We're in Grant's Pass, Oregon

Wednesday Evening

Katie and I left the casino parking lot around 11:00 this morning and drove north. We ended up on the 199 to Grants Pass.  (FYI - everyone in San Diego says "the" 5 or "the" 101.  I don't know why, but when I first moved down there, it sounded so strange.  Finally I started saying it, too.  Then I moved away and dropped the "the."  I moved back and went through the "the" conversion again, and I'm still doing it.  I'm sure it will fade away when I've been gone a while.)

Along the way I took these shots:

 As you can see if you click on the photo, I had already slowed to 28 mph.

 As we started driving, Katie found the sunny spot and was enjoying the warmth.

Crossing into Oregon:

Shortly after entering Oregon, we were in a small town named O'Brien that had a little store and gas station and post office with a police car outside. I thought this was the post office, and asked the woman.  If you click on it, you'll see the Post Office.  She said it used to be, but now it is next door, so I went over there and mailed a birthday card for my daughter, Kristy, who is 38 on the 30th.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KRISTY!  I hope the card gets to you by Saturday.

I bought some snacks and went outside to take a picture of the police car.  I guess this is what happens when a state has no sales tax. 

O'BRIEN POLICE

I'm not sure these are in the right order, but a few more photos along the way:

The Klamath River

My longest and most memorable vacation was a two-week trip to the Klamath River.  We stopped first at the Pitt River, where I learned how to fish.  Then we went on to meet friends and spent two weeks in the rain fishing for salmon.  It was so much fun, and I've loved fishing ever since.  That was in the early '80s, and this is the first time I've been to Klamath since then - 30 years later!

Driving along from Bodega Bay to Grants Pass brought back so many memories of trips taken in the past with people I think about from time to time.  Great memories.

We stopped at the Trees of Mystery and I took a photo of the front of the store and of Paul Bunyon and Babe, his Blue Ox:

They had beautiful flowers all around the area.  We took a break here, but I didn't take the "mystery tree" tour. 

 Paul Bunyon and Babe, the Blue Ox

I don't know what they had to do with the Mystery Trees, but they were in front, and HUGE.  See the woman under the light post?  That will give you some perspective on the height of these concrete statues.  Paul's right hand waved and he winked and spoke to the people looking up at him.

 Along the 199 - I would have loved to pull over and fish this area.

 A little back-up - Bicyclist in Tunnel?

While waiting in line, I saw a left hand turn into a Rest Stop, so we pulled over and went in.  Took a little break.  As I pulled in, Katie threw up, so we spent some time resting and walking.  That's the first time she's been sick in The Palms, but we have been driving some pretty twisty roads.  Monday when I was talking to the man driving the new Sunseeker rental, I mentioned how I was riding the yellow line bumps on my side, otherwise I can hear vegetation on the right brushing my rig.  He said he had the same thing, also he was car sick from all the turns, and he was driving!  So I guess poor Katie did pretty well to last until this afternoon before getting carsick. 

At the Rest Stop, I started talking to a woman named Dottie, and then her husband, Roger, too.  They have a new fiver, have been RVing for 50 years.  We had a nice conversation.  I mentioned that I was in Santee Lakes in June, and he said that's where he grew up.  They now live one town over, in El Cajon, and know Santee Lakes very well.  Small world.  

When we left the rest stop, we were back in the "tunnel" line up.  When the light turned green for us, we went through, and it wasn't a bicyclist.  It was dark in there, but it looked like workmen were applying a coating to the walls on the opposite side of the tunnel, and that's why it was a one-lane road through the tunnel. 

 My least favorite driving - a barrier on the left and a concrete wall on the right.  

There were workmen on ladders putting a coating

on the walls of the tunnel on the other side. 

We ended up in Grant's Pass and got gas at a Fred Meyer gas station for $3.729/gal - I checked my Gas Buddy app on my phone and it was the cheapest around, and the station was close to where we were, so we drove over.

 Gas Station Attendant - remember when?

Gas station attendant - I had forgotten this job title existed!  I haven't seen one in California for years and years.  They were efficient, quick and polite, and I didn't have to get out of the truck.  Nice!

Then I searched Wal-Mart on my GPS, and there was a Super Wal-Mart right across the street.  I called them, and they allowed overnight parking.  As an added bonus, I just found out the McDonald's in the store has free wi-fi.  Am I hitting the right stuff, or what???  

I dropped $60 at Wal-Mart, and on my trek back to The Palms, I noticed there was an Applebee's a few stores down, so I put away my purchases and locked Katie in the rig and walked over.  I ordered the fish dinner, which was really good and then a hot-fudge shooter. She forgot to put the dessert on the bill, said it would be "on the house," so I left her a big tip. And I have enough fish and broccoli left over for two more meals.

I have a full cupboard, fridge and freezer, so I'll definitely be eating in for a while.  I even got a huge artichoke at Walmart, so that will be dinner tomorrow.  Or lunch, maybe. 

We're settled in for the night, and going to bed early.

From Me and My Dog, have a good Thursday everyone!  : )