view from Paramount Hotel Portland

Day 14 and now it is time once again to pack our bags and get back on the train to Klamath Falls which is still in Oregon before heading to California. I had previously tried to book Dunsmuir which is not far from Klamath Falls but most rooms were booked and I could not get anywhere central of the town so I went on the net and found Klamath Falls which seemed nice and the hotel I booked was near a lake so hoping everything will be fine. We arrived in the station an hour before the train arrive and had a beer in the lovely restaurant/bar which is attached to the station and waited for 3pm train. The train arrived on time and we were allocated our seats for the 7 hour journey to Klamath Falls and another step on our journey.

htel room view

 We arrive late into Klamath Falls about 10.20pm and although there are no taxis we join up with a young girl who is staying overnight at a different hotel and share a taxi so after we drop her off we make our way to the Econolodge Hotel at the far end of town.

the view

Union Station Portland

the clock tower

After it had all died down the place just seem to get back to normal and George Lucas and I had some more drinks and as the PBR was only $1 a glass we felt it fitting that we had to buy our new friend Lucas a few more beers which he was grateful of. The night was going along great now and we were joined by birthday boy wade who had just turned 25 after the chimes of midnight who was in the company of Jerry,Ryan,Shaun,Shyia and Amanda.

Most of the guys were fire-fighter but not the usual ones but just important as they were bush fire-fighters and just to make it clear they should have the same respect as they put their lives before them and they protect people’s homes so they do a great job also – so hats of and respect to those guy too. After a few beers too many it was time to head back to the Bates Motel(the locals found that funny) and Jerry who is a nurse was kind to drop George and I off there and it was to bed with another day in Klamath Falls ahead of us.

Day 15 in Klamath Falls

After a long and hectic night spend in down town Klamath Falls it was time that George and I ventured out and see a bit more of the place as we had heard at the bottom of our street there was a beautiful lake with a stunning view and maybe the chance to see some pelicans. Walking down the street it was a beautiful warm day and well in the 80's which is different from our weather in Glasgow Scotland at this time of year. We went down through a lovley open park land towards the signs for the lake and before we reached it the first sight was a locomotive number 2576 which had been part of the railway and been house in an enclosure at the park which was also right next to the war Veterans memorial park which I will talk about later.

Klamath Falls lake

A liitle walk further on and the park opened up to the lake and they we right when they said that the veiw was amazing as from the shore which you can sit and take in the view where it stretches for miles across and up to the hills.George and I decided to move further round the lake to see if we could track down the pelicans but although we did not expect to find any because of the time of the year as they should have all left the lake so it was a nice surprise when at the far end we spotted two pelicans on the lake. Happy with that we then spotted a crance flying off, a swallow and  some normal duck but also some really big a frightening wild geese as we found out when we got a little bit to close for comfort.

We decided to go up for lunch the chinese resteraunt called Dynasty and from what we heard it had a good reputation for food and I am glad we did as it was well worth the visit and we would come back for a beer or two before heading out tonight Refreshed and ready to go again we decided this time to go and visit the Blue Star Memorial Highway which is dedicated to the war veterans and armed forces of the United States.

locomotive 2579

It is a beautiful memorial garden and it shows at the wars where Americans have fought and fallen from the American Revelution through the Civil War and the two World Wars Vietnam and through to the present day for Afganastan and Iraq.Also there is a place dedicated to the people of the 9/11 horrendous attack in New York. After George and I stayed for a few minutes silence in mermory to all those who have fell in war both in American and in the United kingdom the it was back to the Bates motel for a little rest.

We had decidedc to venture back down town to the Waldo pub as some of the boys we met the previous night said they may be back in and we would have a few more drinks once again. After a shower and rest we walk down town to the bar which was fine as it was a nice cool night after beuing a very warm day.

Blue Star Memorial Highway

We had stopped off to phone home and find out more about my brother but once more it was sad news as he was getting worse each day so we knew we had to get home to scotland as soon as.Entering the bar it was nice to notice that the barmaid remembered us from the night before and gave us a warm welocome back so it was a vodka for George and a lovlely cold PBR(Blue Ribband) beer mmmmmmmmmm. A few drinks later and the night was going strong when we got chatting to a couple of lads wo like everbody we have met loved our idea on our trip and wanted to know more. They invited me to join the across the road at a Mexican bar which also had a Karaoke night and anyone who knows me would know I couldnt pass up that chance to sing especially to sing in the USA so I was up for it.

me at the war memorial

A couple of the boys we met from the night before arrive and before I knew it the drinks were going down fast and furious and the time was flying by(the old saying that time flies when you are enjoying yourself is very true). It was nearly time to head over to the Karoke but George was feeling a bit worse for wear so he decided to head back to the hotel but I couldnt miss a chance to sing so I headed over the the mexican bar with my new friends. The bar wasnt very full but there were a few performers and although they were good singers(not great but knew how to hold a tune) I thought I would do okay . We decided to have a bit of dutch courage so we ordered up the house special which was some sort of drink full of tequilla and blue coloured fruit juice which was surprisingly quiet pleasent.

me and whats his name - great guy

My friends sang their songs no problem although to be honest after all the drink that we had I cannot remember what the songs were that they sang ha ha. Now it was my turn and I decided to sing Glen Campbells song "Rhinestone Cowboy" which hasnt let me down and is always a great favourite no matter where you are. After I sang all I could thionk about was "if Glen Campbell heard me sing his song the way I did tonight he would have drove me out of town" my god it was awful ha ha but to be fair people still clapped but I think it was because I was from scotland and nothing else :-). We were about to move on to another bar when like many times before I started to chat to some other random people in then bar and tell them all about my adventure on this trip.

better picture of me and the gang

They were a great bunch of lads Steve Peter Mike some girlfriends and other which I do not remember but I do know that I was buying pitchers of beer and joining in the fun which they liked also so everyone was having a great time.After closing time(about 3am) we all got a cab and they were happy to drop me off at the Bates motel then I waved good bye and headed back to my room which should have been easy enough. Although I thought I could walk it very easily it most have been a beer to many for me as I remember falling head over heels into a wall and scraping all down my arm which I knbew wopuld hurt in the morning so it is off to bed and one more day in Klamath Falls before boarding the train to San Francisco night night all.