Annular Eclipse

We got lucky! Medford was in the area of totality, and as we drove east from Grants Pass, we drove through the fog nestled in the Rogue River Valley. But as we crested the last hill before Central Point, we broke out into the sunny valley.

We had out solar eclipse glasses, but I also wanted to see if I could get photos. Here is what I managed to capture.

You could see with your naked eye the moon slowly eat away the sun…the fog helped to see it without using the glasses.

I really wanted a better photo of the “ring of fire” but I had difficulty getting the sun as it got dark. This was the closest I got to my desire (other than seeing it using the glasses).

After totality, the moon slowly left the sun to shine again.

I was so happy that the weather gave us a shot as seeing nature’s light (and dark) show.

Rogue River Hike

Yesterday, Candy’s daughter Erica arrived from LA. So, today, we went for a hike along the Wild & Scenic Rogue River. It started off at about 45 degrees.

Erica was wearing shorts and was VERY cold. So, she wrapped herself in a blanket to start the hike.

As we hiked the river started fairly placidly. The fall colors were in fine form.

As we climbed the river trail, the river changed with us.

It also got warmer–mid 60s!

The hike was 7 miles of really spectacular scenery!

It was a lovely autumn weather day and hike.

Through the Woods

Candy and I returned from Redmond today in lovely weather. As we drove, we made several stops. The first showed how Mount Mazama blew and the size of the eruption.

It was an interesting stop.

From there we drove to Highway 62 and stopped at the Rogue River Gorge.

It is spectacular to see the huge river be crushed into a very narrow canyon.

It enters via a large waterfall and then quickly narrows.

Once though the canyon, it broadens and calms once more into the river it had been before the gorge.

About a mile further downstream, the river enters a lava tube which is called The Natural Bridge.

That is the entrance–where the logs mark the spot with an “X.” Once through the tube, the river is as wild as ever.

The arch across the river is another lava tube.

The Rogue is designated a Wild and Scenic River and earns that designation almost every mile it runs.

Both spots are easy walks and very much worth the little effort the trails demanded.

A weekend of remembrance and work

Emily and I wanted to remember her mother and so we selected Sandi’s birthday (September 15th). We first thought we would finally decide what to do with her ashes and time capsule but decided to postpone the decision. Still, it was a wonderful weekend.

First, we worked on Emily’s yard. We used my pick-up to get good dirt and then unloaded it into Emily’s garden beds.

Then we built a trellis and planted a wisteria. Sandi loved wisteria.

After getting cleaned up, Emily took me on a walking tour of Salem, but mostly in the waterfront park. First, we visited the carousel.

Volunteers hand carved these animals and then lovingly paint them. Really neat!

Then we walked to look at the river and the Willamette Queen sternwheeler.

Further south in the park is an Ampitheater and a HUGE globe.

After a bit, we went to one of Sandi’s favorite restaurants where Emily had “The Perfect Margarita,” also one of Sandi’s favorites.

On Saturday, I drove to the Cape Disappointment Coast Guard Station where I had an all-day class. Afterward, I drove back (for a 12 + hour day) to Salem. Emily made a great dinner and took my photo in my ODUs (Operational Duty Uniform).

We also played a great deal of Skip-Bo, talked and had a wonderful weekend together.

Today’s Adventure

We drove to Grave Creek, named for a pioneer woman who died there in 1848: Martha Leland Crowley.

The last covered bridge in Josephine County is there, built in 1920 (part of the then Pacific Highway) and still being used by automobiles.

When I was writing “Fighting for Paradise,” I knew of Fort Leland, but was uncertain where it had been. Just north of the bridge is where that fort had been built. We drove west along Grave Creek until forced to turn back but found an interesting railroad trestle across Grave Creek.

It reminded me of the move “Stand by Me.”

9-9-2023

I am in Grants Pass for a while, so Candy and I went hiking in the Umpqua National Forest.

I can be panting, and sweating a storm and all the while Candy is neat and breathing through her nose.

We went up Cave Creek Canyon looking for a specific trail. At the trailhead, we found an old guard station.

We were looking for the Devil’s Flat Trail to Red Mountain. The first trail we found was the Cave Creek Canyon trail.

We found a crew working on improving the trail.

The trail needed the work. Next, we found the Devil’s Flat Trail.

It was heavily overgrown in places and then we reached the canyon’s bottom.

No way was I going to hop from one rock to another, so back up we went. Across the road was another set of trails so we selected Elk Skull Bluff trail. The views were very lovely.

It was a loop and once back, we decided we had to go to the top of Red Mountain (where we thought we would reach via Devil’s Flat Trail), reported to be scenic. It was indeed.

This is looking NE. The next view is toward the SE.

Overall, we had fun, and it was good exercise.

Fort Clatsop

While I was at LEWI, I was introduced to some relatively new research. I did not work at the fort just one day.

What I found was an alternate design of Fort Clatsop. When the first replica burned down, the NPS decided not to stir the pot and built the same as before, which is based on a single entry by Captain Clark.

Looking at journals other than the just the captains’ journals produced a completely different floor plan.

I hope you can read the journal entries.

Lewis & Clark National Historical Park

For the last 2 weeks, I have been volunteering at the park (abbreviated LEWI). Gary & Suzanne allowed me to stay at their Seaside house, saving the NPS money for paying putting me up. Candy joined us for a few of the days.

I was often dressed like this (only one day in a volunteer uniform) working at the fort replica. No, that isn’t Candy…..

I was safety officer for some flintlock shootings and I also got to fire the musket three times. Boy, do I look like a Hatfield or a McCoy!

We had large crowds (my largest was 60!) and all were very attentive. I received several comments of how much they liked my talks. Heck, Candy, Suzanne, and Gary even attended one.