Trip Report

Bette Hack was the leader on this trip, and Liz Reanier was the co-leader. We left Shopco parking lot on Tuesday at 8 a.m. on a very nice summer day, which promised to be hot. We drove north on I-5 and took highway 22 and 214 to the entrance to the South Falls. We stopped in this area and found a picnic table in the shade by Silver Creek, where we had our morning coffee break with goodies provided by the hospitality committee. Don Payne led a hike of about a mile long which goes under the south falls. We then went to the north entrance, through the Silverton Hills, now covered with tree farms, and through the town of Silverton. We drove to the entrance of the Oregon Garden and to the Visitors Center. The Visitors Center now contains the restaurant as well as a gift shop and ticket information. Ethel Allen's daughter Bonnie now works as an office assistant, and was there to greet us as well as handing out the Garden Guide. As it was now noon, most of the group lined up at the lunch counter to order lunch. The Garden now has a large covered Tram to ride free, and we all rode this, some going around twice. The tram also takes guests by the new resort hotel, slated to be open by September. It is being built by Moonstone Hotel Properties on a hilltop near the Garden's Rediscovery Forest. Everyone enjoyed the tram, with the driver describing the various parts of the garden in detail. We left for home by 3pm and had good weather - warm but not too hot. Thanks to Don Payne for leading the hike, to the Hospitality Committee for providing the refreshments, and to Liz Reanier, co-leader, who handled the finances. Thanks to our very helpful bus driver, Richard Patch.

Riders were members: Ethel Allen, Mary Lee Cheadle, Mary Ann Cougill, Sharon Cutsforth, Rachele Fiszman, Barbara Flanders, Dennis Flanders, Bette Hack, Dora Harris, Phyllis Hulse, Marjorie Jackson, Natalie Newlove, Barbara Payne, Don Payne, Liz Reanier, Janet Speelman and Vera Wooley; and guests: Alice Anderson, Adel Badel, Ron Bauer, Larita Brown, Virginia Cheadle, Jackie Giustina, Beverly Robertson, Rosa Smathers, Diana Whissen and Ellen Zimmerman.