Calendar

Past Activity

Portland Chinese Garden

  • Start date: 05/13/2014

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 05/13/2014

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

May is a beautiful time to see spring flowers in bloom. We will leave Shopko at 8:00, stop at a favorite rest area for coffee break and arrive at the Chinese Garden mid-morning. Here we will experience winding walkways, a bridged lake, open pavilions, water sounds, floral fragrances and more than 500 species of plants and trees. All of this within one city block in downtown Portland – it is truly amazing. Lunch at the Golden Horse Chinese Restaurant will be included in your trip fee. After lunch we travel east to the Grotto. This internationally known Catholic Sanctuary encompasses 62 acres on two levels. The Grotto is carved into the base of a 110 foot cliff. The upper level is reached by elevator (cost included), there you can stroll the paths among rhododendrons and other native Pacific Northwest flora; view statuary, the reflecting ponds and panoramic vista of the Columbia River Valley, the Cascade Range and Mount Saint Helens. We will return to Shopko by 6:00 p.m.

Cost: Members $65.00 Non-Members $67.00 Due April 20
RESERVATIONS AND CHECKS TO: Mary Lee Cheadle (541) 689-1085
3225 Richard Ave, Eugene, OR 97402

  • Event Leader: Cutsforth Sharon

  • Assistant Leader: Payne Barbara

  • Event category: Bus Trips

  • Area Type:

  • Departure Location: See Trip Description

  • Rating:

  • Roundtrip total drive miles:

  • Season: 2014

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required:

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance:

  • Member Fees: 65

  • Elevation Gain:

  • Non-Member Fees: 67

  • Committee: Bus Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

We enjoyed a lovely sunny day for our trip to Portland. First stop was the Santiam rest area where we had our coffee break and picked up the Beards. Traffic was moving right along so we arrived at the Chinese Garden on schedule. We were met by two knowledgeable and helpful tour guides who led our two groups in opposite directions around the garden, all the while sharing information about the history and development of the Lan Su Chinese Garden. This lovely oasis is filled with 500 species of plants native to China, winding walkways, bridges, pagodas, a small lake and much more.
Following the garden tour we walked over to the Golden Horse Chinese Restaurant for a delicious and filling family style lunch. The service was amazing, we had no sooner gotten everyone seated and the food began arriving. By the time we walked back to the bus, Rick (our driver) had the bus cooled down and ready for our next excursion.
We crossed the Willamette River and made our way to The Grotto. Everyone was given a map of the grounds and a token for the elevator to the upper level. Some chose to explore the gift shop or the visitor center before heading up, others went up the elevator right away to make the most of walking the trails and to spend some time in the Meditation Chapel. With its floor to ceiling wall of windows, that is truly a lovely space with beautiful views of the Columbia River and into Washington where we saw snow covered Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams. Some of us were thrilled by the sight of a mother duck and her really tiny ducklings as they made their way out of the brush and into the pond. As we enjoyed strolling among the beautiful rhodies, azaleas and various works of art we also heard many elusive birds singing.
On the way home we encountered one major traffic slowdown, but were able to get off I-5 and make a detour through the Donald area. This turned out to be a lovely scenic drive past fields of green, red crimson clover, hop yards and even Iris flowers. Back onto the freeway for another stop at the west side Santiam rest area where we said good bye to Barbara and Paul, enjoyed an impromptu snack and then made our way back to Shopko before 6:00.

Members & Guests signed-up & waitlisted

No. Status Full name Phone Transportation Needed? Trip Fee # Can Take?
1 Signed-Up Cutsforth, Sharon 541-735-4703 N 65
2 Signed-Up Payne, Barbara 541-746-1964 N 67
3 Signed-Up Allen, Ethel 541-736-0692 N 67
4 Signed-Up Arthur, Bill 541-844-5156 N 67
5 Signed-Up Beard, Barbara 541-994-2337 N 65
6 Signed-Up Beard, Paul 541-994-2337 N 65
7 Signed-Up Beard, Paula 541-968-0013 N 65
8 Signed-Up Cheadle, Mary Lee 541-689-1085 N 67
9 Signed-Up Emlen, Clara 541-746-2181 N 65
10 Signed-Up Flanders, Barbara 541-747-9803 N 67
11 Signed-Up Flanders, Dennis 541-747-9803 N 67
12 Signed-Up Halker, Donna 541-302-9496 N 67
13 Signed-Up Jeffries, Patricia 541-683-8403 N 67
14 Signed-Up McManigal, John 541-345-2036 N 67
15 Signed-Up McManigal, Lenore 541-345-2036 N 67
16 Signed-Up Payne, Don 541-452-3617 N 65
17 Signed-Up Reanier, Liz 541-687-1925 N 67
18 Signed-Up Speelman, Richard 541-344-3019 N 67
19 Signed-Up Speelman, Janet 541-344-3019 N 67
20 Signed-Up Weaver, Elle 541-852-6128 N 65
21 Signed-Up West, Mary Ellen 541-342-8672 N 67
22 Signed-Up Dickerman, Betty 541-689-1462 N 67
23 Signed-Up Floyd, Jo 541-206-4595 N 67
24 Signed-Up McIndoo, Connie 541-746-1243 N 67
25 Signed-Up Phelps, Judy 541-726-0118 N 67
26 Signed-Up Sirois, Carol 541-746-4516 N 67
27 Signed-Up Taylor, Sharon 845-490-1744 N 67