Springtime - More April Showers

This week was rainy, April showers bring more spring flowers here.  Monday morning we walked first, knowing it was going to rain and then worked from our office. That afternoon, with G&M, we took our car and drove north to check out the Wildwood Recreation Area.  We wanted to see what the park was like where we would be hosting and what our new camping spot would look like.  We met the head park ranger, Mark, and he told us the two spots we would probably be assigned to.  We looked them over - nicely paved with a little storage building at each, both surrounded by forest and vegetation.  We also stopped at the Mt. Hood Campground, just next to Wildwood, where G&M have camped and will be camping again this year.  They made their reservations while we were there - they will come up most of the weekends in May and June, so we will have play pals when we are not working.  On the way home, we stopped in Markam for supper.

Dogwood blossoms

Colorful yard

Our parking lot site

Our front door view

Tuesday-Thursday - we worked, did laundry, ran out for a few business calls and walked between rain showers.  The Oregonians know how to dress for these type of days, they always have a rain coat or umbrella with them and come out in droves during the sunshine minutes.
Friday we went with Marilyn in the afternoon for a Costco, Walmart run.  We had a really good supper at the Elks Club and then went back to the house and played a rousing game of Mexican Train dominos.

Saturday we were up early to meet G&M's friend Jim for breakfast.  We had met Jim before on other trips to Salem.  It was good to see him and when we were done, he took us to his place to see his solar power setup, his greenhouse and shop.  He grows his plants mostly in water!  He had a key lime tree, a lemon tree, a banana tree, an avacado tree (that's how they grow), tomato plants, and was getting ready to plant the sweet corn shoots he had started and to grow green beans again.  He also raises tilapia fish in a tank in the green house! Quite a setup - Jim is an engineer, so puts together anything he needs himself.
In the afternoon, we went for wine tasting with Marilyn, her son Tyler and his wife, Jen.  We went to the Left Coast, Cubanisimo and another one.  Each place was back on the highway and had a beautiful scenery setup for parties and receptions.  A surgeon from Cuba, that Marilyn has worked with, owns the Cubanisimo winery.  The winery weekend parties include live music and salsa dancing lessons! That night we met Tyler's family, Nick's family with G&M at another pizza place for supper.

Sunday - Mass today at St. Edward's, the new Catholic church in Keizer, then breakfast, before heading back to the motorhome.  Today we head back to Bend.  We packed up and said our goodbyes.  We fueled up before leaving Salem and headed toward the Santiam Pass, the route back to Bend.  We checked the weather before we left, looking at the DOT road cameras for the pass. (With all the rain in the area, the mountains and high elevations were still getting snow)  We could see snow along side the road, but the road surface appeared clear in the pictures and the temperature was supposed to reach 38 degrees.
We unhooked the car in Mill City and started up the long grade to the pass.  It continued to rain and traffic was really steady.  Gary pulled over a couple times to let traffic pass, we were going the speed limit of 55, but others wanted to go faster.  About 10 minutes before we reached the top it was snowing and visibility was interesting a couple times.  At the top, there was snow accumulating, but the road stayed just wet, not slick or slushy.  Thank goodness!  As we went down the other side, we were in heavier snow showers and more traffic, but continued to have good road surfaces.  And, by the time we reached Bend, it was dry and sunny.  Our timing today was right, hours before and after would have been slick roads - not good for motorhome driving.  Thank you, Lord.

4/27/14 Santiam Pass

We got set up again in our same spot at the Scandia RV Park in Bend and then went to the Crux Brewery.  This one is in the warehouse area of the Old Mill District.  They had tables to sit on outside and even a grassy area for picnics and to run your dogs (they said they were dog-friendly - there were quite a few there)  Inside it was a warehouse type atmosphere with the brew tanks in view.  Gary had a Stout and I had a amber red ale - both very good.  He bought a Growlette there, just the right size for our smaller motorhome frig.  He had that filled with a Porter to take home.  Great sandwiches too.