Memorial Day Weekend along Row River, Oregon

From Florence, it was not a long drive to Eugene and Superior Tires for our appointment to have new tires installed. This concluded months of research and decisions about what brand, what size, what color  - only kidding! 

Michael, the uber spread-sheet bean counter always does his due diligence with major purchases, and this was a major purchase. Truck-size tires are a pricey investment but also a major part of ensuring that we travel safely in our home on wheels.  We installed a set of Michelin tires and Centramatic balancers.

our brand new Michelins

New shoes installed, we were off to the Hicks' property along Row River near the quaint town of Dorena. The Johnsons came with us and soon we were happily set up and relaxing in the warm Oregon sunshine.

the Johnsons and us

We weren't the only ones camping out at the Hicks. Several of their friends were already there for this annual long-weekend get-together.  We were the newbies, happy to be invited.

Marcia is a quilter too, so one morning we three gals cruised several quilt shops in the Eugene area. We had a great time fondling and drooling over different fabric lines. Debi found fabrics to start her circle quilt and I found pieces to complete an I-Spy cover for my grandson who will be visiting in 3 months time. The three of us enjoyed working on our respective projects.
The guys were busy with projects too.  Sandy helped Michael with caulking a leak under our kitchen slide, and they replaced the rubber trim on our screen door.  

quilt tops in process, circles and squares

For dinner we gathered on the deck that overlooks the river. Between the three couples we came up with a great selection of combined dishes.

tasty potlucks

There is a story behind the name Row River. I thought it was pronounced row as in a rowboat. However, its correct pronunciation rhymes with cow, as in an argument. And here is the story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Row_River

It's trite but true to say that we had a memorable Memorial Day weekend. Hanging out the way we did, camped out in our RVs on the Hicks' acreage, I teased Scott that we could well start a commune right here! It was relaxing, we hung out together, the guys did a lot of chatting about Alpine parts and maintenance, the gals sewed and chatted about quilts. And in the evening we gathered around a fire. 
Life along the Row River was good.
Tomorrow we all move on again. We are heading to one of our favorite Oregon beaches, Cape Kiwanda.

Enjoying Rhody Days with the NorCal/SoCal Alpine group

a row of Alpines

Last year we enjoyed the Florence Rhododendron Festival on the Oregon coast with Alpine friends Scott and Marcia Hicks. (It's all here: A Quick Trip to Oregon Coast)

This year we returned for the  Rhody Days festivities with the Alpine group. It was a combined rally with the Northern California (NorCal) and Southern California (SoCal) Alpine groups. 

Twenty one coaches gathered at the Jesse T. Jones Odd Fellows Park just south of the town of Florence. As always, we enjoyed a very active and social 5-day rally, socializing, eating too much, and touring the various attractions in the area. 

sumptuous breakfasts and catered dinners thanks
to our hosts, the Smiths and Archers 

dune buggy for 27

The highlight for us this year was the hour long sand dune buggy ride. Twenty five of us climbed aboard the buggy and cruised the dunes down to the beach. 
The Oregon dunes stretch for 40 miles south of Florence and can be as high as 500 feet. They are about 2 miles deep, making shore access by ATV or dune buggy a must. 
This was a first for us to traverse through the heart of the dunes and to travel by dune buggy. I was glad our guide knew his way around because I would easily lose my way in the vast sandy expanse where everything looks the same in all directions. However, the dune formations never remain the same, shifting and changing shape and height continually with the wind, making it more challenging to recognize trail routes. I imagine that this is what it is like in the Sahara Desert, only it's much hotter. We were bundled up in the cool Oregon coast weather.

ready to go!

We cruised along trails lined with broomweed ablaze with its bright yellow flowers. It was interesting to learn about the fauna and flora that manages to live and survive in the sandy terrain. I was surprised to find out that deer like it here too, though we didn't see any.

Soon we were in the very heart of the dunes, skirting islands of grasses and juniper. 

At one point our driver took us across a pond to the other side.

Eventually we dropped down on to the beach and drove along the shoreline for a short while until we climbed back up into the dunes. 

Here is where our guide had a bit of fun with us and drove us down some steep cliffs. It felt like being on a roller coaster ride. 

dune buggy tracks from our wild ride!

down one side ...

and up the other

There was a vintage car show in town that most of us went to. There was a good showing of cars and trucks. The guys in particular enjoyed the display.

These were some of my favorites:

a true vintage with its signs of wear and tear

Michael's grandmother drove the sedan version of this Morris Minor

The main attraction was of course the display of the prize-winning rhododendron blooms. They were as magnificent as I recall from the previous year, and I wondered once again why our bushes never produced such bright and large blooms.

We all gathered to watch the parade through town. 

Alpine friends waiting for the parade to begin

The parade of floats did not disappoint and we all had a jolly time despite the cooler weather this year.

Scott, Florence's native son, took us on a personally guided group tour of his hometown with Marcia helping herd us through the streets. It's always a privilege and treat to have one of your own provide the personal touch to a rally and discover more than what the information brochures provide about a town's past. Scott certainly had an interesting youth and his father is somewhat remembered as an icon while running the tavern and then the movie theater where Scott spent many hours behind the projector. In many ways, it's his experience with the movie theater that eventually led to his career in the business.

Scott explaining the history behind some of the homes in Florence

At the end of the five-day rally, we went our separate ways. Some returned home, others moved on to a different venue. The Johnsons and we stayed on for a couple more days after the rally and then continued on to Row River to join the Hicks and their friends over the Memorial Day long weekend. 

But first, we will be making a stop at Superior Tire Service in Eugene. Alpine is going to get brand new "shoes," all 6 of them! 

Next stop: Grass Valley

We spread the trip from Morro Bay to Grass Valley over two days stopping in Gilroy the first night. 
The route from Morro Bay took us along Route 41, a scenic, curvy, twisty drive across the mountains that connects with Route 101.

along Rt 41

Towards King City, we saw what we presume to be oil derricks. 

 

Closer to Salinas we continued past fields for mile after mile. Some were vineyards, others looked like fields of artichokes and lettuce. I pondered the various shades of green.

perfect lines of vines

the view from the front window - green fields with distant ranges beyond

El Camino Real with its mission bell markers spaced one to two miles apart

lots of activity in this field during harvest time

approaching hilly terrain closer to Gilroy

In Gilroy we found a spot once again at the Elks Lodge on The Hill. It's a lovely location with a golf course attached. 
That evening we met Alpine friends, the Wynns, for dinner. It was great to see them and to catch up. We celebrated Michael's birthday...he's inching ever closer to his 7th decade.

The remaining 200 miles to Grass Valley the next day were partly along a route we had not yet driven. Route 152 was a most scenic ride taking us through the hills and then past  the San Luis Reservoir. It is enormous and we continued to see water for several miles. 

We joined I-5 northbound for a few miles, then connected to Rt 99 north, to I-80 east and finally to Rt 49, zig-zagging our way along the highways towards the Sierra Mountains in the north east corner of the state.

the blue ribbon of life that feeds the orchards and fields of this desert terrain

Along Rt-99 we watched parachutes floating gently down, wondering where they would land.

Along I-80 we began to climb, the terrain changing dramatically, conifers appearing.  Several lumber trucks whizzed by, yet another signal that we were at higher elevations, surrounded by evergreen forests. 

We were in the heart of gold country, arriving mid afternoon at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, where we would stay for five nights.