Okay so this isn't exactly in Eugene, OR yet - this is the road trip portion of the festivities. This motel, that we did not actually stay in, is in lovely downtown Weed, CA. We stopped for a little sustenance for both the Mini and ourselves. I just liked the retro vibe of the sign.
Sara and I started our journey at the crack of dawn on Thursday. She arrived with coffee in hand and we jammed my belongings into the back of her Mini Cooper and hit the road. The drive from Palo Alto to Eugene really isn't bad at all, provided you have an adorable car to drive and an adorable driving companion. It took us about ten hours - and that included a stop at the Olive Pit in Corning, CA for Lemon/Citrus olives and hot pepper jelly and the aforementioned stop in Weed for lunch.
First we had a little trouble identifying a California landmark, Mt. Shasta. We came around a bend a spied a tall, pointed thing so I started snapping pictures...
only to realize that it was just a hill. It wasn't until the drive back that we spied this...
and realized our miserable grasp on California geography. I swear we didn't even SEE it on the way to Oregon. And the on the trip home - there it was, looming on the horizon for about an hour. I don't know how we missed it.
After Weed, CA we knew the Oregon border was just around the corner so I gave Sara my camera so she could immortalize our entrance into Oregon. We drove, and drove and drove and just when Sara couldn't hold the camera up any longer we came up on the state sign.
Whoops. Well, it says Welcome to Oregon even if you can't quite make it out.
Another 120 or so miles and we made it to the mecca that is also known as Cheryl's house. Cheryl is Becca's gracious and beautiful mother. Becca, of course, is Sara's best friend. And Becca is betrothed to Mike. Just so you can keep all the parties straight.
Oh, and of course there is Max.
Cheryl is flat out lucky we did so much shopping whilst in Eugene or Sara and I would have found a way to smuggle Max into the Mini and back into California. Next time I'm not buying so much big stuff (ha ha. Just kidding Rick. I really didn't, ahem, you know buy a LOT of stuff - well maybe a lot but not necessarily EXPENSIVE stuff. Umm, yeah... anywhoo, where was I?).
Oh yes. At Cheryl's. Where we were greeted with my very favorite words..."may I pour you a glass of wine?" Twist my arm.
Eugene was a little drizzly and cool when we arrived and Cheryl's house was all aglow and smelling of wondrous things in the kitchen. We had a fabulous pasta dinner and just talked and talked until Sara and I began to nod off.
The next morning we popped out of bed and had a lovely tea and cranberry bread breakfast then headed to Alton Baker park to take Max on his morning constitutional and to see the Will-AMM-ette river (you are rube if you pronounce it Willuhmet ).
We had a nice stroll along the river before heading off for a day of shopping and eating.
More about the food and finds tomorrow.
Oh, I thought I was in the backseat of your car and travelling north with you. I spent part of my growing up years in the Eugene area, I know Weed well from many trips south to San Francisco during my college days and the Olive Pit in Corning has been a landmark for so many years. Your pictures of Eugene are gorgeous. But Max is the best of all! Yes, go Ducks! ~Adrienne~
Posted by: Adrienne | October 08, 2007 at 05:43 AM
What a lovely trip. I adore Oregon. Wish we lived closer.
Posted by: Cindy | October 08, 2007 at 07:36 AM
How funny that you nearly missed Mt Shasta! I used to ski on that mountain, because my cousins lived there.
Posted by: Jill | October 08, 2007 at 07:45 AM
Wow, what great pics! Can't wait to hear more! Oregon looks really lovely.
Posted by: Nicole | October 08, 2007 at 08:38 AM
This is so exciting, I feel like I'm getting to go somewhere by viewing your lovely pictures. Can't wait to see what comes next!
Posted by: Dena | October 08, 2007 at 11:55 AM
Hurray for Maximum Chaos! He photographs so well!
Posted by: sara | October 08, 2007 at 01:11 PM
Ahhh sounds perfect. Now you have m wanting to go visit my in-laws !!! I can not wait to hear about the food. Clarice
Posted by: clarice | October 08, 2007 at 03:27 PM
Your Hi-Lo Cafe picture made me smile today. This past summer on the way down to SF we had a fun lunch at the Hi-Lo Cafe. I was drawn to the sign for sure while driving through Weed. Then it totally made my day when I read the Buzzville blog. You have to check it out.
http://buzzville.typepad.com/. What are the odds on the very same day? Small world!
Posted by: Sarah | October 09, 2007 at 05:59 PM