Russ and Donna are Nice Folks

Although we've been talking with Russ and Donna (of Travels in Therapy) on the phone and by email ever since we got to the area, Saturday was the first time we actually met up with them. They had offered to show us around Eugene, and we had taken an interest in seeing the Saturday Market. As it turns out, they had never been there themselves, so we four all had a learning morning.

We had expected largely a farmers' market with some artisans and craft people displaying their wares. As it turns out, the farmers market part takes up about 1/3 of a city block, and the rest has spread out over several blocks!

Here are some of the delightful (and sometimes a little less delightful) offerings.

Tie-dye inspired candles.

Many different types of pottery and ceramics.

This frog (?) had a bear's head on its reverse side.

Fab ric tie-dye.

Dozens of jewelry booths.

While Suzy did her shopping, Donna and Russ watched in wonder and took a bunch of pictures.

After a while we wandered over to the Farmers Market. We passed up the healthful looking vegetables...

... but we did buy a tray of berries, two boxes each of raspberries, blueberries and silvan berries. (Silvan berries are a cross between Marionberries and Blackberries. Marionberries themselves a cross between Blackberries and something else.) What a delight these berries have been this past couple of days! We even put some of each in a Jell-0.

And some White Elm mushrooms, a new variety for us. Half of them went into an omelet this morning, along with Herbs du Provence and two varieties of cheese.

There were flower vendors ...

... and street musicians...

... but the crowning glory was a chance to sample some delightful pastry!

To counteract those calories, Donna and Russ drove us to a park by the McKenzie River where we took a brisk walk.

Well, maybe brisk is too optimistic a word, but we enjoyed the walk among berry vines, hardwood trees, and quiet scenery.

Then it was time for lunch at Roaring Rapids Pizza, on the bank of the Willamette River. 

Beyond the patio, his fellow was out fly-fishing...

... and inside the pizza restaurant, this one was the entertainment!

And this was only part of the day we spent with our new friends. We'll see them again and again, either here or elsewhere as we live ... Our Life on Wheels.