June 3, 2013 In Salem, OR, for the Summer Season.

I am going to do a bit of catch-up blogging.  We did the Antioch, CA, to Salem, OR, trip in three nights.  See, I said we were slowing down.  First night we stopped in Redding, CA, at the Elks’ Club so we could visit some long-time friends, Jack and Nancy Reed.  We met them camping at Lake Shasta, just north of Redding, about 40 years ago.  As they were busy during the day, we took a side trip up to Whiskeytown Lake.

 

It is a beautiful lake, but the RVing facilities have always been a bit too slim to spend much time there.  The RV section is a large, sloped parking lot with side ways parking, so it takes two ways to level the rig and it is a dry camp.  The Redding Elks is on the edge of the Sacramento River with water and electric—and a sewer dump. 

The second night we stopped at one of our favorite camp spots, the Valley of the Rogue River State Park located behind the Rest Area.  It is convenient to the freeway and has pine trees!

 

We arrived at the Salem Elks Club the following day and got set up for the next month or two.

Salem works for us in several ways.  We are close to Wal-Mart, Costco, U.S. post office, Great Harvest Bread store,and even A.A.A. We found a convenient laundry mat with large machines and few visitors early in the morning. And most importantly, Larry can use our HMO doctor’s offices for his lab tests and other medical needs.  Plus it is a beautiful city located in a beautiful area!!

This year I am signed up to take a 8-week pottery class at the Willamette Art Center.  I start Wednesday, and I am looking forward to playing with clay and being surrounded by creative potters.  I think it will be fun to learn new techniques and get my hands and clothes dirty.

One of the main reasons we came this year was because my “walks-on-water” daughter-in-law’s family is having a entire-family reunion—which meant our son and his family drove over from Boise, ID.  They offered to come to Salem to see us first.  What a wonderful deal for us!  We only see them every couple of years because Boise, ID, which is HOT during the summer, isn’t on our “fly way” to and from Texas.

Our GRANDdaughter Chelsie and her boyfriend Shawn drove over from Boise too.  Left to right:  Chad, Chelsie, Shawn, Alika, and Natalie.  Chad and Shawn fished the park pond behind our camper while I took Natalie, Chelise and Alika around Salem.

State Capitol building and one of the two water features in the Capitol mall area.

The roses are in bloom in Salem and Portland.  What a colorful time of the year.

This is the paddleboat that gives tours on the Willamette River.  Larry and I are going to take a tour in the next week or so.  We have had rain almost every day since we arrived, so haven’t done much exploring yet.

And here is how we all gathered here at the Elks’ Club.  We were lucky they all brought chairs with them as we only carry two.

Then it was time for them to pack up and leave.  Darn!  They had a two-plus hour trip to Rockaway Beach to meet up with Natalie’s family.  Bye beautiful family.  We will miss you!

I will close with a funny photo—of Larry helping me with the housework.  We washed the sheets and had to remake the bed—a chore I hate, but doesn’t bother Larry.  I wonder why??

We will doing a bit more now that summer has caught up with us here in Salem.  We hope your summer plans bring you peace and contentment!  And make time to try all the fresh fruits and vegetables from your local farmers’ markets. Salem is blessed with several each week.  Life is good!