This past weekend’s adventure started on Friday (along with AA the co-consultant, along with G the roommate) with an adventure to Ashland, OR. The original impetus behind our weekend trip was a meeting with the CRLA Trust as part of the job. After a brief 2 hour conversation with them, it was on to dinner and a show – Much Ado about Nothing at the outdoor Elizabethan stage, made to resemble the Globe theatre.
It could not have been a more beautiful night to sit out under the stars (in primo free seats) and enjoy a good show.
The next day (Saturday) it was off to Oregon Caves National Monument, a tiny 30 acre national park site hidden in the Siskiyou National Forest. But before we made it there, we made two important stops:
1) For food at a grocery store sized Harry & David store – their Flagship store neighboring their factory
2) A sausage factory and store! Mmm….their freshly made sausage was fantastic and their summer sausage. I think we spent about an hour wander back and forth between their frozen sausages, beef jerky and raw meats just trying to decide what to eat – it was tougher than I ever thought possible. Ultimately we decided, on what to eat and what to buy for the rest of our weekend camping outing. But more importantly AA & I decided that no matter what, we were coming back on Sunday on our way back from the coast to buy some to take home. And no, we did not see sausage being made, just being eaten
Finally, full of meat, meat bi-products, salt and spices we made it to Oregon Caves and took the tour. While the cave was great, it was no Meramec Caverns. But you can see for yourself here
The true highlight of Saturday (other than the sausage) was our camping site. All of the sites from Oregon Caves to the CA coast were completely filled that night (or so it seemed). So we just set out to find a nice spot somewhere in the Smith River National Forest. Who knew you could just plop your tent down anywhere in Forest Service grounds and not have to pay to legally camp? So that’s what we did. We drove up the almost sheer cliff to the highest point and set up our tents. There, AA, Sasquatch and I enjoyed a six-pack and watched the sun set.
Here was the view when we woke up the next morning. The white cloudy parts in the distance (not in the valley), were covering the Pacific Ocean – the coast was entirely fogged in.
After a long drive and a trip past an old red school bus full of furniture we made it to Redwood National Park. Those were some big trees.
I knew you when you were only this big
Damn huggers...no wait, I'm measuring for my new table
Next it was on to the beach – which we knew was fogged in.
Finally, the only thing that could make this weekend (and the car ride home) better, was another trip to Taylor’s Sausage by Oregon Caves. Two polish sausages later, I was in a food comma – who’d a thought only 2 sausages at 4 pm would make me full until lunch on Monday. Glorious sausages.
See photos from Saturday (OR Caves and camping) or Sunday (Big Red Bus, Redwoods & the Coast)
Finally, the only thing that could make this weekend (and the car ride home) better, was another trip to Taylor’s Sausage by Oregon Caves. Two polish sausages later, I was in a food comma – who’d a thought only 2 sausages at 4 pm would make me full until lunch on Monday. Glorious sausages.
See photos from Saturday (OR Caves and camping) or Sunday (Big Red Bus, Redwoods & the Coast)
