Red Truck Road Trip – WEST Coast Team

Groove Palace 7/7/07

Yachats, OR

We arrived to the Groove Palace around 4pm. It was a 3.5 hr drive southwest from Portland to the central coastline. We pulled up to a chained metal bridge over a gorgeous babbling river. The palace was set up back on a hill guarded by dark greens.

After pulling up the driveway, a working farm appeared. Apples trees, apricots, blackberries, peaches, pears, cherries, fresh herbs: basil mint rosemary bay thyme basil sage parsley. The real deal, 96 Acres of pure country with pines and rolling hills with complete secrecy and warmth.

We were met with cold beers, 80’s sunglasses, and towels- and immediately found ourselves floating in the river and sunbathing. Clothes were optional for a few. We were offered sandwiches, sweets, and more cold beer. Fat Tire, Rogue (who sells White Truck Wine at their brewery) and some other local OR beers. After the late afternoon river bath, I decided it was time to capture the essence of this one of kind place on canvas. As I was painting, Brad was shooting film, and our hosts were working on the land.

Our hosts were spectacular people. The kind of people that understand the art of living and the art of entertaining. After my painting session I wanted to cook dinner for the 11 of us. Before leaving Portland I went to the Saturday Farmers Market in Portland and bought some fresh produce to cook at the farm.

MENU:

Tuna lime mint basil ceviche

Red beet, curly parsley, goat cheese with citrus accent

Yellow wax beans with fresh mint

Espresso and cumin crusted top sirloin with fresh rosemary and sage- mouvedre cherry reduction over organic baby arugala

Grilled ahi ahi tuna with a thyme citrus orange reduction

White Truck Sangria with champaign floater and fresh peaches

Mojitos with farm white mint

Instead of having a supermarket, I just walked outside the palace and grabbed all the fresh herbs I could get my hands on. The ingredients were so fresh and so very organic. I could not believe the lifestyle here. It was so amazing to see a place like this exists. If I had the option of staying at the palace for the rest of this trip I just might have. Brad agreed as well. We both are in awe to have experienced something as beautiful and special as the groove palace. I’m not sure if we can top this experience but we are sure as heck gonna try!

After dinner we sat down to a campfire with an acoustic guitar and violin outside under a clear night sky. The stars were spectacular last night and the world seemed to be perfect. It was a very tough place to have to say goodbye to, but I have the feeling I’ll be back.