Friday, March 26, 2010
Home
We arrived home on the 11:15 ferry today. What a mess. With construction of a new ferry terminal already begun-- plus road work on 6th street , the approach to the ferry "interesting to say the least". We got to Anacortes last night but the tide was too low--so we stayed in Deception Pass State Park. This is a beautiful spot and one of my favorite parks to visit (day use) but we were NOT impressed with the campground.
The night before we stayed at one of our favorite campgrounds--Champoeg State Park in Oregon. We hear that rates in Oregon State Parks are going up from $16 to $24 (sob). I told the camp host it was peanuts compared to California. Wednesday was a gorgeous day and we did our favorite bike loop--17 miles through farmland (dairy and hops are being overtaken by nursery stock), along the river, and through the tiny town of St. Paul. Then we had another reunion--Lucia and Paul who we haven't seen since the late 70's came out to visit.
Now we are working hard unpacking, cleaning, and settling in. (trying not to look at the yard work) Home.
Monday, March 22, 2010
More Connections
We've been in Eugene for a couple of days--connecting with old friends. We had dinner tonight with Ed and Kitty (who we've known for a LONG time) and Charles and Rebecca who we've not seen in a long time. Tomorrow we head up to see my mom in Sweet Home and then the long I5 trip home (with maybe a diversion to Champoeg). This will definitely be the last internet we have until home.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Expensive Bike (wine) Rides
March 16 & 17: We detoured off I5 into the Napa Valley. Spent one night (and an afternoon hike) at the Skyline Park in Napa and one night at the Calistoga fairgrounds, which included a short afternoon bike ride. Of course any bike ride in the Valley has to include a winery. Twomey is a nice little winery just off the bike trail. They now do free tastings but --don't faint--I bought a $50 bottle of wine! Times have changed (not for the better) for these small wineries with expensive wine. On our way back to camp we had to stop at the Wine Garage (no wine over $25) and added 4 more bottles to our two wheeled wine mobiles.
March 19
Back in Oregon the weather was really fine for a bike ride in Douglas County so we spent 2 nights at our favorite RV park in Roseburg. It's a nice 8 mile ride (on smooth county roads) out to Henry Estate with a stop for lunch and wine tasting. Came back with 3 bottles. Later in the day we went to a new (to us) little winery less than half a mile from camp. This was such an un-Napa experience. We got to visit with the winemaker even though he had a party going on (help yourself to some food) and lots of people about. This is a small family winery where everything is done by hand. (by the family) Such a fun experience. We liked the story of the "Bulls Blood" but I liked the Dolcetta better so that's what we bought.
PS; We are now in Eugene for the night--at a new county RV campground--with wireless which actually works for us. Home on Friday.
March 19
Back in Oregon the weather was really fine for a bike ride in Douglas County so we spent 2 nights at our favorite RV park in Roseburg. It's a nice 8 mile ride (on smooth county roads) out to Henry Estate with a stop for lunch and wine tasting. Came back with 3 bottles. Later in the day we went to a new (to us) little winery less than half a mile from camp. This was such an un-Napa experience. We got to visit with the winemaker even though he had a party going on (help yourself to some food) and lots of people about. This is a small family winery where everything is done by hand. (by the family) Such a fun experience. We liked the story of the "Bulls Blood" but I liked the Dolcetta better so that's what we bought.
PS; We are now in Eugene for the night--at a new county RV campground--with wireless which actually works for us. Home on Friday.
Photos
In reverse order as usual: tiny pincushion in bloom at ORPI, roadrunner showing off his dinner near the Salton Sea,and our very fine campsite off I5.
March 9: Desert Storm
Here we are at ORPI for five wonderful days. Sigh. We could just as well be on the Oregon coast. The wind has been blowing. The rain has been raining. The sun has been shining. The flowers aren’t blooming because it just can’t get above 62 degrees. We went out on a bike ride this morning and got caught in a desert rainstorm. It lasted all of 2 minutes maybe. So we did not get soaked. (The weather got somewhat better by the end of the week and we found a pincushion cactus in bloom.)
March 12-13: Two sides of the Sea
From ORPI we returned to our old haunt at Salton City. The changes here have not been for the better and the price keeps going up so we won’t return here. We went to talk to a man about a car—but it didn’t work out for us. So the next morning we went up the east side of the Salton Sea: new territory for us. We stopped to spend some time at the Sonny Bono National Wildlife area on the south end. Then up the east side we spent a night at the Fountain of Youth—where there are 5 hot tub/mineral spas. Was Kit a happy camper! Sunday we drove into Cathedral City to visit Virginia and Ernie.
March 15: A very fine Discovery
This was a very unexciting day driving over the Tehachapi and up I5 (with a side trip to Camping World). We were on our way to an RV park near Santa Nella when a chance discovery led us into a California bargain. (Yes, there is at least one left). We discovered the Medeiros Campground --$13 a night with our senior discount. It’s on a small reservoir. Our spot was right on the lake. Lots of waterfowl. Peace and quiet. This is a primitive campground with lots of ambiance and just off I5.
Here we are at ORPI for five wonderful days. Sigh. We could just as well be on the Oregon coast. The wind has been blowing. The rain has been raining. The sun has been shining. The flowers aren’t blooming because it just can’t get above 62 degrees. We went out on a bike ride this morning and got caught in a desert rainstorm. It lasted all of 2 minutes maybe. So we did not get soaked. (The weather got somewhat better by the end of the week and we found a pincushion cactus in bloom.)
March 12-13: Two sides of the Sea
From ORPI we returned to our old haunt at Salton City. The changes here have not been for the better and the price keeps going up so we won’t return here. We went to talk to a man about a car—but it didn’t work out for us. So the next morning we went up the east side of the Salton Sea: new territory for us. We stopped to spend some time at the Sonny Bono National Wildlife area on the south end. Then up the east side we spent a night at the Fountain of Youth—where there are 5 hot tub/mineral spas. Was Kit a happy camper! Sunday we drove into Cathedral City to visit Virginia and Ernie.
March 15: A very fine Discovery
This was a very unexciting day driving over the Tehachapi and up I5 (with a side trip to Camping World). We were on our way to an RV park near Santa Nella when a chance discovery led us into a California bargain. (Yes, there is at least one left). We discovered the Medeiros Campground --$13 a night with our senior discount. It’s on a small reservoir. Our spot was right on the lake. Lots of waterfowl. Peace and quiet. This is a primitive campground with lots of ambiance and just off I5.
Friday, March 05, 2010
Into the Void
Not much to report from Tucson. The sun still shines. The rental car has gone back. Life=errands in the morning and pool in the afternoon. We are leaving Sunday. The wireless on our computer is not working so when we leave here we will slip into the internet void. (until we get home). Plans at present--5 days at ORPI. Then to Salton City where there is a car we are considering buying as a Toad (car to tow). Then we will visit Ernie and Virginia in Catherdral City and head to Bakersfield and I5 north. Plan to spend a few days in Eugene and in Sweet Home and then head home. We figure we'll be there in less than 3 weeks.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Pickle Ball and other Non Adventures
We have been doing so little that's not totally mundane that I haven't been inspired to write a blog. But I did finally learn the basics of pickle ball. (like how to hold the paddle--and that it is important to hit the ball. ) No Laura, pickle ball does not involve pickles. From what I hear it was invented either in OR or WA by a couple who needed a game to play in their driveway. Now many of the resorts have pickle ball courts. It really is (like they say) a cross between tennis and ping pong. The ball is a whiffle ball and does NOT behave predictably. The paddles are bigger than ping pong paddles and more rectangular than round. I need to find some other novices to play with--next year. The rules are a bit strange but not as strange a bocce where you are throwing big balls (red and green) at a little ball. We couldn't play bocce yesterday because of water on the court. Every week we seem to get a rain storm which piles more snow up in the mountains and makes the dry gully behind Ida into a rushing stream (for an hour or two)
The most interesting thing that's happened recently was an encounter with a runaway tire. We were just out to lunch (we won a gift certificate at the Canadian party which we crashed as almost Canadians) and coming down Broadway to the store. This runaway car tire comes rolling down the street in the bike lane--it's all downhill at this point. Luckily I had just moved up on the side walk to avoid the right turners. Wierd.
I was going to learn the basic of Mah Jong today but am headed to the pool instead. Kit's back is bothering him so he hasn't felt like adventuring and hates riding in our low to the ground rental car. He lives for the hot tub.
The most interesting thing that's happened recently was an encounter with a runaway tire. We were just out to lunch (we won a gift certificate at the Canadian party which we crashed as almost Canadians) and coming down Broadway to the store. This runaway car tire comes rolling down the street in the bike lane--it's all downhill at this point. Luckily I had just moved up on the side walk to avoid the right turners. Wierd.
I was going to learn the basic of Mah Jong today but am headed to the pool instead. Kit's back is bothering him so he hasn't felt like adventuring and hates riding in our low to the ground rental car. He lives for the hot tub.
