We are back in Portland and are spending our last days of this trip in the sun. We rented some bikes yesterday to see parts of the city we haven’t before. And we found a great place along Alberta Street. Small shops, art galleries and great food. In the evening we went to a whisky bar (Multnomah Whiskey Library). This was very much fun because the bartender was very patient suggesting us drinks we would like.
Tomorrow we are heading back home. See you all very soon!
When driving from Eastern Oregon back to Portland and passed a diversity of landscapes. First of all the Strawberry mountains, then Canyons with colorful rocks, a huge plateau with grasslands and windmills and in the end we came to the Colombia River Gorge. This is an impressive river by itself but additionally there are some picturesque waterfalls.
We spent one night in a tiny town called John Day. The two museums in town were closed so we had to go out of town to see things. The landscape around the town is amazing and the gorgeous Strawberry Mountains are located close by. Despite the cold (below 0 at night) we went for a hike into these mountains. It was freezing at first but we got warm when walking uphill. And then we came to this lovely lake called Strawberry lake. The water was frozen at the edge but it was warm in the sun.
This post wasn’t supposed to take so long! But I am not going to blame anyone or make bad excuses. Let’s just say life is not always fair… but here it is:
I had been locking forward to this moment for some time. And the sight of the first painted mountains was amazing. They are very unique. Unfortunately, shortly after we arrived, a park ranger came and said that the park is closed and we could not be there. But we realized that he does not really like to tell people to leave. He let us wander around in the park for a while because we had come such a long way. Thank you!
The different color layers are volcanic ash that has oxidated with time.
We did not want to drive around in the US like crazy. But that is exactly what we are doing right now. On one hand this country (we have only visited two states and yes they are two of the bigger states) is very large. In Switzerland we think twice if we have to drive for like 20 minutes. Here a 4h drive is normal. And I can see why this is the case now. I already new this, but you easily forget these things, when you live in tiny country.
Oregon has approximately the size of the United Kingdom or Ecuador. Especially in the Eastern part you have to drive far to see things. And now the situation gets even more complicated because the government closed down all national forests and parks, because of a political game. I might not understand what is going on here, but I don’t really get the point of all this. People who don’t get payed, parks closing down and then they get payed to check that nobody enters the parks…
Anyway we did not go to Crater Lake and headed directly to Bend. Here we spent two nights going to the Bend Film Festival, finding new coffee roasters and walking in the desert. Today we drove again for several hours (I don’t even dare to tell you how many) and visited the most exciting place of all times. But I won’t tell you until next time!
We have crossed another chain of mountains and are now in a town called Klamath Falls. The changes in vegetations are dramatic. We have come from rain forests to a Mediterranean mountains and are now entering Oregon’s dry side. It is also called Oregon’s Empty Quarter, because there are fewer people and also fewer tourists. But actually one third of Oregon is desert.
We have spent one rainy day in Eugene. It is good to come back to a place you have been before, when you are traveling. I start to feel tired going to a new place every day trying to figure out where to sleep, where to eat, where to go next,… Don’t get me wrong, all is still fine here and were are off to new adventures, but well I guess I look forward to go home, soon.
I met my Professor and a collaborator from my time at the university, and Mosby the cat. It was good to see these people after such a long time. There are so many little things you forget about people you haven’t seen for a long time.
Yesterday I tried to show Mr. K. Eugene. But I think he was a bit disappointed. Well there is not so much to see, I must admit. No offense, there are a few nice places, but not Eugene downtown. Finally, we went for a pice of cake to Sweet Life. I have waited 5 years for this moment. They still make the best cake!
It is autumn here. The leaves turn yellow and red and the temperature has dropped. In hope to get a last bit of summer, we drove all the way to Ashland today. This is in Southern Oregon at the Californian border. The vegetation has changed a lot, it’s drier and sunny. But the air is cold. From here we will cross the Cascade Mountains and go back to Portland through eastern Oregon. A burning desire of mine!
From Portland we have traveled down the Coast to Eugene. I just love this misty coast and we were really lucky with the weather. Two days full of sunshine! I have already been to part of the coast but these lovely endless dunes were new to me. And we had them to our own.
We have arrived in Eugene, where I spent four month working on my master thesis. This was 5 years ago. At lot is still the same. But we discovered some new cool places. Unfortunately the weather was a bit wet today, but it’s supposed to be nice tomorrow.
I have finally done it! I went to a Yoga class in Portland. After 5 weeks doing nothing really. I don’t count walking between 10’000 and 20’000 steps a day. It was a great Hatha Yoga class with 12 people. The class was for all levels but I was surprised that I have not become as stiff as a stick yet!
I think we were very lucky with the weather in Seattle. It was only raining half of the time. The owner of the boat we lived on called the weather interesting. I guess it should always be raining, this time of the year.
On Thursday we took the train from Seattle to Portland. It took 3 hours and 40 minutes. I thought it would be a long train ride, because by that time you can cross Switzerland diagonally. But the train ride was short. Maybe we have developed a different feeling of time. A girl sitting behind us was constantly on the phone trying to get some information or transaction done. I didn’t get it. But by the end we reached Portland we new all her personal details.
It feels good to be back in Oregon. Portland is treating us well with blue sky sunshine and the temperature is back in the 70’s now. So far we have wandered around in the city, checking out coffee shops, stores and eating lunch in a park in the sun.
