Spring Western Trip 2017: On to Cory and Oregon

Monday, 4/17:  282 miles and parked at the KOA in Mt. Shasta City in northern California.

We left Anthony Chabot about 9:30 on an overcast and foggy morning.  It took a long time coming down off the Oakland “hills”  as they are called.  Judy thought they were more like mountains. The road was narrow, steep and full of sharp curves.  Finally off the hills, we were rewarded with travel through the flat farmlands of the Sacramento area, but then ended up climbing and descending the mountains of the Cascades.  We pulled into the KOA about 2:30 and set up in a nearly empty park.  By nightfall, the campground was still only about a quarter full.  The temperatures dropped into the low 40’s and it rained most of the evening and night.  Mt. Shasta itself is an imposing, and potentially active volcano, that can be seen from the campground.  We were rewarded the next morning with an amazing view.

  

Tuesday, 4/18:  181 miles and parked at Rising River RV Park, Roseburg, Oregon

We arrived at Rising River about 12:30 and quickly set up.  Because I had made reservations several weeks ago, we were able to score one of the riverfront sites.  This park is immaculate!  We have stayed here before, and it is only a quick 5 minute drive to my son Cory’s house.  Cory is at a conference in Bend, so we won’t see him until Thursday.  We got caught up on some laundry at his house, and then just relaxed for the rest of the day.  We did take time to glue up a cedar bench that I had made for Cory for Christmas and we brought out in pieces.

Wednesday, 4/19:  Roseburg

We drove over to Cory’s house and did some more laundry.  Also, he has a beautiful fenced in back yard so we were able to let the dogs run off leash.  That was a treat for them  I also had a few finishing touches to finish on the cedar bench.  After lunch, we did grocery shopping and then we looked up the Two Shy Brew Pub  for a visit.  It’s a very nice, small and local brewery owned by a husband and wife couple.  They gave me a quick tour and answered a ton of questions.  For dinner, Judy made a recipe that my sister Karen recommended, pasta puttanesca.  It has an interesting origin, and here is the basic recipe.

Thursday, 4/20:  Roseburg.  

Today is Judy’s birthday, and to top it off, her daughter Terri (and Terri's little Pomapoo dog named Oliver) are flying in today from Manhattan to visit us for the weekend.  We picked her up at the Eugene airport at 2:30.  We were to meet Cory at the Hop Valley Brewery in Eugene, and he showed up about 4:00.  He had been to a conference in Bend, Oregon and his ride dropped him off at Hop Valley.  Cory then rode back to Roseburg with us.  For dinner we grilled a London Broil at Cory’s and then made a campfire in his backyard.  A sudden rainbow made the day even more special, and then Terri and Cory surprised Judy with a birthday cake.  It was a fun evening.

Friday, 4/21:  Roseburg

It is a beautiful 75 and sunny day today.  Cory had some vacation time, so he had the day off.  He took us to the Lighthouse Cafe for lunch.  We have eaten there before.  The menu is all vegetarian, and it is fantastic.  I had a Reuben sandwich made with portabella mushrooms. The weather was beautiful, so we sat outside on the upper patio.  After lunch, its off to Becker Winery, our favorite Roseburg winery.  It is a small, mom and pop run vineyard owned and operated by Charlie and Peggy Becker.  The last time we were here was October of 2015. Yet when we walked in, Peggy immediately remembered our names.  As usual, we purchased a case to take home, this time all whites.

Then we made another stop at a well known Roseburg winery, HillCrest Winery.  As Oregon’s oldest estate winery and the birthplace of Oregon Pinot Noir, this is a stop not to be missed.  It was a beautiful day, and they have a beautiful view.  We even bought a few bottles.

Next we made a quick stop to show Terri the Two Shy Brewery we had discovered a couple days ago .

 We ended the evening at Backside Brewery for wood fired pizza and wings for dinner.

Saturday, 4/22:  Roseburg and Eugene

It was overcast and cooler today.  Terri’s favorite Oregon winery is Sarver Winery in Eugene, so off we went. As usual, the wines tasted great, but to Terri’s disappointment, they have quit shipping to New York State.  Terri bought a case anyway and we will bring it back east in the camper for her.  

Cory recommended Oakshire Brewery which is in Eugene also.  We tasted a couple, and of course, I bought a a growler to add to my collection.  :-))    Later, Cory took us to one of the fish ladders used on the Umpqua River to allow salmon to migrate upriver to spawn.  Really neat.

We ended the day in Roseburg at the Roseburg Station Pub and Brewery for dinner.

Sunday, 4/23:  Roseburg and Eugene

Terri had to be at the Eugene Airport by noon.  We went to the Plank Town Brew Pub  for an excellent brunch.  Then we got Terri to the airport and said our goodbyes. After we got back to Roseburg, it was time for naps.  One of the RV tires has had a slow leak, so I took some time to replace the valve stem core.  Then was over to Cory’s to grill steaks for dinner.   After Terri left, the remaining three dogs were lost.  "Where's Ollie"  they wondered  :-))

Since we were leaving the next morning, we said our goodbyes to Cory and his dog Porter.

Monday, we start the turn back east.  The trip is half over.  Bitter and Sweet.