An 82 mile round trip…

Roseburg is located in the Umpqua River Valley along both sides of the South Umpqua River in southern Oregon.

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Interstate 5 crosses through this city of some 22,000 residents.

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In 1851 Aaron Rose, by way of New York and Michigan, established a homestead here. He constructed the first building, from poles and wood siding, that contained a front room grocery store backed by a dining room and kitchen. This rough structure served as a roadside tavern and inn. Overnight guests had the option of sleeping on the floor of the front room or outside under nearby oak trees. Rose built a proper hotel in 1853. (en.m.wikipedia.com)

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In 1937 Kenneth Ford founded Roseburg Lumber and his company became the largest employer in the community. By the 1970s, Roseburg became known as the Timber Capital of the Nation. (en.m.wikipedia.org)

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Most recently, unfortunately, Roseburg made news headlines for the Umpqua Community College school shooting. Eight students and an assistant professor were killed and 9 others injured on October 1, 2015. The gunman was a 26-year-old student who killed himself during a gun battle with police. (en.m.wikipedia.org)

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To get to Roseburg I travel some 30+ miles on Hwy. 42 East to Winston. It’s a beautiful drive along a winding road

accented with mountainsides covered with dark green fir trees, patches of de-forested land, pink wild flowers along the highway,

blue skies overhead, and logging trucks whizzing by in both directions. .Decked out in my pretty shorts and best top for the city, I’m in no hurry. This is my big outing and I plan to savor every moment.

So I take the opportunity to stop along the way and capture the interesting signs and names of streets I encounter:

Wine country? Who knew? Jeff and I will have to check this out!

After crossing the Middle Fork Coquille River several times, I catch Hwy. 99 North in Winston. Before getting onto Interstate 5, however, I have to stop and explore Brosi’s Orchards and pick up some fresh black cherries.

People are picking cherries by the bucketful.

Besides cherries, I buy some homegrown squash, carrots, green onions, and a cantaloupe. As I wait in the check-out line, a woman arrives carrying a crate of filled egg cartons. When I hear her asking for more empty cartons to fill, I walk over and ask her if she is bringing fresh eggs from her hens. “Can’t fill ’em fast enough,” she replies. So of course I have to get a dozen freshly laid eggs! I can’t wait to return on my next trip into Roseburg!!! As summer passes, more and more vegetables will be available.

My next stop is just off the Diamond Lake exit of Interstate 5. I just have to do this!

It is legal to purchase 7 grams of recreational marijuana a day in Oregon plus 1 edible or drink.

Can you even imagine me walking into a dispensary and requesting marijuana?  Me either! I don’t even smoke the stuff. But at 63-years-old, I guess you can chalk up this one to my bucket list adventures.

I pull open the door and look behind me, wondering if some boogie man authority figure is going to jump out and say, “Bad girl! Stop! You cannot enter!” And then I am greeted by a smiling young woman welcoming me into the white-walled inner sanctum. Just beyond is a white door leading to the dispensary.

I nervously approach the reception desk, still looking behind me. “This is my first time,” I blurt out, ready to accept my penance of reciting Hail Marys and Our Fathers, and having the boogie man shake his authoritative finger at me. “How cool that it’s with us,” responds the receptionist. She takes my drivers license and registers me in the system. Do you hear this? I am in Oregon’s recreational marijuana system! Immediately I relax and the boogie man evaporates.

I open the door to the dispensary. It’s a rectangular room with white walls sparsely lined with shelves of mason jars containing buds. A glass-encased counter displays concentrates, pipes, tee-shirts, and other paraphernalia. On top of the counter is a scale, label- maker, and cash register, along with recreational and medical menus.

To the left of this space is a glass-enclosed refrigerator containing edibles and infused beverages.

I take out my “cheat-sheet” from Jeff and find out that it’s okay to be clueless and ask questions. And so I purchase my first cache of marijuana ever!

I stash it in my purse and carry it with me as I shop at the grocery store before returning home to Remote.

All the while I shop, I wear this sheepish grin on my face daring folks to ask me what’s in my wallet, er shoulder bag!