Oregon Trail

So I was lucky enough to spend the weekend in Oregon almost cost-free thanks to Tom's wonderful company Equator. We drove down Friday evening and arrived around 10pm. We grabbed a bite to eat and a beer. I had a delicious blueberry beer - although it was from Maine and not Oregon.

Saturday morning Tom and I walked to a place called Mother's for a delicious breakfast - although in our opinion, the hollandaise sauce was WAY too thick. The lox and imported bagel from New York City was delicious though. Then we drove out to Dundee to see one of Tom's coworker's houses. He was situated just outside the city limits, and had about 9 acres. There was a llama, two sheep, a bunch of goats (one was a hermaphrodite!), a mummified cat that they had found while redoing the house, and three pigs (which have since been slaughtered). The house was really cool, and they were RIGHT next to vineyards. From there we got some snacks and headed for some wine tastings of Oregon's famous pinot noirs.

We tasted at one place, then headed to another and ate our lunch of bread and cheese and salami. Then one more place in a small town advertising next weekend's Rocky Mountain Oyster Fest. The non-Americans in the group had no idea what they were! We stopped at a local brewery called McMenamins in a small town which was adorable and we sat on the roof. It was 90 degrees outside which made me very happy.

Eventually we wound our way back to Portland and had an ok dinner at a place called Higgins which was right near our hotel.

Sunday we got up early and ate at the hotel (Heathman Hotel). The breakfast was actually quite fantastic. Then we drove on 26 to the coast. We stopped a few times to see giant trees and forestry machines of old. Then we got to Ecola State Park and walked a bit, but it was rainy and windy and cold. We at lunch at a D- type of restaurant called Lumberyard and then I headed on my long drive back home.

Oregon was BEAUTIFUL! I can't wait to go back and explore more.

Pictures can be seen at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/amyhodgman/OregonTripWineCountryAndTheCoast?feat=directlink