased to not just see fishing boats and equipment, but a boat being brought ashore to have the fish unloaded and the boat prepared for the next days trip into the blue Pacific.  






They rolled the "trailer" back to center under the vessel.

And what was the catch of the day?  


T U N A! 
IS THAT CHARLIE THE TUNA IN THE CENTER?




!!!PEUWY!!!!





THE END

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