Over the Siskiyous & Through the Woods

Actually, it was done in reverse as our day had us all enjoying berries and yogurt for breakfast and then it was off on a drive up Dead Indian Memorial Road through the Green Springs with countless curves.  One of my favorite has to be the horseshoe curve and today we saw there is 2000+ acres for sale there.  What a deal.  Had not been on this road in over two decades!  Amazing how much development has gone on.  About 38 miles into the drive we arrived at Lake-of-the-Woods. 

 The area is a combination of resort facilities, campgrounds and private residences all surrounding a lake that was a treasure trove of memories from our youth.

This shot of the lake is over at the marina where most of our visit was based, but we did first drive by our old cabin that Dad had built and was his pride and joy.  Initially built with no electrical or water with an outhouse out back complete with old Sears and Wards catalogs, we spent a lot of weekends and summer vacations up here.  We had a dock down at the lake and for several years had a boat to drive around the lake.  

The new owners have made some changes to the place and yet I can still remember many a morning Dad getting the stove going and Mom making Gashouse Eggs (a piece of bread with the center cut out and an egg cooked in the center).  Over the years as I have told people about this breakfast staple I have learned it has multiple names.  So many fun memories and smells to conjure up those memories still exist.  The smell of the trees or the smoke from a fire warming a cabin.  It was noted how the resort is celebrating 90 years and established in 1922, the same year Dad was born.

After pausing at the cabin for a few minutes, it was on to the resort where we planned on having lunch.  It is a full service resort as you can see by the offerings from marina to the general store plus cabins and a full-service restaurant.  Below is yours truly with Mom as we settled in for a very tasty lunch.  My taste buds were satisfied with an order of onion rings I shared with the table and a smoked tri-tip salad that came with the dressing on the bottom of the platter.  Next, a small mound of lettuce served to highlight a generous portion of sliced tri-tip, blue cheese crumbles, avocado, tomatoes, crunchy onion straws and I opted to not have the croutons.  Lemonade was beverage of choice for a might fine meal.  Mom had a meatloaf sandwich and Janet enjoyed a "Lake of the Woods" salad with sliced chicken on a bed of dressed lettuce plus walnuts, blue cheese crumbles and cranberries.  Kevin, my nephew is working up at the resort and joined us for lunch.  Ha had a Dr. Pepper with a tri-tip sandwich with fries.  I do believe Mom's lunch also had fries.  She and Janet opted for Diet Pepsi's for beverages.  A mighty fine and filling lunch.

 After lunch came the mandatory photo ops out on the deck. Then a few minutes were spent down at the marina watching the boats and sharing stories. Had not seen Kevin in a few years and he really has grown into himself and this seems like the perfect work situation for him.  All too soon, as you see below Kevin had to get back to work and so good-byes were shared and we bid farewell to Lake of the Woods. But the day was hardly over.

While you think it would be a good time to kick back and relax, that was not to be as we still had a mission to get done.  The liquor run to Hilt, California.  Located just a half mile across the state line, there is not a lot there except a very busy liquor store.  Great deals and good service made for a fast shop and heading back home in less than 30 minutes.  I could not believe how much I bought, but the entire back of the car is packed after dropping $724 for cases of booze for Jodie, Rob, Curtis, Josh, Sandy, Markie plus my order. 

After driving back to good old 1146 Beswick, there was time for a nap before preparing dinner.  We have been having fantastic meals and tonight was no exception.  Root vegetables with lemon pepper crusted pork loin was done in less than 90 minutes.  Carrots (which I cannot have) plus potatoes (which Janet was not having) added to the 5 rough chopped Walla-Walla Sweet Onions made for a bounty.  Add Cole Slaw and what a mighty tasty meal.

The evening saw some scattered showers which filled the air with a wonderful fresh scent.  We also enjoyed a nice visit with brother Steve who happened to be driving through on his way to Mt. Lassen Park as well as Mike, Joyce and Courtney.  It was good to see most of Mike and Joyce's family.  Seems that unless I am offering to pay for a meal or else go to them, Meredith, Justin and Lizzy keep pretty much to themselves.  I wish them all the best as they are expecting their second child later this year.