postcard 26 june 2011

about to leave eugene, headed for crater lake (oregon). not sure what i'll actually find there or what i'll be able to do as last night's forest service report shows that the campgrounds are still closed (due to snow) as well as the hiking trails (bring snow shoes or cross country skis) . . . there is one group of cabins open but i'm not sure i want to go that route or if it's even an option. 6 of the 8 roads are open but the two that are closed are the ones that get you toward the top. i understand that crater lake is one of the national parks that is usually the latest to be completely thawed, anyway, so i should have been better prepared for this news after wyoming, montana and idaho. oh well, i'll just have to see where this leads - that's been the great part of the adventure so far.

i had such a wonderful time the last few days in oregon. thursday evening i was with my friend aimee in portland then friday i got to hike the oregon coast for 2 hours in perfect weather, then friday night and saturday/ saturday night and this morning with my friends laurie, corbett and their most amazing "baby" maeby. i honestly cannot remember the last time i laughed so hard and was with a group of people as engaging, intelligent, funny, unassuming and less self-absorbed with such great conversation and banter since i was in new york in the 70s. i was more of a fly on the wall, in awe, but it was wonderful. my ribs hurt this morning as if i'd done a major upper body workout yesterday. it was the perfect "workout" for the soul and heart.

yesterday afternoon, laurie and i went to king winery outside of eugene in lorrane, oregon. the day could not have been more beautiful, the food more perfect, the view more stunning and to get to enjoy it all with one of my best friends was simply a gift (and our friends angela and michelle j (mj) were with us in spirit - it is next to impossible to be in a place like that - especially with the wine and vineyard - without their "being" with us).

also, very monumental occasion yesterday evening when sock monkey and hanes got to meet. quite emotional for us all. needless to say, they hung out together all evening and hanes even got into some monkey business. that is nancy's fault.

laurie and i are off to grab some coffee and maybe a bit of breakfast while i get the oil in my car changed. hard to believe i've already gone almost 5,000 miles. 5,000 amazing miles. so many incredible experiences - many of which i would have, at one point in my life, considered nightmares.

today is my younger sister's birthday. even though we're all in our 50s now, it's hard not to "see" her as my baby sister. and i can just hear my dad singing 'hippo birdies 2 ewes' to her as he did to us all. boynton must have made a fortune off of dad!