The End of the Road

July 10, 2009

Diamond Lake, OR

This place is a gem. After arriving yesterday following a short

over-the-mountain drive from Oakridge, we pulled into the Thiesen View Campground, so named because one standing at the west edge of Diamond Lake next to the campground has a nice view of Mount Thiesen. In the campground, thick trees obscure any possible view. We pulled into a site, eager to try the around-the-lake bike-trail. There were plenty of empty spaces in this campground. But it was cheap--$11.00 per night.

The bike ride, all 12 miles of it, was fabulous.‘Number one’ now on our bike ride list. All paved, about 6 feet wide, mainly lakeside or lake-view. Ideal 70 degree weather. The only negative was occasional clouds of

gnats that went right up the nose, in the eyes and mouth. Ptooey! One lady even wore a burqa-style bike helmet to avoid ingesting them! One recommendation about this place: It’s probably best to come no earlier than late July. Besides the aforementioned (now there’s a ‘lawyer’ word) gnats, there are healthy, hungry mosquitoes looking for naked flesh. Our repellent was on ‘empty’, so we ponied up $9.25 for more at the Diamond Lake Lodge. (Got a magnet, too.)

This is a lodge with a history dating back to 1922. Early fishermen used log rafts to fly-fish and caught fish so large they could not get them aboard. Had to create a ‘slide” to ease ‘em up. Twenty pound trout were common. This is also a place my family visited in 1960 or so. I just remembered that I lusted after an opportunity to fish the lake (didn’t) and it was colder than bejeezus in our tent trailer, which we also hauled up to nearby Crater Lake for another night of sub-freezing weather.

On our second day, we broke camp and headed to the eastshore where glorious campsites abound on the lakeshore. Some are reservable, others, like the one we enjoyed are available on a first-come basis. This is dry-camping. We have carefully scouted the campground noting the primo spots. This is a place we will be back to someday, hopefully with grandson Jonas. We would rate this as the nicest setting for a public campground we have visited. No wonder it is rated the #1 family camping spot in Oregon.

Our attempts for a day hike went for naught as we drove several miles in the boonies to a trailhead that featured a tree that had fallen across the first 10 feet of the trail---not a good sign. It was obvious that the trail-fixers hadn’t got this far up the mountain yet, so we turned back to camp and just enjoyed our special place.

In the ‘good news’ department, we heard yesterday on the way that our house sale was a ‘go’, with the buyer due to sign today. We will affix our ‘John Does’ on Monday back in Sacto making it official. On top of that, today we were advised by the nice folks at Del Webb that a mistake had been made on our deal. The net result was that we wind up with a 4.5% loan. Wahoo, and thanks Del, wherever and whoever you are. Move date is July 25^th—

the date we begin our ‘new life.’ And so ends the ‘trip of limbo’.

As a fitting farewell to Oregon and the near end of this trip, we toasted the sunset with a glass of organic grape Bonterra chardonnay (you were expecting coffee?) sitting in our chairs looking at the rippling lake while the earth-mama camper next to us strummed her guitar and sang soft ballads into the dusk. It just doesn’t get any better.

We hit the road early tomorrow with the intent to visit Fred Meyers in K-Falls for a final tax-free shopping orgy in Oregon. Consider it our protest against the ineptitude of the California legislature, but we have been trying to buy everything we can in Oregon for the new house. Next, after a jaunt down Highway 97 and I-5, we hope to detour off onto Highway 99 into Chico for a final stop and a visit with my sister. Then it’s just a quick hop to the new RV storage lot in Roseville, where we will deposit the Suncruiser, full of Oregon goodies, and head south in the CRV for a last 10 days or so in Sacramento.

I am, as usual, grateful for the patience and hard work of my travel-pal Janice. We have settled into the ‘rhythm of the road’ and I wish this trip could continue, but there are more exciting things in our immediate future. Hopefully back in the rig by October 5 headed for the California south coast!. (Oh, and there is that Turkey-Greece cruise in September!)

July 11,2009

After about 300 miles, we pulled into Chico, parked the rig and then enjoyed a dinner with (Jeff's) sister Mya at her private nirvana 8 miles up Centerville Road, east of Chico. Looking forward to getting home to begin the final chapter in Sacto.

Oakridge, OR

(I'll Photoshop those powerlines!)

July 7, 2009

Casey’s Riverside RV Park

This is a park we spent nearly a month at a year ago, so our 4 days this visit seems waaay too short. The winds have abated and it is just classic nice Oregon weather—the kind that central valley Californians like to escape to. There are a few returnees from last year, with a seeming profusion of 5^th wheels and trailers. What happened to the Class A motorhomes?? Were they all repo’d? Notable returness: LC with his aging lab, Honey. Bruce and Judy, who are suffering the ravages of cancer and age-related ailments, but remain of good cheer.

The activities here have included three10 mile bike rides over hill and dale as well as a visit to the local 9-holer for me. Not an official round as I played 2 or 3 balls on most holes. The course is a bit tired, so I had plenty of practice swinging off of semi-hardpan. Nice greens, though.

Gourmet activities are limited in nearby Oakridge, but we managed to return to the best Szechuan Chinese restaurant on the west coast. That would be Lee’s on the main drag. Lee (actual first name “Jeff”) remembered us from last year. Our picture (with hiking-mates Michael and Imkelina) was posted on their wall of fame. We’ll have to send them another one. Scrumptious prawns and chicken. I spent all day regretting that I didn’t order some chow mein. Be back next year. My fortune: “Be grateful for the great experience tomorrow (today).” Was that the clothes I washed?? Our bike ride? The 437 points I scored in Scrabble (Janice ‘lost” the last cumulative scorecard at Fritz and Dee’s. That one had me leading 150 to 33 for the year. We are now on a new ledger.)

Maybe the ‘experience’ is just sitting here, scratching Annika behind the ears, watching and listening to the Willamette River run by, perhaps accentuated later on by the whoooo-oooo of a train passing on the tracks across the river. And, thanks for the great chicken-cabbage-almond salad dinner, Janice. Life is indeed good.

The house-selling drama continues with the loaning entity wanting a bit more paperwork from the recent appraisal. Can we stretch this out some more? Is this the Obama plan at work? Hoping for some sense of finality by Friday. In the meantime we are lining up utilities, etc for the new digs. Oh, and there was the Eugene (no tax!) shopping day yesterday. Mastercard has to believe that our card has been stolen by vagabonds and is being used on awild spending spree. Alert! Alert!

Oakridge seems to be reaching the tipping point. Looks like somewhere between 30-40% of the houses are for sale. Many businesses are shuttered, others squeaking by hand-to-mouth. One local motel is inviting “inspections” as a ploy to generate business. Bring the flea detector and the UV light for this place, inspectors.

Along the Willamette River

July 5, 2009

Casey’s RV Park by the River -Oakridge, OR

Having arrived at Oakridge, our spa for the next 4 days, I must first reminisce over the past 3 days, leaving Long Beach and then spending the weekend in West Linn, Oregon.

Janice’s first taste of oysters in Long Beach was likely her last. An early hint was when she abandoned any interest in eating them after 2 or three finely fried sea-morsels. This meant that I would get to devour 11 or so, which I did with glee and chardonnay. All was well until I was awakened at 2 a.m.by a barking harbor seal inside the rig!! At least, that’s what it sounded like. In fact, Janice was giving the toilet bowl a very close visual inspection---on her knees. This occurred 2 more times before sunrise. During one encounter, she advises that she momentarily blacked out at the kitchen sink and fell on the floor next to Annika, who licked her face like Lassie would. No more oysters for Janice. Never. Ever.

She recovered enough to consume a Chai latte on the way to West Linn, where we set up camp in Fritz and Dee’s back forty. An added feature on our stay was their 25 year old nephew Charles, visiting from Moscow, Idaho. Just a fine young man, former Eagle Scout, now a math major with a Masters Degree looking for a teaching job. I’d hire him in a minute, except I’m not hiring. Fritz hobbled well on a healing broken ankle. A couple of fine BBQ meals, first a half salmon that we imported from Ilwaco, WA, and then scrumptious steaks (with mushrooms and artichokes). Fine dining at von Tagen Acres.

Sat. morning we checked out the charming Lake Oswego Sat. market and visited Janice's aunt in the same town. For our 4th of July celebration, we drove up the street from the von Tagen's to the highest promontory in the area -- a $3 ½ million vacant 20- acre parcel, and watched the fireworks going off in every direction. Once again the Chinese were cashing in as their products were being consumed in enormous quantities. Janice and I vowed to be somewhere next summer where we can attend a fireworks show up close. Nothing like it.

On Hiway 58 into Oakridge today we encountered a steady stream of travelers returning from 4^th of July campouts in the mountains. Arriving at Casey’s, a hot wind was howling upriver, as it does from time to time. We set up camp and battened down the hatches, then headed to Oakridge for supplies. From our encounters in the local Ray’s Market, I’m certain that they must be filming a sequel to Deliverance here. The ladies?? sported tattoos that would do a sailor proud, and the guys, semi-toothless, carried out their 12 packs of Miller Bottled Draft, continuing their celebration of the nation’s birthday. We were glad to see that our favorite Chinese restaurant was still in business. Hopefully we can pay them a visit this week.

The latest news on the house is that the appraisal was ‘on the number’, but the “investor” (loaning entity) will review it next week. We should know for sure by Weds or Thursday whether limbo will end.

.

Long Beach,cont.

July 2, 2009

Long Beach, WA

This area is a great place to visit if one is lucky enough to enjoy good weather, which has been the case for our stay, though the late afternoon breezes off the ocean drive us indoors. A tip-off is the fact that this is a tourist town and they don’t sell many souvenir T-shirts in the shops. Sweatshirts , long-sleeved T’s and jackets abound, though.

Yesterday we exercised the bikes for about an 8 mile spin between Long Beach and Ilwaco, all on a great curvy paved bike path along the beach. One of out most enjoyable rides ever,

though weekends would likely produce a few collisions on the 8 foot wide surface. Next, looked at the North Lighthouse, and the Ilwaco Harbor, scouting out potential purveyors of fresh fish.

Today we went up the peninsula to Ocean Shores, where Jack’s Country Store lived up to and perhaps exceeded publicized claims as having ‘everything under one roof.’ Groceries/games/hardware/ tackle---you name it. Wandering further north, we wound up in Oysterville (perhaps the longest continually inhabited place in North America), where we purchased oysters---what else. It will be a fried oyster gourmet delight tonight---Janice’s first taste of oysters.

Two days ago when we arrived, there were perhaps a dozen rigs in this Oceanside park. There are nearly 50 now, as rigs arrive for the 4^th of July. Along the beach there

will be fireworks and, for the only night of the year, camping is allowed on the beach (better to have the drunks sleep it off than drive home). Unfortunately (or fortunately) we will be outta here tomorrow morning, headed to the von Tagen Oasis in West Linn, Or.

Annika has enjoyed the stay here as she gets to chase her tennis ball on the beach, duly flung a mile by her ball flinger, which she dutifully carries to the beach herself.

Andersen's RV Park, though rated the best in the area, is no special place, and at $40+ per night, overpriced. If we return to the area, we'll try another place or the state park.