Ah, Southern Oregon

I just returned from delivering the keynote address to the Southern Oregon Visitor's Association's annual Symposium in Medford last week. What a wonderful group of travel and hospitality professionals! Made me feel right at home. Thank you, Carolyn and Sue and Kerrie! I really envy you the Southern Oregon region--a place of such beauty and charm.

The day after the symposium, I had a chance to take a brief hike (more of a stroll, really) up to the top of Lower Table Rock outside Medford. After a morning of rain, the sun came out and dried things off a little. How great it was to see the madrones and the black oaks, all dark and drippy, and to smell the good-earth smell of the mountain.

Up top, a reward for the climb, panoramic views of the Rogue Valley spread far and wide: a ring of mountains and clouds, sun and shadow, farm, field, and forest.  (image source here)

I so hope it doesn't take me another ten years to return to Oregon!