Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-09-10
ore
Obe
Peoples Forum
Trip to the Oregon Caves in jose
phine County.

Having promised the Tidings and |
many of our friends description OF
our summers outing, will COM
mence by describing the first point
of our sightseeing destination, THE
Caves" My wife and myself left
Ashland at the break of dawn on a
bright June morn" accompanied by
Mr.. and Mrs. Sans and their son
Lloyd, passing through bedford be-
fore the hustle and hustle of our
sister city had begun, vending our
way through Central Point and Gold
Hill, taking the road on the south
side of the Rogue river to a point
opposite Grants Pass, where we bore
to the south, following the newly
placed signboards, Oregon Caves,
across the Applegate and up to the
upper end of Williams creek, going
as far as we could with our autos.
We stopped at a nearby ranch to
make inquiries. We found we were
ten miles from the caves, and there
being no other way but to walk,
all available pack and riding ami
mails had been engaged the previous
day (for this was Grants Pass day..
We concluded the best thing to do
was to retrace our steps and take the
well-known stage road known as the
| Crescent City road, which we did,
| taking down the south side of the
| Applegate, where we encountered
our first hard roads, reaching Will
derville, on the opposite side, about
noon, without any mishaps. We con-
tinued our journey on the stage road
to about two miles south of Kirby
on a fine, smooth road. Let me add
here the new signs from Grants Pass,
Oregon Caves" are very misleading
owing to a certain rivalry which eX-
lists. The best route is as above de-
scribed, via the old stage route three
miles south of Kirby. You turn to
the left at signboard ITO Holland,
turning to the left at Saverno 'black-
smith shop. From Holland you go
north to the iron bridge across Suck
er creek. We crossed the creek and
found a fine camping place for the
night, being our first night out
Early next morning we packed oul
autos, broke camp for a siX-mile ride
up Sucker creek to the forks of Suck
er and Grayback creeks, where We
found nice camping grounds anc
good fishing. This six miles was
little rough but very fair for auto
travelling. Our little Fords, with the
exception of a little bucking anC
coughing owing to an inexperienced
driver, did fine. At this junction w
found a well-kept boarding house
where good meals are served at q
cents, but we were out for a camp
ing trip, so we pitched our tents, ant
having provided ourselves with al
the necessary equipment to max
camping a pleasure. Having ou
, front seat cut down and laying tn
back down makes a bed fit for
king. We also had a canvas we fast
ened on one side and over the car
extending about four feet from tn
car on the other side, and with
aN fn
with guy ropes and side curtain
made very comfortable room. w
also had a grub box made on tn
running board full length, the Ii
opening out instead of in, whic
when open was supported by tw
pegs or legs which made our table
. in front of which we placed two cam
chairs. We also took a two-burne
gasoline stove, which we carried o
the back seat of the car, which W
found very convenient, besides bloc
and tackle, a shovel, ropes, two e1
ira tires, water bag, which we foun
, a necessity, two suitcases for the net
essary change of clothing, as we wer
, expecting most any time to be calle
upon to preside over some banqut
or church festival en- route, beside
the necessary bedding for comfor
We also carried a tool box on tn
! other side of the car, with everythin
, in the shape of tools imaginable, an
, on top of this an emergency cas-
|, holding two gallon cans. one for ga!
, oline and one for oil. We found thi
. necessity. Thus fully equipped, W
were ready for any emergency.
We cannot help giving a word {
. praise to the county commissioner
, of Josephine county. The roads, a
| ter passing a horrible stretch {
, Jackson county mud holes, ETC., ar
simply great, equal to our pike road
4 in the east, and seems that the fe'
+ miles of bad roads in Jackson couI
ty. which is the connecting link b.
tween the Josephine county road
, and the beautiful Pacific Highwa.
, commencing at Central Point, shoul
a mar such a beautiful drive from Ash
4 land to Grants Pass, which would b