Oregon

So one week and 3000 miles later we land in Eugene, Oregon.  Riding that far in a vehicle with your husband and dog, you have a lot of time to think and watch the landscape go by.  I often think about the people who crossed this country in the 1800's without benefit of roads, not sure how they made it across places like Nebraska, Wyoming and Idaho.  I have always been able to see the beauty in the plains and high deserts, but I will have to say there are some areas of Wyoming and Idaho that are just butt ugly.  Going across I 80 from Rawlins to Green River is torture, only thing you see is endless brown dotted with oil pumps.  Once we got off the interstate and started heading toward Garden City, Utah we saw all of these oil pumps with solar panels on each site.  Not sure what that was about, but thought it was rather ironic.

Rick taking Kona for a walk at Fossil Butte National Monument in SW Wyoming

Bear Lake, Utah and Raspberry Shake stop in Garden City, Utah

We spent 3 nights camping on our way to Eugene.  First night in Logan Canyon outside of Logan, Utah.  We were the only ones at the campground and we camped right along a small stream.  The next night we were in Burns, Oregon.  Burns is a small town in Eastern Oregon in middle of nowhere.   We camped in a really nice rv park, and listen to tractors in nearby fields haying until almost 11pm.  The next morning after breaking camp we found a cute little deli/coffee shop and had our second breakfast of home made strawberry rhubarb pie.  We only had a 2.5 drive to Bend, where we spent a lovely day walking along the park paths, having lunch and beer at dog friendly 10 Barrel and letting Kona swim in the Tamalo River near our campsite.  More time in Bend on the following day before finally pushing on to Eugene.  

 First night of camping in Logan Canyon

 Rick and Kona hanging out at the campsite

Speed limit in Utah

2nd breakfast in Burns and bikes decorated along the street

  I was so excited when we finally could see the Cascades.  The Three Sisters are right outside of Bend.  I kept thinking about the book Wild which I read 2 years ago. She hiked this area of the Pacific Crest Trail.  We actually crossed over it from Bend to Eugene and I was upset that I couldn't get Rick to stop so I could take a photo.  He offered to go back, but with the camper and the 4th of July traffic it was just too much trouble.  It is rugged country and there is evidence of forest fires from previous years.

 This is called Silver Lake, part of the Deschutes River in Bend.  Parks on one side and a neighborhood on the other.  We saw people SUP, Kayaking and tubing.

 We drove up to these falls outside of Bend.  We had planned to hike, but decided we did not have as much time as we thought.

 So we headed back to Bend and hiked along the Deschutes River trail.  Kona wanted to always get in the river and practically pulled us in a times.  She loved the dog beach park and swimming with other dogs.  I have fallen in love with Bend and can see myself living here someday.  I love the river, mountains, the vibe.

Deschutes River and Kona swimming with other pups

 Brewery Tour in Bend

 Nick had told us to go to Sparrow Bakery in Bend for an Ocean Roll.  Yummy

 Riverbend Park in Bend

Lunch at Depot Cafe in Sisters

 We made it to Eugene on the 3rd of July.  Of course we had to go to our favorite brew pub in Eugene, Falling Sky.   We had the pups with us, we had just taken them for a swim in the Willamette River.
Then we walked around Nick and Amanda's neighborhood and saw this cute little house with a lovely garden in the front yard. We stayed in for the evening as Ayla is scared of fireworks and we needed to keep her company.  Gave us a chance to play Settlers of Catan with Nick and Amanda

Potatoes from Nick's garden and the garden around the corner from their house.

Finally, on the 6th of July, Lauren and Josh joined us in Eugene.  We took them to our favorite winery in Eugene, Sarver.  Then is was off to Grant's Pass in Southern Oregon for our week on the Rogue River.

 Rick, Lauren, Josh, Nick and Amanda enjoying wine and cheese at Sarver's

On Monday we traveled into California and then back into Oregon to reach the Oregon Redwoods outside of Brookings, OR.  We decided to bypass the California Redwoods National Monument since we had the dogs with us.  One wrong turn and we were on a road that was becoming a 4WD track before we realized we were on the wrong side of the river.  But finally we found the trail.  The hike was a fun way to see the trees.

We felt like pioneers finding the trail head!

 

This redwood had a cavity that was charred inside.  We were considering an awkward family photo.

Josh and Lauren
Amanda and Ayla

After the hike we went down to the Chetco River to play in the water.  We were lamenting the fact that we had not brought our swimsuits or fishing poles.  The water was so beautiful and clear.  "Holy cow" I kept saying!

I think this looks like Nick is leading Amanda to something.....the promise land maybe

The rest of the week included visiting wineries and a brew pub, a guided fishing trip for Rick, Lauren, Nick and Josh, playing games, hiking and playing in the river and taking kayaks on a 2 hours float that included Class I and II rapids. Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of Rick flipping his kayak.   Amanda's mom and stepdad joined us for the weekend.

 Nick caught this chinook, we had it for dinner.

 Rick's caught the first native of the day.  Nick and Rick are arguing about the size.  Nick says 25 and Rick say 35...typical

 This was the big one Nick caught, maybe 20 lbs and it was a feisty old bastard

Josh caught a steelhead and an a chinook that we also had for dinner .  Lauren caught a trout and had a steelhead briefly on the line.  But all agreed it was a successful day of fishing.  

 Nick's salmon on the top and Josh's on the bottom

While the others were fishing, Amanda and I took the dogs swimming in the Rogue.  We found this sweet sandy beach.   They loved it and we went back several times to swim.

 Kona, Ayla and Amanda

Some of the wineries and brewpubs we visited in the Medford and Ashland area.   We really enjoyed RoxyAnn, Troon and Red Lily and Caldera Brewpub.

Caldera Brew Pub in Ashland

It was really hot in Southern Oregon the week we were there.  We had planned to do more hiking, but that would mean getting up very early.  Finally on Friday, we had a cool and cloudy morning so we hiked to the Rainie Falls on the Rogue.  It the beginning of the Class III and above section of the river.  We did see some salmon trying to migrate up the river, but not quick enough to catch them jumping up the falls.  It was a trail with lots of exposure, so Kona stayed behind.  Nick and Amanda stayed behind as well to visit with Linda and Tim.  

 Madrone Tree, strangest trees, but so beautiful.

 Josh was determined to try to capture a photo of a salmon jumping.

Our Rogue River vacation is over.  Rick, Lauren and Josh left on Saturday afternoon to go back to Durham.  I am hanging out in Eugene with Nick and Amanda until Rick returns.  We leave on Wednesday and head north to Mt St Helens, British Columbia and eventually Grande Prairie, Alberta.

 Nick and Amanda, Ayla and Kona at Rose Garden in Eugene

Kona and Ayla have become best buds.