Had a bit of time for lunch the other day, so I decided to stop at the McKenzie Stage Stop located in Cedar Flat but I would be surprised if you can find it on many maps. Cedar Flat consists of a small restaurant, a service station and a few homes between Thurston (Springfield) OR and Walterville and boasts the best food this side of The Sister's on their sign outside. The offer Prime Rib on Friday and Saturday and I have been thinking about stopping in for that but haven't had the chance. So, I stopped in on Monday for lunch and had the Prime Rib sandwich instead. Needless to say, it was a bit dryer than if it had been fresh, but was flavorful nonetheless. It was a good sandwich but should have been served with horseradish which I had to ask for. I also had their "home made" potato sal... 10/04/2008

Hendricks Bridge Park is located just a short distance from Thurston (Springfield) Oregon on the banks of the McKenzie River. The park is 17 acres just 9 miles from downtown Springfield.   As you can see, the park is open from dawn to dusk and there is a user fee of $3 per vehicle. It is located on Highway 126 just after crossing the McKenzie going east.   The park is located where there has been a river crossing since the days of horse drawn wagons and buggies. There is even a map of the McKenzie River showing the drainage system into the Willamette River.   There is a wading area at the park and although it was a cool afternoon during the week, there were still kids playing in the water. This weekend, the weather should be warmer and you will need to bring your own rock to stand on, i... 08/28/2008