Oregon, where I was born and attended both high school and college, is an interesting place.  When it comes to the roads there, the interstates have a maximum speed of 65 mph and all of the other highways have a maximum of 55 mph.  I guess they think Carter is still the president.

Highway 78, known as the Steens Highway (it goes past the Steens Mountains), is the road you take to get from Burns to Burns Junction.  While driving long this stretch of road, you’ll be able to count on one hand the number of cars you’ll see.  Most of the road is straight and flat with good pavement.  Needless to say, no one drives 55 along that road.  Take a look at it below – I challenge anyone to drive that road while keeping it under 55 mph and still arriving with your sanity intact.

A new addition to Fort Casey, by “new” I mean they dragged it out from some bunker, is an old searchlight and accompanying generator.  No telling how long this thing has been out of action.  It was used for night spotting of targets, though I’m sure they made some bitchin’ shadow animals or even a bat signal on the clouds with it.  I know I would have.

Here’s who made the generator:

Here’s a few more pictures of it:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/captuslumen/9483541852/

In June, I took the family to Newport, Oregon for a few days at the beach.  I did my undergraduate work at Oregon State which is in Corvallis about 50 miles east of Newport.  Occasionally, I would go there with some friends but we never really had the money to do much.  The highlight of the trip would be eating at Mo’s on the waterfront.  Their clam chowder is famous for a reason.

The harbor is beautiful, as are the beaches.  There’s plenty to do there: skim boarding, rock hounding, deep sea fishing, hiking, world-class aquarium and exploring the tide pools are just some of things you can do there.  There are also some fantastic restaurants there also.  Mo’s (above) the Chowder Bowl and Rogue Ale’s Public House are all excellent places to eat.  A few years ago, I had Cioppino at Shark’s which is located on the waterfront and it was outstanding.

While exploring the marina, I came across this little guy:

Here are some of the pictures that I took while in Newport:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/captuslumen/sets/72157635020015574/

My mom lives in Salem, OR.  In her garden she grows berries and flowers.  Whenever I visit, I usually end up there during berry season (which is also when the roses are in full bloom).  Mom sure can grow some berries:

She’s pretty good with roses also:

When flying out of Seattle, always get a window seat on the left side of the plane.  Here’s why: