The Last Camping Trip of the Year

As summer slowly pulls the chilly, yellow-leafed curtain across the days, we seek out the "Last Camping Trip of the Year." On September 21st, we set out for just that - - a lovely day heading up to Diamond Lake and finding a quiet campsite right on the lake. We traverse the lake, ending up at the Lodge and Restaurant. Our plans for the next day would be an early hike and, "how about dinner at the Lodge?" Ok! Our early hike wanders along the south end of the lake and I sit down to sketch the range just north of Mt. Bailey. An ominous yellow cloud, which we've learned is a huge billowing belch from the wildfires just the other side of Mt. Bailey at Tiller, hovers in the distance. The atmosphere is very dry, like 15% humidity and my attempted sketch is frustrating, as the watercolor washes dry before I can mix my paints. But when we follow thru on our plans to return to camp and clean up for dinner at the Lodge, we watch as the winds change and slowly, every so gradually we watch the ugly smoke blanket our view and finally our camp. Within a short time our eyes and throats are burning and we pack up and leave. On our way back towards the Rogue Valley I shot this photo over the Lost Lake Reservoir Bridge - oppressive air.

But, we persevere - we found cleaner air down at Union Creek and claimed another campsite along the gurgling creek. Our Lodge dinner moved now to Betsy's where we, of course, enjoyed her fabulous berry pie and slumbered with our camping dreams dancing in our heads. But . . . guess what . . . in the morn the smoke had crept down to Union Creek . . . and again. We closed down camp, and rather disheartened, drove the remainder of the way home.

But HARK!!!, we shall not give up. With one more lovely autumn-like weather day, October 9th, we drive off to another attempt at a pleasurable "Last Camping Trip of the Year!" This time we head to the beach, Harris Beach Campground near Brookings, to be exact. Once we driven thru the campground during the busy summer and the crowded, noisy sites weren't to our liking. But since this time of year, most campers are staying home and families have children back in school. So the campsites are quiet, greenery abounds among the tall trees and we're a short walk down to a magnificent beach. Following our usual pattern of one dinner out and one in camp, we bip off to Gold Beach, trying out a recommended "Norwester" restaurant. The view, sadly, was the best part of the expensive dinner but, we enjoyed a nice walk thru town and stopped to watch the local football team in action. When we woke to crisp, clean air - it truly was delicious! Roland made a breakfast for king and queens of pecan & banana buckwheat pancakes . . . and I got to share it with him :) With a happy, full tummy, we find a pull out parking lot connecting to the Oregon Coast Trail. Hiking north in the coastal breeze with the sun dancing along to waves, this is the kind of landscape we got to savor for hours! When we returned to our camp, I grabbed my sketchbook and started this sketch of the Harris Beach and its rugged rocks. But, I stopped quickly as the evening breeze brought sand sprinkling across both me and my palette. The day was breathtaking filling our spirits completely with zeal!!! And our down-home dinner of Beans 'n Brown Bread (yep, the one in the can!) filled our tummies rotund-ly. At long last . . . our beautiful "Last Camping Trip of the Year" had come to fruition.

So hey - "never give up" - one of my favorite sayings :)

Escaping the Heat

We have been having a run on "hot" weather, like five consecutive days over 100 degrees and the two previous days were 99. So, we began to seek out the cool coastline of Oregon, now in the 60s or low 70s, for refuge.


My hubby had researched some camping sites and we hooked up the camper and were off. When we got to the city of Brookings, the temperatures were f-a-a-a-a-r-r-r-r-r more comfortable. Unfortunately, many other people, either in retreat from heat or on vacation, were occupying the camping sites we'd hoped to fill. So farther up the coast we meander. Once thru Gold Beach, we turn right just before the bridge spanning the Rogue River and head upstream. Of the several campgrounds available, none were what we were wanting and we made a U-turn back towards Gold Beach.

I prodded Roland to turn into the odd little campground named "Secret Camp" and it turned out to be a charming, privately owned place! Well kept, nicely landscaped, personalized (yes, nature posters framed in the bathroom) and some privacy for each site. We jumped at site #16. We were backed up to a fern forest, delighted with sprinkles of sunshine most of the day and humored by the "No Parking, Except for Donna" sign by the registration office. For a treat, we took to the "city" and happened upon a delicious dinner (recommend by Donna, the camp owner) at "Spinners". And enjoyed the next episode of "Big Love" on the laptop before we curled into crisp, refreshing night air for slumber. Even Cody, our sweet Golden Retriever, got chilly enough to join us up on the bed before morning.
We woke to hazy fog and delicious temperatures - exactly what we'd desired. After breakfast, we'd planned to go swimming in the river, so headed upstream a bit more for sunshine. Well, we got excited and launched into this mission to go see the much talked about town of "Agnes". This took us upstream, past lovely river curves, tee-pees along the bank and, I know you'll laugh, back into temperatures of 100 as we reached "Agnes"!!! We relished a fruit smoothie, caught the mist from "mister" on the porch of the local store (the ONLY building in town besides the post office!) and beat feet back towards cooler surroundings. About half way back to the coast we spied a pebbly beach and dawned out swim suits. For probably and hour we lavished in the cool water, watching the grey heron across the river from us, waving at the "tour boats" that travel up the river and savoring our quiet, pleasant spot. Along the winding road next to the river we glimpsed many Osprey nests high in the dead trees, as well as their young inhabitants.


Once back to the coast, we headed to the coast hiking trail, part of the Pacific Coast Trail, which can be accessed many places along the drive around Brookings. We turned at the first one, since it was getting early evening, and caught views like this on our short trek. Our evening nourishment was sandwiches and reading aloud of a sweet lil book (one of my honey's favorite, shhhhhhh, don't tell him I told you) entitled, "I Heard the Owl Call My Name". And we drifted off to dreams of living among the native peoples and nature.


Ok, our escape from the heat had come to an end . . . we needed to head back inland . . . but postponed it as long as we possibly could. We stopped up Highway 199 at the "Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park" where Roland swam, Cody snoozed in the shade and I did the above sketch in the afternoon sun. It was a calming preface to the oppressive heat (we saw 111 degrees on a bank sign) of the Illinois Valley and Grants Pass. Pleasantly, we rolled into our dear J-ville, where temps were only 99 and heading into evening cooling.