Camping at Brice Creek, August 21

The end of summer was looming.  Both Emily and I had to start work on August 27.  So we decided on a last minute camping trip to Cedar Creek campground at Brice Creek.  The camper was still packed from our aborted Eastern Oregon trip, so all I had to do was load up the fridge with perishables, pack some clothes and hit the road.  Jeff was still recovering from the cataract surgery and tummy troubles, but planned to join us during the day.  My assignment?  Get to the campground as early as possible and secure a campsite.  Luckily, when I got there at about 11 on Wednesday, one of the best campsites was available.  On one side, Cedar Creek burbled and bubbled down to Brice Creek which ran by the other side.  So the soothing sound of running water was everywhere.  I put up the camp chairs and table and opened up the camper.  Em, Ru and Fred pulled up just about lunchtime with J arriving soon after.

The campers

Our large campsite was creek side.

After Jeff arrived, we decided on a swim.  A quick walk across the bridge and up the trail brought us to a great swimming hole.

getting ready to take the plunge

Love that smile

Swimming with Grandma

On the other side of the pool

J found a good resting place

Up the creek (without a paddle)

After our icy dip, we decided to play poker......with peanuts.  The stakes weren't too high and we all had a lot of fun.  Then Emily made her delicious fajitas for dinner and we had a fire and marshmallows.  Ru tried out sleeping with me in the camper after Jeff went home for the night.

Playing for peanuts

Roasting marshmallows

The next day, after a yummy breakfast, Em went to town for more supplies and Ru, Fred and I went for a hike.  They decided to bushwack along the river and I walked on the trail.  My goal was to go 2.5 miles to the Lund Park bridge, but I never made it.  I probably walked two miles and turned around.....it was "a bridge too far".  Fred and Ru finally got tired and walked back on the road.

Starting the hike

Fred and Ru bushwacking along the river

Log crossing

Trail scenes

an obstacle I had to cross

Jeff and Emily were there when we returned.  I was so tired, hot and sore, I took off all but my underwear and went down to the river to submerge my lower half.  AAHHH!  That cold water took the pain away (at least temporarily).

I had a nap while the other's played Yahtzee.  Then we had a nice dinner.  But the sky was clouding up and getting darker and darker.  We heard the rumbling of thunder.  Then a few raindrops and the thunder got louder.  We quickly covered everything up, put a tarp over the tent and took cover in the camper.  The rain pounded down, thunder crashed and flash after flash of lightning lit up the landscape.  We played crazy 8's and rummy, played the mandolin and Em and Ru laid on the bed and spotted lightning flashes through the "porthole" above. We tried to watch Drew Carey on the computer, but the rain on the tin roof was so loud, we couldn't hear it!  At one point, Em and Ru decided this was their opportunity to run naked through the rain.  Well, Ru got naked anyway.  They went out and ran around and got really wet really fast!  What a deluge!  Em, Ru and Fred adjourned to their tent at about 10 and Jeff and I settled down to try and sleep.  Finally the storm passed at about 3 am.

Stuck in the camper

Making the best of it

Thankfully we are all still smiling.

In the morning, we had another lovely breakfast and then I packed up and headed home.  Em, Ru and Fred were going to stay another night, but the clouds persisted and they gave up.  But we had a great time together.  Maybe there will be another camping trip before the rains REALLY start.

Two Vacation Attempts

Vacation 1:  Wed., July 31
The camper was packed, the chores done, the bills paid (mostly) and after a search, we finally found a pet-sitter until Max arrived (thanks Fred!).  We were off to Jon and Sharon's cabin in far Northeastern Oregon for the start of a two week sojourn/journey/vacation.  We got up early, said goodbye to the pets and hit the road....up 1-5 and then to the Columbia Gorge and I-84.  Jeff and I were so glad to be on the road again. We had our usual wonderful ride with music, singing and snacks.  We had lunch on the Columbia, watching the river flow.

Then we stopped at Eagle Creek to stretch our legs with a hike.  Supposedly the trail was "easy" and in two miles we would come to a waterfall.

This was the "easy" part.

This was not the "easy" part.  Note the hand hold and rocky, uneven surface. And oh yes, the CLIFF!

We made it about a mile and then decided to turn back and continue up the road.  We stopped for ice cream in Cascade Locks, made it to Pendleton, checked into the Best Western and went to the casino for dinner and "gaming".  But Jeff wasn't feeling well.  It started after the hike.  Tummy problems.  As the evening progressed, we both knew that our vacation was coming to a swift end.  I won't elaborate because most readers know the story already, but lets just say we had a tour of local ER's and Eastern Oregon medical facilities and ended up at home on Sunday the 3rd with vacation dreams dashed.

Vacation 2:  August 10
But J and K are (as you know) determined vacationers.  We are not easily dissuaded.  Max was home and provided a rare chance for a getaway without worrying about the ole' homestead. So J concentrated on recuperation and I did some gardening, swimming and cleaning (we had to show the house once) and we planned our escape.  A week later, on Sunday the 10th we left for the ocean.  We took the road less traveled and on the way we stopped for a walk to Alsea Falls.

A walk  in the Oregon rainforest.

The first cascade of Alsea Falls

 We got to Newport and drove north on 101.  We have been spending a lot of time on the south coast, so we decided to concentrate on the central/north coast this time.  We had reserved a room at "The Inn at Otter Crest" just north of Newport.  Both of us had stayed there long ago and I wanted to try it again and see what it was like.  A worker in a golf cart transported our luggage to Cottage D.  Our room was nice with a view of......fog.  Oh well, we went to the pool which was fantastic. It was bathwater warm and it also had a nice hot tub set at 105 degrees.......perfect for about 10 minutes and then you were warm for a loooong time.  There were lots of loungers for lounging on, which we did.  Nice.  The fog filtered above us and the temp was perfect.

Things went downhill from there.  Jeff wasn't feeling well, and we weren't happy with our accommodations.  Too foggy and distant from the beach.  We decided to move north to Lincoln City.  The next morning, a quick call cancelled another night at Otter Crest and added a night at the Pelican Shores Inn.  We knew we had made the right decision as soon as we checked in.  We had a big room with kitchen and king bed with a view of a broad sandy beach only a few steps from the hotel.  And it was sunny and windless.  We wasted no time stashing our stuff and hitting the beach for a nice long walk.  Ahhhh!

Feeling SO much better!

beach looking south

Sand creativity about to be flooded by the rising tide.

Pelicans! 

So happy!

Pelican Shores Hotel

After a walk and a rest, we went to the local casino, had dinner and went our separate ways.  I invested my meager dollars in slot machines, but Jeff had another idea.  He entered a poker tournament and was the last player to enter--number 11.  And at the end (drum roll please) he was the last man standing.  They were counting out a wad of 20's just as I walked into the poker room to see how he was doing.  Celebration ensued!!  Back to the room and off to the fancy restaurant to burn up some of the winnings.  We watched a stunning sunset while folks frolicked on the shore and my $8.50 glass of Pinot Gris tasted very sweet!

The next morning we had a leisurely breakfast foraged from the hotel's offerings and soon went down to the beach.  Sunbathing, and a long walk took up the rest of the morning and some of the afternoon.  We had a totally wonderful and relaxing time.

The position has been assumed

steps to the hotel

The smokers lounge where we spent some happy moments gazing at the stars and sea

The rest of the day passed quickly and we woke up the next morning, sad to leave, but refreshed, relaxed and renewed.  Our goal for the day:  Portland.  The morning was cloudy and traffic was light which made for easy driving up 101, and east on 26 to PDX.  We decided to spend some time at the Washington Park Rose Garden.  My roses have been on hiatus since July, but this garden was full of bloom.  The scent and sight of so many roses literally took my breath away. 

 

Overwhelmed and tired, we found our hotel (the Ramada by 205) and were forced to admit that this little vacation was over.  Jeff had cataract surgery scheduled for the next day at OHSU (and I'm happy to report that everything came out perfectly). Now we are back on the farm to do some delayed summer maintenance and get ready for the start of work.  But stay tuned for more adventures.

July Happenings and the Rogue River

After our long journey to parts East, we were pretty tired.  But after we recovered from the trip, and some stomach bug or food poisoning that laid us low for a week (ended up in the ER getting rehydrated--thanks for saving us, Carol!) we had some gatherings and took some hikes.

Dressed up Beer--Thanks Uncle Jerry

My 4th of July Bouquet

Went to Art and the vineyard and bought art and drank wine

Birthday boat trip with Neil and Carol on July 7

Happy Birthday sunset--Welcome year 62

Beautiful Brice Creek

The ole swimming hole

Jeff and Freddy enjoy the rest

We did lots of swimming in Dorena Lake

Well, some of us swam.

Cool and misty Spirit Falls

Finally able to eat again--it's not overrated.

Jeff enjoys the mist

The camper had been out of commission.  There was a recall on a part, which Jeff took out.  We finally got a replacement and Jeff installed it, but we weren't sure it was really working.  We decided a shakedown cruise was in order, and it was blazing hot in the valley and we wanted to get away from the heat.  We decided to go to Gold Beach and take a jet boat ride up the Rogue River.   We planned on camping at Humbug Mt. again, but it was too far away from GB to get up and make it to our 8:15 AM departure.  So we returned to an RV resort up the Rogue that we had scouted in March.  It was nice--right on the river, but didn't have much privacy and no electrical hook-up. 

We soon found out that the new part (electrical splitter which charges the battery in the camper) was not working.  Thank goodness we had gas for cooking and refrigeration, and plenty of flashlights.  The only other negative of the campsite was the harried mother down the beach who was camping with 2 small children.  She yelled at them for a solid 3 hours and not once did either of them do what she told them to do.  Maybe a hint that what she was doing wasn't working.....but it was hard to hear.  Finally sleep took the little rowdies and the silence was welcomed!

On the Beach

Boat going up the Rogue

Our View

Jet boat going down the river--that's us tomorrow

Freddy found the Rogue to his liking

wonderful spaghetti with lots of veggies for dinner

The next day we got up early to meet our boat at the dock, and also meet Sandy Jo, who was dog sitting Freddy for the day.  The brave woman was at the dock with her huge Crown Victoria station wagon to meet us.  Freddy did not want to stay with her, but we hooked him into the back seat and I was thankful for his new harness which holds him securely. We were going to pick him up at her house when we got back.  Finally we got on the boat and headed up the river.  

The bridge at Gold Beach

The lone fisherman

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle nest with Eagle in residence

River Otter--we saw three of them and boy are they cute!

The placid part of the river

Our pilot, Chris--a great driver!

Osprey Nest

 We went up the river to Agness and had a bathroom break, then went up further to whitewater where we went through rapids and got nice and wet.  I was amazed that the boat could go so smoothly through such shallow water.  The boat carried at least 30 people and could go through 6 inches of water. 

After the whitewater, we went back down to Agness and had lunch at a lodge.  It was served family style and the fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, biscuits and home grown veggies were soon consumed and topped off with ice cream and blackberry topping!  What a feast.  Our companions included a 5th grade girl named Emily and her dad Alex and grandma, another Kathy.  We had a lot of fun talking to them and the other people on the boat.   Then it was back on the jetboat for the quick trip down the river to Gold Beach. 

Our new friend Emily and her iPad

Some of our wet companions--we sat in front behind the windshield and they got most of the water

Doe, a deer, a thirsty deer....

Back down the river and under the bridge.  Lots of fishers were after salmon

Happy and wet jet boaters

If you are reading this and you haven't taken the jet boat trip up the Rogue, we highly recommend it.  Smooth, fun and exciting, the trip was worth every penny and a few more.  We had a blast!

So when we got back, we called Sandy Jo and were so happy when we got to her house and found 1) that Freddy hadn't totally freaked out and 2) that he hadn't destroyed her house, garden or herself.  All were safe and sound.  We were greeted with lots of enthusiasm from both Freddy and Sandy and soon loaded up and headed for Humbug Mt. State Park to try and get a camping spot for the night. 

When we got there, it looked like every spot was taken, but we talked to the camp host and got the last spot with electric hook-up.  Yay!  It was close to the highway and surrounded by other campers, but we settled in and cooked a wonderful meal of sausages, potatoes, fruits and veggies and after finishing up with a few marshmallows, climbed into the camper, watched a couple of episodes of Doc Martin and gratefully hit the sack. 

The next morning we drove up the coast highway to Bandon and then took the route from there to Roseburg and up 1-5 to home.  The heat hit us hard after three days of 60's.  The weather at the coast was so nice and cool!

Now we are getting ready for another trip....this time to Eastern Oregon to Jon and Sharon's ranch at Flora and from there....who knows?  Time for another adventure!