1497/36/52

1497 miles - 4 1/2 days in a car with 2 dogs & my man.  Absolute bliss - pure & simple.

Klo is *not* getting left behind!

The first night we spent in Bend, OR. Simple jacuzzi suite at a nice little family run place called Cascade Lodge.

The owner suggested the best pizza in town at Olde Towne Pizza, & it was. Back in the room we indulged in wickedly wonderful ice cream . . . & bubbles. Yes... bubbles. A *lot* of bubbles. Seems I kind of forgot about what happens with bubble bath & jets.

That was the first of many 'laugh to

 tears' times on this trip... We 

obviously aren't too old to get 

 downright silly about too many 

bubbles.

                                                                                    

2nd day involved finding the most marvelous dog park for the girls. 

15 acres of Klo-e heaven.

From Pilot Butte we had an amazing view of all the peaks & volcanoes surrounding Bend.

Before we left Bend we had what some say is the best burger in town at 'Handy Burger". (we actually ate every meal at a local joint - not one chain!)

SNOW?!?! Planning the trip I told

Julie how I've always wanted to go

to Crater Lake. We'd be going right

by! I was so excited!

After a long pause... she genltly suggested that I look at a webcam...

Crater Lake is another trip for much

later in the year !

Grants Pass was a stop for malts at Jimmy's Classic Drive-In. 

And he wouldn't even share!!!

On to Crescent City... but to get there we had to go through the 'Tunnel of Terror'. Poor Klo saw it coming (sitting on her pillow on Mom's lap, of course) She put her paws on the dash & started to bark... & bark... looking at Gary & the tunnel. NO! STOP! DANGER! BAD! (crazy dumb humans anyway!) She barked crazily all the way through. We were laughing so hard I was surprised Gary could drive.

Next we found Rouge Gorge.

410,000 gallons per minute past the narrowest part of the gorge

Click it - watch it - then click the back arrow

From 52/36/1497

Crescent City

When we got to Crescent City we found the beach & boats used in 'Pirates of the Caribbean' right across the street from our motel.  

 We walked the pier to see the lighthouse, crashing surf. Her humans just don't learn...

Click it - watch it - then click the back arrow

From 52/36/1497

 Saturday - day 3 - & we're headed for the main attraction... after my token library photo...

 

On the road again we met new friends... 

Took the required souvenir picture... 

& stood in awe at the real giants...

 

                                           & we found the Roosevelt Elk

 

 

Weed

Headed to Weed, CA, we stopped to share the beach with the dogs...

Click it - watch it - then click the back arrow

From 52/36/1497

Sand bath! (oh joy)

Dana, at Stardoughs in Blue Lakes, CA, provided a fantastic lunch and great conversation.

More amazing scenery...

He enjoyed his... & I enjoyed mine... :o)

 We couldn't find how to get to the Sundial Bridge in Redding.  It was a race with the sun, & we were losing, so we moved on.

Weed was an interesting little town with an interesting library that shared a building with head start.

Sunday... April 22, 2012... 

We back-tracked to Dunsmuir to see waterfalls.  We had the most amazing breakfast in the Cornerstone Bakery & Cafe.   Our waitress was from Hagerman... & my recurring question of... "How did you end up here??"  still didn't annoy my man.  (totally amazing...)

Who needs b-day cake????

Betsy wouldn't cross the little stream

Click it - watch it - then click the back arrow

From 52/36/1497

                                                                  Then Hedge Creek Falls...

Click it - watch it - then click the back arrow

From 52/36/1497

                            which I bravely hiked into *&* out of.

We forgot to ask if the snow ever melts of Mt. Shasta... 

Burns

                                        Gary's favorite sign of the trip:

& his least favorite road...(long & straight - not the fun & challenging fast curves of the CA mountains)

Which took us to our last night... *already*??  In Burns.  We ate at the Meat Hook Steak House, where the chef - Todd Bigalow - came out to wish me a happy b-day with a hot fudge sundae ~ with burning candle.  Our room at the Rory & Ryan inn was #131 - a marvelous king size jacuzzi suite that we plan to return to as often as we can.  This time I didn't over-do the bubbles - & Betsy got an overdue belly rub.

 
Coming home we stopped to browse at a junk-yard he had spotted on the way down.  (poor man needed something for him from this trip!  :o)  

Klo was sick & tired of riding in the back & being treated like a common, ordinary dog.

(Don't let her fool ya, she rode at least 1/2 the time on a pillow on Mamma's lap)

At home I found a to-die-for peanut butter pie my daughter made, pretty flowers & b-day wishes from my incredible kids. 
I am an extremely grateful, happy woman.

 

Ms. Boop is happy to be safely home, guarding her food again...  Handsome is happy Klo is back... 

but.. Gary & I... we're already planning our next great run-away!

                                       

Now - for a few moments of mushy stuff.... (sorry...)

This year - I still miss my Mom.  This year I wish she could see how incredibly happy I am...how incredibly happy with this man that she always liked so very much... the one she wanted for me from the start.  You hear that Mom?  That's me saying... 'You were right all along.'...  

We are such easy company together.  The laughter is so good.  The talk flows.  The quiet is comfortable.  His patience & humor astound me.  He pours love & kindness over me always.  

The day I turned 52 on our trip was our 36th anniversary... of sorts.  I met him on my 16th b-day at a band festival in Filer, ID.  This gorgeous, dark-haired, young man asked if he could take my hand & walk me across the street & he took my breath away ... he still does.

 Thanks, Mom.  Happy Mother's Day.