Day 17 – March 29, 2016I had a fitful sleep due to many dreams aka nightmares and thoughts from yesterday’s winding and climbing.
Gosh knows, I am glad that day is behind me.
We had a very simple bite to eat for breakfast at the hotel then got on the road.
We decided to take Hwy. 199 to Grants Pass OR, then meet up with I-5, instead of going along the coast of Hwy. 101.
Why, oh why did we do that?
Facing such a narrow, winding mountainous road again and so early in the day was almost too depressing to handle.
It should have taken us a little under two hours to arrive in Grants Pass, but it was closer to three hours because my own personal speed limit was drastically less than the posted one, along with pulling into an abundance of places called “turn-outs”, which are convenient areas to pull over to let speed demon people pass slow drivers like myself.
TODAY’s TRIP
I am very close to flying back to Florida from Seattle, spend more time with the kids and let Han get in some driving time because me and my control freak self has only willingly handed over the wheel once so far and I am literally quite sick of thinking about driving through more mountains. Who would have ever thought the US is practically all mountainous? Heck, I guess I never gave it much thought. I have learned I am a true “flatlander” and have zero problem in admitting this.
“Turnouts are for us scaredy cats on the mountain roads too afraid to go over the speed limit. We gratefully pull over and sweat for a few minutes while everyone thankfully passes us.”
Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/automotive/809478-turn-outs-do-you-know-what.html#ixzz44RUXjQzJ
The strangest and most glorious thing happened the moment we entered Oregon. The road drastically straightened out more and there were no more drop offs down mountain sides or to river beds, just lush tree lined roads. We pulled over to witness some natural beauty at the bridge of “Rough & Ready OR.” It instantly felt chilled and laid back. It felt like Oregon opened her arms to welcome us home.About 10 minutes north is the town of Kerby, where you will find a marvelous fairy tale land of gnomes, magical animals, treehouse’s called, “It’s a Burl.”
The young man (and four of his friends) are keeping his grandfather’s dream alive that began 30 years ago.
If you don’t walk around this place with your face into a gawk expression, then not sure what will do it? LOL
Everywhere we turned was something new to admire and slightly envy from the sheer beauty of it all.
Check it out below and see why we wish we’d had more time to explore.
http://itsaburl.com/garden-gallery
As it was time to grab some lunch, we decided on Shari’s Restaurant and Pies in Grants Pass, just before going on Interstate 5 North. Wow, is all I can say. I was just expecting to grab a quick bite to eat, but was pleasantly surprised by the great lunch we were served.; smoked salmon chowder! By the way, they have free wi-fi.
Jumped onto I-5, it was more mountains with many semis, but at least I had room to maneuver around traffic and was not as horrendously winding as the previous Hwy. 199.
We were just going along, chatting to each other when in a split second all that peacefulness changed.
Two cars occupying both lanes behind us (actually a van behind me) were racing down the 6% grade mountain side, the van literally forced me off the road or they would have rear-ended us because they were definitely not attempting to pass, slow down or go around. It’s like he did not even see me or was simply insane and playing chicken? I laid on the horn, since the area I had to swiftly pull over, going from 65 mph to stopping, had road workers near their van, so wanted to alert them. I slowed down as fast as I could without losing control or running into the workers, while fighting Han for the wheel since he grabbed it, not knowing what was going on behind us. We stopped about one car length away from the workers and the two insane drivers just kept going on their desire to kill or be killed.
It was not possible to speed up around the curve, or at least I was not comfortable fearing I would flip the car.
I am about positive that is the closest call I have ever had with death on the highway, without actually wrecking.
I really don’t know what is wrong with people nowadays, but it sure is making me nervous to be on the road with obviously too many morons. I was instantly thankful for my years with Fedex and retaining the important habit of constantly scanning your mirrors as you drive. Had I not looked back when I did, I am fairly sure the present outcome would not have turned out well as it did.
I am about positive that is the closest call I have ever had with death on the highway, without actually wrecking.
I really don’t know what is wrong with people nowadays, but it sure is making me nervous to be on the road with obviously too many morons. I was instantly thankful for my years with Fedex and retaining the important habit of constantly scanning your mirrors as you drive. Had I not looked back when I did, I am fairly sure the present outcome would not have turned out well as it did.
(I have thought about this episode many times since this happened, and I have assured myself there was nothing else I could have done and I made the best decision at the moment. Which honestly I should not have even questioned myself, since we lived to see another day.
After that, I was just intensely thankful and happy to just be in the moment, and looking forward to our next town.
We had every intention of staying in Eugene but I saw a town that said, “Cottage Grove” and thought it sounded more my speed, which it delivered more than expected.
We drove around, passed by a little resort called “The Village Green”, turned around, inquired about the price and the deal was simply too good to pass up, so we checked in, saw our room, decided right then to stay an extra night and will tell you more about it tomorrow. I will say just picture a place from the 60’s where you would vacation with your parents. I can easily picture “Dirty Dancing” being filmed here. It is so quaint, old school and homey.
We had dinner in the resort restaurant. Han is not easily impressed with food but he was tonight. Not only was it perfectly prepared and delicious, it was also a feast to the eyes. He called the chef “ambitious” and accomplished.
I ordered Crab-Stuffed Rainbow Trout and Han had the New York Steak. I shared a portion of mine with Han because it was an overly healthy amount of food. We had some California Moonstone Chardonnay and I was tipsy at one glass. We had excellent service too and when we finished we casually strolled back to our room and relaxed. This is the life. 
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