Cottonwood fluff fills the air, a warm snow of downy seeds drifting across the lush green that surrounds us. We have to be careful not to inhale the little wisps as we huff and puff along the path. We are walking along the Rogue River, just 10 minutes on foot from the door of Henderson’s Lineup in Grant’s Pass, Oregon.

This is where Howie will undergo his latest suspension upgrade, plus a thorough inspection to ward off any evils that might lurk ahead in our next 10,000 miles of northern exploration. I discovered Henderson’s some years ago, and the wonderful people who run it, and I’ve been taking Howie back there whenever possible. It’s simply the best RV shop in North America IMHO.

While we are getting Howie serviced, we live in him (as normal) by simply parking right at Henderson’s. They even provide electrical, how cool is that? They are of course RVers themselves, running the family business for decades. An outstanding resource for keeping Howie happy – – and when Howie is happy, we are happy.

All this convenience makes the nearby Rogue River walk not only accessible, but a virtual daily ritual when we visit the Lineup.

Living in drought-stricken California, we tend to forget just how green and leafy a place can be. There is a huge diversity of foliage along the banks of the river, the ultimate riparian environment, and we truly enjoy it. Evergreens, maples, cottonwoods, you name it — they are all present in profusion, healthy and verdant. Green is good for the soul.

A spattering of rain dulls the skies, but hardly our spirits. Only the ground is damp.

Our walk takes us along a paved path and past pedestrian bridges large and small.

No, that’s not snow at 75F – – it’s the accumulation of cottonwood down along the edges of the pathway.

Tomorrow is a “working day”, but good preparation makes for good trips.