May 31, 2015, Portland- This is my third visit to the Rose City. I got here around 8:30 PM, after a marathon drive up I-5, from Mount Shasta. The day started with a light breakfast at Seven Suns Cafe, and a brisk walk. I headed north, a little after 11 A.M., after my usual reflections and writing.
My first stop was about thirty miles up the road, in the intriguing town of Yreka (wy-REE-kuh). The pronunciation is intended to distinguish this old mining town from Eureka, the former whaling port on the Lost Coast, about 100 miles west southwest and over the Coast Range.
The origins of Yreka, thus described.
Downtown Yreka, CA
Near this spot, I took a call from my former client, who was delighted to report that all was well in his new environment. This helped further set the tone for my own fine day.
This is the Franco-American Hotel Building. There was no one about, of whom I could inquire as to the flags. I imagine they may be left from Memorial Day.
Just up the street is MacGregor’s, a book and gift emporium.
Closed on Sunday, yet worthy of the title “emporium”.
Most Western towns have their Garden Club.
Yreka’s favourite son promoted freeways across California.
From his point of view, connectedness meant roads.
Two churches in the heart of downtown, are diagonal to one another.
St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
I bid farewell to Yreka, and to California itself, shortly thereafter. My friends in Ashland, OR were waiting.
Mount Ashland, from the the east.
I enjoyed a lovely lunch, and a two-hour conversation, with my friends, the Weahs, at their lovely garden home.
The freeway took me through plenty of beautiful mountains and valleys, past great owns like Grants Pass, Roseburg, Eugene, Corvallis and Salem. I did stop in Eugene for dinner at Empire Chinese Buffet, which I would recommend for variety and quality of the food. Nothing was overly heat-lamped, and the attendants were constantly replacing the empty pans.
Portland, though, was my destination, and having connected with one of my friends here, I settled in for the night at the downtown EconoLodge.
A Sagittarian Seeker 
Yreka looks like a christian town after the rapture! No one around! It looks like a cute town, though. We’re going to that part of the country in July. We’re headed to Seattle and Olympic (or Olympia?) National Park. We’ll spend a few days in Victoria, BC, too. I had to get my very expired passport renewed!
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I will be up in the Seattle area tomorrow, and in Vancouver, Wednesday and Thursday. Then it’s back to Bellingham, WA for the ferry to Alaska, Friday night.
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Yreka looks like a worthy day-tripping destination. Glad you’re experiencing good food and good company on the road.
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Yreka is California’s northernmost inland town, and indeed a worthy stop! Hope Houston is finally drying out.
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It’s getting there, Gary.
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Mt Shasta and Yreka are some of the prettiest country in California! Yreka’s flags may be part of a tradition in mountain California of leaving such flags up through the summer from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Just a statement of being part of the US! Enjoy Portland, too — I hope you will have a day or two there to look around — the rose garden must be about at its peak now, and the river is gorgeous (no pun intended). Mts. Hood, Adams, St. Helens, Rainier, and Baker are each more beautiful than the one before!
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I had a very full exploration of Portland, in 2012 and returned to Washington Park today- The Rose Garden and Hoyt Arboretum were the centerpieces.
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