On the Road - Day 9

Continental breakfast of muffins, bagels, cream cheese, juice and tea. Chatted with friendly people. Vance washed the windows before we left.

Eugene is a clean, busy, charming city. Went to Trader Joe's and Safeway, then North on 99 to Camping World in Junction City to have water pump checked. Also stopped at Countryside RV interiors, but they can't replace 1984 Class C Minnie Winnie co-pilot chair. Tons of RV dealer and service places in this area. On to Corvallis - 26 miles. Fruit and hazelnut trees in orderly lines. Lush green irrigated fields of wheat and other grains, squash and pumpkins. Benton County is an area of wineries, cut hay and cows ... saw very long lines of train cars for hauling hay and grain.

Interesting irrigation systems above ground look like long winged insects - tires at end and water tank at center. Ten to 12 of these hooked together to water a field. Lumbering - areas of collected logs ready to be milled. Tall commercial blueberry bushes. Hey, Mom, there is a Mary's River in Corvallis! Took Rt. 20 at the junction and headed west to Newport. Went through Philomath where there is a "Frolic and Rodeo" in July. Main street was lined with double hanging flower baskets full of petunias of many shades. Very welcoming. Ah, the smell of fresh cut cedar. The terrain is a wide valley with rolling hills, then we move into steep hills and evergreen forests.

Stopped for one-way traffic through a construction zone, rolled down windows and breathed in delicious air, relaxed during the 15 minute wait before it was our turn to go. A truck with flashing yellow light on cab lead us through the construction zone, and had us stop for trucks hauling debris away. Apparently this 10 mile project is straightening curves out of the road. There will be a big bridge at the other end. Dad! we passed the "Rain Forest Mushroom Company"! Trees grow so close together here, they only have needles at the top, rest of trunk does not get enough light. Saw a deer and spires of lupines - white, pink, purple, blue.

Got into Newport at 4:40 p.m. Fresh ocean air! First RV Park wouldn't take us because they had a 25' minimum for RV length. Second RV Park was full. So we stayed, luckily, at the Port of Newport RV Park, right at the marina. Our "host" directed us to the Rogue Brewery, a short walk away, for dinner where we sat with a great view of the marina and bridge. Food was mediocre. Took photo of bridge at sunset.

Ended at Port of Newport, Newport, OR
Odometer 59,184.5 (113.2) Total: 1041.7