OVER THE PASS AND INTO OREGON. Finally, we’ve made it to Oregon. Our arrival has been in the planning stages for over a year
and we’ve traversed the country…east coast to west… to get here. Over the years, we’ve vacationed extensively here and other areas of the Pacific Northwest, and we’re already noticing lots of landmarks and places that are very familiar. So in some small sense, it feels as if we’re home again. After so many years traveling all around the country…homeless if you will, it’s good to finally be in the place we plan to make home.
EUGENE, OREGON. Our first stop is Eugene, a city with a population of about 200,000 folks. We’ll be here a few more days, when we’ll head to Salem, the state capitol and the city we’ll use as home-base while we decide where we’ll settle (and whether we’ll get used to the rain or decide it will be a deal-breaker). The city is located in the scenic McKenzie River Valley at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers. It’s also home to the University of Oregon and the school’s wildly popular athletic teams, the “Oregon Ducks.” College football in this town is huge…green and yellow Ducks paraphernalia is everywhere!
McKinzie River near Eugene, Oregon.
The Oregon Ducks are huge in this college town!
LOTS TO SEE. Residents of Eugene are fortunate to have a wide variety of outdoor opportunities within an easy drive in any direction. The Pacific Ocean is just an hour’s scenic drive away to the west over the Coast Range and beside the Siuslaw River. A drive north or south will take them through the verdant Willamette Valley and its many farms, wineries, and ranches. Drive east and they’re quickly into the heavily forested foothills and passes in the Cascade Mountain Range.
Heceta Head Lighthouse, about an hour’s drive from Eugene.
Vineyard in the Willamette Valley, near Eugene, Oregon. Most of the state’s wineries are located here.
MORE TO COME. We’ll be in Salem in a few days. Hope you’ll join us there as we wind down our Great American Adventure.
I’ll continue my story next time.
You better buy quick, because all the Californian’s are moving out and driving prices up in neighboring states!
Hi Jim…
We love the California weather and lots more, San Diego will always be “home” for me. But, we’re looking forward to experiencing the seasons, having lots of green trees, flowing streams and walks along the Oregon coast. It’s the best! Best of health to you!
My father, Lt. (j.g.) Roy Strange, served on the Hobson. I have pictures of the ship and some operations – Dad was aboard for Operations Torch, Overlord, Dragoon (southern France), and Iceberg (Okinawa). He was a supply officer and assisted the ship’s surgeon at battle stations. What was your father’s position aboard?
My dad was a communications officer. He retired as a commander, but I’m not sure of his rank during the war. It’s a small world, isn’t it?