Day 10 & 11 - Arrive Portland

Free breakfast and paper, comfortable surroundings and a laundromat right across the hall to deal with a mountain of camping clothes meant we didn't get out of our hotel until close to noon. Such simple pleasures we take for granted - I think this is one of the great benefits of camping - you appreciate your comforts of home.

We enjoyed a long bike ride on the Bear Creek Bikeway next to Ashland before finding the Interstate 5 for the 6 hour drive to Portland. The bikeway wound its way along the creek through irrigated orchards. It was very hot by noon and we were glad to get out of the sun.

The drive from Ashland on the border with California to Portland at Oregon's northern border with Washington was really quite scenic for a major freeway. The highway winds its way through mountain passes, takes major climbs and dips steeply down into fertile valleys, and slowly but surely the country became a little greener and wetter as we moved north. The steep hills meant that one lane of the freeway was jammed with semi-trailers chugging up under the load - a continuous stream of North American commerce.

We have booked a night at an relatively inexpensive resort just outside Portland for Sunday night - McMenamin's-Edgefield. It is only $60 a night. It is a converted home for the destitute! In the 1920's Multnomah County (Portland) built an institution for the homeless with a supporting farm where families and single men and women could live and work the land at an effort toward self-sufficiency. A pretty progressive idea for the 1920's - in fact for 2009! It closed in the 1980's and was purchased and renovated by the McMenamin brothers who own Brew Pubs all throughout Washington State and Oregon. However, the building was NOT air conditioned and we had to setup the fan immediately in front of our balcony window where we had a great view of the grounds.

We soaked in the hot pool as the sun set and then explored the grounds on Monday morning.

The site is 74 acres of gardens, orchards, vineyards, a 12 hole golf course, picnic areas, a distillery and a variety of pubs. We could not find bottled water anywhere - an incentive to buy cold beer or wine probably.



The Hot Pools

Vineyards

Orchards

Pear in a Bottle

The beginnings of Pear Brandy

Herb Garden
Why is it other gardens look so straight forward and easy to do!






After a visit to the gift shop to stock up on some of the local wine and a few gifts we made the short drive into Portland and find our home for the next week - The Mark Spencer Hotel.
Our room had glorious air conditioning - outside the heat was oppressive, reaching 106F - a near record in Portland. With a kitchenette we could load up on cheeses, wine, fruit and sliced meats. Kay got organized for the start of her music conference - UUMN - by locating the conference hotel, picking up her package and planning the week. We stayed in a watched TV for the first time in over a week and luxuriated in the AC.