Wednesday - Eugene

We're back in green Eugene

So, back to yesterday.   Lovely, sunny day again.  We took the dogs  to Heceta Beach for a good romp before Mr. David's Mobile Grooming Salon arrived for Lewis' trim.   We got out of the jeep and walked the few hundred yards to the sand and I almost turned right back around again.  I couldn't see the ocean and barely saw the beach, it looked like a sand devil was blowing up a storm, churning all the sand into the air.   Wind on the beach is one thing, cold wind is one thing, sand swirling in a terrific wind is quite another, one I'm not interested in experiencing.      But....it was an odd color for sand, whitish almost.

Turns out it was not a sand storm, it was thick fog blowing off the ocean and across the beach.  The effect was really beautiful.   Blue sky and sun above, a layer of fog at eye level and the sand almost glowing at our feet.    We snugged down our hoods and walked on into the mist.     It was a challenge for Lewis to see his green ball as it flew through the misty air.  You know he he rose to the occasion.

Lew charges off into the mist

(pay no attention to that spot on the right, I fear my little camera has developed macular degeneration)

After an hour or so we decided to see how the river looked in the mist, so we walked  to the car and drove back to a wide spot in the road, next to the river's overflow.    No mist!   The tide was out and it was a perfect time to walk along the river bottom.

Sasha enjoyed all the new, muddy smells and.....

and Lewis chased every crow he saw.....

Finally it was time for Mr. David to arrive, so we loaded the muddy dogs up, drove back up the hill to Beluga and rinsed them both off just in time for our appointment.

Lewis and Mr. David  discussed the location, neither liked the picnic table in the sun.

after the grooming table was set up in the bushes, they both were much happier and the trimming began.

Hummingbirds, Western Jay's and Chickadees kept right on eating at the feeders above the "boys" heads.
Lewis has never been in a salon with birds before.

We left the tired and nicely groomed dogs in Beluga and went out to dinner.  We'd heard about a new-ish restaurant (Homegrown) that served Albacore Fish and Chips so we had to try it.   As I said last night - fabulous but very filling.   The fresh cut french fries with malt vinegar were pretty good too, maybe they put us over the edge.

or, perhaps it was the homemade Marionberry pie.   Oh my we were full.

Florence gets an wonderful NPR radio channel and we sat  in the car watching  the sun go down while listening to Brazilian pianist, Nelson Freire play Chopin.    It was a perfect ending to a wonderful visit to Florence.

second cup inside this morning, chilly outside even in the sun

After second cup we left Harbor Vista County Park and turned east toward Eugene.  Travel on 126 is always lovely, and it was a short drive.   We stopped at a truck weigh station to weigh each of Beluga's axles in preparation for the installation of her new "sneakers" next week.

I had a nice phone conversation with Barb (she just bought a cute little condo in Webster) and one with Tom and Robin who were on their way to Steve's wedding.   Wish we were there, but important things are happening here in Eugene right now.    We got last minute parking instructions from Jesse and then settled down in our lovely, green home for the next two weeks.

afternoon cocktails in our new back yard

Tomorrow is Jesse and Erin's terminal studio and then a celebratory dinner with them and her family.  Can't wait!