Eugene is located in western Oregon, approximately 278 billion miles from anything. 

-- Dave Barry

Howaya?

I hope this report finds you happy and healthy.  We have been very fortunate to stay healthy during the pandemic while traveling to Poland, Tahoe and Oregon. We follow all protocols and would like to think that we take “prudent risk”  We are not interested in being white birds in a golden cage getting old.

We had to escape the pleasant record days of  temperatures over 110, so we decided to hit the coast of Oregon and other great locations recommended by our good friend Bob Shea from Bend. We flew into Eugene and stayed at a really nice B & B-The Campbell House. 

Our fun two weeks of  activities included  a whole lot of hiking, and enjoying the “GREEN” Oregon countryside.  We were able to share time with friends Gary and Mary Beth Elam in Eugene, and Rollie and Erica Woodcock in Newport. 

We spent a week at the small, cool, coastal town of Yachats. Temperatures were in the low 60s….only 50 degrees cooler than Scottsdale.  The hike on the Amanda trail to Cape Perpetua was outstanding! We woke up every morning to a brilliant view of the sea and observed several whales while we were there. Our favorite restaurant was “Luna Sea”  We enjoyed their fabulous scallops two nights in a row. We loved having lunch with Rollie and Erica at the Clearwater restaurant in Newport on a deck above many incessant, loud barking, growling and grunting sea lions establishing territory. 

Just outside quaint Silverton we stayed at “Oregon Garden” resort that had a fantastic happy hour. Two buck tacos and three buck margaritas. The Oregon Garden is an 80-acre  botanical garden , It is home to over 20 gardens. 

Close by is Silver Falls State Park, the “crown jewel” of Oregon state parks. We hiked the 7 mile loop that passes a series of breath taking waterfalls along a rocky canyon that descends to a winding creek at the forest floor.  We passed behind South Falls, a 177 foot waterfall.

Time was spent poking around in Silverton, a charming small town.

Gerry drove to Hood River, another charming small town on the Columbia River Gorge. Here we relaxed, hiked, and went to several wineries that had awe inspiring double views of Mt. Hood and Mount Adams. 

We tried a tray of different ciders, a new experience for both of us.

We returned to Eugene and again hooked up with Gary and Mary Beth. I have loved “TRACK TOWN” for many years.

Our boys competed for several years in the AAU on the storied old Hayward Field. It has now been replaced by a modern marvel of a stadium. I  miss the old Hayward Field. 

Gary and Beth graciously took us for the “Animal House” tour on the campus and pointed out several structures where memorable scenes were filmed. 

This was really as nice a trip as any of our many foreign travels and we hope to return next summer. We were sad to have missed Linda and Greg and Bob and Peggy in Bend due to the virus. Another good reason to return as well as the Olympic trials and world track trials.

Our activities for the remainder of the year will be mostly limited to biking, walking and hiking. We do have a trip planned for Oaxaca Mexico in December, don’t know if that one will happen.

I am working my first trip as an instructor for the Grand Canyon Field Institute  since my hip replacement in December. 

It is scheduled in October so I have 2 months to train which is a challenge in this heat. Wish me luck!

Please stay safe!