Our daughter-in-law works at a great new coffee shop in Eugene, OR., the Coffee Plant Roaster– CPR for short. This coffee shop was once a warehouse and has recently been repurposed to be a relaxing and inviting space. Fresh roasting takes place every day on the antique 10 kilo Aug Olsen Roaster, a beautiful old piece of equipment representing craftmanship and character. “Farm to Cup” is CPR‘s commitment.
The furnishings and artwork create a relaxing and uncluttered atmosphere, and the wall of windows brings in so much natural light-always an added bonus on cloudy Oregon days, you just want to sit and linger. The tables are big enough for large gatherings, or small enough for intimate conversation. This was a fun place to spend the afternoon while we waited for our son to get off work at The Pantry and Pub. (Sure wish these two would move back here and open their own restaurant/coffee shop and feed me every day! They’d be awesome.)
Later in the day we drove the 126 to Bend, passing through the Willamette National Forest. The Mist on the pines was beautifully Lore worthy. The sun streamed through on the way back and I kept looking to the side at all the dirt roads and wondering what secret havens they led to.
A walk along the river in Drake Park, in Bend was energizing. The water was so clear, the footbridge well used by bicyclers, joggers and walkers, and the sunny path was so inviting.
Mike used to surprise me with a little saying-“I’ve heard ducks fart underwater, too.” But I just don’t see how that’s possible.
The rivers were a huge part of the logging industry, and one look at the size and power of these waters shows why.
Oregon was such a great place to renew our creativity, check our values, and just understand where we came from and where we’re going. I think we need more adventures like this one to keep those lessons in the forefront.







