upon exactly entring the state line [ destignated by a sign ] of oregon, i encountered something to be rather strange. a 'plink, plink' coming from the windshield. ah rain, something that had been talked about to come. but as i looked up to the literally sky blue crayon colored lid above me without a cloud in site, i knew it twas not true. then of course it had to be the forward driver, using the washer fluid to clean their shield with some residual arching over the top. but to much of my dismay, as i passed them the 'plink' did not disappear, but yet came more rapidily. bugs! hundreds of them. little gnats, and flys, and mosquitos...death smashing into me. and at only 55 mph [ as it seems that all but perhaps I-5 and I-84 are limited to ], there was still time to see them coming; yet not to dodge. and so goes a greeting that i believe to be hard pressed to find anywhere else...
it was three nights, one day with, and day without dear friend [ and twin like ] meghan for a visit to eugene and the locally surrounding oregon. and though she is a fresh faced, two month old, veteran...an exceptional host and tour guide she has been. from a comfy couch to a wine tasting, delicious food to the ever necessary woody companion the swimming hole [ complete with 15ish foot naturally made, humanly demolished rock ledge to jump from ], and answers for 'why eugene?' [ of eugene skinner, founder ] to 'what should i do tomorrow?'.
i have found 'bodacious corn' and cycled the river row bicycle trail from cottage grove to harms park [ though it does go further, i decided that my 17 miles was enough when i had seen no one else in six miles. ] plus, at harms park was the 'stand by me' bridge! though the tracks have now been paved over for non-motorized pedestrian use, the wood structure still stands and takes on a whole new memory.
perhaps desires for it i had felt, but when there was actually and honestly no one around, it's almost scarier than when you think you see a creeper. it was only the sound of my breath, the swoosh of the air, and the graveling of my tire in contact to the ground. the clink of my gears and the jingle of my zipper...i was all alone. a couple miles of that and i'll call myself lucky to of experienced it, but damned to be missing a face [ friendly or foe ].
generally i do't like to complain because i believe it is substitutio for a willingness to adapt and create, but from the fore-mentioned to the here mentioned, i feel as though i could have some companion complainers [ including said meghan ]...here's is the tail of 'the bathroom'. so i was admittedly warned, though i did not believe the extent of the truth of it. meghan's shower, though plentiful with warm water, will burst onto you as if a dam is breaking. however, after only few moments, the pressure will continually decrease, leaving a dribbling water trail. not such an excellent and refreshing feeling let me assure you. and then to top off the room, the toilet [ gloriously colored seafoam green to match the shower/tub and sink ] does not have the force to completely flush a bowl and takes around, say...an hour to fill back up. leaving us to discuss who had to do what [ #1 or #2 ]. who should go first and whether we should flush or leave to mellow after...
recommendations:
river row bicycle trail. trail head from cottage grove, main street off of I-5. woodsy canopy, remote excercise by a lake, and still little feelings of the rail way that had been. and when done, visit cottage grove proper. and old lumber and railroad town known for its covered bridges and murals.
eat, eat, eat; at the oregon electric station in eugene. either at the cushy lounge chairs or in one of the refurbished railcar dining seating. crab and artichoke dip is amazing. portions are good sized. dimily lit, moody, and lots of after work cocktail drinkers chatting and relaxing.
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