Found! Two favorite places from times past!

Ms Katie talked often about two favorite places where she and Dad would stop.

"There is a place where you can pull in and watch the ocean from the car." She's right - we found it! In Depoe Bay, OR there is a lookout point where you can park looking toward the ocean. When it is cold and windy you don't have to get out of the car; very nice when you are getting older and the wind could knock you off your feet! So while Ms Katie was mesmerized by the waves, I braved the wind and took a look around. Depoe Bay is also the home of the 'world's smallest harbor'. It is a small bay with a tiny inlet for fishing boats to pass through so they can safely dock. There is a story of a past fishing trip, including a couple people that some of us know well, where the water was so rough and the swells so high, men were standing among the rocks on either side of the inlet holding life preservers just in case the boats passing through were thrown against the rocks!

"We have to find that cafe where Dad loved the clam chowder." We found that too! Dory Cove in Lincoln City. The clam chowder is delicious, like smooth triple cream cheese. It is thick and rich and the spoon stands up by itself!! Yes, Dad, I had a bowl in your honor!

Bittersweet

Forever Friends! This is a counted cross stitch piece that Ms Katie made for sister Mary years ago; it is one of the first things you see when you step in the front door of Mary's house.

This is a story of two sisters - Mary and Ms Katie. The two are similiar in appearance - the same height and stature, both with gray hair, quick smiles and tender hands. They were married the same year; both in Winnipeg. Mary in January, on a day so cold that her flowers froze between the car and church. Ms Katie in April, with a special trip for the bridal party to see her mom in the hospital. Mary moved to the farm in Oregon with Paul. Several years later, Ms Katie and Al moved to Minnesota. The sisters lived life many miles apart, seeing each other sporadically, one on the farm, the other in the city and always forever friends.

This is the bittersweet part of the trip; watching the sisters light up when they greeted each other, acknowledging how they have changed and are aging and then having to say good by again - maybe, probably for the last time.

Silver Falls

Silver Falls State Park boasts some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the country. Alice, Ashley and I had a chance to spend several hours hiking the park. We were able to be on top of falls and watch the water tumble over the rock ledge, stand in the rocks behind the falling water and get soaked by spray and wild drops, hike down to where the water smashes to the bottom and continue on as a river and walk along the banks of the river that looked deceptively peaceful. The best part of the morning was reconnecting with cousin Alice, who I haven't seen in 27 years, and her daughter, Ashley, who I have never met! What a treat! It was cool, wet, beautiful and a wonderful opportunity to share about each others worlds.

Alice and her husband are fruit growers, tending to blueberries, cherries, apples, peaches...and listening to stories about harvesting. The land they live on is lush, green, productive and surrounded by christmas tree farms, iris fields, filbert orchards and tulip fields. Have you ever seen fields of iris all in bloom?? It is a custom of the iris growers to leave a 5 gallon bucket full of iris blooms at each neighbors house before they cut the field. That bucket of flowers on the driveway smelled so good!

It is sad that it is too early in the season for cherries and blueberries! Would have loved to watch the picking and help to eat! Note - watch and eat!

The Uncle Paul Special

Uncle Paul and I shared a dairyfarmers breakfast - chicken fried steak, sausage gravy, hashbrowns, two eggs, toast and an orange slice! His plate was clean - mine was not!!

Uncle Paul was born in the family farmhouse in 1926; was married and took over being a dairy farmer, responsible for 220 acres at the age of 20. The land is beautiful, still lush and green and grew anything and everything he wanted and was home to hundreds of dairy cattle. The farmhouse is on a hill overlooking gentle hills, stands of trees, a stream and an artesian well, constantly bubbling and suppling all the needed water. The cattle thrived. For years he milked, stored and trucked 10 gallon cans to the local creamery. When the creamery closed its doors Uncle Paul was forced to make a decision between spending thousands of dollars to upgrade the milking to mechanization and stainless steel or quit dairy. He quit dairy. He worked in the local saw mill for 25 years to support the farm. He lived in the family farmhouse that he was born in for 63 years and sold the farm in 1988.

The house he lives in now faces one of his old fields. Today there is wheat standing knee high. It is thick and the perfect green. There are filbert trees in the distance and just beyond the trees, the stream. As we visit and I watch him, he is still a farmer; still wearing overalls, can still tell you what kind of tractor is in the field just by listening and still loves the land. Uncle Paul worked hard and his body is slow and crippled. Uncle Paul also plays hard. There is still of glint of mischief in his eyes that represents his wonderful sense of humor and love of laughter. Lookout! He has not lost the ability to tease!

Pictures don't do justice to God's amazing creation!!

The Redwood Forest is awesome - trees growing so straight and tall and big right to the edge of the road. So many greens, so many different types of ferns, beautiful 'rhodies' (rododendroms), hanging moss and multi-colored lichen growing on the rocks. We walked into the forest, wet with the morning rains and sunlight in streams sneaking through any open space between the trees.

And then the ocean!!

More "I remember...

...trying to float in the Great Salt Lake. I was pregnant with Glenn and I kept tipping upside down! Had to keep my feet on the lake bottom."

...the first time Dad and I drove the 101. We spent more time stopping to take pictures than driving."

...playing on the beach when you kids were young. A big wave got us all wet and Uncle Paul built a fire so we could dry out."

I Remember

Words from Ms Katie -

"I remember...

...our first trip to California when you girls were young and we tasted our first tacos. We ate them everyday of that trip."

...our first friends and being invited to their home when we moved to the States. We are still friends!" (Happy 70th wedding anniversary Rich and Vi!)

...when you slid through the stop at the bottom of the hill and I paid the ticket!"

...standing in the back of the pick up so we could reach to pick cherries with Paul. We won't be doing that again - none of us could climb into the truck."

...the words, 'Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name. How beautiful Your dwelling places."

We saw beautiful places today!

Blue, blue sky.

Hundreds of different greens.

Snow capped mountains.

Miles and of tight, two hands on the wheel S curves and switchbacks.

Road climbing to the sky.

Road heading downhill quickly - yes, Ms Katie, going down is my favorite!

Tall pines growing rightup to the edge of the road.

Small pines growing out of the rock.

Wildflowers - purple, yellow, orange and white.

Rushing water on one side - really rushing.

Train bed on the other side.

Narrow open bridges back and forth over the creek.

Dark tunnels.

Have I told you I really like driving down the hills??

On Our Way!

The odometer reads 82,939 miles at the start our journey. It is fun to measure how far we are going but there is no way to measure the conversation and laughter.

The best phrase of the day, "We had fun together." Ms Katie was talking about all the trips she and dad have taken. Years of exploring new places, revisiting favorite places and family and sharing meals in the car. What a great lesson - having fun together through years of marriage and roadtrips!

And we are having fun, too! Visiting new places, planning to revisit family and sharing lunch in the car. Just have to add, I was not the one who had the cracker explode and spill on my shirt!

Two Days

In two days our journey begins. The car is serviced, bills are paid, laundry almost done and bags almost packed. We have maps in hand and family phone numbers at our finger tips as we begin this summer of wandering. The purpose - for Ms Katie to love on her siblings; for me to listen, experience and chronicle the stories.

Welcome to this journey of a lifetime!

What a privilege to be driving Ms Katie!