Vickie & Steve in Eugene, OR.

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  Eugene, Oregon, United States
Monday, June 16, 2008

June 15th.

Found a parking lot in Eugene on our "Overnightparking" web link and when we got there, two other RVers were parked for the evening. This lot is situated by a good sized river which has a biking/hiking trail that runs along side it. On our way to the lot we stopped at a Redbox and picked up 2 movies for the night.

Before settling in for the night, we walked along the river and enjoyed the sounds and sights of bull frogs, waterfoul, beaver, muskrats and the water. This parking lot has more to offer than some of the campgrounds we have stayed at over the past 7 months. Residents walked and bicycled past us and when we returned to the RV we noticed a security guy in his jeep patrolling the parking lot area. To our delight, he just cruised by our RV and looked around to see that everything was cool

Vickie & Steve

.

June 16th.

Woke to birds singing and sun shining. After coffee we went for another walk along the Delta Ponds (as we later learned they are called) right behind the parking lot. Along the walk we saw a goose that looked like our "Lucky" the goose from our past lake home in NY. We were very attached to Lucky and this goose reminded us of her as she tucked her head under her wing and hung out with the ducks and Canadians(see pix). We also saw a goose that may be what happens when a male Embden goose (white domestic) gets spring fever with a female Canadian!!! We always wondered(see pix).

Upon returning to the RV, there were three folks hanging around the parking lot so we struck up an conversation. The gentleman was very happy to endulge us with his time. He is a Forest Ranger who is involved in reforestation using Douglas Fur. Most forests, he went on to explain, he plants up to 18 varieties of trees for a healthy forest. He shared his knowledge and his enthusiasm. We had a wonderful time learning. Eugene has the best RV parking lot of any place yet!!! This parking lot actually allows three days before they request you to move on

parking lot in Eugene

. That is amazingly RV friendly.

Checked into the Deerwood Campground, our new campsite for the next 3 days. The park is very well kept and the area feels good. Jodie had finished preparing for Vickie and Steve's arrival for dinner when she noticed a hummingbird land in its nest in the tree outside our door. Both of us have always wanted to see a hummer in its nest and today is our lucky day....and yours too. I got some shots but only one of them has the hummer sitting in the nest. What a great day to be lucky enough to see that little hummer just sitting there.

Vickie and Steve arrived and we had a great time catching up on all the news and ate till it got dark and chilly and late. This is a very lovely campground so we could entertain our guests with the elegance they deserve!! I think Steve likes the RV idea! Maybe we can do a convoy in the future.

June 17th
Andy and I hung around the campground and got ourselves ready for the rally this weekend. Andy washed and waxed the RV....she shines so bright it is hard to look at her! and I stocked the cupboards and cleaned everything

River Valley Cntr parking lot

. Vickie and Steve arrived and took us in Steve's fanastic BMW on great winding roads to the King Estate Winery for dinner. Memorable dining and wine tasting for sure! The hill is so beautiful with the grapes in tidy rows stretching as far as the eye could see. The Estate or mansion sits way on top and is just so lovely in every way. We all enjoyed a meal that was delcious, beautifully served and expertly prepared. Great evening with wonderful friends. I've known Vickie since around 1976(?). I really got to know Vic when she moved in to be nanny to my sons while I ran my fresh fish store in Banksville, NY. She and I have a history that you just don't forget!! The bonding went deep and is still there as fresh and strong as ever! It is wonderful to know someone for so long and get to see how the story unfolds. I am so happy for Vickie and Steve to have found each other. Getting to know Steve is pure delight!

June 18th
Vickie met us back at our favorite parking lot on the river in town and she became our biking tour guide. We biked and stopped for coffee at a cafe on the river. We then continued on to bike through community gardens, playgrounds, rose gardens, forests, and along the Willamette River. Eugene puts the focus on a grand quality of living. So much is built for the people who live here. Andy and I are duly impressed

bike path behind parking lot

! It is totally wonderful here in Eugene. And what a guide! After biking for hours, we all of a sudden are back at the parking lot! Great job Vic!

We all climbed in Vickie's car and off we wento to their house to catch up with Steve before going out for sushi. Their home is lovely with fabulous views and a light and elegant atmosphere. One can see the influence of each in the rooms and patios that welcome you to sit and relax and soak it all in! Off to a sushi dinner "to die for". Eugene has it all! Andy ordered with help from all of us and we ate like kings and queens.

June 19th
Vickie arrived at the RV in Deerwood and we all went on up to the Arboritum just down the road. Andy stayed in the RV to get some computer work done and let us gals have some time together. Vickie and I walked and talked. We could have gone on for much longer but.....she has clients waiting for her to keep them fit and healthy with her Pilates and her attention to physical therapy. Her clients love her and I know why!

After an emotional farewell, Vickie left us and we headed North to Nehalem Bay.

Post your own travel photos for friends and family More Pictures

Delta ponds nature preserve	ranger telling about Douglas Fur reforestatio	Ranger in parking lot with Andy	RV from the bike path
bike path at Delta Ponds	Delta Ponds	Lucky? and friends	bike path
beaver lodge	wild yellow iris	mixed breeding?	Deer Wood RV Park
our site	Deerwood RV Park veggie garden	Andy and Maudie napping in the sun	our site
Hummer sitting on eggs in its nest	Hummer nest	Hummer nest	dinner party with Vickie and Steve
Steve, Vickie and Andy at the buffet	King Estate Winery on the hill	King Estate Winery	grape vines
grapes galore	entrance to restaurant	patio entrance	Vickie becomes our bike tour guide
bike trail	Vic and Andy on the trail	biking along hte Willamette River	willamette River runs through Eugene
homes built on inlets to the Willamette	Indigenous plant green house	indigenous butterfly meadow	peacock blue!
peacock at Eugene's community gardens	Eugene's pet peacock	running paths alongside the bike path	beautiful little ponds along the way
heron	Heron	Vickie	Vickie and Andy
Vickie and Andy	The River from a bridge	Willamette River	Andy and Vic checking out the river
rescue training group	heron fishing	corportation fountain for cooling off in	excellent playground
kids playing in wet sand!	more water fun at the playground	Eugene's rose garden	fabo tree in rose garden
fabo tree in Rose garden2	telling about fabo tree	rose arches	perennial walk
Vickie and Steve at home	view from front door to romantic deck	Meeka	Meeka and Kye
Meeka dn Kye	Steve LOVES his car and his Vickie	Arboritum rec. center	Arboritum trees
Arboritum walking path	turtle at Arboritum	Vickie communing with turtle	Elk herd on route to Eugene
Elk herd	Elk herd

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