Overnighter to Euguene, Oregon

Steelhead Brewery and Pub on 5th Street in the Market District.

Wayne and I traveled from Corvallis to Eugene, Oregon for the second half of our USC Women's Basketball sports-cation.  We come here for lots of USC sporting events at the University of Oregon.

We checked in at the downtown Eugene Hilton. We like to stay here because it's within walking distance to both football and basketball.

It was Super Bowl Sunday so we settled in to watch. We're Seahawks fans, so the results weren't the best, but the game was exciting. We planned ahead and fixed dinner in our room using our mobile meal kit and a spaghetti dinner I prepared at home.


Last year we discovered a great breakfast spot, The Original Pancake House, and had to return.

Wayne and I shared their signature Apple Pancake. Don't let the name fool you. It's a plate sized air filled pancake with sautéed apples and cinnamon sugar baked until it caramelizes. You have to wait a long time for it to cook, but the wait is well worth it! Yum!

Willamette River from the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Trail.

To work off our breakfast, we walked along the Willamette River on the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Trail. Last year it was at flood stage, over-running its banks. Today it was high and fast, but well under control. The river runs right through town, an easy walk from almost any location.

The River Trail follows along on both sides, so you can use the dedicated foot bridges and make it a two mile or so loop. Parts are paved to share with bikes, and parts are dirt along the north shore.

J. Michaels Bookstore at 160 E. Broadway.

After our walk was finished, Wayne went back to the room and I reversed course to go downtown to a bookstore we passed earlier. J. Michaels Books has a well organized and extensive collection of used and new books.

I'm always on the lookout for a good read and found Ring of Bright Water by Gavin Maxwell about mid-1900s life in a remote cabin on the west coast of Scotland.

Finally to the USC Women's Basketball portion of our trip. They played in the Matthew Knight Arena. It's amazing with a unique floor representing a forest of fir trees and a giant green "O" in the middle for the Oregon Ducks. The Women of Troy fought a hard battle, but again did not win. Either way, we enjoy this town.

Little Big Burger on Orchard next to the OU campus.

What is a vacation without lots of good food. We probably should have opted for a light dinner, but NOT. We headed over to Little Big Burger. The buns are smaller, but the burger is thick and juicy, and the truffle fries are amazing, especially with the gourmet Camden's catsup with a kick.

If that wasn't enough, after walking back to the Hilton, we stopped downstairs for dessert. Now we'll have to go out walking again tomorrow and work it all off. -- Margy