2004 Summer Trip--Time to Plan

[Richard Calhoun]

Hi Fred.

My name is Dick Calhoun. I live in Jacksonville Oregon which is a bedroom community of Medford. I am very familiar with Southern Oregon and the Southern Oregon Coast. I may be able to give you some advice for that part of your trip. I might join your group for part of the cruise down here. Regarding you plan to go from Gold Beach to Bend in one day my be difficult. I'm not familiar with 595 out of Gold Beach but I am assuming it goes east through the Siskiyou national forest. Roads throught these mountains are primative at best. Some may even be gravel. It's not a route that people would take normally unless you are hunting deer. Gold Beach is about a 3.5 to 4 hour drive to Medford, then another 3.5 to 4 hour drive to Bend. The jet boats to Paradise Lodge should not be missed. But you might consider going back north a little and go east to Coquille and hyw 42 to Roseburg. Then up 138 (Umpqua river) to Crater Lake which is a must see. 138 is a beautiful drive with many water falls. Then from Crater Lake to Bend. You might even consider spending the night at Crater Lake, but that could be a little expense. Probably $130 or so in the beautiful Lodge. This route would save you a fair amount of driving time. Or, you could go south from Gold Beach, cut across at Brookings to Medford and Crater Lake. But I don't think you could make it all the way to Bend that day unless you drive very hard. Food for thought. Let me know if you want more info or specifics. I am out of town for the next 10 days, but when I get back I would be more than happy to help. I will check this site in about 10 days.

Cheers

Dick