On The Road Again

Okay, enough wallowing in nostalgic woe is me. This morning we got up and drove back over to Atwater. We had breakfast at Jantz Cafe, a fantastic Mennonite cafe that served great food, especially baked goods. Then over to the house to add a few last minute touches to it before heading north. We stopped by Big Lots last night to pick up a door mat, a wall clock, some new little curtains for the plant room windows. We installed all these touches and made a last swing through each room to pick up any last bit of throw aways. Bud stopped by to say goodbye. It was a bit of a misty eyed moment for all of us. We told him if the house didn't sell we might keep it as a vacation home. He perked up, smiled and said, "really!" We also said goodbye to Connie who lives across the street and who told us to give mom her best when we see her. A last look at the house and then we sped off towards the freeway that would take us due north and back to our home.

We made great time, stopping along the way in far northern California. We stopped for lunch at Granzella's a good deli in Williams that also sells olives. They let you taste them too. We also stopped and tasted olives and olive oil at the Olive Pit and the Olive Hut, both in Corning. It was over 100 degrees and the landscape in all directions was dead grass and occasional ramshackle farms baking in the afternoon sun. We drove on passed Redding, Lake Shasta, Mount Shasta, Weed, Yreka and finally, climbing to nearly 4000 feet, the town of Hilt, the last settlement before the Oregon border. "Welcome to Oregon" the sign proclaimed and for the first time in 3 days my tummy stopped flip flopping. After reaching the highest elevation along I-5 the road began a quick descent into Ashland, Oregon, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. 15 minutes later we arrived in Medford for the night. Halfway home. We are stopping here for the next 3 days just to rest and relax, explore the area and take in a couple of shows in Ashland.