10:30 p.m. Monday April 30, 2007

It is only 52 degrees outside and Phil and I both are cuddled up in our blankets with the little electric heater going full blast to maintain 70 degrees inside Penny. The forecast is for clouds and showers tomorrow … brrrr!

This morning, we cleared out of Penny by 8:30 a.m. and after going over the list of tasks we wanted done on our girl with the service manager, Tom, went to find a place for breakfast. We decided on the local Denny’s and although my requested medium rare steak (and eggs) was still mooing when I cut into it, the meat was tender. I ignored the fact that my plate looked like I had severed an artery and managed to do serious damage to my meal. Because I can eat my steaks cooked any where from rare to well done without ruining my meal I enjoyed my breakfast and I must say, in Denny’s defense, Phil’s steak was cooked perfectly.

Our next stop was downtown at the Albany Visitor and Convention Association where the “Information Specialist” on duty, a very friendly and helpful man named Don gave us maps and informative brochures about the self-guided drive to see Albany’s Victorian Homes and also the area Covered Bridges Tour. We agreed to go looking for the covered bridges and set off to find #1. Well, to make a long story short, after an hour and a half as well as three stops to ask for directions, we finally came upon bridge #2. Try as I might, I could not make heads or tails of the directions on any of the maps until we finally stumbled across our first bridge. From there, the directions started making sense! We never did get to #4 but we had fun and found some really neat country roads and picturesque small settlements, all within a 20 plus mile radius of Albany.

We were back in town in plenty of time to have an early dinner (we went to Red Robin-food was good) and get back to McKay’s an hour before they closed. Even so, it was almost 5 p.m. before Penny was backed out of the service bay and returned to her RV parking slot and she still needs a few things done tomorrow. Here are some of the pictures we took today …

"Covered Bridge Capital of the West.".

Oregon has 51 covered bridges, more than any other state west of the Mississippi. The first bridge built in 1851 near Oregon City no longer exists. Chambers Bridge, a 78-foot span built in Cottage Grove in 1925 to carry logs to a mill, is the only covered railroad bridge remaining in Oregon.

Covered bridges were built to protect the wooden trusses from weather. The design increases the life span of a bridge from the typical ten years to eighty or more.

Gilkey Bridge over Thomas Creek, at 120 feet long was built in 1939. With open sides and curved portal openings, this bridge is a standing reminder of what was once the town of Gilkey, Oregon.

At 130 feet, Shimanek Bridge is the only red bridge in Linn County. Built in 1966, it is the fifth covered bridge built at this site over Thomas Creek. This special bridge boasts Gothic louvered windows on each side and a cedar shake roof.

Crossing Thomas Creek, the 105 foot Hannah Bridge was built in 1936. The bridge features exposed trusses and rounded portals.

Just a few feet from the Larwood bridge, this crumbling water powered wheel once provided electricity to the locals and the brochure says it "is a reminder of simpler times." Ya think?

Beside a tiny wayside park, Larwood Bridge, built in 1939 is 105 feet long and near the confluence of Roaring River and Crabtree Creek.

Built in 1939, Hoffman Bridge across Crabtree Creek is 90 ft. long and built mostly with hand tools. You can see the adz marks in the upper timbers.

9:48 p.m. Sunday April 29, 2007

We have had a wonderful weekend! Our treks along the back roads of Linn and Marion Counties in the Lone Ranger have taken us through some peaceful agrarian countryside. Ribbons of two-way lanes following property lines delineating hundreds of acres of green, lush fields and orchards renew our faith in the farmers of America. There is so much variety in the landscape around this area and so many different ways to cultivate the soil; we are mightily impressed with the expertise involved. This time of year, hop fields, grass and alfalfa along with berries, onions, and vineyards abound. Sweet smelling, rich, dark brown patches of earth freshly plowed and patiently anticipating seed is mixed in amongst the green. Our two days of slow meanderings have taken us alongside pastures filled with dairy and beef up to their knees in fodder along with Llamas, emus, horses and donkeys—a delightful variety of farm animals!

Also, it has been our privilege to visit with some much loved family members that live in the area. We went to see cousin Sandy, and her sister Dottie and husband, Sy in Newberg and met their newest granddaughter, Jasmine and said hello again to her big sister Jada. Dottie and Sy are babysitting giving the mom and dad a well deserved break. Believe it or not, we did not take one picture! Sometimes I wonder ...

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Today we went to see my Aunt Lola, her husband Rees and their daughter and fulltime caregiver, my cousin, Sherry in Salem. Sherry's grandson, Wyatt and his mother, Josie were at the house for a few minutes so we got a quick hug as they went out the door. My Aunt is doing very well after suffering a stroke recently.

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Tomorrow morning we will hand over our Penny the Pace to the competent mechanics at McKay Trucking and we will let you know the results ASAP

My beautiful and dear Aunt Lola who celebrated her 92nd birthday in January. She is recovering rapidly and miraculously from a stroke and continues to be sharp as a tack!

We visited my ancestral cemetery in Newberg, OR. This is the newest addition to the COX family plot--our dear Virginia who passed in 1998.

This farmer has hundreds of acres in grass. A sign we saw reports: "Linn County, the grass seed capital of the country."

We saw miles of white rail vinyl fences in the Oregon countryside. One small sign said, "Vinyl is Final."

7:04 p.m. Friday April 27, 2007

It has been another beautiful day in southern Oregon! Our drive to Albany was smooth (I-5 is in good shape in Oregon) and uneventful (just the way we like them) once Phil maneuvered Penny out of the Union 76 station near the freeway entrance in Grant’s Pass. Even at an angle, we scraped bottom although it does not appear there was any damage done (McKay will check it for us). I guess some gas stations are making so much money they don’t need ours. Even with careful consideration, at times it is difficult to find fuel stops that are RV friendly.

We are parked and plugged in here at McKay Truck and RV and they will go to work on Penny this coming Monday morning. When all is said and done, I will post a complete rundown of the work and the final cost. Our checklist is short this year and unless something unforeseen is found, we should be on the road again very quickly.

This sign caught my eye on a blue road in Oregon and gave me food for thought.

What kind of littering is "inoffensive"?

View of Mt. Shasta from I-5 driving north to Grant's Pass.

Spectacular view of Mt. McLaughlin heading south between Grant's Pass and Medford. We drove the Lone Ranger back down to visit one of our favorite stores--Harry and David's.

9:03 p.m. Tuesday April 24, 2007

Today was a beautiful day so Phil and I went out and played. We drove south to Chico on old historic Highway 99 and came back for a lovely early dinner out on the deck at the Riverside Grill on the bank of the Sacramento River or should I say “stream” at this point in time. A diversion dam located on the east bank of the Sacramento River downstream from Red Bluff appears to influences the depth along with perhaps whatever amount of rainfall is received. For the biggest river in California originating on Mt. Shasta and emptying into the California Delta, it sure is a docile little waterway in Red Bluff today.

We are camped at the Elks Lodge and Penny’s master bedroom suite is backed up facing the freeway. It is a wonderful spot to rest for a day or two but the traffic noise is unbelievably loud and although it quiets down at night … it continues to be bothersome. We came across the Moose Lodge just south of town and they have about ten water/electric hookups and we were coveting the quiet until a train came barreling by across the highway. A road crossing initiated a shrill series of whistles and suddenly, the Elks seemed just fine after all.

The one little cup of coffee I drank last night (we hardly ever drink coffee past noon) with my strawberry rhubarb pie ala mode at Shari’s Restaurant was keeping me awake to maximize my enjoyment of the symphonic road noise then, to top off my fitful, sleep deprived night—the carbon dioxide sensor located above my bedroom window went off about 2 a.m.! At first I thought maybe we were being asphyxiated by the nonstop traffic on I-5 but calmer heads prevailed when Phil decided the batteries were going dead. Of course, they could not keep quiet about it until morning. Needless to say, we spent the rest of the night sans sniffer. This morning we realized we were out of AA batteries so after purchasing a fresh supply, Phil added new ones tonight. I think I will be putting our battery changing chores on a schedule.

Another bottlebrush (this time it is a bush) in Chico, CA.

The dining deck of the Riverside Grill on a perfect afternoon.