Decent food, 24 hours a day
by jessicadf about The Apple Peddler
This is next door to the Sutherlin Inn and is lit up bright and pink. 24 HOURS -- food. Something interesting we noticed is that there must be NOTHING to do in Sutherlin. Outside the gas stations, mini-marts and even outside this retaurant, young folks were hanging out on the sidewalk and smoking cigarettes.
Anyway -- at 11:30pm, there were 5 people in the restaurant. The waitress, the cook, a fellow traveler (he checked in to the hotel just after us), Mark and I. Actually, after the waitress took our orders, she had to get the attention of the cook, who was outside, smoking a cigarette. The food was fine. Nothing amazing, but it tasted fine and went down well on an empty stomach. I'm trying to remember, and I just can't.... but hey, if you've been driving all day and are ready to eat something, this is a fine place to do it.
Cycling Tour!
by Hopkid
For the past 4 or 5 years on Memorial Day weekend, the owners of the Sutherlin Inn have run a two-day cycling tour out of their hotel. The casual tour riding is through some less traveled roads that feature some of the beautiful scenery in the area. There are lots of valley views with farms and the slopes of local mountains covered in pines. The weather plays a big part in the beauty with clouds often hugging the mountain tops and providing a misty atmosphere among the tall pines. Food is the focus as there is a group breakfast at the White Horse Coffee Shop on the first morning, a lunch stop in historic Oakland at Tolley's, and a gourmet dinner at the White Horse in the evening. The second day features a picnic with provisions purchased at a local grocery store at a picnic ground along the banks of the scenic Umpqua River. Saturday's ride is 26 miles while Sunday's is 43. The pace is very casual averaging 12 mph.
SAG is provided so people can decide to ride as much or as little as they want and also serves as protection for the riders on the few busy sections of road. The folks who do this ride are all very fun, nice, and interesting. And the organizers are two of nicest guys and characters you'd ever hope to meet. It's a great way to experience the area.
Rides start and end at the Sutherlin Inn. Be sure to ask for the bike event discount when making your reservations. Bikes and associated equipment
A week of sightseeing and cycling in Oregon
by Hopkid
As a guide for folks who are thinking of traveling to Oregon, I will include here the intinerary for our trip with an outline of where we stopped and what we did during the trip. There are a couple of general tips on Oregon that the first-time visitor may not be aware of (I know I wasn't!). More tips can be found on my pages specific to Portland, Sutherlin, and Crater Lake National Park.
Day 1: Fly into Portland (late); stay with friends
Day 2: Drive to Sutherlin stopping in Albany for lunch; Stay at Sutherlin Inn
Day 3: 28-mile bike ride through Douglas County and Oakland where we had lunch; ovenight at Sutherlin Inn
Day 4: 43-mile bike ride through the Umpqua River Valley; overnight at Sutherlin Inn
Day 5: Drive to Crater Lake National Park via Highway 138; overnight at Crater Lake Lodge
Day 6: Spend the day at Crater Lake National Park; overnight at Crater Lake Lodge
Day 7: Drive to Portland via U.S. Highway 97 and Oregon Highway 58 to I-5, stopping in Salem for lunch at the weekday farmer's market; stay with friends again
Day 8: Visit Columbia River Gorge and hang out in Portland's Pearl District; stay at Airport Embassy Suites
Day 9: Fly back to Richmond
