Green, Green, Wet (And Did I Mention Wet?) – Eugene, OR
You can’t be in Oregon, especially not this side of Oregon without developing a very intimate relationship with rain. It reminds me of an encounter I had last year while walking Polly right here at Armitage County Park in Eugene, OR. It was raining, of course, so I huddled up in my waterproof gear and forced myself outside. Halfway through my wet walk I met a young gentleman w/ pooch and struck up a conversation.
“How about this rain” I observed, stating the obvious (my many years in England having honed this approach as the perfect conversation starter)
“What rain?” replied the guy rather puzzled “Oh this…” he dismissed, waving his hand around in the steady downpour “This isn’t rain. Noooo, you ain’t seen rain yet” he added, with a knowing chuckle
As they say the Eskimos may have 100 words for snow, but that don’t compare nothin’ to the Oregonians spectacularly broad view of rain. We came to understand the gentleman as we travelled along the OR coast last year and we were happily re-introduced as we entered Eugene last week-end. This is Western Orgeon baby and if you ain’t prepared for rain, you ain’t prepared to be here.
But there’s a beautiful side to all this too. It is GREEN here, and by green I mean deep, luscious, thick, sweet-smelling über-rainbows of green. If you’re patient and wait for the weather to break you’ll be rewarded with brilliant bursts of aroma and color. It’s almost like seeing sunlight for the first time after a long winter…the earth is vibrantly alive and you soak it all up like a long, beautiful kiss.
We’ve been hanging in our favorite County Park, huddling inside during the downpours and speeding out to take advantage of the breaks. Eugene is a great little university town with excellent outdoor hiking/biking (our fav hike is the scenic 5-mile Spencer Butte), a fabulous weekly Farmer’s Market and some pretty cool restaurants (this time around we sampled Belly thanks to a tip from our RV friend Jil -> great local restaurant!). It’s also a popular RV crossroads. Our blogging buddies Where’s Weaver recently passed through here (we just missed them!) and local part-timers Travels In Therapy came out to the rig for an afternoon chat (great to meet you guys!).
Oh and the other thing about OR weather is that it’s the perfect place to figure out if you have any leaks in the rig. One of the many reasons we come to Eugene is to take advantage of the excellent RV services in the area, especially our outstanding friends at Elite RV Repair. We’ve got a few things going on with them that I’ll write about in another post.
But in the meantime we’re taking advantage of the indoor time and making the most of those rare outdoor moments. It may be the end of spring in Western Oregon, but the weather is only just beginning!
It was fun meeting you and Paul and Polly. We enjoyed our chat very much. Thanks for all the good information about San Diego…gonna have to check that out for sure!
Sure enjoyed meeting you too!
Nina
Oh yes the Rain, we are getting it also just before you. we are in Coos Bay, Oregon. We will be heading to Florence tomorrow and it looks like we have rain in the forecast. It has rained on and off all day here. We too are hunkered down. Not sure if I like all this rain and no sunshine. We are from Arizona were the sun shines most everyday of the year. Try to keep dry and chat with you later. Brenda & Curt
Yeah it’s something else when you’re used to the desert. We had a whole winter of dry weather in the SW and it’s kinda nice to see the rain right now, but I’m sure I’ll get tired of it real soon. Hope it stays dry enough for you to get some nice days out in Florence!
Nina
I do know the rain there intimately…why we left the coast…but I am confused…I was under the impression that you are on the Western side of Oregon…Eugene etc and I am now on the Eastern side of Oregon…Baker City, Joseph etc….so where are you really 🙂
YES we are on the Western side…typo in the blog (DUH!). Just corrected it.
Nina
and one more thing…it is raining here too 🙁
Rain, it’s just liquid sunshine!
I like that analogy!! Nina
The green. I’m up in western Washington and we often remind ourselves that all this rain is so everything will be green, after awhile it doesn’t help & we go down to Portland or Eugene for some good weather!
Seriously, I’m really hoping we get a summer this year, I can use a break from the rain.
Enjoy Eugene & keep posting!
We used to joke about the green when I lived in England too! I sure hope it doesn’t last all summer. It’s nice with rain once in a while, but that sunshine sure does make life more beautiful!
Nina
Supposed to get some sun Saturday and Sunday – sure hope so. I have webs between my toes and I can waddle like a duck but I sure am getting just a wee bit tired of the rain. Need some sunshine!!
You were right on with the forecast. It’s been SOooooo nice to see the sun this week-end. Nina
Please send some rain our way. We will be forever grateful and send you some sunshine. 🙂
I will do my best 🙂
Nina
Great post, you certainly are a talented writer..loved the descriptions….
Thanks! I do love writing!
Nina
Your correct Nina. We have to make the best of it. As I look out the MH window, I see a very strange shape in the sky. It is round and very bright. It is only 6:30 a.m. Paul and I are wondering if this could actually be what the rest of the company call the SUN. Oh we sure hope so.
LOL…SUN it is!!! We had a WHOLE day of sunshine yesterday and it’s here again today…whoo hooo!
Nina
Having been born in Portland and living there for several years, then coming back with my bride on our honeymoon, and then returning again several times, including four years of extended visits after retirement, I can definitely say that Eugene in only slightly east of the coast, and certainly not Eastern Oregon. But I see someone else beat me to it, so please disregard my comments. However, I will agree that Eugene is in a splendid part of that wonderful state!
Yup…total goofball mistake on my part. Hubby calls me directionally challenged and I have to admit the whole East-West thing still stumps me at times…amazing, but true. It’s been corrected now 🙂
Nina
I give up. How did someone take that photo of you in black and white with only your drink in color?
Don
I use my special “food” camera. LOL….photoshop helps too..
Nina
From Grants Pass to Astoria, rain was the main event as we cruised along the Oregon Coast last April and May. We thought it is already sunny there, hmm but you are right it is green and wet yet beautiful. Your description made a dreary day exciting. There were days that we just hunker down but most of the time we just brave the rain.
Rain is still with us more so now that we are in BC, we now forgot what it feels to be in the sunshine.
We’ve finally got some sun here today so I’m hopefull Summer season is well underway.
Nina
Well Polly looks happy, that’s all that matters…right??? lol Sunny here in McMinnville, Or.. this fine Sat. We were headed for Idaho, but, the Little Woman woke up Thurs with severe pain in her jaw, (TMJ) or ( just a tooth ache?) So off to the dentist Fri morn, she has an infection going on caused by the TMJ. So a week of meds and recheck next Thur. How soon till we get pics of the Lighthouse!!!!!
Polly is always a happy doggie…rain or shine 🙂
Sorry to hear about your DW’s infection!! Do hope it gets taken care of quickly.
Nina
…it rained all night the day I left, the weather it was dry… hello Nina & Paul from Steve & Gari east of the Chesapeake Bay!
Hey guys!! You are quite a few miles away from us, but in a lovely area. One we have yet to visit!! Hoping to make it out there possibly next year.
Nina
http://birdingrvers.com/
Nina, when I read your blog about workkamping in Oregon I knew I had read about some other bloggers working at Cape Blanco last year–I stumbled across their blog tonight and they are back at Cape Blanco–the above link should take you to their blog–you can go back to last summer and read about how much they enjoyed their job!
Cheers! A few other blog readers gave me the same link so I’m off to check out their blog and send them a message. Love how tight the RVing community is!!
Nina
Hi Nina,
Be ready for rain, lots of rain. Although a sunny day at the beach is spectacular and all the more appreciated after days and days of rain and fog.
What I like about the rain in Oregon is the beautiful green of the fields and forests and how full it makes the waterfalls.
FYI, people who live in Oregon are called Oregonians not Oregonites.
Susan
Thanks for the correction!! Updated the blog post w/ the right terminology. I DO love the colors & light effects you get after rain on the coast. Had a blast last year taking those shots and looking forward to more of them this year.
Nina
I love Oregon. Even with all the different kinds of rain.
Me too…it really is a wonderful State. Nina
We can hardly wait to get to Eugene and because it is so dry here, rain is sounding pretty good to us. Love the photo of you in Belly’s and also would love to know how you did that! As always, enjoying your blog and the many tips you are giving us.
A little photoshop magic on that one…create a black and white photo, but mask out the drink.
You guys will definitely get to enjoy the moisture up here. It’s nice and cool too…averaging 65-70 degrees daytime and 45-50 degrees overnight.
Nina
I totally love the Oregon climate and the lush forests. I think it would be my first choice if I ever settle down in a stick-and-brick. The rain always lifts my spirits…can never get enough of it!
The rain is not prepared for the people, you must say. Hehe Those colors really are luscious. Love the B&W and colored drink contrast. Oh btw, I can feel Summer now, even here in SoCal.