Oregon

Saturday, June 11

We left the house at nine o'clock after we had our walk and breakfast. This put us into Battle Ground, Washington at eleven o'clock. That was plenty of time to explore the town, which is actually a suburb of Vancouver. A great expanse of shopping malls and a few restaurants and a produce market or two. We did stop at one and bought a few apples and drooled over a small butcher shop which cut their own meats and made sausage. We really could not buy any meat and keep it refrigerated with certainty while we were gone but we did consider swinging by on the way home for the ground lamb.

At noon we drove up to the Rusty Grape which surprisingly was at the beginning of a loop of Battle Ground . We were offered 2007 Syrah, 2009 Orange Muscat, Moto Rouge Rose (Sangiovese), Rosso Massimo (75% Sangiovese 20% Tempranillo 5% Charbono), and Cabernet Sauvignon 2006. We ran the gamut for the wine tasting which also included a platter of bread, olive oil with balsamic vinegar, prosciutto, and rosemary cheese. It made for a perfect lunch and we bought The Recession Red which was an undefined blend but we preferred over the other offerings.

Rusty Grape Vineyard :

Located in the scenic hills of Clark County Washington just east above Battle Ground, Washington. A casual atmosphere is what we promote and fine artisan wine is what we produce. Our passion and commitment to produce an exceptional wine is evident in our finished product but we truly enjoy a laid back approach to producing and enjoying wine with our family and friends.

Rusty Grape is open throughout most of the year. Join us for a free weekend Wine Tasting, a Vineyard Tour, our Music & Art Events, our Wine Maker's Dinner, or Summer Movies On The Lawn. We're here to enjoy ourselves with friends and to spread our simple philosophy.

We were very pleased with our Living Social coupon with Rusty Grape. We would do this again... with a nice coupon. It is a bit out of the way to go there on a regular basis but it was a very enjoyable adventure. We thought of going to the Farmer's Market up by Portland University but coming from the opposite direction threw us off stride and when we arrived we were face with heavy traffic trying to find parking for the annual university commencement exercises. We decided to hold out for another day.

We continued on to Woodburn and the outlet mall. Woodburn Company Stores is the largest outlet center in the Pacific Northwest with over 85 stores representing big name brands. We set our with the intent to find Rockport shoes and did find walking shoes for both of us plus some sandals, which are her favorite, for Liz. With that accomplished we just browsed for other bargains. A pair of shorts at Under Armour for Liz, some athletic shirts and underwear for me at Hanes, and some knives at Kitchen Collection. Then we stopped at Sip Wine Bistro & Espresso for a glass of wine and panini sandwiches.

251 Then we drove to the Super 8 Motel to check in and scout the area for tomorrow's morning walk. Sunday, June 12

Our walk was absolutely lovely. Our plan was to walk to Centennial Park, a walk of two miles. The park itself wasn't impressive but the trip was. Most of the homes along the route were beautiful and charming. We enjoyed seeing how much land surrounded the houses. It was reminiscent of the size of the lots we saw in the older homes in Tennessee. And there seemed to be a type of “commons” in a neighborhood which centered eight or nine houses in addition to the extensive lots. There were many great homes but a classic structure along the route was the home built by the city's founder.

Woodburn, historically a farming community, was founded by Jesse H. Settlemier in 1889. Woodburn was named for a slash burn that got out of control and burned down a nearby woodlot in the 1880s, after the railroad line had been laid through the area. The city was incorporated by the Oregon Legislative Assembly on February 20, 1889.

The Jesse H. Settlemier House is an 1892 Victorian/Craftsman Home located on nearly 3 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. The backyard is surrounded by a hedge, and features a gazebo offering a private setting for an outdoor event during the spring, summer and early fall months. The House was recorded in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

After a four mile walk we returned to the Super 8 Motel for the “complementary Continental breakfast.” This was pretty simple. Coffee and juice, a basket of individually saran wrapped bagels or muffins, slices of bread for toast, and a bowl of cereal. We ate a little with the knowledge that we would have a lot more calories throughout the day.

We thought we might find a bakery in Mt. Angel but were unable to locate one in the little German village. Then we drove on to find the Oregon Garden Resort and, once located, we drove into Silverton where we walked to the The Gathering Spot and had cappuccino and scones. Then we walked around the shops for an hour before we went back to the resort for Liz's spa appointment. We were too early to check in so we sat before the fireplace and read The Oregonian until one o'clock.

Oregon Garden Resort

The hotel boasts a main lodge, which houses meeting space for corporate meetings, family reunions, wedding receptions and conferences. The restaurant and lounge are also located in the main lodge. The restaurant features sweeping views of The Oregon Garden and the Willamette Valley beyond. Northwest cuisine and wines are highlighted on the restaurant menu and the lounge has live entertainment every evening. The main lodge is also home to Moonstone Spa our

252 full-service day spa.

Our guest rooms are nestled in a series of buildings throughout the grounds behind the main lodge. Each building has six rooms, featuring fireplaces and private landscaped patios or

balconies. Ample parking is available both at the main lodge and around the rooms. Pet-Friendly and accessible rooms are available at the resort.

A heated outdoor swimming pool and hot tub are set behind the main lodge.

As Liz signed in we were able to peruse the menu for lunch which we could share while she was having a pedicure or we could take a to-go package to have later. We decided this was preferred so we selected turkey salad finger sandwiches, a cheese platter, and Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon. We anticipated we would take the lunch to our room. Unfortunately, the room still wasn't ready so we returned to where we read the Sunday papers and had our box lunch there. Still, the room was not ready so we went down to the Oregon Garden to check it out.

As we went into the entrance I showed the woman the entrance pass and she thanked me and tossed it in the trash bucket. I said that it was good until two o'clock on Monday and we wouldn't be able to come back without it. Another girl said she would be working tomorrow and would remember us. I said that was not correct. They dug around through the trash, reading out the names on a dozen tickets, before the first woman found our ticket alongside the cash register.

Oregon Garden

253 The Oregon Garden welcomes visitors with more than 20 specialty and features. You'll discover waterfalls, quiet ponds, fountains, a unique display of conifers, the 400-year old Signature Oak, a Northwest Garden, a pet garden, beautiful vistas and art. The Children's Garden is complete with an in-ground Hobbit house; a tree fort, furniture filled with colorful annuals, perennials and other kid-friendly . Kids should keep their eyes open for a new train display coming soon.

A-Mazing Axis Fountain Axis Garden Bosque Chez Garden Children's Garden Conifer Garden Green Roof Home Demonstration Honor Garden Lewis and Clark Garden Garden The Northwest Garden Oak Grove Oak Grove Rediscovery Forest Rose Petal Fountain Train Garden Tropical House Wetlands Display and Trial Gardens Ball Display and Trial Garden Proven Winners Display and Trial Garden

We walked through the gardens for an hour and then jumped on the tram to get an overall understanding of the total layout. We knew our room key would give us access to the park during daylight, non-operating hours so we looked forward to our morning walk tomorrow. We were very impressed with all the different areas but easy favorites were:

(1) Lewis and Clark Garden is a living museum of the many botanical finds Meriwether Lewis and William Clark documented on their Corps of Discovery’s journey more than 200 years ago. (2) A 25-acre native Oak Grove with many trees more than 100 years old. The 100-foot-high Signature Oak is 400 years old and its massive branches touch the ground in several places. It has been designated as one of Oregon's "Heritage Trees". The first white oak took root an estimated 400 years ago, and now the grove's understory is being returned to its original pristine condition, as the Himalayan blackberry and other non-native species are being removed. (3) The Northwest showcases plants and trees that thrive in the Northwest. Visitors experience meandering pathways through lush garden beds filled with color, texture, form and movement. (4) Children's Garden allows discovery of dinosaur bones in the 'Dinosaur Dig'. Children may pretend they are living in the jungle at the top of the trees in the new tree house. Make believe they’ve been magically transported to the land of the Hobbits, and climb in and over a real Hobbit House. Summer months bring "Saturday for Kids" with hands on activities for kids of all ages. Of course this is still a garden, so wonder at the topiary, watch the furniture garden grow, and figure out why the "weird plants" look like they do.

When the tram reached the lodge we dismounted and were able to check in. Then we drove down to our building and room 326. It was lovely, with a queen-size bed in front of a gas fireplace; a small refrigerator and microwave oven, and a patio with a table and two chairs. We unpacked and then sat outside and enjoyed the remaining wine from lunch. Liz then used the provided iron and ironing board to touch up our silk Mandarin shirts before we returned- to the main lodge for dinner.

254 We selected an appetizer of Roasted Garlic and Hazelnut-Encrusted Goat Cheese with Crostini. To this we added a salad of mixed organic field greens tossed with raspberry Vinaigrette, caramelized hazelnuts, Gorgonzola cheese crumbles, and grapes. The serving of goat cheese was huge and the garlic spread easily on the Crostini. There were chopped tomatoes as well but they seemed to be an afterthought and could have easily been left out.

Liz's entree was Grilled Pacific Northwest Salmon topped with blueberries and a white balsamic ginger reduction. I chose the evening special, linguine with mussels, crab, and Bay scallops. The salmon was served with orzo and was the far better dish of the two. The linguine was good but drowned in too much sauce. Still, we had a delightful, romantic dinner. And after we went to the lounge to listen to a very good guitar player while we enjoyed a Black Russian and a crème de menthe. Then we retired to our room to enjoy the fireplace.

Monday, June 13

By far the prettiest walk we have had in a long time was our sojourn through the Oregon Gardens. As promised, our room key allowed us through the gate behind the lodge but at six o'clock we found that we were the only people on the grounds. There was a very light mist which was so sparse I easily took pictures without worry.

255 And being alone in 80 acres of well maintained gardens was a real treat. We could maintain a good walking pace between the gardens but felt we could slow down and read the tags of unfamiliar plants and trees that peaked our interest. Being a kid at heart, I couldn't help pressing the button to start the train in the Children's Garden but I was delightfully surprised that it actually ran this early in the day.

The Rediscovery Forest took me back to many weeks of my Signal Corps instruction to ROTC cadets in 1968 at Fort Gordon, Georgia. We taught them how to spot a tent so they would be safe from signal vans that might be brought in while they were asleep. We showed them how to maneuver through the woods... and to find the mess tent in the early morning. There were many silly times teaching city dwellers to live and work outdoors. Those were good memories.

Liz and I enjoyed smelling the individual blossoms in the Rose Garden; identifying the various ferns and plants in the Northwest Garden and comparing these to what we find around Lake Waughop on our regular morning walks; and marvel of the ingenuity of the city of Silverton in using excess treated water to create a thriving wetlands habitat for a variety of wildlife and plants. Staying at the lodge and walking through the Gardens in the early morning gave us the feeling of living in an .

Returning to our start point, we went inside the lodge for breakfast. Serving a continental breakfast buffet, they offered steam-table scrambled eggs, pork sausage, and fried potatoes. Of course coffee and juice were being served and one could have granola and yoghurt or cereal. The scones and jam, dessert breads (banana bread ?) and muffins were also an option. We were grateful for the coffee and scones. When finished we took a last cup of coffee and walked to our building, covering the beverage to prevent it being diluted from the now-falling rain.

Leaving the Oregon Garden we drove to Silverton and stopped at Roth's Market to pick up some local cherries we had seen on Sunday but held out to buy on our way home. Liz remembered there were fruit stands on the road too and as we passed Mt. Angel we stopped at a strawberry patch and bought a ½ flat of freshly picked berries. These were full and juicy and at least two weeks earlier than ours may be at the Puyallup Farmer's Market.

Back on I-5, we had only one more stop to make. We wanted to stop at the Bath & Body Works Outlet at the Centralia Factory Outlet Mall. We needed hand soap dispensers but not wanting to make a trip just for that, we normally wait until we will be in the area for other reasons. We had almost run out and this gave us a reasonable opportunity to rebuild our stock. Then we drove back home, our arboretum adventure concluded.

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