Travel from Florence to Eugene, Oregon

We drove our coach just 68 miles, about one hour of driving, from Florence, Oregon to Eugene, Oregon.

We had an appointment at Oregon Motorcoach Center for some servicing, and had originally planned to drive from the coast to Eugene, but decided to make it easier on ourselves by doing that drive the day before, staying one night in a county park. Very fortunate that we were able to snag a reservation at the last minute.

Here’s the map route, heading east:

Route

An interactive map:

Since were were parking under trees, I used my 360 camera to examine the slide toppers for debris:

Preparing to leave:

Preparing to leave

Pulling out of our site:

Pulling out of our site

Driving through the campground:

Leaving campground

Preparing to toad up; I had driven our truck to the toading area by the pool, then walked back to help guide our coach:

Preparing to toad up

Approaching the exit:

Approaching exit

Since we didn’t have a sewer connection, we used the dump station on the way out:

Dump station

People waiting for the Memorial Day parade in Florence:

Waiting for Memorial Day parade

Waiting for Memorial Day parade

Waiting for Memorial Day parade

Siuslaw River:

Siuslaw River

Siuslaw River

A tunnel; always a little nerve-wracking in our coach:

Tunnel

Tunnel

Trees

Jenn driving:

Jenn driving

She has back and side cameras (with our truck visible), a built-in RV-safe GPS, and a GPS on her phone:

Cameras, GPS, phone

Paladin on the steps:

Paladin on the steps

Joining I-5 North:

Joining I-5 North

A fuel stop:

Fuel stop

The 150-gallon diesel tank was only quarter full; we usually don’t let it get below half, but there weren’t a lot of suitable fuel options on the coast:

Quarter tank

Fuel stop

100 gallons of fuel, so I guess it was actually a third full:

Fuel stop

Bridge:

Bridge

Our destination, Armitage County Park:

Armitage County Park

Checking in:

Checking in

Our site:

Our site

Baseball: Mariners at Athletics

While staying north of San Francisco, our Seattle Mariners happened to be in Oakland, so we attended a game.

Jenn’s game summary:

It was the final game, and a sweep of the A’s by the Mariners with another come-from-behind win. Taylor Trammell had a 2-run homer in the 3rd. A’s pitching was not good. Walked Trammell in the 4th to score Cal Raleigh. Bases loaded, Kolten Wong singled to score Teoscar Hernandez and J.P. Crawford. Kirby settled in after the 3rd, and Sewald closed it out. Sad to see so few fans at the crumbling Coliseum, but it was a good Mariners win. The A’s will be in Vegas in a few years anyway. I feel bad for the loyal Oakland fans.

Rooted in Oakland… but not for much longer, as they are planning to move to Las Vegas:

Rooted in Oakland

Tailgating:

Tailgating

The Coliseum:

Coliseum

A peek of the field:

A peek of the field

Looking back from our seats:

Looking back from our seats

Selfie from our seats:

Selfie from our seats

We could see into the camera and ramp area, as the Mariners gave autographs on the way out:

Autographs

Autographs

Autographs

Autographs

Autographs

Play ball:

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

We did a mobile order for food, which was a mistake; I spent over half an hour standing in line to pick up our food after the “ready” notification, while the ad hoc order line was moving much faster:

Mobile order line

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Finally, our chicken and fries:

Chicken and fries

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Some slow-mo videos:

Baseball

Baseball

Game

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Sweep:

Sweep

Mariners win!

Mariners win!

Mariners win!

Mariners win!

Mariners win!

Autographs:

Autographs

Autographs

Autographs

Autographs

Manager

Scores:

Scores

Hearst Castle

Hearst Castle is an iconic mansion about midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

They offer a number of tours, from the basic Grand Rooms Tour, which we did 22 years ago when we first moved to the US, to a more exclusive Julia Morgan Tour, about twice as long, limited to just eight visitors, and gets to go places not seen by other tours. We opted for the latter this time; a very worthwhile experience.

Hearst Castle

The experiences starts and ends at the visitor center:

Visitor center

The visitor center includes food, a gift store, and exhibits:

Visitor center museum

Visitor center museum

Visitor center museum

Visitor center museum

Everyone takes a bus up the hill to the castle:

Bus to the castle

The tour started with the outdoor pool; we were on a side of the pool where the other tours can’t go:

Pool

Pool

Pool

Pool

Pool

Pool

Pool

Castle:

Castle

Exploring one of the guest cottages:

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Castle

View:

View

Another cottage:

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

The castle:

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Dining room:

Dining room

Dining room

Another room:

Room

Room

Game room:

Game room

Theater:

Theater

Another room:

Room

Julia Morgan’s room:

Julia Morgan's room

Julia Morgan's room

Julia Morgan's room

Julia Morgan's room

Kitchen:

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Stairs:

Stairs

Bedroom:

Bedroom

Stairs:

Stairs

Ceiling:

Ceiling

Library:

Library

Library

Library

Library

Library

Library

Library

Library

Back of cottage:

Back of cottage

Underneath a large patio are some old hidden steps, that were built then covered up as Hearst changed his mind:

Hidden old steps

Hidden old steps

Hidden old steps

Indoor pool:

Indoor pool

Indoor pool

Indoor pool

Indoor pool

I recorded a timelapse video of the tour with my new 360 camera as an experiment. Unfortunately, the timelapse is designed for static subjects, morphing any movement, which isn’t great with motion. I really should have done a hyperlapse instead, but this is still interesting:

The view looking down the hill, including the winding road to castle:

View and road to castle

Hearst Castle sign:

Hearst Castle sign

Photo:

Photo