My Adventure with my Sisters, Linda & Pam

Pam has a cabin in the woods East of Clark Fork, ID and last winter there were some trees and limbs that came down and because it was so dry they could not do any burning. So, it was agreed that after the first real rain we would leave the guys home and take a trip north and see how much we could get done in 5 days.

Dick stayed in Seaside and I took the car to Aloha, OR on Halloween. This gave me the chance to visit with the kids and see what kind of costumes they had come up with.

Mose in the bee suit & Wyatt was a bike accident victim.

Lexi & Friends

The next morning Pam & Linda picked me up and off we went. It rained all the way up the Columbia River Gorge, but finally slowed and stopped before we got Hermiston.

We arrived, unpacked and took a walk around to see what needed to be done.

There was lots of smoke because a logging outfit was also burning and their fires were huge, biggest I have ever seen. We built up the fire in the fireplace and started a fire in the wood cook stove, put water on for hot water and settled in for the evening. Had a great dinner Costco chicken and pasta salad, wine and chocolate chip cookies Linda made.

You can see the electric lights in the background but there is no electricity unless you start up the generator and did I mention no running water, hot or cold. There is a new outhouse that is close by. Another plus no computers or cell service.

This is the kitchen, the wood stove and the other one is hooked to propane.

The living room

The next day we got to work clearing the path to the meadow, the small downed trees around the perimeter of the house and the trail to the outhouse. Started the fire in the clearing and fed it all day long. Linda admires all our work.

Linda & Pam watching and feeding the fire.

Resting after a long day hauling and burning brush.

The next day we walked up where there were trees down and a large shed that had fallen down. We got the fire started and began tearing apart the shed and hauling the boards and logs to the fire. We got it done and have made another clearing for another time to begin clearing up the area.

Behind the clearing is a car and this truck.

And look what we found, a boat and a wet suit. Hmmm this pile could take more then 5 days to clear out.

Sunday, our last day, we cleaned some more from around the house and decided to clear the front rock path and steps. Placed rocks around the foundation in the front and along the side to the back door.

We had a great time, worked hard, ate good and slept like babies. Looking forward to next year and another adventure.

Here and there in OR

Our first visit to Keizer was 7/10 – 7/16, here for My Mom’s 90th birthday on the 11th. Got some purple potatoes from my sister Pam and Dick fried them up. They are purple all the way through and they were the best tasting potatoes I have ever eaten.

The day dawned bright and sunny for my mom’s birthday Linda & I went shopping in the AM while Dick & Larry chaperoned a group of Peewee golfers. Larry with the 3 boys they kept score for.

We all met for dinner at Linda & Larry’s for Mom’s birthday there were 20 of us. I don’t know what happened to my photographer but this is the only picture we got of the birthday party. Jenn, Chayla, Jaxon, and Mak.

On our walks in the mornings I like to walk by this house just to see if anything new has been added.

It is a very unique place and I think they had added a least one dragonfly.

 

Dick went to the Salem Cue Ball Room to have a couple of tips replaced on his cue sticks. He was really impressed with the owner and the place.

Our First Kayak Trip 8/3/2012

We heard about this last year while we were at Whaler’s Rest in South Beach (a few miles south of Newport, OR). The tour is led by volunteers from South Beach State Park. It is very popular and we were advised to make our reservations a few months in advance. We met at South Beach State Park and car pooled to Beaver Creek across Hwy 101 from Ona Beach State Park.

We helped unload the kayaks from the trailer.

We got instructions on how to get in and out of the kayak and how to use the paddle.

We are now ready to launch the boats and paddle away.

OK my life jacket is on and I am ready to go.

We are on the water and we didn’t get our feet wet.

Along the way our leaders made a few stops to tell us about the area. There is a family of Beavers that live along this creek. There was evidence of this along the way where the beavers had been enjoying a meal. Because this is more of an estuary the beavers make their home near the bank with access to water through the reeds instead of building a dam. 

 

The beavers home (dam) was right behind our leader. You can see the branches and twigs right in the middle of the picture. 

Well, ok so it is hard to make it out but it is there. Seems we have a few drops of water on the lens.

We paddled up to the bridge and turned around for our trip back to the boat ramp (about 4 miles total).

The wind came up on the way back so if you stayed to lee side of the turns it was easier paddling.

We had a great trip and would do it again.

Newport 7/2012

We are at Whaler’s Rest TT in South Beach OR. We found a good spot to park we even have cell phone service although internet is spotty and slow.

The site was fairly level and room for the slides and awnings.

Just getting set up.

Got the bird feeders hung and Dick set up a water drip for them. We had the Chickadees come in and a small squirrel that enjoyed the feeder and the water.

We walked to the beach most everyday during low tide.We came across these strange looking things in the sand and rocks. Later we found out what they were.

It is a sand flea (yes, look it up). I always thought sand fleas were the tiny things that jump ahead of you when you walk through the wet sand.

On another walk we found these bushes covered with berries. The manager of the park knew what they were and that you could eat them.

They are called Black Twinberry. Here you can see why, they grow 2 berries close together.

They are also called Bearberry Honeysuckle because bears like them. Honeysuckle would lead you to believe that they are sweet but they are not. We did go out the next day and pick a bunch to take to Dick’s mom so she can make some jelly.

On another day we drove to Agate Beach to see if we could see what progress they were making in getting the Japanese dock (part of the tsunami debris) off the beach. We could not see much from the road.

News truck from KGW was parked at the wayside.

Next we have reservations for our first ever kayak trip.

Port Orford Day Trip 7/7/2012

Our next day trip with Mae, Helen & Terry was to Port Orford. This time Mae & I rode with Helen and Terry rode with Dick. I had found some information about the area and we had a couple of stops to make on the way. Our first stop was the historic Hughes house & ranch. Patrick and Jane Hughes arrived here in the early 1860’s. They had 9 children born between 1860 and 1876.

The drive to the house went past the location of the dairy barn and creamery; to the right of this road next to the Sixes River.

We went on the tour of the inside and learned about the Hughes. family that lived here.  After 30 years of hard work they had this large modern house built.

That is their pictures on the mantle.

A very ornate organ made in Portland OR.

What became of the 9 children you ask well let me tell you. Edward, Thomas and Francis lived their entire lives on the ranch. James was a lifelong keeper at the nearby Cape Blanco Lighthouse and John became the second native-born Oregonian to be ordained a Roman Catholic Priest. The 2 girls married local men and left the ranch. 2 boys died during childhood.

Next stop was the Cape Blanco Lighthouse.

This is the oldest standing lighthouse on the Oregon coast.  They have tours of the lighthouse but none of us were inclined to climb to the top.

I enjoy going to marinas, walking the docks, and looking at boats. So when we got to the Port Orford Marina we were in for a surprise. This port has no sheltered bay and therefore no floating docks. All boats are launched by crane directly into the ocean.

When you drive down to the marina you find that it is a large parking lot with the fishing fleet on trailers and this day there were a number of empty trailers. This parking lot/dock is very high off the water.

Here is a commercial fishing boat coming in to the dock. They get her tied up and unload the catch of the day.

 

They secure the lines to her.

And start to hoist her out of the water.

Once she is clear of the pier she is swung over and set gently on the trailer.

If they are late getting in or the weather turns bad and the seas become rough these fishermen have to spend the night out on the water.

Lunch was next on the agenda and with all this fresh air we were all starved. I had found a restaurant online with good reviews so we headed there. 

The Crazy Norwegian Café was as good as they said. We had a great seafood lunch.

Dick ordered desert which he shared with all of us. A fitting end to a wonderful day.