SHASTA AND REDDING, CA. MOOSE CLUB.

We left Rogue River for Redding, California where we usually stop and spend a night in the Moose Club’s parking lot. I have many pictures of beautiful Mount Shasta because I’ve made this trip often to my place in Rogue. This time it was under cloud cover, but still beautiful. A very thin cover of snow, where normally, it is heavily snowed all  year.


The drive through the Siskiyou pass is beautiful. We were spared much rain, but the clouds boiled and threatened.


We passed what should have been Lake Shasta and it was empty except for a trickle of the original river winding through the bottom of the canyon. I was stunned to see it.  I tried but didn’t get the picture from the window.  Several miles later, Banner Bay still retained some water. It is scary and we have to wonder what will summer be like next year if this is a long-term pattern as scientists are predicting?


Then we were in for another shock at the Moose Club. Their club is 102 years old. Their beautiful building, swimming pool and so on, is 65 years old. They, like other fraternal organizations, with dwindling memberships, were facing bankruptcy. They sold out and will be out of their building  by Oct. 12th. What a bummer. We wouldn’t have been able to even speak to anyone if they hadn’t been in the process of cleaning out accumulated stuff and getting ready for a “garage” sale this weekend. Everyone was saddened by this turn of events and we spent a couple of hours commiserating with them and trying to find something to buy. I’m at a time in my life where getting rid of stuff is my goal and I need nothing, not to mention no room in the Motor Home. They hope to find a smaller place and keep their charter going.

And, to top off more bad news, Jackson Co. officials claim they never received the phone reservation for the inspection of my building foundation framing. I’m so appalled by the repeated series of mistakes they’ve made over this small building, I’ve contacted an attorney to see what, if anything, I can do about it.

MEET AND DINE AND DON'T WHINE.

There are times the only opportunity I get to be with some friends is at a meeting. Pam Quyle's hours are long, John and Wanda Hofstetter stick close to home when they are home or they go away for months at a time, like me.


So, even if we have business, it makes sense to have some social time and enjoy a meal together. Wanda brought us a beautiful dessert.

It was quite nice since most of my day was taxes, insurance, logistics on the new building in Oregon,  problems at the television studio with their brand new equipment, and so it went. In fact, the new equipment was part of the reason for the meeting.  Resolutions in sight.

My seven-foot long table is covered with paperwork. Hopefully by next week we'll actually be able to eat there. Oh, oh!  I think I'm whining.


Time to appreciate my Christmas poinsettia. I love them because they keep their bright beauty until late July. Cheers.

PIONEER SQUARE.

Yesterday, when I wanted to post pictures from Portland, the post managers changed the way pictures load. They never tell you about changes.  They just arbitrarily let you figure it out for yourself. Jim admitted having difficulty as well. He figured it out and helped me out. The new process created an extra step to load pictures, and your pictures no longer load in sequence, they always move to the top position.  Rather than improving the process they made it more difficult. We figure these guys want to impress the boss, or need to validate their presence as an employee so they suggest “improvements”. Hah! It would improve things if they’d get input from users first.

I have a hoard of bridge pictures. One of my brothers worked retrofitting and building new bridges for many years. He decided to move about the country and take pictures of bridges because many of them are replaced as roads expand and population increases. Now, wherever I go, I take pictures of bridges. This one brings you into Portland from the Southeast if I remember correctly.



And this picture tells a story. Makes you wonder if the quest was successful.



Pioneer Square in Portland is loaded with water fountains, water animal sculptures and fun. If you visit, don’t miss Pioneer Square.

It is raining outside. Supposedly we will get flood stage rains of 12 inches. Time to get out the rowboat or I’ll be stranded.  My car is in the Toyota Dealership 60 miles away getting a new battery pack. Supposed to be windy, too. Time to make flight arrangements back to the Motor Home.

PACIFIC CITY, OREGON

From Newport to Pacific City, another 60 miles of scenic beauty; misty headlands, rocky shores, ocean waves, pine and fir covered hillsides made a pleasant drive as we push north.
We passed Defoe Bay river marina a colorful spot,  one of three small communities nestled into this almost deserted section of coast. Pacific City is a small community of about 900 people located on the Pacific where two rivers dump into the ocean. While some people consider it remote, others consider it their best kept secret. They come for the quiet, the whale watching and cool weather.
We found Pacific City Thousand Trails full of bunnies. They scoot when you try to catch a picture, but they are everywhere. We saw one giant black rabbit as big as a full sized dachshund. There are bear warning signs posted. The park is huge and roomy with access to the beach.
Steep and wooded, the beach trail is a pleasant hike. We smelled animal musk in a two spots along the trail leaving us to wonder if we might encounter a bear.
Our little cove had this rock point on our left-
…and this one on our right. A great climbing rock.
The bluff we hiked to the beach behind us had many small rocks at its base. This is agate country and we looked for agates  but didn’t find any. Its expected to rain a good bit while we are here. We have a decent signal with our cell phone/internet amplifier. Without it we wouldn’t be able to blog or make a phone call. We  enjoy the quiet retreat, but we like to have the ability to get on the computer and phone when needed.  We’ll be here for three days at this very enjoyable park.

BRANDY BAR FOR LUNCH

Oregon is green and beautiful, even when the day is overcast and cold. Expected to rain, but the drive from  Rogue River, to Florence, which is near the coast, is scenic. Crossing through the Umpqua watershed, following the river, then the Smith River area...this abundance of water helps make it the Great North West.

I even enjoyed seeing a parade of logging trucks, though I despise the clear cutting that is still happening here and in Washington State.

Old bridges, some with swinging draws are plentiful because rivers are plentiful as water pushes toward the sea from the cascades. In fact, someone told me there are 52 covered bridges in Oregon. What a wonderful goal for some summer, to find them all. There is one near my property.

As we got lower in elevation near the Dean River watershed, an expansive meadow held a huge herd of elk, lying around in plain site. Signs everywhere, elk crossing, siting area, benches and shaded places were set up for viewing. By the time we spotted them, the turn out was past so we cruised on by. Couldn't even get my camera focused in time to catch a shot from the window. But, we did stop for lunch at Brandy Bar, above. Its filled with trees and ducks.

The nearby bank showed off a patch of little English daisies in bloom and bright, new green leaves on the trees. I would have taken a dunk if the river was in Redding with its 93 degrees instead of here.

 

The sun came out for a moment as we passed this beautiful pond full of lilies just before reaching our destination, South Jetty Thousand Trails at Florence. After four hours driving, we set out for a brisk walk around the park in a light rain. Then I finished my book, The Little Friend, by Donna Tartt, an interesting novel about a southern family forever impaired by the unexplained murder of a young son. Sounds gruesome, and had some haggard characters but a compelling and fascinating read. Its great to be on the road again.

FORT CLATSOP, LEWIS AND CLARK

-Weather cooperated yesterday, the sun shone bright as we walked in the very footsteps of Lewis and Clark, from their landing on the riverbank to the place they built their fort. They named it to honor the friendly Clatsop Indians.
The Fort Clatsop Visitors Center reminds us that buying the Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of our country and forever changed the course of the world. Pretty heady stuff.
I'd forgotten so many details of the Lewis and Clark expeditions wonderful saga; the talent of the two men who literally measured their way across those thousands of miles of wild and exciting country. Half of the plant specimens they gathered and named still exist. They met hostile and friendly Indians but managed to communicate and befriend them. Not a shot was fired in anger. That, in itself, was an amazing accomplishment.
The two men served as biologists, scientists, hunters,doctors, explorers, builders, soldiers, navigators and leaders of men. I promised myself to reread the book that includes their journals of this marvelous journey.
Fort Clatsop was restored in the 1980's only to burn down and get rebuilt in 2007/08. The picture shows the newness of the wood sitting in an old growth forest.

From the Indians, they learned what plants were edible and medicinal. They learned to build dugouts from river tribes along the way. Dugouts weren't dependable ocean going vessels The Clatsop and Chinook used wider, lighter, high prow cedar canoes in the rough waters where river met ocean.
The party chose the Oregon side of the Columbia river to build their fort after being trapped by an horrific storm on rocky cliffs for six days on the opposite side of the river. That spot is named Dismal Niche. There are many hiking trails and sights to see at this wonderful National Park.
Nothing was named for Sacagawea, their indispensable guide, but, it was the way of things then, to disregard the accomplishments of women. Without her, they may not have survived the trip.

ENERGY OPTIONS

Four plus years ago, I opted to have solar panels put on my roof. I've been very happy with that decision, in fact, soooo happy I wanted to have solar on my cabin in Oregon. However, Oregon's Pacific Power would not offer net metering in 2005. I'm pleased to say that Pacific Power of Oregon now offers net metering. And, Oregon's Independence Station is planning to be the greenest building in the world with solar, ethanol, water catchment and reuse, plus other green features. Right now, in California, the Alameda County Jail has the biggest solar installation in the state. Green is beautiful. Its catching on and it is so profitable. Here is a list of my electrical bills for a two story 3000 sq. foot home in Murphys. 2005-$178.45, 2006-$210.18, 2007-$222.44, 2008-$72.83. That's per year folks. In all fairness, on top of that you have to pay the meter reading fee each month which comes to a little over $60 per year. Even so, solar pays and the price of electricity is going up. My next investment is to buy smart power strips which automatically sense when computer monitors, televisions and other electronic equipment is idle and automatically cuts the power. Electronic power "leakage" uses over $2 billion a year that could be saved. Do yourself and the planet a favor and go green.

DRAWN GUN CHALLENGE AND RIGHT-OF-WAY

Today, I stopped at Murphys Realty to have papers notarized by my dear friend Kendra North, after which we went to lunch at Grounds. Kendra and I met as quilters and for years we met on Monday nights and quilted and gossiped and sipped. Then life changes and habits change, too. But, golden friendships, we never forget.
This legal paper was necessary as a neighbor of mine in Oregon crosses a corner of my property to get to his house at the end of a dirt road. According to the paper work, his family has been crossing this patch of my land for 70 years. Who am I to even think about denying him legal access, especially since the papers claimed they could win the right in court and they would take me to court on January 15th if I didn't sign? I, mean, I was in Yuma on Jan. 15th? Not too friendly, this paperwork. And, my erstwhile neighbor isn't too friendly either. His boys have rammed my gate with their pick-up. My foster daughter and her husband visited my place for the first time and mistakenly thought my place was at the end of the road, and "friendly" neighbor drew guns on them for having the gall to drive into his driveway. The same thing happened to my cousin in his motorhome. I was tempted to return the paper with a note politely requesting that he never draw weapons on my guests and I would be glad to sign. But, in the end, I thought better of it, signed the paper and enjoyed my good and true friend Kendra instead.
Lunch was delicious but the company nonpariel.