Eugene, Oregon (Pt 1 )

Yesterday we enjoyed a tour of Eugene which is a city in the state of Orgeon.  It is at the southern end of the verdant Willamette Valley, near the confluence of the Mc Kenzie and Willamette Rivers, about 50 miles (80 km) east of the Oregon Coast.  This is a view from the observatory looking over the city.  Its known as the Emerald City as it is so green.  

It is also a very arty city with lots of bold art.  This creation incorporates some of the local floweres and Native American child with flower.  I guess some folks enjoy this form of art.

This wall art is the work of a well known Chinese spray painter artist.  It took 2 days to paint as it rained.  If you look closely you will see some blue dots which depict the rain.  We liked this better than the lady with the snakes.

We also got to visit the Owen Rose Garden which is beautiful. It is located next to the Willamette River near the Jefferson Street bridge.   It covers 81/2 acres and in 1951, George Owens, a former Eugene city councilor and lumberman, donated 5  acres with his house to the city.  It was the first parcel in a series that now forms the section of riverfront park stretching from Ferry Street Bridge to the Greenway bike bridge near Valley River Center.  Shortly after this the Eugene Rose Socierty donated the original 750 rose buds.  Today this has expanded to more than 4,500 roses of over 400 varities. 

The rose garden features the nationally recognized Oregon Heritage Cherry Treen which has stood here since 1847 .

The trunk is very notted and sturdy.

From here we visited the Cascades Raptor Center which has one of the largest collections of native raptor species in the Nortwest.    There are some 50 birds of prey in large outdoor avaries.  It was a real thrill to see magnificant owls.

Also the national emblem of the America the bald eagle who mates for life.  Perhaps humans could take a "feather " out of their nest.  Just saying.

There were different varities of owls all of which are beautiful in their own way.

This is the variety of owl used in the Harry Potter stories.

There is also a resident deer.

It was a great tour and more to follow.

Cheers,
Ross and Beverley 

Kings Esatae Winery - Oregon

Today we visited the Kings Estate Winery which is an organic winery located southwest of Eugene, Oregon.  It was established in 1991 and is family owned. The Estate has 465 acres of grape vines.  We have visited many of our winery's over the years however, this is the largest we have been to.

The Estate has 465 acres of grape vines and many other acres of citrus trees.  

We enjoyed luch at their very elegant restuarant.  This is the wine tasting area.  

The ceilings are made of beautiful wood from the local area.

Each table has a white tablecloth with black napkins and is very eleganty set with flowers on each table.

Ross enjoyed a dozen oysters from Washington State which he really enjoyed.

Beverley enjoyed grilled chicken.  We paired our food with a Rose.

We had not had Rose since the 1970's however, this a suprise and we enjoyed the wine so much we purchased a bottle to bring home.

Even the wine came packaged in a very nice carry bag.

We shared a dessert.  Low calorie of course.

The outside eating areas were very pretty.

Those guests who opted for the outside dining had a wonderful view of the winery.

It was a wonderful day and later this week we will be going on a wine tour.

Cheers,

Ross and Beverley 

Railroad Park Resort & RV Park. Dunsmuir, CA

We arrived at the Railroads Resorts RV Park which has been a real change from the many other parks we have stayed in over this trip so far.  It is located alongside the Little Castle Creek and nestled in among the tall pines at the base of Castle Crags.  It offers the perfect setting for relaxation.  The drive to this location was so different to the orchards and wide open areas of sounthern California.  It was a real joy to see snow capped mountains and the beautiful fir trees which reminded of us of the 3 great years we lived in Canada. 

On arrival at the RV Park we knew it would be a great stay.  Ross's ability to navigate the most difficult areas ensured we were we level and safe.  The trees prevented us from using our satellite however, we were able to connect to cable. 

Her we're surrounded by beautiful woods with (according to the check in paperwork) wildlife including bears, snakes, insects and poision oaks, all of which we did not see.

The Railroad Park Resort is an unique place to stay.  The refurbished railway carriages called the Caboose Motel provides caboose lodging and vintage cabins which offers rooms for up to 5 guests.  Each caboose is unique and offers a full bathroom and some have a climb-up cupolas for watching the sunset.

Thougthout the area a number of very old carriges are able to be explored.

The Railroad Park Resort Restaurant is housed in a train of course.

The decore is of the the period.  

Around the walls there is lots of memorabellia.

The table lights are charming and the food was delicious. 

The beautiful mountains surround the park.

Just over the hill, its back to our RV Park and the beautiful trees.

Following dinner we enjoyed sitting around our fire.

Being in the middle of a natural park no fires can be left unattended so after the fire died it was time to retire.

Tomorrow we depart for Oregon.
Cheers,
Ross and Beverley 

New Clairvaux vineyard , CA

Yesterday we visited the New Clairvauz Vineyard, CA.  In 1843, a poineer Peter Lassen was awarded a 22,000 acre Mexican land grant.  He started to make wine and eventually the property was purchased by Henry Gerke.  In time it came into the hands of Leland Stanford who was a successful at mining, breeding hourses, building railroads, accumulating wealth and creating a university.  However, not so creative at making fine wines in the Saremento Valley, where in the 1880s he oversaw what was reputedly the world's largest vineyard.  The Monks of the Abby of New Clairvaux were aware of Stanfords thwarted dream.  However, they continued to till the soil and in 1955, Trappist Cistercian Monks purchased the facitily and about 600 acres.  It now serves as a place of prayer, work and home for Monks of the Abby of New Clairvaux.

This is inside the wine tasting area.

In 1098, a group of 21 Benidictine Monks broke off and settled a swampland at Clairvaux (Citeaux in French).  They called themselves Cistercians.  The order was build up around the world and adopted the vows of oberdience, stability, poverity and labour, they prospered in commerse and argriculture, specifically vineyards and winemaking.

The Abbey was established in 1955 when Monks from the Abbey of Gethsemanai sought to begin a foundation in California.  The Abbey was dismanted and brought to Calaifornia from Spain.   It is completely hidden behind a wall that seperates the guest and extern quarters and the monastery enclosure.  There is very little interaction between the guest and the retreatants however, guests are welcome to join the Monks in Chapel to chant the Devine Offer seven times per day.   This is the Church in which the Abbey is located.

Inside the Chapel.  The whole chapel was dismantled in Spain and reassembled by hand once on it's arrived.

There are acres of healthy grape vines from which great wine comes from.

A New Clainvaux white.

We enjoyed our time at the winery and sampled a number of their great wines.  We opted for one for their whites which will pair very nicely with our prawn salad we will be enjoying this evening.

Cheers,
Ross and Beverley