Trip Report

We left Eugene's overcast skies and arrived home in rain, but in the meantime we rode in the cars of the Lewis & Clark Rail Road under blue skies and sunshine and enjoyed Portland's sunset the evening before. Our first stop on Wednesday was the Aurora rest area where we had coffee and lemon cake and "Bettebars" furnished by the leader. Shortly thereafter we arrived at Portland's Washington Park where we toured the Japanese Gardens with a delightful and knowledgeable guide who pointed out many details and explained that the Garden is considered one of the most authentic in the world! We drove down to the tables above the Rose Garden and had our lunch and time for a short walk through the roses, and then left for the Pittock Mansion. We had time to explore the grounds and admire the view of the city before our tour (with another knowledgeable tour guide) who outlined the history of the mansion from the time it was built in 1914 by Henry and Georgiana Pittock until today when it is owned by the City of Portland and open to the public. We checked into the Red Lion, Lloyd Center, and at 5:00 o'clock were hosted by the new Nordstrom Store with refreshments and a showing of a variety of items from their outdoor department. Door prizes were won by Mary Bentsen, Ethel Steussy and Bette Hack.

We left at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday and drove to Battleground, Washington, where we had a short wait (in the sun) before we boarded the Lewis & Clark R.R. at 10:00 for a ride to Moulton Falls Park. Most of the group soon moved outdoors to the open cars where they could get the best view of the field of mint, surrounding forests, the Lewis River and the fun of going through a tunnel and over three trestles. After a little over an hour, we arrived at Moulton Falls Park where we spent the afternoon until 2:30, when the train came back up for our return trip. Some ate their lunch by Hidden Falls, others crossed the bridge to the other side of the river and hiked a short distance through the park where they ate by the river. Our conductor on the train, Travis Case, happened to be a 1991 graduate of the U. of 0. We arrived back at the station at 4:00 and were back home by 7:00.

Riders were: Murray & Wilda Agate, Dick & Mary Bentsen, Amy Clugston, Clair Cooley, Rita Gallagher, Gladys Grancorvitz, Gerry Hirt, Jane Hilt, Miki Hutchison, Lillian Johnson, Helen Lynch, John & Lenore McManigal, Andrea Neilsen, Frances Newsom, Bonnie Rickard, Clarence & Dorothy Scherer, Lois Schreiner, June Smith, Lila Smith, Ethel & Robin Steussy, Lela Strome, Lorene Williams, and Bette Hack (leader).