Ashland to McCloud

 We enjoyed our last couple of days in Ashland.   Laurel recommended a couple of their favorite restaurants, and we found just enough time to try two.  We had a delicious breakfast/lunch (brunch?) at Morning Glory Cafe.    Once again, Dave ordered a huge burrito, saying that he'd never be able to eat the whole thing.....yeah, right Dave.....

 To work off all that food, we headed off into the mountains for an auto hike I'd read about.

  

pretty mud patterns!

After crossing a small, flooded section of road, we pulled off and got out to watch for birds that always seem to always gather at any available water.    Again, no pictures but we did have a good time feeding some very nosy Clark's Nutcrackers who flew down to see what we were doing.    We carry a bag of almonds in the car and they thought them a real delicacy!   

on top of Mt. Ashland

We aborted the track after a few hours because the "road" was becoming very rough and washed out, it was getting late in the afternoon, and it appeared we still had almost 30 more miles to go!    An out and back route is just as much fun as a loop, right?

On our last day we were finally able to sit outside for second cup.   The sun was shining, and the temperature was just right.     We were entertained by a large group of Mergansers obviously practicing for a synchronized swimming event......  They were too far away for a good photo, but we laughed and laughed at their antics.

After a little housekeeping and a tiny nap, we had dinner at Larks, the lovely dining room in the historic Ashland Springs Hotel.

It was one of the best meals we've had in a very very long time.    A young Jesse would have proclaimed it a "slap your chest and fall back in your chair" meal.  That has been our benchmark for excellence ever since.      Our waitress was delightful and helped with a couple choices I was wrestling with.    Old standbys surprised us with their over-the-top flavors and combinations.      Perfect ending to another great stop in Oregon.

Yesterday we made the short 85-mile drive to McCloud, California.   The wind was howling, and we were trying to stay behind the black sky and heavy rain that was forming ahead of us.    We stopped for a leisurely lunch, trying to waste some time.    Didn't work....the front slowed down, and we ended up driving the rest of the way in wind driven rain.      Once again, Dave praised the steering stabilizer system he installed on Beluga last year.

 We've been here before and always feel like the massive peak of Mt. Shasta is watching over us.      We'll be in McCloud for a few days until we continue our southerly trek.    

Next a quick stop in Susanville.  

     

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!

End of McMinnville and on to Florence

 We were only in McMinnville for 8 days, but we had lots of fun.  As you saw in a previous post, we enjoyed good meals, wine tastings and plenty of exploration. 

Cuvee in Carlton

starting to look like Fall

 The last two days turned out to be the best!   Both days brought us something we (I) hadn't planned for but very much enjoyed.

Pam and John's fall travels put them in Salem, Oregon, only about 25 miles from us!     We were so happy when they said they'd come up for a visit.      We talked and talked (we haven't seen each other for a while ya know.....) then visited the next door Evergreen Air and Space Museum (where Dave and John strolled the exhibits and Pam and I sat in conveniently placed airline seats and continued our talks).

 

under the Spruce Goose's huge wing

 

Waves and Wings waterpark on the Museum grounds

  

John ogles Margie?

an earlier version of Dave's first plane

After the museum we drove into McMinnville and had dinner on the patio at the Golden Valley Brewery.    No pictures.     It was a grand afternoon.   Thanks Pam and John!

The second wonderful, unplanned event was sitting in (yes, IN) the campgrounds landscaping to watch the fabulous Oregon International Airshow taking place directly across the street.     

see Dave?

When I originally made our reservations at Old Stone Village RV Park, we were to leave on Friday.    The wonderful woman on the phone asked if we were in a hurry to leave....I said we weren't in a hurry, and she replied that if we stayed one more day we'd get to see a great airshow.    Done!    thank you very much lady on the phone.

We got to see the entire show, all day long, free of charge.    We both pronounced it one of the best airshows we'd ever seen.   We were up off our feet with surprise as an F-18 Hornet came up from behind us......very low and so fast that moisture boiled off the leading edge of the wings as it passed over us.      Yikes!   So many planes, such unbelievable exhibitions and aerobatics.    My pictures are pitiful, the planes were going too fast, two high, and I was too excited to hold the damn phone still!

F-15s, F-18s, a Heritage flight of a F-16 and a P-51, a Mitchell, a F6F, two T-6  trainers, and a couple civilian planes - a STOL Maule demonstration team, and a Long Easy. The Canadian AirForce's Snowbird team show finished the day. Phew!

low and fast flyover

The next day we left and headed down the coast to Florence.   The weather alternated between dense coastal fog and brilliant sunshine.    The views were stunning.

At one point, we almost got ourselves in trouble.   We pulled over at what we thought was a "viewpoint' to eat lunch.   Before we started off again, through the pull off (or what we thought was a pull off) and back onto 101,  I realized that this was actually the beginning of a very narrow, very twisty road paralleling 101 down along the shoreline.    "RV's and trucks NOT advised" said the sign, I noticed.   Uh oh.

lunch view

Dave calmly unhooked the Jeep, backed Beluga out of the wrong place, hooked back up and off we went!    Oh Dave....💕

We're now sitting in our beautiful, silent, bird filled site (26) at the Florence Elks Lodge RV Park.   Ah....

Sunday we had a sunny day, so we checked out some of the places we've enjoyed along the north and south Jetties, listened to the NASCAR race on Rocky's radio, had dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, the Waterfront Depot, and did a little grocery shopping.

Today, Monday, it's raining.   Rain is forecast for the rest of the week.   

We're going to the movies and out to dinner.    I don't know the last time we were in a movie theatre so we're looking forward to it.    Tomorrow we move east to Eugene.

Here's Annie!

Astoria, Oregon

 I touched on our two week stay in Astoria in an earlier post.    Here are some pictures taken during that stay.    We love Astoria, it's beaches (drivable ones!) it's great, fresh seafood, the seafaring ships and commerce, the surrounding mountains, etc.   The weather was perfect, despite the forecast for a week of rain!     Fog in the mornings, mostly blue skies for the rest of the day, pretty sunsets from our site at the Lewis and Clark RV Resort.   

no trip to Astoria would be complete without Bowpicker's Tuna fish and chips!

family of elk crossing the road

Our beautiful site

natures beautiful patterns

Port of Ilwaco

Stinky, but interesting!
All that remains of a 53 ft. Sperm whale hit and killed by a freighter

fantastic meal at one of our favorites, Bridge Water Grille

one of the many ways to enjoy the beach near Astoria

He paid us no mind as we passed.....

in bound

Jellies

clouds pulling away from the Columbia River beach

It's not all about the beach, right?

We found another car show in Seaside, Oregon.   Much smaller than the first one in Longbeach, but fun nonetheless.

1978 Corvette Indianapolis Pace Car.....I drove one of these for a few years, nice car, but the roof leaked!

our next rv?

Astoria, we'll be back.....