Summer time, and the Living is Easy

My sister, Laila, and I felt the need for some quality “Sister’s Time” and so we loaded up the old men and the old dog in the van and headed up the McKenzie Highway.  The weather could not have been more perfect….well, maybe a little cooler.  The sky was cerulean with nary a cloud in sight.  Our high temp for the day was 89F.

One of our favorite drives is up the McKenzie Highway. We traveled this route not too long ago but this time all our stops were different from last time.  We could do this drive many times and still find different places to stop each time.

Today Laila was in search of a present for a parking attendant at the U of O basketball arena.  This lady is always so nice to them and Laila found out she collects Christmas trees. So today our first stop was a quaint and curious shop on the McKenzie Highway in Blue River, OR, called Christmas Treasures.  This store is open year round and has every type of Christmas decoration imaginable.  Laila found what she wanted and Russ put on a happy face!



Not too much farther along, we stopped at Harbick’s Country Store.  This store is next door to and owned by the folks who run Takoda’s Restaurant.  After our last visit to the restaurant, Russ decided we would dine elsewhere today!  More on that a little later.
Harbick’s Country Store is not just a “store”, it’s an experience.  They have a little bit of everything from corn dogs to RV sewer connections.  Knick Knacks and do-dads share space with cereal and lawn rakes.  Of course there are the usual ice cream bars and sodas, but so much more.  It’s great fun just to stop there and look around.



Brian found a way cool hat…but I guess standing under a hanging basket of flowers would make anyone cool!

Our next stop was Belknap Springs but I am going to hold that over for tomorrow along with our lunch stop and skip on over to Clear Lake, our turn-around point for the day.

Clear Lake is an exceptionally clean and clear lake fed by snow melt from nearby Mt. Washington as well as two seasonal streams.  This lake is the headwaters for the McKenzie River and is the only source of drinking water for the 200,000+ people in the Eugene area.  Our drinking water is some of the best in the nation and I can attest to its clean and cold quality.

Linn County runs the old fashioned resort and marina at the lake.  No motor boats are allowed as that might damage the purity of the lake.  The exceptional clarity of the water makes this lake a popular destination for scuba divers (Brr). 

Here ya go Sue and Mo!  Looks like your kind of place.

When I went down to the lake to snap the picture above, I surprised a little water snake and I watched as he skittered quickly over the water.  I wasn’t quick enough with the camera but that little fella could MOVE!

The “Elders” took a rest on the restaurant /office porch.

When Russ has a camera in hand, nothing else draws his attention.

 

I think this boat will not be going in the water again.

Coldwater Cove, a forest service campground is at the south end of the lake.  It has lake access but limited views of the lake from the camping sites.  I didn’t see too many sites that would accommodate an RV over about 24’ but the host site wasn’t too bad.



That’s enough for today, but tomorrow I’ll tell you about Trailbridge Campground, Belknap Springs, and Finn Rock Grill (oh YUM!).  See ya down the road.

The Beautiful McKenzie Highway

Today was nothing but blue skies and sunshine.  We could have used that time to work in the yard but what the heck – the work will still be here tomorrow but the sunshine might not be. So we loaded up the car with the kids – but not the furkids this time – instead our travel companions of the day were my sister Laila, and her husband, Brian.  I apologize to those of you with slow internet connections.  Many pictures tonight, all ones I want to be sure go into my next memory book.  Sorry.

Our itinerary was just a drive up the beautiful McKenzie Highway, route 126 between Eugene and Sisters, OR.   We drove about 130 miles round trip and all we saw would be way too long for one post. 

Our first stop was Hendricks Bridge Wayside.  This is a county park, day use only.  There is a day use fee here but you can stop for 30 minutes without paying a fee.  We have an annual county parks pass so we’re good to go at any Lane County Park. 


This is a great park for picnics and is a popular place for taking out or launching drift boats and rafts.  The McKenzie River is a great river for trout and steelhead fishing and gets  a lot of use by rafters as well.  The river is VERY high right now and the fishing is good.


When the water goes down some, this is a great sandy beach and water play area for families.  Notice that house in the background?


It’s a beautiful view, no doubt, but I just am not sure I would want to live there!


Next stop was yet another fish hatchery, the McKenzie Fish Hatchery. There were only small fry in most of the tanks but the landscaping was beautiful and the flowers simply gorgeous. And it was a good walk.


It seems there are always nice picnic areas at fish hatcheries – have no idea why!












More roses all along the visitor’s center.


Laila confirmed what I suspected – this was a Mr. Lincoln, my favorite rose.


Russ threatened to throw Brian in the salmon holding tank but Brian knew what to do.


There were still some Rhodies in bloom and Brian found one that matched his Duck Colors.

Isn't he just precious?!?!

Russ found a great watering hole.

Unfortunately, I think that’s the spout where the fishies come out!!  They load up the tanker trucks with fish to be released into the streams and rivers.  There is good parking here for all but the largest of rigs.

Our next stop was lunch at Takoda's.  If you are traveling the McKenzie Hwy., this is THE BEST place to stop for a meal.  They serve great food and you can sit outside on their beautifully landscaped patio.

They recently opened a restaurant in Sisters, OR as well.  But do be careful of those plastic chairs on the rough aggregate patio.  Russ went to get up and those chairs do NOT scoot.  One leg got stuck, broke and folded under the chair, and Russ ended up on his keister with the chair seat still attached to his seat!  Luckily he wasn’t hurt but unfortunately, I didn’t have the camera handy.

Gonna have to wrap this up.  We still have the Tokatee Golf Course to visit with its gorgeous views of the snow-capped Three Sisters Mountains.  Then we went on to Sahalie Falls, Koosha Falls, and Paradise Campground.  If you are traveling this way, Paradise is in my opinion, one of the best campgrounds in the state.  But all that will wait for tomorrow.  Hope to see you back here.