Day One - Ashland

For some reason, with gas at a mere $4.25 we decided to drive around the great state of Oregon for a couple of weeks. Not the smartest idea in the world, but then we are not the smartest people in the world.

We actually almost left at our desired time. Michelle's superpower is packing, so she did a lot of the heavy lifting, but then I do most of the driving.

We stopped in Rice Hill for lunch at K-R drive-in, a hole in wall just off the interstate. They are apparently famous for their ice cream. We didn't have ice-cream. Michelle had a massive chili dog (good dog, mediocre chili). I had a burger - one of those drive in burgers that comes in a pouch with finely shredded lettuce. Nothing great, but worth the money. Half way through I realized I was eating a raw tomato. I invoked the deity that I would not succumb to salmonella or some more hideous ailment. I realize that salmonella is not usually life threatening, but I had a friend, Jack, who acquired it in Ecuador. Apparently it was a pretty bad strain, because he nearly died and was severely weakened for upwards of six weeks. So far so good.

I would recommend K-R on your way south, but I suggest you bring your own ketchup. Apparently the substance is a precious commodity. A tablespoon will be doled out to to you for $.25, if you ask the dull looking matron with appropriate supplication.


We made it to Medford and gassed up at Pilot, a kind of Wal-Mart/Gas-Stop/Rest Stop. I was honked at by a man with a 40 foot camper-trailer. I saw him earlier, and apparently he had been driving in circles in the lot for a good 20 minutes. I did not get a chance to check his plates. It was a hideous place. One of those places that makes you think about western culture circling the drain of history.

On to Ashland. We arrived and checked into Timber Lodge. Not a bad place - kind of a 50's motel (no timbers though). Took the dogs to the dog run north of downtown. A fine time was had by all. One of the best dog parks we've seen.

Dinner downtown at Greenleaf. Michelle had a memorable smoked salmon alfredo linguini here about 10 years ago. She had it again. Just as she remembered (she is a little bloated from the dairy).

Now in the Black Sheep, which had free Wi-Fi. Seeing Othello tonight. I haven't seen the play in quite a while. Saw the Verdi opera a few years ago (not a great production) - Verdi's best in my opinion. We were going to see Mid-Summer Night's Dream earlier today, but couldn't get cheap tickets. Ah well - we've seen that quite a few times. Perhaps I'll post a review later.

Oh - and today is our anniversary. Fourteen years ago we both jumped off the cliff together.