Rhododendron Days

For those of you who don't know, pictured at the right is a Rhododendron bush in bloom. My research has revealed that there are over 1000 species of this plant, so this one might not look exactly like the ones you've seen. I guess they grow most everywhere, except in the drier regions.

Our Central Oregon Coast town is the Rhododendron Capital of the World. So, we are having our Rhody Days Festival this weekend.

Now most every small town has some type of a gig. We went to the Corn Festival in Northern Colorado, and the Strawberry Festival on the Coast of California, and the Apple Festival in the Tehachapi Mountains, and a Peach Festival and an Almond Festival in the SoCal desert. Been to a bunch of them, and I don't want to take away from any of them, but the Rhody Festival is the best.

My youngest brother, and his wife, will visit me and my wife, and my other sister, and her husband, right here in this town. Many more will gather in the like and this town's population will increase from the normal 8,500 to over 40k for the weekend.

There will be a parade complete with the Rhody Queen, and most of the prior Queens dating back 40 years. A car show, a carnival, scores of dances and other presentations by the youth and various organizations from around the community, marching bands from all over, motorcycle clubs from everywhere, will be non stop. The 3 traffic signals in town will be overwhelmed, the diners packed, the hotels booked, our Manor full, and the casino popping. The weather is forecast to be clear and near 70's.

So what better time to visit the Thought Dock than now? So come on, hope a flight, and have some fun with me and 40k other people just like me.

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