Eugene to Ashland, Oregon

Jesse received his Master of Architecture Degree at the University of Oregon in Eugene in 2013, and we spent a fair amount of time there as a result.    

Jesse and sweet old Ruby

We've always enjoyed our time there and this was no exception.    We stayed at the same place we always do, Armitage County Park.   The weather was sort of yucky, rainy, misty, yucky so we didn't get out and about much.   Mostly we refilled Beluga's coffers, ate at familiar restaurants, etc. (and by etc., I mean, just ate out).  My mother used to say that we traveled around for our stomachs, and I guess she was right.    

 Dave found a part for one of Beluga's baggage doors at REV in Coburg, right down the street.    He doesn't know if it will work, but you know he'll make it work!

The campground was fairly empty this time, even on the weekends.  It was quiet and bird filled most of the time.   We usually like to walk down to the river but because of the damp weather, we stayed away.     Below are two interesting things we saw at the campground.       

someone did a beautiful job

autumn crocus

On one of our last days the heavy, grey clouds lifted, and the sun showed itself for a little while.

We took the opportunity to drive down to King Estates and do a little wine tasting.  It's a beautiful place; we've enjoyed its offerings many times in the past.  

 

The grounds and buildings are beautiful, the wines very good, and the kitchen produces delicious food to complement its wine tastings.  Jesse says that he once had "life changing bacon" there for brunch!    Oh Jesse.....

This time, however, they informed us that the kitchen was turning all its attention to feeding their workers during the harvest and that we could, perhaps, have some almonds or crackers with our wine tasting, mea culpa.    Sigh.

On our way home we were surprised by this enormous display of Halloween enthusiasm looming high over the columnar yews lining the street.

  That's about it for Eugene this time.     On Saturday we drove about 180 miles south to our next stop at Emigrant Lake County Park, another familiar place.   The last time we were here was in 2016 and it's still as nice as before.    

  The lake is very low, as usual for this time of year, but we don't mind.   We aren't fishing or swimming, just looking down at it and enjoying the peace and quiet.

The only problem is, as it was in 2016, the ground that isn't covered with grass is plastered with nasty, thorny, stickers.    I'm glad we don't have a dog here....ouch!

Today, our first day, we went out into the countryside and had a delightful wine tasting with Agnieszka Paschal at her Paschal Winery.   We were the first ones there when she opened at 2, and the tasting room and outdoor areas filled up quickly.   I saw someone setting up music under the arbor beside the pond, so it must be the place to spend a Sunday afternoon!

see Dave outside?

one of two swans.....

this one was very noisy!

Dave took this last night...is there anything he can't do?

As I sit here tonight, a huge owl is "shopping" the ground next to us.   She lands in the stunted tree outside my window, looks around, then drops silently to the ground to pick up her dinner.    Repeat again and again, how cool is that!

Ok, that's all I have for now.  We'll be here until Thursday morning when we'll continue our trek south.    Next stop, McCloud, California.      

 Here's Annie!