We’re Off to See the Wizard

The Wonderful Wizard of FALL!

And all that it took was our brave leaders: Wizard, GIDEON Wizansky and Sweeper, TEMPLE Ashbrook . . . both of whom knew where was the path, how would we get there, and what secret UPSIDE-DOWN surprise we would find.

On a typical sunny morning at Mountain Meadows  9 brave members, plus one guest, met at the club house and boldly boarded the Skylark bus at 8:30 a.m., never really knowing the real Upside-Down surprise that awaited them.  Cheerful talk and laughter took place with our private bus joining the traffic on I- 5 carrying 10 hearty hikers.  

A little over an hour later, our destination, East side of The Rogue River, appeared, and 10 brave souls, grabbing walking sticks, back packs, and warm coats, descended the bus for the excitement of the wilds, fast running Rogue River waters, and . . . the upside down surprise.    

Oh, The Beauty of this rushing Rogue River!  Even Sweeper TEMPLE had to stop and view the beauty as well as to hear the crashing waters .

The serenity and beauty brought about laughter, joy, and even a neighborly sharing  of snacks on the trail.  At one point, the “front runners” fearing for the latter “clickers” and “gawkers” stopped to mark a direction in the dirt just to make sure no one would lose their way.

 

And then it all happened.  One by one, we hit the “place in the sun” where we could not believe our eyes.  Nature’s beauty was playing a joke on us, we thought.  All of a sudden each and every one of us saw the beauty TWICE. . . up, and then upside down as reflected in the water.  

 

 

 

What a trip. What Fall beauty. What more could one want?

Oh, yes.  Lunch.  Followed by a quick stop on the way home, to Becky’s Pie Shop where Cindy Earle was heard to say, “Gideon, your hike walked my sole off!”

Life is good.

Patti Blide

MMOA hikers:  Ruth Reiterman, Temple Ashbrook, Gideon Wizansky, Julianne Ashmead, Patti Blide, Katherine Ross, Donna Swanson, Donna Stuart, Virginia Christensen, Claire Lindberg, Cindy Earle

  

ASHLAND VISIT - MIKE & BONNIE

Patti & Dick who have a new home

Not seen by one of the "crew"
Welcomed Bro-Mike with Bonita his Bride
To see Blide's new life while it grew . . .

Just ‘cross the street, lies North Mt. Park
With named plants, new buds and deer roaming
Where startled Bro-Mike found a fox who was dying
When on pushing back brushes heard moaning!

We supped at the Dragonfly later that night
With food offered to be quite unique.
Then on to the Bard at Shakespeare’s outside
Where “As you Like it” was the real treat!

We ate and we talked . . . at home, and some out
Coffee Roasters, the fav of the Blides.
Bonita was happy with teas at the best,
While the Mouse picked the buns to be tried . . .

Oh Boy! explained Pat on day number two,
We finally can visit the best. . .
It’s Lithia Park of Beauty to grasp

And values well over the rest

Next trip “up the road” off to Grants Pass
And dinner with Cousins Blackledge
Made us all know how lucky we are
As if “glued” and never a wedge!

Grants Pass: Dick, Bonnie, Patti, Mike, Mary Ann& John Blackledge

Then we drive on to see Crater Lake
Mysterious “Blue” hole in the Earth
We gasp as we see the 30-mile hole
And can’t help but questionits “birth!”

One thousand feet is what we must walk
Down to enter the boat.
Two hours later after our views
Sends us topside with sand in our throat!

The very last day we finally shop
With “Bonita” trying on shoes
And then came huge ice creams ever so big:
With memories to keep out the blues.

NEW JERSEY TRIP

It was a long hard journey and we needed a respite.  After four months of moving into, and re-doing our new home . . .from Kalama, WA to Ashland, OR, we decided to jump  into our little car and drive-fly-drive far away from hard moving decisions, a plethora of new neighbor names to learn and  many rules to follow in our new life. 

Ah-Ha! we said.   We shall escape to the home of Family and Coziness at New Jersey, USA, on the other side of the world (well, kind of).  So after “warning” son Alex with June and encouraging Bro Pete to come, Thursday, April 12, found Patti and Dick Blide driving up to the Alex-selected “Home away from Home” for The Blide stay.

                                      Doctor’s Inn @ Cape May, NJ

Now, this was living!  Four days of gorgeous B andB with credentials back to 1854 when this homestead was built, offering early morning breakfast to start the day.

 But wait!  There’s more!

 A short seven or eight miles later, The Prices, led by Alex, welcomed us over to their home of great beauty (lovely high ceilings. . .all wood beams) along with beautiful June and Friend-Mike’s daughter, Lexi, meeting us at the door with a surprise!    

A baby had been born, to June’s daughter, Christie, and Dad, Paul.  The darling home was definitely filled with happy people, love, two birds and three doggies. 

Shortly thereafter, we picked up Peter for dinner at The Lobster House and ate and conversed until they closed.

Friday, April 13, was a long 2 ½ hr. drive to Rutgers U., home of Zachary, Student and Musician. . . with musician’s long, curly hair, who met us at his apartment and led us to. . .yes, you guessed it, more eating!  

That evening, with everyone there, June’s friend Mike (former husband) cooked a fabulous dinner for all, that was, in fact, chef-quality.  And then to top it all off, Alex and June presented Patti with a huge, home-made (no box) by June, 76th Birthday Cake!!!!!

And then, came the Pete-Shirt performance.  Unwrapping a huge bag, Pete handed each of us one of his past sweat-shirts and/or T-shirts.  A picture was enjoyed by one and all. 

Saturday, was Cape May Zoo day with Alex, June and Zachary.  We were blown away with the depth, beauty, interests of that Zoo.  Patti and Dick had never seen better.

Zach fills time-space with beautiful guitar music:

            The evening closes with a seafood dinner with Alex, June and Zachary.

 Sunday, 4/14, Alex takes Grandson, Zach back to Rutgers while Pete, Heather,Patti  and  Dick  drive up to Galloway to see Granddaughter, Ariel who is rooming with a life-long girlfriend and her boyfriend.  Great “Kids”, who all seem to know what and where they are going in life.  Ariel seems happy but admits to being tired at times as she handles two jobs at once:  Starbucks and Pet Smart.

Late afternoon, the beautiful beaches at Cape May “beckoned” us.  We took advantage of the perfect weather, rode down to the ocean where cousin Heather couldn’t resist dashing into water’s edge with the loud rushing waves heading for her feet. 

And Patti couldn’t help but photograph Pete’s natural curly, shining hair

Then, back to our favorite Lobster House, welcomed by that ever-present mermaid beckoning us back to the table.

. . . .  ending with absolutely no question:

 Like blooming flowers, our family and friends’ Love, blossoms