Day 27 Friday July 20

The Cascades disappeared in our rear view mirror as we drove through the last of the Willamette Valley and into Grants Pass. Leaving that beautiful string of volcanic uncertainty was difficult, but we were California bound.

Vineyards, horse and cattle ranches and some vegetable farms bordered the road out of Oregon. Jules found an unlined back road that took us away from the traffic and through quiet countryside. Cattle ranged freely as we slowly drove by on the gravelly pavement.

From Grants Pass we took 199, the Redwood Highway, into California. Green mountains covered with fir, spruce, pines and redwoods narrowed the road to the horizon. The air seemed purer and the sky bluer. Nothing but us, the trees and the gently twisting road for miles and miles.

At the Patrick Creek we passed a lodge of the same name with a sign that read "Food, Booze, Snooze. It looked like a great place to stay, but it was only 3:30, too early to stop. Three miles down the road we made a U turn and went back. Who knew when we'd find another place like this! Established in 1926, The Patrick Creek Lodge was a real find.

After a couple of Bloody Mary's, we booked the room, sat by the pool, hiked along the creek, and had an amazing meal. Talking to the owners we found out that this was the setting of another horror movie, "Love in the Time of Monsters", yet to be released and probably not as classic as "The Shining". They are still finding props left on the grounds of the motel, like a crazed and rabid squirrel, showcased in the lobby.

After dinner, the lulling sound of the creek and the soft wind in the trees sent us to bed.

Some days we are hard core, badass bikers and put on 400 miles, and others we relax by a pool with drinks in our hands. Each day is another road and sometimes there are welcome detours.