July Happenings and the Rogue River

After our long journey to parts East, we were pretty tired.  But after we recovered from the trip, and some stomach bug or food poisoning that laid us low for a week (ended up in the ER getting rehydrated--thanks for saving us, Carol!) we had some gatherings and took some hikes.

Dressed up Beer--Thanks Uncle Jerry

My 4th of July Bouquet

Went to Art and the vineyard and bought art and drank wine

Birthday boat trip with Neil and Carol on July 7

Happy Birthday sunset--Welcome year 62

Beautiful Brice Creek

The ole swimming hole

Jeff and Freddy enjoy the rest

We did lots of swimming in Dorena Lake

Well, some of us swam.

Cool and misty Spirit Falls

Finally able to eat again--it's not overrated.

Jeff enjoys the mist

The camper had been out of commission.  There was a recall on a part, which Jeff took out.  We finally got a replacement and Jeff installed it, but we weren't sure it was really working.  We decided a shakedown cruise was in order, and it was blazing hot in the valley and we wanted to get away from the heat.  We decided to go to Gold Beach and take a jet boat ride up the Rogue River.   We planned on camping at Humbug Mt. again, but it was too far away from GB to get up and make it to our 8:15 AM departure.  So we returned to an RV resort up the Rogue that we had scouted in March.  It was nice--right on the river, but didn't have much privacy and no electrical hook-up. 

We soon found out that the new part (electrical splitter which charges the battery in the camper) was not working.  Thank goodness we had gas for cooking and refrigeration, and plenty of flashlights.  The only other negative of the campsite was the harried mother down the beach who was camping with 2 small children.  She yelled at them for a solid 3 hours and not once did either of them do what she told them to do.  Maybe a hint that what she was doing wasn't working.....but it was hard to hear.  Finally sleep took the little rowdies and the silence was welcomed!

On the Beach

Boat going up the Rogue

Our View

Jet boat going down the river--that's us tomorrow

Freddy found the Rogue to his liking

wonderful spaghetti with lots of veggies for dinner

The next day we got up early to meet our boat at the dock, and also meet Sandy Jo, who was dog sitting Freddy for the day.  The brave woman was at the dock with her huge Crown Victoria station wagon to meet us.  Freddy did not want to stay with her, but we hooked him into the back seat and I was thankful for his new harness which holds him securely. We were going to pick him up at her house when we got back.  Finally we got on the boat and headed up the river.  

The bridge at Gold Beach

The lone fisherman

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle nest with Eagle in residence

River Otter--we saw three of them and boy are they cute!

The placid part of the river

Our pilot, Chris--a great driver!

Osprey Nest

 We went up the river to Agness and had a bathroom break, then went up further to whitewater where we went through rapids and got nice and wet.  I was amazed that the boat could go so smoothly through such shallow water.  The boat carried at least 30 people and could go through 6 inches of water. 

After the whitewater, we went back down to Agness and had lunch at a lodge.  It was served family style and the fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, biscuits and home grown veggies were soon consumed and topped off with ice cream and blackberry topping!  What a feast.  Our companions included a 5th grade girl named Emily and her dad Alex and grandma, another Kathy.  We had a lot of fun talking to them and the other people on the boat.   Then it was back on the jetboat for the quick trip down the river to Gold Beach. 

Our new friend Emily and her iPad

Some of our wet companions--we sat in front behind the windshield and they got most of the water

Doe, a deer, a thirsty deer....

Back down the river and under the bridge.  Lots of fishers were after salmon

Happy and wet jet boaters

If you are reading this and you haven't taken the jet boat trip up the Rogue, we highly recommend it.  Smooth, fun and exciting, the trip was worth every penny and a few more.  We had a blast!

So when we got back, we called Sandy Jo and were so happy when we got to her house and found 1) that Freddy hadn't totally freaked out and 2) that he hadn't destroyed her house, garden or herself.  All were safe and sound.  We were greeted with lots of enthusiasm from both Freddy and Sandy and soon loaded up and headed for Humbug Mt. State Park to try and get a camping spot for the night. 

When we got there, it looked like every spot was taken, but we talked to the camp host and got the last spot with electric hook-up.  Yay!  It was close to the highway and surrounded by other campers, but we settled in and cooked a wonderful meal of sausages, potatoes, fruits and veggies and after finishing up with a few marshmallows, climbed into the camper, watched a couple of episodes of Doc Martin and gratefully hit the sack. 

The next morning we drove up the coast highway to Bandon and then took the route from there to Roseburg and up 1-5 to home.  The heat hit us hard after three days of 60's.  The weather at the coast was so nice and cool!

Now we are getting ready for another trip....this time to Eastern Oregon to Jon and Sharon's ranch at Flora and from there....who knows?  Time for another adventure!

Last Day of Vacation

Kathy Here:  On July 2nd, we woke up at The Willows and I was pretty much done with traveling and ready to go home.  But our plane didn't leave until almost 9 pm. and we were meeting Max at 3:30 for a farewell hug.  What to do?  We decided on more "culture"--a trip to the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the premier art museums in the US.  After breakfast, we had a choice to make.  How to get downtown.  Do we ride the bus and have to come all the way back to the hotel or drive the car downtown and pay the price for parking and driving chaos.  A flip of the coin decided that we would drive downtown......an expensive and psychologically risky endeavor.  It took us 3 times around Millennium Park to finally find the entrance to the parking garage UNDER the street and accessed from the MIDDLE of Michigan Ave. (excuse the caps, but if you ever have to do it, you will appreciate the handy driving tips!).  By the time we parked, gasped at the fee, parked and found our way out of the huge garage, we were starving, but not for Starbucks or McDonalds.  We found our way to a true Chicago Hot Dog place and stuffed our mouths with deliciousness.

Fast and efficient

And Delicious

After that, we were ready for the Art Institute.  The line for tickets ran out the door and past the huge lions on either side of the steps.  The lions looked a little ridiculous with Chicago Blackhawk helmets on them.   We finally got inside and realized the immensity of the place.  We quickly decided to limit our exhaustion by choosing carefully what to see.  So we focused on the impressionists and American artists.  Good choice!

They love their Blackhawks

The Grand Staircase.....looks kinda like an MC Escher drawing.

After exhausting ourselves with culture and enjoying ourselves completely, we went for a long sit down and a big cup of coffee and then to Daly Plaza one more time to meet Max.  We had a drink and said our goodbyes until August.  Then hot footed back to the underground garage, managed to find our car and headed into the wilds of Chicago traffic.  It's a jungle out there....a good reason to never drive a car in Chicago ever again....and I mean never!  Thank goodness for Neara and her calm, direction giving voice.  She helped us find a gas station and the Rental Car return place where we got on the shuttle bus to the airport.  But truly, I credit my survival to the amazing driving skills of my husband. He did confess to turning on the turn signal, closing his eyes, and changing lanes more than once, but I never knew.

Watching take offs and landings at O'hare

We had a couple of hours to wait at O'Hare, but filled them with people and plane watching and eating and reading.  Soon we were back in the friendly skies and then walking in the door at home at about 3 am local time.  Fred and Emily and Ruben had done a great job taking care of house and pets, as we discovered over coffee and conversation on the morning of the third.  We are so lucky to have such wonderful family.  Thanks again for all you did.

Meanwhile, all of this is becoming just a memory.  We have been spending a lot of time in the bouncy chairs on the lanai and Freddy and I have been to the lake just about every day to swim. We are catching up on bills and mowing and watering and all that stuff.  And, of course, we are planning our next adventure!

Kathy Highlights:  There were so many things I enjoyed on this trip.  I have to start with the city of Chicago.  I really loved it.  So beautiful with it's setting on the lake and all those distinctive skyscapers.  And so easy to get around in and so much to see.  That dinner with Max in the sky above Lake Michigan is a happy memory.  Next I have to say, Bayfield!  I was grateful to have some quiet time at the cottage and be with Dennis and Laurie. I'll never forget that swim in the moonlight. In Cleveland, I loved seeing all Jeff's family again and staying at Amy and Sheldon's.  Their house is so comfortable and homey.  I loved driving around in the country east of Cleveland.  It was so much fun hanging out with everyone at the Bat Mitzvah and watching Maia dance around us in various blinking costumes. 

Kathy lowlights:  I really hated being in the middle of one of those midwestern thunder storms again.  It was so frightening I just about peed my pants.  Thank goodness for Amy and her skilled driving through the storm.  And that long drive from Cleveland to Chicago on the Ohio Turnpike was boooorrriiinnng!  Other than that it was a great trip!

Jeff highlights - A lot to choose from but I guess my favorite moment was floating in Den's kayak on Lake Huron - a total sense of serenity and peace.  This is followed closely by the dinner at my Aunt Jan's home, surrounded by people I dearly love and laughter, lots of laughter.

Jeff''s lowlights: Driving to the O'Hare airport and realizing we were running out of gas.  We had to fill the tank anyhow before returning the car but there were absolutely no stations anywhere.  Cars darting in and out trying to kill us.  Blood thirsty, heartless souls zipping by as I white knuckled it and tried to appear outwardly calm to Kathy.  We had to map quest a station and made it with 4 miles to spare, whew!

On to Chicago

July 1, 2013

Jeff here:  Up at 6:30 to gather, pack and say some final sad good-byes to Amy, Sheldon and their girls.  We really enjoyed our stay with them.  I planned on leaving at 8:00 and amazingly, we were on the road at 8:10 - Wow we are getting good at this travel routine.  Breakfast at Bob Evans on the West side of Cleveland with generous amounts of coffee to clear the cobwebs created by the past few days of sugar overload.

Our newest coffee stop

Hundreds of miles of the same

Selfie, Portrait of "Boredom extremis"

Entering Chicago

We then headed out on the Ohio Turnpike, a road so boring that it makes I 5 in Oregon look festive and inviting.  The miles sped by like watching Slug racing.  The Indiana Turnpike was more of the same but we finally made it to Chicago and the Willow's Hotel around 2:30.  Turnpike fee's around $20.00 - imagine if the Crusaders had forced their victims to have to pay for the privilege  of being tortured, the Crusades could have knocked years off the foray.

We kicked back and met Max for dinner.  Delightful dinner composed of good food and better conversation.  We walked back to the hotel with a stop at the local Walmart for Diet Dew for Max and some milk and a cookie for me - damn, I have to get back on the healthier eating bandwagon.  We did agree to fly Max home for August.  He makes a great housesitter but more to the point, it is nice to hang with him.

It was a early night for us road weary travelers.