Eugene, Oregon

[chenfuyu]

Where is Eugene, Oregon

[Quizmonster]

About 120 miles south of Portland.

[logman]

Roughly betweem northern California and south of British Columbia.

[Clanad]

Q is fairly close... it's 105 miles (169 kilometers) from Portland to Eugene. Here's a map and atlas to help...

http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/state/oregon.html

Welcome, by the way!

[Quizmonster]

Clanad, I just plonked my thumb between Portland and Eugene on a map of the western USA and thereafter on the accompanying measurement-scale

[Quizmonster]

(I've no idea why the above part-answer appeared...presumably I touched something I shouldn't have!)
I meant to go on to say "...measurement-scale which suggested about 120 miles south was accurate enough. If it is only 105 miles, so much the better for the traveller, as he'll get there that much sooner and as a pleasant surprise, since he'll be expecting still to have a further 15 miles to go!

[Clanad]

Rather like rule of thumb, then Q? Works for me!

[Quizmonster]

I was thinking of the supposedly old-fashioned Irish answer, C, whereby - if a native was asked by a tired-looking walker how far it was to Ballymaconnel or wherever - he would invariably say a figure much less than the truth. If asked why he didn't tell the truth, he would say something along the lines of: "Begorrah and I didn't want to discourage the puir sowl!" (Apologies to any modern Irish person who thinks that offensive!)

[Clanad]

Along the same lines, Q, here in cow country, an old time cowboy (true story) named Ned Dover was asked by a tourist one day on a back road, where a certain town was and how far. Ned replied, as he usually did, with very few words... "25 mile yonder", with a wave of his hand in a general direction. The tourist said thanks, and drove on. Ned's friend who had witnessed the event, asked "Ned, you know the only way to drive there is at least 60 miles the other way"? Ned said, "Can't answer the question never asked"... seemed reasonable to a 10 year old boy in the middle seat of the pick-up at the time... 'course, I worshipped the ground old Ned walked on.... Other than my father, Ned was the last of the old time cowboys I was fortunate enough to fix fence with...