Pacific Coast

We took off from Grants Pass southwest on US 199 down into California. We arrived at the coast in Crescent City, CA after driving through the Redwood National/State Forest. It was a beautiful drive but I took no pictures since it was featured in a previous blog.

The Ship Ashore Museum is free and can be found in Smith River, California. This small town lies between Crescent City, California and Brookings, Oregon, and is considered the Easter Lily Capital of the World.

Smith River is also world famous for salmon and steelhead fishing with numerous fishing derbies throughout the year.


I stopped for a picture of the museum but also took some closeups of the plantings in their parking lot divide. Scrabble Queen told me this is probably an "Allium Sphaerocephalon" just past the blooming phase. Wikipedia says, "Allium is the onion genus, with about 1250 species, making it one of the largest plant genera in the world. They are perennial bulbous plants that produce chemical compounds that give them a characteristic onion or garlic taste and odor, and many are used as food plants."

Neither Scrabble Queen could identify this small red bud but I liked the picture with the spider web so here it is. If you know what this plant is pleas let me know.


More familiar, since our garden in Escondido had some, is the Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia leucantha). According to Mountain Valley Growers this plant, the Mexican Bush Sage is a wonder that every garden should hold. I totally agree.

This is another one we can't identify but I can see at least two big bumble bees in the picture.


Guarding the Museum Entrance are these two statues that seem a little out of place in "PC" California and at a boat museum.


Then we reached the beautiful Oregon Coast. In this area it is rocky with steep cliffs.


This Quiet Cove is near the Natural bridge Pacific outcropping between Brookings and Gold Beach on Oregon's Pacific Coast.


There was a Pacific Coast trail and I decided to see how close I could get to the ocean.

Another view of the cove slightly obscured by trees.

Further along I got a glimpse of the Natural Bridge much like one we saw in Puerto Vallarta.

As I cleared the trees I got this better view...

... and this view of a smaller outcropping...


... Absolutely beautiful...

... Majestic.

Scrabble Score - Scrabble Queen 322 - The Contender 309

Quote of the Day ~

“There's a lesson for the general public here too. Always keep your antivirus software up to date and don't be too quick to believe everything you receive via e-mail.” ~ Graham Cluley is a British computer programmer and 'Senior Technology Consultant' Specializing in Anti-Virus Programs.

Eagle Point and the Butte Creek Mill

We took some backroads to the campground in Eagle Point. Along Brownsboro Highway (a two lane road) we came upon this field and I stopped the Musemobile (our Winnebago we are hoping the company would sponsor a photoblog cross country some day - fat chance) long enough to get this shot.


A lot went on in between including a Vince Gill and Amy Grant concert in Jacksonville, OR we attended with Mr. & Mrs CS Railway. The concert (not photography allowed) was fantastic and having them with us there to share the concert was very special. Today we all went to the Butte Creek Mill.

The mill began operation in 1872. Farmers traveled from miles away, their wagons filled with grain lining the Old Military Road to Snowy Butte Creek Mill to have their flour ground. The miller was paid for his services by keeping every seventh bag of flour to sell in the Butte Creek general store. The Klamath Indians trekked 90 miles from Fort Klamath to trade berries and leather goods for flour.

On the National Register of Historic Places, the world famous Butte Creek Mill is the only grist mill in Oregon still grinding flour.


The Musemoblie found a happy parking place in front of the Antique Store on Mill property.

The great thing, aside from the staff at the mill was the historical look and memorabilia still in use to display the goods,

There are plenty of old parts and tools around for added flavor.

Of course thee are also old signs and flour sacks,

On the lower floor is a great old table in a room with stone walls.

More mechanical "iron" consisting of wheels and gears are stacked neatly.

I liked this view of an old hutch in the room with the table.

Another John Ford scene shot through the open window.

in one deep dark room for "employees only" are what looked like storage and some mechanical gizmo's.

I like this picture looking up the stairs to the main floor.

I especially liked the saying on this shelf - and it's very true at the Butte Creek Mill.

It is a very colorful and enchanting place.

One more view of the mill then on to the antique store.

Bob Russell and his wife, Debbie are the new owners of the Butte Creek Mill in Eagle Point and are marvelous folks. They both helped us sort through the antique store where we made a few more purchases.

The soda fountain in the antique store, came from the Milwaukee Pharmacy in Portland. It has a marble top and stained glass columns. I haven't seen one of these cigar store Indians since I was in junior high school. I think they were a point of conflict in the 60's between the Native Americans and the general population.

No Scrabble

Quote of the Day ~

"Don't be seduced into thinking that that which does not make a profit is without value." ~ Arthur Miller

Arthur Asher Miller (October 17, 1915 – February 10, 2005) was an American playwright and essayist. He was a prominent figure in American literature and cinema for over 61 years, writing a wide variety of plays, including celebrated plays such as The Crucible, A View from the Bridge, All My Sons, and Death of a Salesman, which are still studied and performed worldwide.

Miller was often in the public eye, most famously for refusing to give evidence before the House Unfont>-American Activities Committee, being the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama among other awards, and for marrying Marilyn Monroe. At the time of his death, Miller was considered one of the greatest American playwrights.

Le Petit Sox - preview (Photos by Isaac)

All photos are taken by - processed for the web and otherwise the property of Isaac Viel - He holds the ©opyright

I am too tired to blog tonight so I got these images from Isaac which were taken yesterday (Saturday) on a trip up the Oregon Coast a bit taken by Isaac, Megan and our guest Michelle otherwise known as Le Petit Sox. This image was taken on the Siuslaw River at Florence where it spills into the Pacific.

It's so nice to see Michelle and her infectious smile (not a life threatening infection but definitely a life enhancing smile)

At an overlook near Heceta Lighthouse and the Seal Caves. In a later blog we will see the pictures Michelle took on this and another drive.

Playing in the world famous Oregon Dunes.

Finally watching a sunset over the ocean rather than a sunrise. Michelle is a very special person who is learning how to succeed in her chosen field, Medicine and Science in a wonderful University and even more she has been taught goodness from two great parents we very much miss seeing more often. (See the quote below)

Scrabble Score - Scrabble Queen 345 - The Contender 312

Quote of the Day ~

"One goes through school, college, medical school and one's internship learning little or nothing about goodness but a good deal about success." ~ Ashley Montagu (June 28, 1905, London, England - November 26, 1999, Princeton, New Jersey), was a British anthropologist and humanist who popularized issues such as race and gender and their relation to politics and development.

Short Blond Girl hits Eugene in her Red Sox

Years ago we met the Sox (Red of course) and their daughter La Petit Sox A.K.A. "Short Blond Girl." One of our earliest encounters with LPS A.K.A. SBG was on a visit to the Sox home in "America's Finest City" - I think Finest refers to fish fins since the city is on the Pacific Ocean - and this picture of La Petit Sox (hitherto referred to as LPS) and Miniest Me in a crib playing with Donald Duck.

LPS came to visit over the holiday weekend and so I put together this small montage of them both in the crib and within the last year on mountains on either Coast. He is at Crater Lake and She is on Mt. Washington in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. So the world turns and we all progress and true friendships last like a fine wine or a great homemade Lemoncello.


So here is the montage that spans about 21 years

LPS went with us to the Saturday Market and stopped to listen to "The Storyteller" on his perpetual bench at Ken Kesey Square.


Soon a crowd was gathering - who cares if they were all Bronze.


Some of the crafts(wo)men not only sell their art/crafts at the Saturday market, they also create them as they wait for a sale.


LPS and I liked this fountain so much we burned several pixels capturing it.


The fountain is, of course, fish jumping from the water. I suspect they are supposed to be Salmon heading for the spawning grounds. Some were jumping into the water.


While others were jumping out.


The water at eye-level was silky smooth.

LPS saw and liked this copper sculpture that was only one the the artists beautiful works.

We stopped to see the Cro-Magnon Croquet set. That's LPS bending over and Miniest Me with the brown sweater and Phoenix Woman with the purple shirt.

I'm not sure what this colorful band was named.

They did remind me of Emmet Otter's Jug Band though.

Interesting group to say the least.


Scrabble Queen told me to get a shot of these great pine cones sitting above the branches like candles on a Norwegian Christmas Tree.


Finally As three bronze turtles played "Bye Bye Miss American Pie" LPS and Miniest Me and Phoenix woman took the last train (His Saturn) to the coast and Scrabble Queen and I went shopping.

Scrabble Score - Scrabble Queen 321 - The Contender 332

Quote of the Day ~ "I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismograph." Ken Kesey