Day 26, Tuesday June 18th:
Keith was up early for sunrise and what would become a
highly emotional series of stops. His first trip was to Marshfield High School
which is where Steve Prefonatine, the famed American long distance runner,
discovered his passion for running. It was surreal to behold the sunrise over
Coos Bay from the high school parking lot and to know that these views are what
pushed Pre forward.
After the sun had risen Keith took a drive through Prefontaines childhood neighborhood where his presence still hangs thick in the morning air. From there Keith headed over to Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery where Prefontaine is buried. Paying his respects and having a conversation with this ghost proved much more emotional then Keith had expected. As a role model for all distance runners this hero had been the example to follow for Keith in high school.
Having shared his thanks, Keith headed out to Old Bandon to capture some photos of the harbor in the early hours. This was a much longer drive then Keith remembered from the night before.
Having much more success at the harbor in the morning then in his previous attempt, Keith got in the civic and doubled back for Coos Bay. Making a stop at the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Visitor Information Center in Coos Bay to see the monument to Steve Prefontaine was the capstone to this Coos Bay pilgrimage.
After Keith, Jeremy and Rob had a quick lunch Keith and Jeremy got on the road and headed towards Portland while planning a stop in Eugene. In Eugene Keith and Jeremy walked around the University of Oregon Campus on a mission to find Hayward Field. Being in the hollowed land/center of the running universe commanded by Bill Bowerman and driven by Steve Prefontaine was awe inspiring. Being at the birthplace of the running boom was incredibly motivational.
While in Eugene we also found the crash site for Prefontaine in the back roads of a local neighborhood. Keith paid his respects to the American hero and after some words with fellow visitors returned to the civic and geared up for the drive to Portland.
We arrived in Portland around 5pm. After settling in Keith and Jeremy made their way out to the International Rose Test Garden. This public park is free admission and boasts several acres of breath taking rose arrangements and rose decorated tennis courts which are also open to the public. One of the great things about this area of the country is that it seems to stay light out until almost 9pm.
From the rose gardens we decided to have a lazy night and grab dinner and a movie. We went to McMenamins, on a strong referral, and tried some of the local beers and whiskeys they offer. Both the food and the libations held up to their high reputations. Post dinner Keith and Jeremy went to see a late showing of Man of Steel in IMAX. Twas a late night…
~Jeremy and Keith
After the sun had risen Keith took a drive through Prefontaines childhood neighborhood where his presence still hangs thick in the morning air. From there Keith headed over to Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery where Prefontaine is buried. Paying his respects and having a conversation with this ghost proved much more emotional then Keith had expected. As a role model for all distance runners this hero had been the example to follow for Keith in high school.
Having shared his thanks, Keith headed out to Old Bandon to capture some photos of the harbor in the early hours. This was a much longer drive then Keith remembered from the night before.
Having much more success at the harbor in the morning then in his previous attempt, Keith got in the civic and doubled back for Coos Bay. Making a stop at the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Visitor Information Center in Coos Bay to see the monument to Steve Prefontaine was the capstone to this Coos Bay pilgrimage.
After Keith, Jeremy and Rob had a quick lunch Keith and Jeremy got on the road and headed towards Portland while planning a stop in Eugene. In Eugene Keith and Jeremy walked around the University of Oregon Campus on a mission to find Hayward Field. Being in the hollowed land/center of the running universe commanded by Bill Bowerman and driven by Steve Prefontaine was awe inspiring. Being at the birthplace of the running boom was incredibly motivational.
While in Eugene we also found the crash site for Prefontaine in the back roads of a local neighborhood. Keith paid his respects to the American hero and after some words with fellow visitors returned to the civic and geared up for the drive to Portland.
We arrived in Portland around 5pm. After settling in Keith and Jeremy made their way out to the International Rose Test Garden. This public park is free admission and boasts several acres of breath taking rose arrangements and rose decorated tennis courts which are also open to the public. One of the great things about this area of the country is that it seems to stay light out until almost 9pm.
From the rose gardens we decided to have a lazy night and grab dinner and a movie. We went to McMenamins, on a strong referral, and tried some of the local beers and whiskeys they offer. Both the food and the libations held up to their high reputations. Post dinner Keith and Jeremy went to see a late showing of Man of Steel in IMAX. Twas a late night…
~Jeremy and Keith
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