The OE to SF and everything in between

The rest of my week there with the 2012 Oregon Extension group was great fun. The guys (all four of them, out of a total of 17 students) were wonderful hosts. They really welcomed me with open arms, sharing all with me and really making me feel at home. Thanks so much to Brandon, Karl, Mark and Ben. Sadly I didn't remember to take a picture with them but here are some of them:

Ben working on our giant pot of Chili. Making chili on a heating stove in an oversized pot was way fun.

Karl loves his camera

Sadly, Mark is a bit blurry. But its ok because he features in a video in just a bit.  

And I must apologize to Brandon for not getting any good photos of him either. I guess he wasn't being as rambunctious as others were.



The last couple of days of my stay it rained quite a bit.
Which led to:

I grew some extra freckles.

Karl did too I just didn't take a very good picture.

And:

Phil sliding down the mountain with a truck full of wood. 

Friday chores were extra fun when Phil, Mark, Ben, Karl and I were on wood collecting duty. After filling up the truck Phil went down the direct and muddy way. He probably had even more fun driving than we did running along side!

And sliding on picnic tables! (Featuring Mark)

Canoeing was also wonderful. It was so beautiful to be able to just sit and silently drift over the water; especially on the nights when the moon was out and bright enough to read by!

Sunsets were also nice.

Then finally after goofing off, climbing things like bark burners and roofs, and generally just having a good time, it was time for the town trip. Due to the weather I decided to not risk biking down the mountain and just got a ride with the people in the vans. Having previously ran into Heather and her daughter Simone at Shop N' Kart I had arranged to spend the night at my old professor and neighbor's house that Saturday night. I had lined up a ride to go to San Fran Sunday afternoon.

And so now we are nearly caught up! I made it to Hannah's house (actually in Oakland, in case anyone is reading this) Sunday night after a long ride with a driver who was pretty cool, quiet and would've been great, and two other riders. A drunk young woman who wouldn't shut up and kept drinking, and another dude who  would just goofily nod along and laugh stupidly with the other one. I forgot their names pretty quickly and didn't bother asking to be reminded. Sorry I didn't get a picture with them.

Anyway, Its getting late and I need to go to bed. I'm hoping tomorrow is going to be the biking day... but its raining pretty hard now so that might not go over so well. I think I'll catch you up, dear reader, on my life in the Bay Area in the next post!

See you then.