Rouge River – Grants Pass OR:
We left Bend and headed south towards our next stop, Rouge River – Grants Pass. We decided to take the route over Diamond Lake and down into the valley, so we turned the RV southwest and away we went. The scenery along this drive was quite diverse, mountains, valleys, tall trees, lakes, waterfalls, meadows, wineries, pretty much everything you could ask for. We passed the Crater Lake National Park turn off with plans of returning later in the week to visit. We pulled into Bridgeview RV Park (http://www.bridgeviewrvresort.com) and checked in. We met the nicest RV park host you could ever hope to meet while traveling, Georgia was so helpful in pointing out where to go, where to eat, what to do etc. Lori had a whole stack of brochures and magazines when she came back from checking in.
Our stay here was in a couple of places, we started at the riverfront for a few days then had to move to the second row because we were late making our reservations. They were good enough to be able to accommodate us for the whole time it just required us to move. The view was beautiful, the river was flowing high, and the fish were big. The only issue is the 5 freeway is right across the river, so you get some road noise but a small price to pay for such a beautiful spot.
We set up the RV and then jumped in the toad and headed over to Del Rio Winery (https://delriovineyards.com), we passed it on the way in and it looked like a nice place to visit so we decided to go visit. They are a small winery in Gold Hill and have a very nice tasting patio. They do music on the weekends, and they were setting up a performance that night. Must be pretty good because they were “sold out”.
The next day we decided to do a drive into the Applegate Valley and check out some homes there. This is a loop drive that takes you from Rouge River through the Applegate Valley into Jacksonville and back to Rouge River. The drive was on a small road into a beautiful valley with rivers, trees, and farms. Lori wanted to see a house she found for sale and after some side road drives, we located the home.
We then continued down the valley and came to a berry farm called “Pennington Farm” (https://www.pennington.farm). Now this is not a good place for a person who needs to control their blood sugar to be at! They make a bunch of homemade everything there along with lots of different berries. We noticed they had some hot flavored meals in their oven, and we asked what they were, “Piggies” is what we were told, what the hell is a piggy I asked, and the nice young lady explained they are a hot dog cooked in a pastry and flavored with different things, oh now I had to try that. I ordered mustard flavored, and Lori had the regular (she would later state she should have gotten the Jalapeno) and they were delicious. We shared a blueberry dessert and then she went shopping for more stuff. Great way to spend some time lounging and snacking and watching the kids taste the berries.
Down the road a little further we found Troon Winery (https://www.troonvineyard.com/). They have a beautiful wine tasting area and we spent the afternoon tasting wine and talking to the host about the history of the winery and the valley. Beautiful place to visit and they do a great job with the tasting.
Next stop was the historic town of Jacksonville OR. This is an old town that you expect to see in the early 1900’s. The buildings are original, and the main street is lined with tourist shops, restaurants, and bars. We walked the town (does not take long) and looked around. We decided we would come back during the week when it was not so crowded. The road back to the RV was a nice drive to view some very nice homes and ranches along the road but it always amazes us how some people who have land just litter it with junk. We have seen this in every state we have been in. Weird.
On Sunday we watched the “Rooster Crow Festival Boat Races” on the river. I did not think this would be much to see but it turned out to be quite a show. The boats are “jet boats” that can run in as little as 8” of water and they move at quite a pace. They had five heats and then a final parade of boats where they ran down the river a few miles and then back up to the starting point.
We were watching the boat races and on the 5 freeway across the river we saw three huge, big rigs with escorts hauling three 50-foot brand new custom jet boats. These boats were very impressive and looked like they could haul a bunch of people in them. On the sides of the boats was written “Crate Lake Tours”. We both looked at each other and said, there is no way they can get those down to Crater Lake, its 1000 ft from the rim to the water almost straight down. We concluded they must be going somewhere else, and they just used the name but what a sight.
That afternoon we booked a trip on a jet boat tour with “Hellgate Jet Boat Tours” (https://hellgate.com). This was a four-hour tour where you went down river for about 18 miles and they dropped you off at their ranch and you had dinner. Then you reboard your boat and back up the river you go.
I highly recommend this tour because they do such a good job. It is very informative and these boats flat move across the river. Our guide “Bill” made the tour a blast and yes you are going to get wet, he will make sure of it. They get going and will spin the boat in a 360-degree circle, it’s a lot of fun. Once you get down into the canyon, they take you back to their lodge for dinner. They have got it down with great food (and lots of it) and a full bar. The lodge is in a beautiful setting, and you can’t help but want to apply for a job working there and just stay in the area. A word of caution, sit in front on the boat and you will get the wettest, the kids wanted the front on the way back and the older folks wanted the back.
The next day we headed back up the mountain to Crater Lake. We had heard parts of the rim road were closed because deep snow was still on the ground. It’s a beautiful drive there and you can stop at a number of places to see waterfalls and hike trails, but we wanted to see the lake so up we went. If you have never been there (like me) it takes your breath away when you first see it. The air and water are so clean and untouched, it looks like another world. We were only able to drive a short part of the rim because the road was closed so we went over to the lodge and checked it out. They have a short display on the history of the lake and lodge, and I recommend you go through it to get the full history. It is amazing how they did things back in the early 1900’s.
We sat out back on the wall overlooking the lake and had lunch. We were just in awe of the view when a gentleman asked if we were waiting for the show. What show? He stated, “Oh they are going to be helicoptering the new boats down to the lake this afternoon and taking the old ones out, that’s why part of the road is closed”. Lori and I looked at each other and though, “Well I’ll be dammed, those boats we saw over the weekend really are going into the lake”. Turns out they had already flown the new ones down and were getting ready to take the 40-year-old boats out.
We heard the roar of a huge Sikorsky Dual heavy lift helicopter came over the ridge and the watched in amazement for the next hour as it went down to the island and hooked up a boat and then flew it up to the trucks at the rim. Quite a show to watch.
We decided to go down the southern route to see some new terrain and headed south. Another great route to go and there is lots to see. Just make sure you have fuel because there is not a fuel station for a long way. Back down we went and came up through Medford and back to the RV.
The next day we traveled back into the Applegate Valley, this time to a different area to see a covered bridge. We found it and it was impressive. They had lots of information on the history of the bridge and how it played a role in the community over the years. It always amazes me how they built things back then, the time and tools they had at the time just go to prove that people can do anything when they put their mind to it. There was a park there that was built around the same time, and we explored it. The park had a group area that had not one but two old working pianos for people to use around the fire and cooking pits.
We then went back into Jacksonville because I had read you should visit the cemetery to see some of the headstones and graves of the people from way back when. The cemetery is located atop of a hill and has great information about how it is laid out. Every group is segregated, and the style of grave markings match the group. As you walk through you cannot help but read the stories on the graves. You can clearly tell life was much harder back in the 1800’s. Lori made fun of me for wanting to go there, but after spending time reading the history on the headstones she admitted it was very interesting.
We then went to Bella Union restaurant (https://www.bellau.com) and had an early dinner. This is a great place to eat in Jacksonville and the décor is amazing. It is “the place” in Jacksonville and has a great patio covered by a 100-year-old tree which set the ambiance for a good time.
Next stop is over to the coast. Everyone is telling us our RV is too big to go down the road and maybe we should go up and over another route which will add an additional hour and a half to the drive, but we will see.
