On our way to Portland - Aug 27 - Aug 29

Mon - Honda serviced with new oil, tires rotated

Tues - filled up with gas 14458 mileage

Wed, Aug 27 - Left home at 8:55am

Stopped for a Starbucks break where Pam took the drivers seat

Weed - 1:30pm filled up gas at Chevron $4.079/gal - 9.291gallons -14701 mileage - 33.1 mpg 

Norm took the drivers seat and drove the rest of the way to Medford.  

Arrived at 3:00pm at Inn at the Commons when the room was ready - perfect timing!  After unloading, we visited the Harry & David factory store.  Lots of yummy chocolate treats that I was tempted to buy but they would melt into little blobs in the car by the time we got home.

Another relaxing stop at Starbucks then Norm and I shared a Subway sandwich back in the room.  We didn't have much sleep last night so we're kicking back tonight.

Thursday - Aug 28

After a full breakfast, left the hotel at 9:50am - on to Crater Lake

Bought Norm a T-shirt and Crater Lake placemat in the gift shop:

Entering Annie Springs Entrance:

Wizard Island:

This trolley was driving around the lake - had to snap a photo:

Norm found some artistic trees:

We drove around the West Rim Drive.:

Leaving the North Junction:

Traffic (or lack of it) is great! 

Bend, Oregon - Deschutes Brewery:

We each got 4 free tastes.  Norm was in 7th Heaven...

Narry a size 3x in sight:

Whoa!  I didn't realize that beer is as expensive as wine:

Sisters, Oregon - Bought gas at Chevron - 34.2 mpg

$3.96/gal - 274.9 miles - 7.816 gal

Took a "short-cut" on highway 242 which turned out to be a real windy road but lots of scenery and acres of lava rock on our way to Belknap Springs.

Crazy bicyclists "sharing the road".

Couldn't believe the acres and acres of lava rock...

Walking up the steps to the lookout:

Two goats were laying in our path. At first I thought they were there as a photo op but they turned out to belong to two guys that we're visiting the observatory too.

This was at the top:

The hikers with their dog and two goats walking down the road to nowhere:

Turning off highway 242 to Belknap Hot Springs just a couple of miles down the road:

Such cute carved bears at the lobby entrance.  I 'd like to take him home:

Somebody really enjoys carving bears...

Norm checking in - $7/hr to enjoy the 104 temp mineral pool - so worth it!

The hot spring pool was next to the flowing spring which sounded beautiful in the background.  Lots of greenery and flowers - real relaxing place.

Arrived at the Best Western Grand Manor Inn, Springfield, Oregon - Checked in to our hotel room and crashed for the night (thanks to the relaxing mineral bath today).

Friday - Aug 29

Another good night's sleep and full breakfast...we left the hotel at 10:20am - for Starbucks...then found the visitor center down the street:

What a layout inside! Really fun...

Pam had to pretend she was on the chair lift:

Lots of recent road construction - thankfully they had finished and unlike in California... We seem to be alone on the roads:

King Estate Winery:

Purchased one bottle of Chardonnay:

Sweet Cheeks Winery - love the name!

Interesting art:

Purchased two bottles of Viognier:

We visited Domaine Meriwether Winery.  Liked the wine but didn't buy any.  We did though get a dirty car from the dirt road.

The inside was really nice with strings of lights hanging around the room - real party atmosphere.

Then we visited the Benton-Lane Winery:

Purchased a cap for Norm and a bottle of Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc:

The last wiinery was Tyee Wine Cellars also down a dirt road:

Whoa...guess the wine tasting is making me a bit frisky!

Purchased one bottle of Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer:

Traffic looked to be at a stand-still heading out of Portland - we were soooo glad to be driving the other way:

After checking in to our hotel room (for the next 3 nights) at The Marriott Fairfield Inn, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at a local brewery:

Wine...Beer...yummy food....think we're headed for another good night's sleep.