Ashland, Oregon – 8/14/2014

 

AUGUST 14, 2014 (Thursday)

 

Slept pretty good. Like we said, old but clean. We lazed around and read until check-out time (11:00 AM). When we did leave, we drove around looking for a place to have coffee and breakfast. We were hoping for an IHOP (International House of Pancakes) but ended up (again) at the Elmer’s we had eaten at coming up. We were seated in the gambling section, which was much quieter and more intimate than the regular dining area. Was fun, plus we won $2.75.

We laughed, on the road and in a rut, we stopped at this one two weeks ago.
We laughed, on the road and in a rut, we stopped at this one two weeks ago.
Edie got the sunshine dish, same as last time I think.
Edie got the sunshine dish, same as last time I think.
Mine, eggs, toast, hash browns and sausage links.
Mine, eggs, toast, hash browns and sausage links.

After breakfast we went to Costco (got gas – $3.73) and to a market very much like Whole Foods. After that we drove the back roads to Jacksonville. What a cute little town. Want to come back and explore it more. Then on to Ashland. Even cuter town, more quaint with fun and unique shops to explore. Again, want to come back and explore. We went up to the festival box office and got our tickets for the show tonight. Excited.

We got Edie a coat, Lex a top, me some shorts and lounging sweats.
We got Edie a coat, Lex a top, me some shorts and lounging sweats.
Really like the gas prices.
Really like the gas prices.
Edie photographed our new butterfly sun screen.
Edie photographed our new butterfly sun screen.
Interesting all natural place, folks as interesting as the products.  They had a security officer in there, Edie asked why, the clerk said, "We are in an interesting location."
Interesting all natural place, folks as interesting as the products. They had a security officer in there and Edie asked why.  The clerk said, “We are in an interesting location.”  Very diplomatic.
Edie laughed as I struggled with the snake-like screen that refused to behave.
Edie laughed as I struggled with the snake-like screen that refused to behave.
On the way to Jacksonville.
On the way to Jacksonville.
Had almost a California feel to it.
Had almost a California feel to it.
Jacksonville is up scale and cute.
Jacksonville is upscale and cute.
Feels clean and well financed.
Feels clean and well financed.

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Always the sign of excess money in a town, an old restored car.
Always the sign of excess money in a town, an old restored car.
Looked like cactus, but also looked like pears growing.
Looked like cactus, but also looked like pears growing.
Leaving town.
Leaving town.
On the road to Ashland.
On the road to Ashland.
Ashland is a beautiful town, full of trees.
Ashland is a beautiful town, full of trees.

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The box office.
The box office.

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Parks.
Parks.
Lots of green space.
Lots of green space.

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By this time it was 2:30 PM so we decided to see if we could check into our hotel. There was no problem and we got into our room right away. Very small and similar to last night’s hotel (we think they’re related some way), but clean. We unloaded the car and just took a little nap before leaving for dinner and the play.

Our home for a day, really tired of motels.
Our home for a day.  Really tired of motels.
Bed, blah, blah, blah...
Bed, blah, blah, blah…
Over here in the office/dressing chair area.....
Over here in the office/dressing chair/entertainment area…..
The kitchen.
The kitchen.
Bath.
Bath.

Around 5:30 PM, we left looking for a place to eat. I had looked at YELP and there were two places – both steak houses. Michael wanted steak and I told him if his gout acted up I didn’t want to hear about it. We settled on Omar’s. It got good reviews and was right down the road. It looks like the kind of place from the 50’s or 60’s with the red leather type booths.

We were able to be seated right away. Michael ordered a steak sandwich with the table salad, and I got the table salad, a baked potato and a lemonade (hard liquor type). The table salad was quite interesting in that they bring it to the table and you make your own. There is a large main bowl sitting inside a larger sectioned platter that has tomatoes, broccoli, garbanzo beans, and croûtons. They also brought out two different types of salad dressing. The salad was excellent, as was the baked potato. I also got a bite out of Michael’s steak, which was very delicious and left me wishing I had ordered that too. After dinner we split a dessert, a dark chocolate cake drizzled in dark chocolate, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Yummy. Perfect for splitting but would have exploded both of us if we had each had one.

Had good reviews.
Had good reviews.
Edie drinking me pretty again.  She said it was good.
Edie drinking me pretty again. She said it was good.
We shared the salad tray.
We shared the salad tray.
Edie's baked potato.
Edie’s baked potato.
My steak sandwich.
My steak sandwich.
I did not want to split, I wanted my own, I am so glad we split!  Edie is so smart sometimes.
I did not want to split, I wanted my own, I am so glad we split! Edie is so smart sometimes.

We left for the play immediately after dinner. Parking was hard to find so we went into the parking garage. Nothing. We lucked out, though, and found parking for electric vehicles. Yahoo. Another reason we love our plug-in so much. The walk to the theater was less than a block.

Saw this guy moving along on his electric bike.
Saw this guy moving along on his electric bike.
Drove around enjoying downtown and surrounding area.
Drove around enjoying downtown and surrounding area.

 

We wanted to capture the water, no luck.
We wanted to capture the water, no luck.
The Bard is everywhere.
The Bard is everywhere.
Scooters are very common here.
Scooters are very common here.

When we got to the park in front of the theater, there was a group of three men playing two violins and a cello. Excellent. Loved it. People were sitting and standing around enjoying the music before the play. What a great way to start the evening. We also went into the small gift shop. It had so many fun and unique things. Loved looking at it all.

Folks enjoying a musical performance outside the theater.
Folks enjoying a musical performance outside the theater.

The play started right on time – 8:00 PM. It was; “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.” It’s believed to be Shakespeare’s first play (theorized), and had the themes that would be in all of his plays – sexual identity, love, infidelity. What was shocking, however, was the fact that all parts in this performance were acted by women. It was hard to get past that for Michael and I (and for the people sitting near us). I know in Shakespeare’s days it was all acted by men playing men’s and women’s roles. Just when it’s so obviously a woman trying to act like a man – makes it difficult to totally get into the story line of the play. I did like it a lot and would give it a 7 out of 10. Would like to go back and see another one not so avant garde.

Inside the theater taken with my cell phone.  They made a big deal about no camera's so we just left ours in the car.
Inside the theater taken with my cell phone. They made a big deal about no camera’s so we just left ours in the car.

After the play we went straight home and to bed. That was our day. Hope yours was great!