Chasing Clean Air

Welcome to Eugene, Oregon! Things To Do

 

Air quality challenge: Pollen

Gem: Willamette River running through town framed by trees and an extensive bike path.

Eugene is a liberal college town with the University of Oregon centrally located. It's great for canoeing, kayaking, white water rafting, and biking.

How To Drive Mountain-Passes In Oregon & Calif. Find A Friend.

You've got mail! All good and well but no one emailed that they'd join me on the soul-gripping drive from Oregon to California, specifically over the mountain ranges.

I need help. SOS in a blog post.

Eugene & Oregon Air Quality

 
I spoke to Sally Markos, public affairs manager for Lane Regional Air Protection Agency, regarding air quality in Eugene and surrounding Oregon areas. I wrote notes as she spoke, and may have made a few minor errors but for the most part, I think I've got it right.

1) What are the air quality challenges in Eugene?

Pollen: The Willamette Valley (farmland, wineries) is approximately 125 miles between here and Portland, a 2 hour drive, and prevailing winds dump the pollens of the valley here in Eugene.

No! That's A Scary Cliff Road!

"No! That's a scary cliff road!"

That's what Mr. Scary Road Informant said when I explained how I'd avoid the scary Mount Shasta I-5 South Pass, after trembling on its windy cliff roads when I drove north from California to British Columbia.

I'd told Mr. Scary Road Informant,

"I'll simply take 1-5 South from Eugene to Grants Pass to 199 to Crescent City to 101, and avoid I-5 South that cuts through Shasta, and instead see the stunning Redwood National Forest. Sure, it'll make the trip longer but it will be worthwhile and not scary."

"No! No!," bellowed Mr. Scary Road Informant.

"That's a scary cliff road! You may have a heart-attack. You can't fit two cars in the narrow two lane road overlooking the steep cliff! You might fall over!"

Not the reaction I'd hoped for.

"I was told it's a safe beautiful drive," I said with hope. "There are no scary sections."

Mr. Scary Road Informant wasted no time in responding.

"I've been there and I'm never going back!"

Welcome to Eugene, Oregon! King of Sustainable Living

With so many smart kids running around the University of Oregon, it's no wonder Eugene is the king of sustainable living.

I arrived in the cloak of darkness because, shh! don't tell, I discovered Woodburn's tax-free outlet shopping!

Willamette Valley, Oregon