North on I-5 to Eugene, OR 08-20-11

I'm having a terrible time remembering what day of the week it is!  Guess it doesn't matter a lot as long as I am in Mt Vernon, WA, by Monday night.  It is an easy two day trip, but I do like to stop along the way.

This was the view about eleven this morning at almost the same spot I took yesterday's picture of Mount Shasta with her head in the clouds.  Whenever I am driving north and see Shasta, Hood, St. Helens, Rainer in their drapes of snow I remember one year when my sister and I were returning from a visit to G'mother in Los Angeles - we always rode the train because our mother and step dad both worked for the railroad.  On this trip there was a large tour group of couples from somewhere in the South.  They had traveled by train from  Atlanta or New Orleans across Texas/New Mexico/Arizona and had seen a lot of desert, but they had never in their lives seen a real mountain.  They all rushed to the east side of the sleeper car and we were afraid they would tip over the train!  They were just enthralled, while we were seasoned mountain connoisseurs and thought the tourists were just silly.  Of course, we had never been east of Boise, Idaho, so what did we know?  Anyway, I hope I will see all the mountains standing cloud free on this trip - it would be a first, I think!

Along the road (before I reached I-5) there were may flowers blooming.  I believe this is Oregon vetch.

Great thickets of wild blackberries grow everywhere in the Pacific Northwest - they are definitely not as sweet as the commercially grown berries, but with the addition of LOTS of sugar they make a fabulous rich jam.

Goldenrod is blooming everywhere.  Fortunately I am not allergic to it.

Teasels also grow everywhere.  These are just on the edge of a huge field full of the dried stalks.  I have always found it interesting that dried teasel 'heads' were once used commercially to brush up the nap on woven woolen blankets.  The best ones came from France - they were larger, more cylindrical and more durable than the native American teasel.

Here are all the flowers growing together and the field of teasels.

I stopped in Ashland for gas and to eat last evening's leftovers for lunch.  I pulled into a small parking lot shaded by huge old trees and this is the view I had across the street.  The clapboard house was hidden in all the foliage - a blooming mimosa tree in the corner of the picket fence and a towering Catalpa tree at the other end of the property.  Very charming, but on the busy main street through town.  Lots of traffic.

I also stopped at QUILTZ in downtown Ashland.  I had a hard time finding it as the address I had was their previous location.  I had to call twice to get better directions, but it was worth the trouble  - it is a very nice shop with lots of new "modern" fabrics, a nice selection of batiks and an assortment of notions, patterns and the necessary supplies for "art" quilts.  I was actually looking for a yellow Fabrico fabric marker  - they had the exact one I need.  Of course, I had to buy some fabric.  Not all of it is for my fabric library, I will donate some cuts to friends.  I also found a few purple items for the Purple raffle basket I am putting together for the Surfside QGuild November Fest.  A satisfying stop for me and for the cash register at QUILTZ!!

After I checked into the motel in Eugene I went looking for a recommended restaurant, the Cafe Soriah at 13th and Lawrence.  I had forgot that Eugene is the one-way street capitol of Oregon!  It took some searching, but the food was excellent.  I enjoyed the wild King salmon with saffron rice and a delectable kitchen-made mango chutney.  I know I have posted pictures of salmon dinners before and the presentation wasn't all that exciting, so I passed on taking a picture. 

Time to shower and hit the bed.  I am very tired tonight - driving is harder on me that it once was and I have to stop and walk around frequently or I can't get out of the car when I arrive at my destination.  My years create a heavy load, but I enjoy being out on the highways so much it makes the discomfort bearable.  Of course, Tylenol Arthritis every six hours is also useful.   

Mount Shasta City, CA - 08-19-11

I checked in yesterday for a two night stay at the Mount Shasta Resort - golf, tennis, day spa, elegant restaurant.  But what I have done is hole up in my "chalet" to rest, relax and work on the quilt project that I brought along.  . 

And it has been quiet and relaxing.  Just the wind whispering in the pines and occasional voices from the boats down on Lake Siskiyou - kayaks, fishing boats, "party" boats and even an occasional swimmer.

I ate my breakfast of tea, crackers, peanut butter and raspberry jelly out on the deck.  The jelly comes from Mary's daughter who lives in Washington state - she makes it every year and sometimes Mary takes pity on me and gifts me with a jar.  Soooo delicious.

Unfortunately, the wooden bar across the deck is exactly at my eye level, so I cannot see the lake while I am seated.  But the trees are enough - so majestic and beautiful.

This young Stellar's Jay came to visit, but I had no breakfast to share with him.

This is my "chalet" - each building has two suites - #110.  I didn't realize the porch light was on until I saw this picture on my laptop.  I'm surprised they don't have a sign on the switch asking guests to turn it off.

The deck is, of course, accessible from the inside of the unit, but stairs on the side also lead up to the deck where I worked some on my project - until it got too hot for me.

Since I had little food left I drove to town for an early dinner at Lily's where I have stopped many times in the past.  I like their food, though it is a bit on the pricey side, and I enjoy the pictures from local photographers that decorate the dining room.  Mt. Shasta had her head in the clouds, as she did when I drove in yesterday - hope she is out in the sunshine tomorrow when I leave here.

When I got in my car I had to laugh at the layers of Corky nose prints on the driver's side window.  He really had his nose to the glass when we were driving that "scary" road yesterday.  I'll have to get out the Windex before I hit the road in the morning.

I stopped at Reston's (in business for 40 years) to see if they might have some fabric markers to supplement those that the Poodle Parents found for me in Redding.  And they did!  There was a group of ladies in the classroom knitting and crocheting (it is the regular Friday crowd) and enjoyed a few minutes sewing chat with them.  There was another nice quilt shop in town when last I stopped, but it is gone now.  I also stocked up at the grocery store.

 

Not a spectacular sunset - rather subtle and pastel - but the silhouetted trees are just wonderful.

Indian Creek Lodge to Redding 08-18-11

I am in Mount Shasta City tonight, checked into a swank resort where I cannot hear any traffic - silence reigns supreme!  There is a heavy bodied bug bumping into the window because I have a bright light on over the table.  No "in between" - either on brightly, or off and pitch dark.  I am very tired, so I will only show the pictures driving to Redding and save the others for tomorrow night as I am staying here two nights. Tomorrow I intend to sew all day.  I will probably have to go out to eat as I don't have much in my cooler.  The one piece of bread, half an avocado and two little chunks of cheese sliced verrrry thin made dinner tonight.  I do have PB & jelly on crackers to fall back on.  And two hard boiled eggs.

 

Only a few miles east of the motel we hit the construction zone.  They are repaving the westbound lane(s), so the traffic is allowed alternately in the remaining lane.  Weren't we lucky, we were only the second car.  We sat there about 17 minutes.

Then we set off - the white truck is the "Follow Me" guy.

We only drove about 15mph, so I had time to admire the scenery. Can you believe that BLUE sky?

When we came to where the westbound traffic was waiting the "Follow Me" truck did a U turn and pulled in front of that line of cars.  Corky was complaining and I thought he needed a pit stop, but when I walked him up and down in a parking area he didn't do anything.  However, he continued to complain and jump all over in his seat until he managed to knock it over.  His parents said he was a pill when they drove to the motel on Sunday, but thought it was because his mommy was driving the very twisty road with lots of 20mph curves and his daddy was holding him - usually it is the other way around.  But now we think it was a combination of twisty road and high embankments on either side much of the way.  Corky is usually a great traveler, but that is in the desert - the flat lands where he can see great distances out either window.  I finally pulled over and made some adjustments.  I held him in my left arm while he rested on a pillow in my lap and had his nose glued to the driver's side window.  I hooked his seat belt onto mine - in case of an accident we would be attached - and drove with my right hand and as slowly as I could.  There wasn't much traffic.   He was still frantic at times when the embankment rose straight up and and he was panting as though he was going to have a stroke.  We met his parents at the designated spot in Redding and he quickly went to sleep in his carrier when they started south on I-5.  He slept most of the way until they stopped for the night.  Poor little guy, he has never traveled so far and never on mountain roads.

One of the places we stopped along the road had a huge patch of asters - like pieces dropped from the sky.  Seems early yet, but we were up about 2000 feet and, of course, further north.

After the stressful drive down to Redding I spotted a Cold Stone Ice Cream store, stop for a medium bowl of Sweet Cream w/cherry pie filling and Kit Kat bars ("Del's Delight") and drove over to Turtle Bay Park to sit under a tree and watch the Sacramento River run south.  Of course, by the time I got there I had to drink about half the ice cream - it was delicious that way also!  The famous Sundial Bridge goes over the river from Turtle Bay to connect to the river trails system and the campus of a local college.

http://www.turtlebay.org/sundialbridge   I did not get out and walk this trip due to my ankle, but it is  fascinating architecture.

 

There were Canadian geese along the river and...

.. also red-headed mergansers which are diving ducks.  They pop to the surface and paddle upstream against the strong current at a speed that is amazing.  Suddenly, they disappear underwater again.  They were working the shallower side of the river.  You can see the white ripples where the deep water begins and runs along the opposite bank - I've never seen the Sacramento going so fast - a result of all the snow California mountains received last winter and the very slow arrival of summer. 

 This little island is right at the edge of the deep water and was crowded with mergansers and Canadian geese.

In keeping with the dictum of Katharine Hepburn I never pass up a chance to pee and there were  freestanding restrooms near the river shore.  I was surprised to find them to be top of the line and decorated inside with lovely pictures printed on ceramic tiles.  Kewl!  I might research this for when I have my master bathroom remodeled. 

I drove north on I-5, but was so tired I didn't get far.  So, I will post those other pictures tomorrow night.  Right now I am going to fall into bed! 

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Weaverville, CA 08-17-11

We drove over to Weaverville today - Corky and I and his parents.  It isn't very far - through wooded hills with a few houses along the way and many narrow roadways off into the trees.  I am surprised at the number of logging trucks that pass the motel.  LOTS of traffic in addition to the those noisy beasts - pickup trucks, delivery trucks, sedans - and due to construction between here and Redding the traffic comes in bunches as the road is narrowed to one lane with the vehicles bound in the other direction waiting until the flagman allows them through.  In these modern days there really isn't a flagman, but a guy with a  walkie-talkie or a cell phone or something, who calls to his counterpart on the other end of the construction zone to tell him to let the cars through.  I fondly remember the few times when, as a child going to grandma's house, we were actually the last car to go through and were honored to carry the flag to the other end and pass it over to the flagman.  Such a treat!   

I was in Weaverville many years ago - maybe 45 - and I vaguely remember these spiral staircases.  The town looks much as I remember it, but there are newer buildings on the outskirts.  A modern strip mall with quite a large supermarket and a Starbuck's!  We didn't stop there.

 

This building is directly across from the one in the first picture and there are several more of these stairs along the main street. 

This sign is affixed to the building near the staircase - it explains the odd circumstances that created these landmarks.  Click to enlarge.

We asked at Olsen Stoneware for a restaurant that would allow Corky in his stroller on a patio and were directed to the Garden Cafe which has a lovely covered porch. 

Such a dear little guy - everyone stops to remark and ask questions.  This is a different stroller than the one he keeps at my house (usually in the back of my car).  His mother takes him running or walking in this one which is much more maneuverable.  He checks everything out, he is undoubtedly the nosiest dog I have ever known, then curls up and goes to sleep.  He knows he won't get anything to eat, so he doesn't beg.  At home, of course, it is a different matter!

 

The couple at the next table were served whilst we were looking at the menu and the smell was so wonderful I couldn't resist ordering the same thing.  It is all sauteed veggies the bottom layer is potatoes, then all the veggies, then melted cheese and finally topped with a slice of yellowtail tuna. Sherry and I split an order, but she eats very little, so it was sort of a 70-30 split.  And I brought home leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

 

Such a handsome couple dining in the shade on a very hot day.  It was 100F here at the motel when we returned from our drive.

 

Jim stuck with the tried and true and ordered a Reuben which looked very tasty on a specialty bread.

We will be moving on tomorrow.  I'll go north and the three of them will return to SCalifornia.  Don't know where I will be tomorrow night, but I will try to blog regardless.

Indian Creek Lodge - Douglas City, CA 08-16-11

Regardless of the name, this place is a motel!  Not many guests this week, but there appear to be four employees - Curt at the front desk, this guy with a long grey ponytail, who was working on the grounds today, and two room cleaners.

   

There are seventeen rooms/suites - the Poodle Parents are in 17, I am in 16 and Corky splits his time between the two.  This view is to the east with the house next door in the background.

 

There is a nice area in the shade with tables and chairs - just west of the pool.  I'm thinking of taking a dip tomorrow when his mommy is here to watch Corky.  The gravel in the foreground is the parking area.

This view is to the west, but the first building is blocked from view.  The two story building is the office and (I presume) the manager's residence upstairs.

Corky spent a  lot of the day looking out the window, waiting for his parents to return.

Or sleeping on my bed which is covered by the very special Maxine quilt made for me by a loving friend.  It is the perfect travel size and rolls up neatly to fit in my "bed bag".  Corky lays on the floor at his house and at my house, but the carpet here doesn't look very clean, so I try to keep him up on the bed or the table.  He will definitely need a bath when he gets home. 

 

Today he had to share the bed with my sewing project.  The bright, patterned fabrics blend in with the quilt.  I wasn't sure what I was going to use and naturally brought more fabric than I need.  Better that than try to find a quilt shop these days.  Although I understand there is a nice one in Weaverville.  Might check that out tomorrow. 

Indian Creek Lodge - Douglas City, CA 08-15-11

Below are the fisherman and the fisherman watcher!  Jim is the only one of us who has the equipment and is eager to catch some trout.  So far he has only dabbled a little.  He visited a bait shop to learn what the fish are finding delectable at the moment and came back with some red net, red elasticized thread and a can of cheap oil pack tuna (phew!).  The guy at the bait shop had shown him how to make "tuna balls" and he enlisted my help since I sew.  Is there a connection?  When he went out casting, the tuna balls and two lures went to the collection at the bottom of the river.  We'll make some more on Wednesday morning when he is ready to fight the good fight again.

They were well doused with insect repellent - against the bees/wasps and the mosquitoes.

 

And here is the Poodle Prince, sitting in his bed on a table in the window of my room.  No need to point out that his parents departed stage left. 

And here he is in silhouette from inside the room.  The fence you can see across the parking lot is around the swimming pool.  And about twenty feet beyond that is Hwy 299 - the main route from Redding to  Weaverville. 

This flock of Canadian geese (about 16) came to graze on the lawn behind the motel this afternoon.  The Trinity River is just beyond the tan sandy area across the middle of the image.  I walked down there with Corky today and was really huffing and puffing.  I carried him because we fear that he will pick up a tick if he walks in the grass and underbrush. 

I have been doing work for Surfside Quilters Guild on my laptop, but hope to start a sewing project tomorrow.  I brought several, along with my sewing machine and other equipment.  I'll have to move Corky's bed off the table, or maybe just push him to the far edge.  He is used to having a window view to the outside at his house and at mine, so he is not happy that the windows here are too high for him to see what is happening outside.  There isn't much to see - the cars and trucks going by on the highway, a guest knitting near the pool  and, BIG excitement, the housecleaning lady come to do his parents room.   

I hope I have a bit more energy tomorrow, after driving for two days I am very tired.  Ah-h-h-h, to have the energy of a 20 year old!