My Thoughts: fun time in Oregon/Total Eclipse of the sun

I was in Oregon for a visit. Michael, Eva and I flew up on August 11th 2017 for his mother, Barrie Jones, birthday party on August 12th. We had a good flight, and dad was waiting at the airport for us when we arrived in the baggage claim. He had left mom at Shari's a local restaurant because of lack of room in the car. Was so good to see him. We loaded the car and headed to Shari's to meet mom for lunch. After lunch dad took mom's car home, and I drove his car with the rest of us up to Centrailia which is right next to Chehalis where Larry and Barrie Jones live. We checked into the hotel and then Eva rested while the rest of us went over to their home. Mom and I left to go shopping at Wal-Mart, and Mike took his dads truck to get Eva and we went to the Mexican restaurant for dinner.

Chrissy, Joel, and Tyson drove down Saturday evening. We had gone to the bday party and enjoyed a nice day. Then with C, J, and T went to dinner at the Main Street Grill, good stuff. Then we visited until a bit after Tyson's bedtime, and he stayed in the hotel with mom and I and C and J slept in the car. The next morning we cleaned up, went to the Main Street Grill for breakfast, even better, and then to the Jones for a wonderful, relaxing, visiting day. That night we said good bye to the little family from Orcas Island, aka Chrissy, Joel and Tyson, and the four of us went to a restaurant called Country Cousin. Was decent. Then Monday we visited with Jones, and Tuesday morning mom and I drove back to Hood River to spend some time with dad. Had a great week in Oregon, and instead of meeting Michael at the airport for a flight home on Saturday the 19th, I stayed with mom and dad until the 26th and on Monday morning the 21st we headed out for a 5-6 hour drive to a cabin by dads gold mine claim. Dad had rented the cabin for he and mom, yet had invited Phyllis and Connie but neither could go, so I got to go. We stopped on top of the world surrounded by trees, but had a clear amazing patch where it was just the 3 of us and we watched the total eclipse of the sun. Amazing. Dad had a device that checked the temp in different spots and the temp went down 16 degrees just in the few minutes the sun was covered, it was dark like night was descending. It was crazy, but I am grateful to have seen it.

We had a relaxing time at the cabin. We went to the gold mine so I could see where dad goes all the time. We visited with Gene Chris and Michael LaDuceur who were there to watch also. Then the next day, Tuesday, we went to Max and ?? I am drawing a blank on her name, ugh. we went to their cabin for dinner/BBQ. Had such a wonderful visit. They are so nice. Built their cabin back in the late 70's by themselves and live there 7 months out of the year every year. She was in an accident several years ago and is paralyzed from the waist down. She gets around good, lifts herself up onto her modified 4 wheeler and goes out almost every day.

Wednesday we packed up and went to the Sumptner Drudge, toured, then went to the gift shop. The drove home taking our time and enjoying the scenery.

Pretty much stayed home other than swimming in the mornings, Goes coming to visit, the usual. Then left at 5:30 am Saturday to head towards the airport. Although given the weather in TX the last couple of days we thought I might not. And the airport I flew to on Sat. morn was closed on Friday, and basically closed right after I landed and stayed closed for another 4-5 days...I will talk about Hurricane Harvey in the next blog!! Here are some pics from the adventure

Barrie Jones, 80th Bday Party