Where have we been?!?! It seems like ages since we took the time to get a few pictures and stories here. Perhaps – because we have been soooo busy;-)
Golf was the story in Sisters/Bend and the Shakespeare Festival was the story in Ashland. Our good friends – Priscilla and Steve – have become great supporters of the Festival and encouraged us to join them. So, we found a parking place for Magic at Emigrant Lake just outside of Ashland – where beautiful mornings and evenings were enjoyed.
A beautiful sunrise at Emigrant Lake in Ashland, OR.
Then – off to plays. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) began in 1935 and has grown to producing eleven plays on three stages during a season that lasts from mid-February to early November. While it does include Shakespeare’s plays, it has also included 341 non-Shakespeare plays since 1960. Thank goodness for the two of us;-) Although Gary did consent to ONE Shakespeare play along with the 4 new, experimental plays.
The set of the Merry Wives of Windsor at OSF.
Fortunately, we were prepared for the evening from our Deer Valley concerts – as this play was on the outside Elizabethan stage and it POURED – –
The rainstorm soaked the actors but we were dry.
Of course, there was a visit to the Saltmarsh Ranch to see what the Weaver’s have been up to out there as well as several lunches, dinners and morning ‘Coffee Talks’ put on by the OSF with them. Many thanks to Priscilla and Steve for encouraging us to spend more time in Ashland – and for their hospitality.
Time always goes so quickly – as it did here. Magic was packed up and after another travel morning we were at Bandon and ready for another annual golf outing with the Malone’s;-) Yet another year when the “Weather Gods” blessed us with unbelievable clear skies and warm days. Now if we could just get the “Golf Gods” to bless us with unbelievably GOOD golf – this trip would be perfect!!
The highest point on the Bandon Trails links with Jim and Rebecca Malone.
The landmark dead tree on the Old MacDonald Links.
Beautiful scenery from just about every hole. Notice – NO jackets!!
Four of these bandits were ransacking one of the trash bins when we returned from dinner one evening.
And then – another five days have passed and the stay in Bandon is over – –
A gorgeous farewell sunset during our last night in Bandon.
Another new experience – a trip down a portion of the Oregon and Northern CA coast that had not been traveled before. Of course there were stops for coffee breaks, lunch or just looking at the scenery and playing in the surf along the way;-)
Working our way south en route to Santa Rosa, CA…
…we found lots of great scenes…
..took time to enjoy the sounds of the surf and wildlife…
..and almost got washed off of a rock.
And then – amazingly – the scenery turned from ocean to Redwoods in an instant. Magic (and we) got to camp among these ‘Old Guys’ one night.
Ahhhh!! Just the type of road we LOVE.
Next stop – Santa Rosa to meet up with more good friends – and a little golf along the way. Our caddies in Bandon gave us a tip about a little 9-hole course just north of Santa Rosa on the Russia River and designed by Alister Mackenzie (Augusta National & SpyGlass) that we HAD to check out. And – so we did. Beautiful – and funny;-)!!!!
This sign greeted us on the 2nd hole of the Northwoods Golf course;-)
Beautiful course – but, Gary ricocheted off of a lot of redwoods here.
We enjoyed the company of several friends while in the Santa Rosa area. Monday night was a lovely dinner with Pam & John in Sonoma and Tuesday was spent with Suzy and Rick in a whirlwind day of golf at Sebastopol, lunch at Bodega Bay, a wonderful walk through the Armstrong Woods and a lovely, relaxing dinner at their home.
More redwoods with friends Rick and Suzy.
This red tail hawk suspended itself in an air draft at the top of a cliff near Bodega Bay.
A very unique hotel whose rooms are Airstream travel trailers.
Wednesday afternoon and evening were spent with our old neighbor from Park City – Larry – at his new home in Sebastopol. A true tree house – –
Larry’s beautiful new home in the middle of a redwood forest.
We had to hug one the trees growing up through his deck.
And so went the last two weeks of our Summer adventures! Oh yes – there is one last weekend – with the ‘Shoe Crew’. More on that later;-)
E & G & Magic winding down the summer
Elizabeth & Gary's Magic Bus Tour 