Travels – Page 44 – Paint Your Landscape

Medical Update ~ Time for Reflection

August 10, 2012February 22, 2013LuAnn

Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark. ~ Rabindranath Tagore

For those who may not know, 4.5 years ago my dear hubby Terry received the news that many of you can relate to, the “you have cancer” message. To say this news took the wind out of our sails is an understatement. We quickly began to unravel our plans to start our RV life as the future looked rather uncertain at this point. Through divine grace, a mother’s keen recommendation for a must-have book, a close friend’s referral and unselfish gesture of taking us into their home post-surgery to heal, and the countless well-wishes of family and friends, we feel much stronger and wiser.

If a man is faced with this diagnosis, prostate cancer may be the lesser of many evils as most times it is a slow-growing cancer found in one’s “golden years” and it is left alone. Unfortunately, Terry was informed he was too young and the tumor too large to ignore, so surgery seemed to be the best option. Blessed with none of the horrid side-effects this disease can hand you, Terry donned the Lance Armstrong LiveStrong bracelet and vowed to wear it until he had reached the “industry standard” survival rate of 5 years.

on the trail, in his element — On the trail, in his element

Fast-forward 4 years, through many anxious moments following regular PSA tests. All had great results until this past January when Terry’s PSA score was somewhat elevated. Once again we unraveled our plans as it seemed bone scans and MRI’s were in Terry’s near future and we felt the need to sit tight where there was a plethora of excellent medical facilities.

Last week yet another PSA test. I try to put myself in Terry’s shoes as he leaves the lab and begins the waiting game. Although I can empathize and pray for a good outcome, putting myself in his shoes is not possible, for this is his personal journey to walk. We all have these, being unique individuals, and face life’s obstacles differently. Terry knows I am by his side and for me, that is what is important.

hiking the oregon dunes — Hiking the Oregon dunes

Terry’s latest PSA score was the same as the previous two, which means he has held steady for the past nine months. The good news – the number has not increased. The not-so-good news – the number is still somewhat elevated, which means there is something going on. This “something going on” could be benign or could be something else; we don’t know. The doctor is confident enough that he feels the watchful waiting can continue for another 6 months.

Many who now live with cancer or consider themselves survivors wear the Live Strong bracelet, as did Terry, until a few days ago when his broke. Ironically the break occurred while anxiously awaiting a return call from his doctor on the lab results. His first thought was “wonder what that means?”. My initial reaction was “you no longer need this; it’s time to move on”.

Terry and I often talk about how deeply grateful we are for the ability to experience life as we are, seeing this magnificent country, walking in nature, feeling the hand of something greater touching us. We can dwell on the ‘something else’ or we can live in the present moment. It is our choice and we choose to live the now. Terry chooses to breathe in the beauty around him, the sights, the sounds, the smells, the people we are meeting along the way. I choose the same, as I walk by his side.

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Hike, Bike, Kayak ~ Eugene’s Triple Treat

August 7, 2012LuAnn

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. ~ John Muir

historic covered bridge — Currin Bridge – built in 1925. Only Lane County bridge with white portals and red siding.

If you are an RVer, by definition you are probably a nature lover, and we are no exception. We feel blessed to be able to have these experiences and are finding Eugene to be a city that shares our passions – hiking, biking, and kayaking.

Eugene, city of ~156,200 residents and home to the University of Oregon, is known for biking, running/jogging, rafting, and kayaking.

We read that biking is so popular here that in 2009 the League of American Bicyclists named Eugene one of the top 10 “gold-level” cities because of its “remarkable commitment to bicycling” and in 2010 was cited the 5th most bike-friendly city in America by Bicycling magazine. Eugene is definitely being added to our come-back-again list.

Thanks to a tip from RV buddies Nina and Paul of Wheeling It, we hiked the Ridgeline Trail to the summit of Spencer Butte, an in-town hike on the city’s south side.

outdoor adventure — Spencer Butte summit

This 5.5 mile round-trip hike is fairly easy for the first 5 miles, with the last 0.5 miles a moderate scramble over rocks to the summit. The views overlooking the city are quite nice and it’s a great place to share a picnic. As we headed down I overheard a woman telling her young son about how rattlesnakes in the area like to sun themselves on the summit’s rocks. It wasn’t more than 15 minutes later but what should I find right in front of me but a Northern Pacific rattlesnake. Since I wasn’t about to get close enough to grab a photo and he was just as anxious to get away from us, here is what he looked like. Terry and I agreed that we hadn’t really thought much about rattlesnakes since leaving Arizona but hey, why wouldn’t they want to hang out in a cool city like Eugene?

We managed to squeeze in another great bike ride, this time on the Row River Trail. Although technically in a suburb of Eugene, Cottage Grove, it is an easy 20 mile drive to some great biking action. If you choose to make the loop around Dorena Lake, you could be happily spinning for 34 miles . We stopped at the 20 mile mark and enjoyed a picnic lunch along the lake instead. This trail is nicely paved and takes you past not only the lake but great meadows, horse properties, and historic covered bridges – a fabulous way to spend a day!

mosby bridge — Mosby Bridge – built in 1920

The McKenzie River flows beside the Armitage County Park where we are staying and was a very convenient and lovely river to kayak. The put-in point we opted for was 8 miles upstream from us. Class I and a few Class II rapids mark this stretch of the McKenzie, just enough to keep you on your toes, a gentle reminder to pay attention to hidden boulders, fallen trees, and swirling eddies. We had a blast but with the swift current, our fun ended too soon. Next time we would opt for another put-in point which would extend the journey another 15 miles and add several more Class II rapids we are told.

mckenzie river put-in point — McKenzie River put-in point

If exercising is not your thing, Eugene has a plethora of offerings. They are also known for their arts program so there is something here for everyone.

luscious, mouthwatering wild blackberries — Luscious, mouth-watering wild blackberries

If you just want to chill and enjoy the fruits of summer, grab a basket and step outdoors. There are wild blackberry bushes everywhere (and I do mean everywhere) just now starting to ripen. August and September are the months and these luscious berries can be found growing along country roads, bike paths, rivers, and even in the Interstate 5 median!

Our time in Eugene has sadly come to an end. With the biking, hiking, and kayaking available here, outdoor fun awaits right outside your door. We are headed back to the coast for what is sure to be another grand adventure.

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Blues, Brews and a Farmers’ Market ~ Euguene, OR

August 5, 2012LuAnn

nathan james and his 'tri-tar' — Nathan James & his ‘tri-tar’

You know how it is when you are waiting for a special day to arrive and the excitement you feel when it is finally here? It may sound silly but for me that day was the Lane County Farmers’ Market as I’ve heard so many good things about it. It lived up to its billing and then some, being one of the best we have ever attended. We love coming to a new town and getting the flavor of the area. Even though we are just passing through, alighting for a short time, we like the idea of supporting the locals and the best way we have found to do that is by attending the farmers’ markets. Buying local and eating what is being harvested now is important to us and the colorful fruits and vegetables displayed so beautifully just make us smile!

gorgeous beets and carrots — Gorgeous beets & carrots

berries, berries, & more berries — Berries, berries & more berries

dazzling sunflowers — Dazzling sunflowers

This was the start to our day and what was to be the cherry on top was the Willamette Valley Blues & Brews Festival. During our RV travels too often we find that we are not in the right place at the right time for some of the local activities. We were in luck on this stop as Eugene was bulls-eye on for great fun!

The performers at the Blues & Brews Fest got better as the day progressed and we don’t think it was because we had sampled a few of the brews, which were also quite tasty! A fave performer for us was Miriams Well, a soulful singer from Portland, OR, whose sax player was superb. You can sample some of her music here.

Nathan James and the Rhythm Scratchers from Seattle, WA were pretty amazing and downright funky. Nathan had three custom-made guitars, all with washboards incorporated into them so the sounds coming from these instruments were something we had never heard before. His ‘tri-tar’ was a washboard, axe handle, and three strings, just unreal! You can get a sense of his style here.

With our fridge full of wonderful fruits and veggies, our taste buds tantalized by great craft beers, and rockin’ to some amazing blues bands, our day from start to finish was pretty darn awesome! Hope yours was too!

eugene street scene — Eugene street scene

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Biking Bliss ~ Eugene, OR

August 2, 2012LuAnn

terry watching the kayakers on the river — Terry watching the kayakers on the river

Our RV travels have taken us to Armitage County Park in Eugene, Oregon, where we have spent the first couple of days doing errands, you know those dreaded tasks that get in the way of having fun. With errands out of the way we decided it was time to play, which translates into outdoor adventure (whooo hooo!). Our sport of choice was to be biking so Terry started checking out trails in the area and soon discovered that Eugene is biking bliss!

We’ve learned that biking is an integral part of Eugene’s culture, which is clear when you hop on a bike and attempt to cross a street. Drivers actually stop and patiently wait for you. Alternative means of transportation and sustainability are encouraged in Eugene; bikes are easy to rent; and local biking clubs abound. Weekly rides and biking events are many and miles and miles of beautifully paved paths branch out in every direction.

willamette kayakers — Willamette kayakers with interesting stacked rock formations in the river (foreground)

We settled on the North Bank Path which we picked up just a few miles from where we are camped, a delightful biking path meandering along the swift-flowing Willamette River, along Delta Ponds with its wonderful waterfowl, through dense forests, and golden meadows.

delta ponds — Canada geese at Delta Ponds, enjoying the sunshine

There are a choice of bridges that can be taken, dropping you off into downtown Eugene or the University of Oregon, which is what we did, spending a little time wandering the beautiful campus.

u of or campus — Lovely University of OR campus

We enjoyed a picnic lunch at Island Park, site of the Blues and Brews Festival this weekend (oh yeah!). From here we biked back to the downtown area, then on to the Amazon Creek Bike Trail, heading west of town toward the wetlands. Terry checked at a bike shop to get a better trail map (not available) and learned this was the route we needed to take. After biking for a while I asked Terry how far to our destination and he said 4 miles, but 4 miles from where he wasn’t sure (minor detail).

me along the Willamette River — Me along the Willamette River

This is another great biking trail along Amazon Creek, which has been widened and deepened over the years to encourage waterfowl to visit, so very pleasant riding. After some time we still were not seeing the wetlands and we must have gone another 4 miles. Out of nowhere, up pops the Euphoria Chocolate Company, as good an excuse as any to stop. We browsed their cases and each decided on a piece of dark-chocolate sustenance, and although I would not label it euphoric, it was yummy. We decided to point our bikes east and save the wetlands for another day, due to the time of day and what my seat was telling me after 6 hours on a bike. There is supposed to be kayaking opportunity out there so perhaps we will be back.

community gardens — Community gardens along the path – love it!

If you fancy hiking instead of biking, these same trails and more can be used to walk or run. Pre’s Trail, named after Steve Prefontaine, long-distance phenom who sparked the 1970’s “running boom”, is a soft-surface path covered in bark chips ideal for running or hiking, and is part of this network. If biking is your thing, you are certain to experience biking bliss in Eugene.

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Coolest Small Town ~ Bandon, OR

July 29, 2012July 29, 2012LuAnn

Back in 2010 this small town of ~3300 was named one of the “Coolest Small Towns in America” by Budget Travel. We wholeheartedly agreed as we wandered her streets and shops. With 20+ eateries, this town relies on tourists who come here for the temperate climate, rugged wind-swept beaches, fishing, crabbing, golf, and storm watching. Also drawing in the crowds is the annual Cranberry Festival, which takes place in early September. We learned that 95% of all Oregon cranberries are grown here and Bandon is the first location of “wet harvested” bogs, where dikes are built around the bogs then flooded in the fall and the cranberries rise to the surface, ready to be gathered.

cranberry bog — Cranberry bog, photo by Wood Sabold

This little town that sits at the mouth of the Coquille River was named by George Bennett, an Irishman who settled here in 1873, naming it after his beloved Irish hometown of Bandon.

He brought with him a plant common around Ireland, gorse. Little did he know at the time the impact this spiny hedge-like plant would have on this community.

colorful harbor view — Colorful harbor view

In the early 1900’s Bandon’s population of roughly 1800 was considered to be a booming town. Being a heavily forested area, fire was always a possibility but not much of a worry until the fateful day of September 26, 1936. The Bandon residents had no idea the destruction the gorse plant would cause when a fire erupted. This plant, being very oily, reacted as gasoline thrown on a fire and no amount of water added to the mix would have a positive outcome. What remained of the town after the fire died was 16 buildings, of the approximate 500 standing before the burning began. Ironically, a week before the fire, a local plant pathologist warned the residents of the hazards of a fire with so much gorse in the area. Today you can still see remnants of this plant but it is strictly regulated as to its height and thickness.

coquille river lighthouse — Coquille River Lighthouse as seen from Bandon harbor.

Spending time at the Bandon Historical Society Museum is a great way to soak up the history of the area, we had heard, but unfortunately we ran out of time so we relied on Nina and Paul of Wheeling It, to educate us about the area, given they are volunteering as Lighthouse Hosts at the Coquille River Lighthouse.

This cute little lighthouse stands at the mouth of the Coquille River and is the second smallest of the 8 lighthouses still standing in Oregon, with a 47 foot tower. It is also the last, built in 1896 and replaced in 1939 by an automated light constructed on the south jetty.

fog lifting from the jetty — Fog lifting from the jetty

Our last evening in Bandon was spent with Nina and Paul having dinner at the Alloro Wine Bar & Restaurant, a definite must if you are in this coolest of small towns. The entrees were yummy and the chocolate mousse was almost too pretty to eat, almost.

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