TrackTown, USA: It was a nice rest day for me, Patient Reader, but My Driver was behind the wheel all dang day. We drove to Portland in the rental car this morning (it's a two-hour trek) to meet our college friend, Dr. Lisa (our daughter is named after her) and her daughter, Hannah, at Jake's Famous Crawfish for lunch. Jake's is a Portland institution and Lisa had not been to Jake's for years, so suggested we meet here. It was a great reunion and a fun time and the seafood was so delicious - fresh salmon. Desserts may have been ordered. After lunch, we went back to Hannah's apartment for a while before reversing our route south to Eugene. Dr. Lisa has decided to relocate to Portland (her old home town). I am so upset we did not take photos! This really is getting to be a problem. I can tell you, we look nearly exactly as we did in college 50 years ago, okay?
The only bummer of the day was the weather. No sunshine today. Typical Oregon summer weather. 60 degrees and clouds. We had some rain on our drive north. I am basically freezing. We arrived back to our RV after 6p - just in time to watch the Giants v Cubs. I baked potatoes for our dinner.
I have only one photo to share tonight. Yesterday, after dropping our RV at the Mercedes dealer, we had a bit of time to kill prior to our luncheon engagement... so we drove a few blocks to the Duck Shop at the University of Oregon football stadium. Again, we couldn't find even one thing to buy. There seems to be a lot of heavy fleece for sale. Even at the NIKE store in Eugene, there was a lot of fleece. If you live in the Coachella Valley, you do not need much/any fleece. But, as we were leaving the shop, I noticed the clerk unboxing Duck garden gnomes! I was so excited.
For years we had a Duck garden gnome. He had a white beard and was holding a football and carried a wooden cane. It was plastic and hollow. Our gnome lived in the home gym of our Portland house. When we moved to La Quinta, I released him to our outdoor verandah and he was the weight to hold the power cord for our Alexa Echo Dot-thing between his feet... so the cord wouldn't slip off the bar cart. (Our gnome really needed a purpose.) However, the desert life was rough on this old hollow plastic gnome. First good storm and he fell to his demise, breaking into 4-or-5 pieces that I could not Humpty-Dumpty him back together again.
Our new gnome is very sturdy, though still some-sort of plastic/resin. Not hollow. He will be able to keep the Alexa power cord from falling off the patio bar cart. He will not shatter if he takes a header. And, best thing, he is not holding a football, so can represent all Oregon students/sports - including track and field. Win-win!
He will also serve as our Duck mascot for the rest of this trip. Within a few days, he will probably have a name/moniker.
The last four days of the Olympic Track & Field Trials begin tomorrow. Don't forget to record the meet, or watch it live each evening on NBC.
Until my next update, I remain, your rested-and-ready correspondent.
Olympic Trials Information:
Meet schedule
Where to watch
Meet results
Campground Information: Premier RV Resorts - A bit confusing, as we have a frequent-flyer discount card, but we would be paying about $78 per night (we have several nights free on this visit with our punch card). The park is full-service, with every amenity (though the pool is teeny) and is very dog-friendly - with a dog wash. Small shop with limited groceries, RV supplies, Duck stuff, ice cream and ice. It is right on I-5 so quite noisy. The most conveniently located campsite for a visit to Eugene, but is isn't really very convenient. We stay here all the time. Like, really, all the time.
Maybe you should buy some of the fleece stuff to help you thaw out!
Love the gnome a real cutie 🥰
My last Duck gnome also bit the dust. 😔