[JONAT-chat] Oregon Sector -- Chapter 2 -- No pictures

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My 2004 Oregon JONAT Experience -- Chapter Two
By Christina Lilienthal

Newport is a very pretty seaport town with its multi-span bridge at the south
entrance and its old town on the waterfront offering a variety of gift shops,
tourist attractions and eateries.  I stayed at the Days Inn which was quiet
and clean and the managers were very pleasant.   Over-tired from the day
before, I did not sleep very well, so was running on about two cylinders
heading out
to breakfast.  The bbunchb had scheduled to meet near the Oregon Aquarium
at
a place called Fish Tales, not to be confused with the Whales Tail, which is
also a good place to eat in Old Town.

I picked up Fazal Cader, the International Sector Coordinator, at a motel
down the road a piece, since he didnbt ship his car from Australia to drive.
We
headed to meet the others who were already assembled at breakfast.  Fazal was
telling me about his experience riding in the back of Bill Smithbs white GMC
pickup from the California border to Newport.  Other drivers were scheduled to
join up along the way, including myself, but for whatever reason, Jay the
Jaguar, the JONAT banner and Fazal ended up hitching a ride with the
bsweepb
vehicle driven by Bill Smith and his wife, LaVerne.  I found it quite humorous
as
Fazal explained how he got to stretch out in the backend of the truck and take
pictures looking out the rear. I laughed and pointed out to Fazal that he
couldnbt have been in a safer position!  Bill Smith is a retired staff
sergeant
from the medical corps of the military.  He is a trained emergency medical
instructor and had every conceivable device designed to deal with field
emergencies -- all in the back of his vehicle.  Had they encountered any
problem during
Fazalbs visit to the United States, Bill would have been able to handle it.

The coffee wasnbt as strong as I needed, but the breakfast meals that some
people ordered at Fish Tales were works of art.  Waffles or some type of
pastryb&
piled high with Oregon blueberries and whipped creamb&looked incredibly
delicious.  I ate my ham and rye toastb&and could feel my mood start to
elevate a
little.  William Bolliger walked in, the other Oregon ASC. He had just driven
over
from Salem and joined up.  We met for the first time, having exchanged a few
brief messages over the internet.  Soon, everyone was headed out the door for
the Hatfield Marine Science Center where Bruce Mate, the Professor of Whales
from the Science Center, was lining up cars baestheticallyb for
photographs.
Bruce was going to be leading us on a special 10-mile scenic drive around
Yaquina Bay in his gorgeous black XJS. (photos:  the Jaguars at the Hatfield
Marine Science Center in Newport)

This was a festive line-up.  A few people heard about our gathering and came
down to see us off or bring their own collector car.  Bill Smith brought out
the banner and everyone on the tour signed in. (photo:  Doug Dwyer signs while
Fazal Cader and Jay  stand by)

While Bill Smith was providing instructions to the group, I became
sidetracked in conversation with a local newspaper reporter and gave him a
copy of the
newsletter we had put together for background.  I was glad that Bill Smith and
I had taken the time to publish one, for it had served me well during the
course of the tour.

Fazal rode in the lead car with Bruce Mate, and I found myself in second
position on the tour.  I hadnbt heard the instructions from Bill Smith as to
where
we were going, so I was determined to stick on the lead car like glue.
Everyone fell in behind.  A beautiful drive it was.  This was a highlight of
the
tour.  Bruce, thinking everyone wanted a thrill, took us up and down and
around,
whipping around those curves, smoking through the straight-a- ways (not
literally) b he actually took one hand off the wheel to give us an
interpretive
discourse along the way on our FSR radios!  Finally I interceded and asked if
anyone was getting carsickb&because I was, and I was driving.  He toned it
down
slightly, but it was a real thrill.  I was thankful for the high performance
car
I was driving.  It didnbt miss a beat and cornered smoothly.  I had a chance
to take a couple pictures through the windshield on a straight stretch, of the
XJS, and then out the window to the side, of a pasture full of white
Charolais cattle that I thought was especially nice.  It was difficult, but I
wanted
to capture the moment forever.  I figured I might not experience this again!
(photos:  scenic drive near Newport)

Finally, Bruce pulled over and we took a break along an estuary and people to
time to chat a little.  That was nice.  That gave me time to take more
pictures!  Another Jaguar happened on the scene coming from the other
direction and
she pulled over all excited wanting to know what was going on.  Bruce briefed
her. (photos:  the break by the estuary near Newport)

After a bit of fresh air and visiting we were on our way to another stop at
an art center that Bruce recommended.  The Art Center Director graciously
opened their facilities to us.  Again, the cars were nicely lined up and I
couldnbt
resist another few shots.  We even took time to have a group photo taken!
(photos: the Art Center line-up and the bbunchb)

Everyone was feeling pretty satisfied at that point and the tour was going
well.  It was fun to have a group together sharing the experience of the
bGreat
American Road.b  The Art Center had a very nice blonde-colored dog for a
mascot.  He had the run of the place.  I think he must have startled the
gremlin
that was hanging out in the back seat of my car, because I think he hopped out
the window, ran down the line, and hopped in the backseat of Doug Dwyerbs
car.
The first thing, you know, we were getting ready to head out for Seaside and
Dougbs gorgeous fast-looking car wouldnbt start.  So we turned off the
engines and folks gathered around to see if the problem could be fixed.
(photos:
Gathering for moral support, Dwyerbs CPR in action (notice the clean
engine).

Bill Smith suggested we split into two groupsb&some supporters wanted to stay
and help fix the problem and others wanted to go on.  I could contribute
nothing to the solutionb&and there were a couple others who had to go on
because of
time commitments.  So we toured on up to the Tillamook Cheese Factory for
lunch.  That was nice.  Afterward, Bill Smith had us sign the back of a
business
card and put it inside a jaguar-spotted balloon that he filled with helium
(from his emergency stash in the back of his pick-up), and let it loose to
drift
where it may.  He was in touch by telephone with the stragglers, and it
sounded
like they would be awhile, so some of us headed up to Seaside. I wish we
could have spent more time in Seaside.  It was a beautiful little coastal town
with lots of shopping opportunities and coffee shops.  Tour members were
splitting off  for home and before long I was the only one left at Seaside
waiting for
the rest.  I only had time to park and look around briefly before Bill Smith
was on the FSR radio to me and we reunited at the promenade where the end of
the Lewis and Clark Trail meets the sea.  It was very neat.  The beach was
beautiful.  The Lewis and Clark Statue towered high at the end of the road,
and we
took more photographs to mark this historic occasion.  (photo:  The bfewb
of
us survivors at the end of the Lewis and Clark Trail in Seaside)

Astoria was our next destinationb&the farthest north city on the Oregon
Coast.
 I had never been to Astoria, so was looking very forward to it as it had
recently been named as an All-American City.  Bruce Hugo led the way as he
knew
the territory.  The sun was on its way toward the horizon when we arrived and
the idea was to take in the Astoria Maritime Museum, but it was already
closed.
 We discussed our plans at that point.  I did not want to leave Astoria
before looking around a bit.  Bruce Hugo needed to return to Clackamas.  Bill
Smith
and LaVerne had a program they were scheduled to attend.  So that left Fazal
Cader and me to ponder how to maximize the rest of the day.

To be Continued.

Christina Lilienthal
Oregon ASC