OREGON EXPEDITION 2025!

I read that Southern Oregon has the world's only Big Foot trap.  Although I was not able to capture a photo of the actual trap, I was able to capture a photo of my son, assuming the iconic Big Foot stance.  Thus began our expedition into Oregon!

Our first stop was at the official welcome center ( www.TravelOregon.com ), which is at the first exit after driving the 13 miles from the California/Oregon border.  A friendly staff member at the welcome center, snapped this photo of my son and I, posing in their picture props.  I sat my purse off to one side for this photo, then absent-mindedly left it there, as we returned to our vehicle, and drove northward to the closest gas station.  When I reached for my wallet, I realized I had left my purse at the visitor center, so I immediately phoned them.  The kind gentleman who had taken our photo, also answered the phone (Bill), and assured me he would keep my purse, safely behind the reception desk, until I returned to retrieve it.  I thought it would be a quick trip back to the visitor center.  I was wrong, as there is NO SOUTHBOUND exit to get to the visitor center!  We had to drive nearly back to the border, to turn around and start going north again, in order to access the visitor center!  (Note to self:  remember to check your surroundings, after you have set aside your belongings to snap a photo!  I have walked off and left my hiking stick so many times, that I have bright yellow caution tape hanging like streamers on it, so it will be easier for me to find, when I realize it is missing!  I guess I need to do the same for my purse!)

 

Our next stop, after retrieving my purse, was the town of Ashland, Oregon ( www.TravelAshland.com ).  My granddaughter had gotten married in Ashland, Oregon, and the blogs telling about that experience can be found in the archives, dated, August 9, 11, 13, in 2014)  Ashland is a charming town, with dozens of cafes, that patrons can enter both from the street, and from their creekside patios  

 

My son patiently smiled for a photo, when I went for a stroll to take more photographs of this picturesque location, while we waited for our food order to be served.

After we finished our lunch, we took a stroll through the adjacent Lithia Park, which is situated along Ashland Creek.   The name of the park comes from its association with a nearby mineral spring, that contained lithium oxide.  The park was designed by landscape architect John McLaren, who also designed Golden Gate Park, in San Francisco.  (A blog I published August 13, 2014, has a more detailed account of Lithia Park amenities)

The photo below shows a youngster playing in the creek, which meanders through the 93 acres of forested canyon land that make up the park.  

The young man in photo below blends the tunes on his guitar, with the bubbling sounds of the creek, as it cascades over the smooth boulders below the arched bridge.

In another area of the park, a gray bearded gentleman gave a big smile for the camera, as he strummed enjoyable, mellow tunes on his cello, to those strolling along the sidewalk.

The ultimate goal of our walk through Lithia Park was to access the Japanese Garden there.  My son had recently returned from a trip to Japan, and stated he thought the Japanese Garden at Ashland, was as good as, if not better than, any he visited in Japan.   I took a photo of the YOKOSO (which means "welcome") sign, because decades ago, I attended a "Memphis in May" week, where Japan culture was featured, and there were banners and buttons and teeshirts with the saying "Yokoso ya'll" everywhere you looked!

The wooden entrance gate to the Japanese garden features typical Japanese architecture.  

We observed one of the garden staff giving an orientation to two volunteers.  He was telling them how quickly the bamboo plants he was pointing to, had grown in a very short time period.  

The Japanese maple tree (shown on left side of photo) provided a bit of color for the stroll.  I read that Japanese gardens are distinctive in their symbolism of nature, with traditional Japanese gardens being very different from Western gardens, which often display vibrant splashes of bright colors.  In contrast, Japanese gardens are modeled with spiritual and philosophical ideas in mind, conceived to represent a natural setting.  The scene below represents a promenade garden, meant to be seen one landscape at a time. Features of the garden are to be discovered when the visitor follows the winding path.  

The stone lanterns seen in many Japanese gardens often have symbolic meanings, with the base representing the earth, the section encasing the lantern's light representing fire, and the top section representing the sky.  The lantern shown here was adjacent to a water feature that contained koi fish, which are also a common amenity in a Japanese garden.  

A portion of the Ashland Japanese garden contains what some call a rock garden, dry garden,  or zen garden.  The rocks can represent islands, and the white gravel can represent water that surrounds an island.  

Plantings in a Japanese garden are carefully tended to add to the aesthetic appeal of the space.  I was intrigued by the very artistic way the white roots of this tree, were uncovered, and surrounded by black gravel, to create a thing of beauty.  

I asked the staff member to take a photo of my son and I near the entrance gate, and this is one I will cherish!

The way these bamboo poles have been lashed together reminded me of a "hashtag" symbol, like we would see on the Internet, to direct searches to a certain location.  For example, #ashlandjapanesegarden.

Fences in Japanese gardens are designed for purity and simplicity, which is well illustrated in this photo. 

No story about Ashland, Oregon, is complete without mentioning its famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival ( www.osfashland.org ). The photo below shows a portion of it campus, which was founded in 1935, as a three-day festival.  In the intervening forty years, it has become an important economic driver for Ashland, that presents a rotating repertory season of up to 10 plays and musicals from Shakespeare, as well as new works.  

Another economic driver in Ashland, is Southern Oregon University, and their unique "Featheroars" art installation.  The wooden oars catch the wind, and cause the bottom seats attached to it, to spin.  

Bright yellow "scotch broom" is prevalent along hillsides. 

I enjoyed seeing the bright yellow blooms that lined Interstate 5 in Southern Oregon. However, a plant nursery owner later told me these are called "Scotch Broom".  She said they were an invasive species, but quickly added her nursery sold a cultivar of the plant that was not invasive.  It is classified as invasive because it crowds out native species and negatively impacts wildlife habitat.  

After many more miles of Interstate 5, we finally met up with the rest of our group at a delightful venue in Oregon City.  It had a covered pavilion filled with picnic tables, as well as an indoor space for those who did not want to be outside.  The pavilion was surrounded by every kind of ethnic food truck  imaginable, so a large group with differing tastes could all find something to suit them.  

Across the street from the food trucks, there was a park, which was especially enjoyable for the little kids in the group, and those who were "young at heart".   This supper was on a Friday night, and we were all preparing for a big event scheduled for the next day, in Canby, Oregon.  There is another blog detailing that event, entitled "Sprinkle Expedition", dated June 9, 2025.   The joyous looking photo below, brought to mind Palm 78:4 about passing faith to the next generation:  "We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord."  The verse emphasizes the importance of sharing God's story and works with the younger generation, with the hope that future generations will also trust in God and remember His works.    When I keep this purpose in mind, my time with family gives me "MILES OF SMILES"!