Wednesday, August 22, 2007 – Harrisburg OR

Our second day in Harrisburg, OR. In case you haven’t checked your atlas, Harrisburg is roughly half-way between Corvalis and Eugene and about 70 miles from the Pacific. The Willamette River runs through here on its way to Portland and the Columbia River. The valley is home to many Oregon wineries. Unfortunately, there aren’t any close to our campsite.

So what is in Harrisburg that would make us stop here for two nights? Answer: The Monaco Coach Service center. Although we couldn’t get an appointment until November 11 (no, thanks), it is the source for motor-home-unique parts, i.e., the windshield wiper dash switch controller. As you may recall, our wipers started acting intermittently several days ago. We had a few bad moments heading south on I-5 out of Washington when we ran through brief showers, fog and mist. Fortunately, the wipers would wipe every few minutes or so which kept the windshield semi-clear.

When we got into Oregon the rain / clouds cleared, and it was sunshine from there south. Today it’s sunny with scattered clouds, lovely cool breeze and temps in the low 70’s.

I was able to purchase the windshield wiper switch and replaced it successfully. Maintenance is now complete – at least for the moment. Like a house, it seems like there is always something to fix, modify, or improve. Being on wheels changes little.

We have made reservations in Vacaville, CA, for this week-end and will be meeting with our friends, Harold and Carolyn from Torrance, CA. We knew them while living in LA all those years ago. Both are retired police officers. He is an avid skeet shooter and is traveling to a meet in Grant’s Pass, OR. We missed seeing them last year and are looking forward to this get-together.

M. The other evening when the three young deer arrived in the McGuires’ backyard for their repast of cracked corn, I saw one young buck interested in something at his feet in the grass which I could not see. I thought perhaps was a fawn.

It was a young cat, not kitten but not yet adult. The cat, tail in the air – which means no fear, walked off followed by the buck a couple steps behind. They disappeared behind the house, the deer to reappear again a few moments later.

The next morning while Suki and I were out for a stroll, the young doe appeared from behind a group of trees. She stood, flicking her ears but otherwise not moving. Suki was lying in the grass, enjoying the sun and breeze, sniffing all the rare and wonderful scents and did not see her. They finally made eye contact and watched each other, alert but neither afraid of the other and completely ignoring me. So beautiful. She finally ambled off and was joined by another youngster before they disappeared into the brambles.

The photo today is Shell and Wayne resting during our visit to the Master Gardener Demo Garden in Sequim last Friday. (Wayne’s on the right.) Scary how they are starting to look alike and not even be related! M. Appearances are not the only similarity!