Day Fourteen

I know I missed days twelve and thirteen but we were in Wenatchee for birthday parties for Day Twelve and then to our granddaughter Ellie's house on Day Thirteen just to chill before picking up the dog today and heading back to our island. We made the 3:15pm ferry and actually had all the suitcases unpacked by 4:45. We are a bit tired and glad to be home but also more than a little sad this adventure has ended. I've been thinking about all I learned on this trip and I thought I'd share with you: Ashland was even better than I imagined. The night we saw Merchant we were at the Elizabethan Theater, outside, bundled in the Pendleton blankets given to us by the Supts office, in the first row - middle- of the balcony, without a cloud in the sky. Listening to "The quality of mercy is not strained..." in that setting was magical...; there are a lot of folks in Oregon who do not realize that the 60s and 70s have ended...; Monterey Bay is spectacular, as is the drive down the Oregon coast; Carmel is nice if you wish to spend $5K on a little, tiny piece of art...we didn't...; Lunch on the deck of the Lodge at Pebble Beach, overlooking the 18th hole at Pebble, was almost religious; There are more Subway stores than McDonalds...trust me on this; We are a little ambivilant about bed and breakfasts...we met some very nice people but the accomodations were sometimes(mostly, actually) interesting to say the least. It seemed that each place, and we stayed in five different ones, was bent on creating healthy breakfasts...imagine that!!! I got a bit tired of fruit crepes...; There is a lot of beautiful scenery in our country that I can't imagine is duplicated anyplace else; Next time we go I will buy a small laptop that is WIFI compatible as typing the blog entries on my new phone each night was painful; We wondered how the highway departments decided where to place the deer and elk crossing signs; The weather was spectacular the entire trip, until driving to FW from Wenatchee Sunday we went through torrential downpours through Blewett; After 41 years Rose and I still found a lot to talk about; I don't care if I see another olive tree; The Alcatraz tour was spectacular and well worth the time it took to get to SF and stay the night; Another worthwhile tour was the Harry and David factories in Medford, OR; and, of course, the wineries should not be missed... We'll tour again, and I may even blog again...we'll see. Thanks for reading along.

Day Eleven

Had a very nice bkfst at our Holiday Inn Express this morning and left for Hood River at 9am. We stopped a few places, like Target, to pick up a couple of things for the birthday party tomorrow. We also stopped in West Linn to have lunch at a 5 Guys Hamburgers...GREAT hamburgers! Interstate 84 along the Columbia River is a wonderful ride. I couldn't help but wonder what Lewis and Clark must have thought when they saw this magnificent river. I also remarked to Rose that we could boat to Wenatchee on the Columbia, except for a few dams. We are having a bourbon now on our deck overlooking the river and it is starting to rain, the first rain since the first day of our adventure, Sept 7. All in all, a pretty special run of sun...we are both looking forward to seeing the kids tomorrow.

Day Ten

We had another long but fun day today.  We left SF at 7:45am and arrived in Roseburg. ORat about 5:45pm.  We stopped at several places, however, to search for good deals on liquor.  I am happy to report that our searches were very successful!  I hope out init passes in WA this Nov then maybe we can find prices similar to those in CA.  We are stying at a Holiday Inn Express in Roseburg and the deck from our room overlooks the Umpqua River.  Rose and I are having a bourbon and enjoying the scenery as I write.  We are off to Hood River tomorrow and then to Wenatchee on Saturday for birthday parties for Thomas and Will.  I can hardly believe Thomas is 12!  Our  adventure is coming to a rapid close and although we are getting a little homesick we have concluded that we could also keep going...

Day Nine

Left Pacific Grove about 8:30am and arrived at the Washington Square Inneat 11am. The drive was very nice as we kept running into and out of fog. We signed in and parked and walked down to Pierf 33 where we had lunch and caught our boat to Alcatraz. That was a great tour! We spent 2 hours there and took the tour of the prison using the headsets. The entire experience was very interesting. When we got back on the mainland we employed a bicycle Rickshaw to gake us to the Ugg store in the financial district. What an experience that was! Took a cab back to our Inn, has some wine and Cheese, And walked a block to Tonys Pizza Napolitana..the best pizza we have ever had. Early to bed tonight as we plan to get an early start tomorrow, headed to Wenatchee to celebrate some birthdays on Saturday. Weather continues to be spectacular...

Day Eight

Woke up this morning to a foggy bay and chilly weather.  Had a wonderful breakfast and then headed to Carmel.  By the time we got there the sun was shining and it was warming up.  We spent a couple of hours wandering through very expensive art galleries wondering who would have the kind of money to purchase some of the stuff we saw.  Left Carmel around noon and drove to Pebble Beach and were lucky enough to have lunch on the deck of the Pebble Beach Lodge overlooking the 18th green of the famous Pebble Beach Golf Course.  Lunch was very good but not as spectacular as the view!  After lunch we took the 17 mile drive and saw homes and views that were incomparable...and I took some pictures.  Back to the Martine Inn by 5pm, had a bourbon, and then hot hordorves(sp) and wine with very nice folks we met from Vancouver BC.  About 7pm we went across the street and sat on a bench watching the squid and sea bass fishing boast working the Bay.  Fog coming ina gain and getting chilly so time to come in...up early for breakfast and off to San Francisco tomorrow.

Day Seven

Left Lithia Inn in Ashland, OR at 8am and arrived at Martine Inn in Pacific Grove, CA at 4:20pm.  That was a long drive...We had a wonderful time in Ashland and loved the plays we saw: She Loves Me, Merchant of Venice, and Blood Throne(a version of MacBeth).  After we got through the Siskious(is that how you spell them?) we saw nothing but olive groves for at least a hundred miles...must have been three billion olive trees.  However, the scenery was beautiful and stark and bountiful and sparse all at the same time.

After we checked into this B and B, which is right across Oceanview Drive from Monterey Bay, our room has a great view of the bay, we had hot hordoerves and wine and then walked to Cannery Row.  It was fun to see as I had just finished Steinbeck's Cannery Row about a week ago.  Not much now like his descriptions then.  We think we will try to go to Carmel and Pebble Beach tomorrow.  Weather has been great and it is supposed to continue for at least the time we are in CA.  I'll be glad to hit the bed tonight and stretch out.

Day Six

We saw a very good play this afternoon after cruising the many cool little shops in Ashland.  The weather continues to be warm and wonderful, without a cloud in the sky.  We are going to dinner early tonight so we can get back here and get the car packed for an early leaving tomorrow morning.  It looks like we have a seven hour drive to Pacific Grove and I would like to get there before 5pm.  It has beenwonderfully relaxing to have beenat Lithia Springs for three days but it is time to get moving south tosunnyh CA and,we hope, cheap booz!!  We are having a great time and are liking the car trip adventure...so far!

Day Five

We spent quite a few hours today touring wineries just north of Ashland, and tasting more than a few wines. We are getting ready to go to town as we have reservations to eat at a. Italian restaurant. Merchant of Venice starts at 8pm at the outdoor Elizabethan theater.
Ast night's play, She Loves Me, was very good. We had great seats at the indoor theater, angus Bowman. We changed tomorrow's tickets from an 8pm playh to one at 1:30pm as we will need the extra time tomorrow night to get the car packed so we can leave for Pacific Groce, CA ear
Y Monday morning. Weather has beengreat! In the 80s here in Ashland today.

Day Four

We arrived in Ashland at 1:30 and found the lovely Lithia Springs Resort.  We are in cottage 5, the Irish Cottage.  There is a huge jetted tub in our room that uses the natural hot springs of the area.  We may give it a try after the play tonight, which is at the inside theater.  Tomorrow and Sundays plays are at the outdoor theater and people have been telling us to dress warm.  Good thing we brought the Pendleton blankets!  Tomorrow we may drive to a small town called Jacksonville to check out their Saturday market...or we may visit a ccouple of wineries.  We'll see.  The area arond Ashland rfeminds us of Wenatchee, dry and more desert-like.  We are having a wonderful time and we are looking forward to spending three nights in the same place.

Day Three

Left Coos Bay this morning and drove Rt 42 to I5 and decided to stop in Grants Pass. We are staying in a cabin on the Rogue River in a place called Weasku Inn. This was Clark Gabel's get away in the 30s. We are sitting on our little deck as I write having our 1st bourbon of the day. There is complementary wine and cheese at 4:30. We are going to that and then I think we will order a pizza rather than drive to town. After complmentary bfast tomorrow we wiill be on our way to Ashlnd

Day Two

Arrived at Coos Bay at about 3pm.  Hwy 101 down the OR coast was spectaculer!  Crashing surf, huge sand dunes, lighthouses, grey whales...we saw it all.  Going to a Mexican restaurant tonight.  I think we will go to Bandon tomorrow and then to Grants Pass...I think.  All i all...a beautiful day!

Day One

Well, here we are at the Pelican Pub and Brewery in Pacific City, OR.  We drove into Pacific City at about 4pm...long drive...Rained on and off all the way over here on Rt. 6 but we are sitting outside now looking at clearing skies, a large sand beach, and a rock similar to Haystacks.  Our B and B is very ncie and we will not have any trouble  falling to sleep.  Breakfast at the B and B is at 9am so we better get a good night's sleep!  Tomorrow we will be on 101 towards Coos Bay...we'll see how far we get!

Two days before we leave.

Tuesday we are off to Pacific City, Or, for our first night at a Bed and Breakfast. We've never stayed in one so this will be an adventure. We don't have any other reservations - except those for Ashland - so there is no telling where we will be on Sept 8!!