Oregon Celebration

We took an eight day trip to Oregon and back, returning last Wednesday.  The reason for this 2,432 mile drive was to celebrate the graduation of my nephews, Aaron and Logan.  Aaron graduated from Newport High School, and was one of several valedictorians.  Logan graduated from MIT, where he will be returning in the fall for graduate work.

This is the view of the Umpqua River from our room in Roseburg, OR, on the second night traveling north.  We delighted in seeing osprey, hooded mergansers, cormorants, woodchucks, and other animals from our balcony.

In the morning, this turkey vulture was warming up right in front of us.

Getting close to Newport, we took a side road up to this shelter built by the CCC.  The view over the ocean was spectacular, as is much of Oregon.

Logan, Lorie, and Aaron.  Steve would have been so proud of the boys and Lorie!

Looking the other direction we see part of the paparazi corps: Sarah, Howard, and Brian.

We had another room with a view for two nights in nearby Agate Beach.

Gail and I enjoyed the green landscapes so much!  This photo was from the trail of a hike we took up a coastal ravine.  Water, green, aaahhhh!

On the way back home, we stayed in the preserved mining town of Jacksonville, Oregon, about 15 miles from Ashland.  We were seriously charmed, and extended our stay another night.  The town is described as "Mayberry meets Napa,"  as it is in a budding wine region.

This is the cottage we stayed in, an adjunct to the historic Jacksonville Inn, and another reason we extended our stay!  There are three other cottages on the same property.  George and Laura Bush stayed in one of them.  The inn has hosted two other presidents, and also catered food for the Obamas.

There were beautiful homes and inns, many with English gardens like this one.

While in Jacksonville, we did a lot of walking and hiking.  This is the view from the top of Lower Table Rock, the remnant of a lava flow.  That is the Rogue River below, with Mt. McLoughlin off in the distance.

The next day, we did serious driving back to Napa, and then San Diego the following day.  I couldn't help but notice how as soon as you cross into California, the land becomes parched and brown.  It was wonderful to have seen Lorie, Aaron, Logan, and Sarah, meet Brian, and visit with Lorie's parents Howard and Lois.