Deschuttes River trip was a float not a white water adventure! Caron and I were the only ones that really seemed to mind because it was a wonderful day to float the river. The eight mile streach we did from Pringle Falls Campground to LaPine State Park boat ramp had a couple of interesting things but was mostlya relaxing float. We saw a couple osprey, blue heron, a redtailed hawk, kingfishers, an unidentified low flying black duck (a stealth model?) along the way and Cameron caught the littlest frog I've ever seen at the boat ramp!

As for whitewater action, we had to portage on river right above the Tethrow Log Jam at river mile 4 to catch the only white water on the whole streach, which is directly below the log jam. Jack, Leo, Caron and I shot the rapid but Signe and Rocky, who had Cameron riding in his kayak with him opted to take the standard portage on river left and bypass the log jam and rapid.

Getting out of the kayaks upriver of the log jam was the most difficult part of doing the rapid. The river is deep right up to the bank and the first person has to get on to the bank without aid. The current carried Caron a little closer to the log jam than any of us wanted her to be before she got to the bank. There were a few tense moments when Leo had one foot on the bank, one on a log that had begun moving with the current, was holding Caron's IK (inflatable kayak) and encouraging Caron to jump on to the bank quickly! After a slight hesitation Caron jumped, Leo pulled himself and the IK onto the bank and let the log go on it's way. I was watching from a spot upstream and waited for Jack and Leo to help me up the bank from there! The rapid is a roller with one larger wave breaking back on the far right. We picked a route river center and avoiding the potentially difficult wave. I went first and got positioned to take a couple shots of the others as they came through the rapid. Here are the shots.

Other than that the rope swing at mile 8 was the only other distraction from visiting as we manuvered around the many logs that reached out into the river from the banks. A wild fire had gone through this area some time ago and young trees are just coming up in many places. A good example of natural forest rejuvenation.

A white water rafting trip was supposed to be part of Cameron's 9th birthday present but he got a campout, river float, and trying out a river swing instead. He told us Sunday that he had a great time so I guess it wasn't to bad that there wasn't any white water action for him.

We had lots of great food all weekend and more shared memories with friends so I feel kind of bad that I was bummed that there wasn't any "action" on the river. Caron and I are the white water junkies and wanted more! Signe kept saying she had a wonderful time floating the river.

Caron's Dad, Sam, camped with us and acted as the camp cook, which we all appreciated! Arriving late Friday night there was a hot dinner ready and both breakfasts included my personal favorites, pancakes! "Ranger" Rod stopped by Saturday night after he got off work and again Sunday morning. He is working at the Newberry Monument this summer which is at LaPine. As always his presence produced a lot of laughter. Kay and Ernie looked us up too! Kay is also a ranger at the Monument and the jobs keep Kay and Rod from seeing friends most of the summer.

When we got home I cleaned the rafts throughly, dried them and put them away, more than likely until next spring. Our weekends are full now with other activities until the end of September!

When we got home we and a new project! One of the main branches of the willow tree broke off at the trunk. It didn't fall completely because the arching branch hit the ground and held the rest against the tree. Jack and chain saw went to work! It was a BIG branch!

I've been working out in the back yard and the gym so it made moving the sections of the branch pretty easy. There was a lot to move too!

The willow needs more trimming but we'll wait until fall. This windfall opened up the south side of the tree to sunlight so my "shady spot" isn't going to be as shady. I think Jack trimmed it up very nicely. He spent some time working in the woods as a choker setter! He knew what to do with the chain saw! In Oregon in the 60's and 70's I guess it was a rite of passage for a young man to work in the woods. Atleast long enough to know they didn't want to do it their whole life! Jack went on to be a lineman for PP&L instead... a WHOLE lot less dangerous?

With the work done we kicked back and relaxed on our fully equiped patio! It is sooooo nice. Caleb did a great thing for us putting the patio and driveway in!

The family picnic was great! Seems like everyone had a good time on Saturday. There were babies from 2 mos old to Uncle Homer who is in the 80 year category! Jack was surprized at the number of people I'm related to but that comes from Uncle Homer and Aunt Peggy having six children by themselves! Tammy, her husband David, Malia, and her three little ones were there from Uncle GL's branch of the family, and Jack and I from Mom's. There were atleast 30 people in the 3 camping spots!

McKaley, Candy and Kerry did a great job cooking for the crew and we ate like royality. Robin and Rick's fresh tuna on the grill was excellent! Hamburgers and three different kinds of hot dogs as well as chicken was rounded out with all kinds of sidedishes.

After eating we spent hours just sitting around the central fire and visiting. Malia is all grown up (26 yrs old) and has three great little ones. Her daughter is the spitting image of Tammy when she was little! She even has her quiet demenor.

Aunt Peggy is slowly recovering from being ill earlier this summer but she and Uncle Homer were there enjoying being surrounded by their family.

Sunday did not go as planned by any means. It had started sprinkling about 10 pm so we covered the tables with tarps. It poured down rain all night and continued into the morning. This picture was taken about 8 am. Everyone agreed breakfast was off and the main focus was on how to get all the soaking wet gear packed up. I felt almost guilty in my nice dry little trailer. Jack and I gathered all the coffee pots and got hot coffee ready in the trailer so there was coffee for those of us that can't cope until atleast one cup is consumed.

Kerry and Brian were the first two up (Jack and I were up at 5 am) and they joined us in the trailer for a cup of coffee while we waited for the rest of the camp to stir. It was nice way to start the morning. If our camper were bigger I would have been tempted to try and get others in too but 4 is definately the limit! Brian and Jack were antsy to get going so as soon as others crawled out of their tents, packing up began in earnst.

By leaving we made room for everyone to pull up close to their gear and load up. By the time we made it out of the camping area and passed the campsite going back down Fairview Road all the cars were backed up, trunks open and items were being tossed in. Camp was disappearing quick.

Jack and I ate in Myrtle Point at what used to be Tubby's... now called the Cosy Kitchen. I worked as a waitress there when I was 18 years old... for two weeks on graveyard. The place looks about the same...I don't think I do. Time passes on. As for the rest of town - it's mostly empty buildings on Main Street. All the places I hung out and shopped in are gone except Safeway and McKays grocery stores - and the former Tubby's.

It took 4 hours to get home and it rained most of the way. Here in K-falls the skies were blue and the sun was shining - as usual! It's good to be home!

It's Wednesday and that is over the half way mark of the work week! This weekend's adventure is the family picnic at Laverne Park. I talked to Cousin Robin last night and several of the family are camping at Laverne so we'll have more than just a picnic time to sit around and get caught up. Aunt Peggy is steadily getting better according to Robin and the sleep study she just did may get her a "machine" so she'll rest better and recover quicker. Uncle Homer and Aunt Peggy will be there for the day but will return home.... camping isn't very comfortable for them.

Caron and Rocky loved the kayak trip so much they went and bought two of their own! We are going to have a fleet! Yeah!

I have to get the info together for the Deschuttes trip in two weeks but Caron and Rocky are going to do the Amacher Park to Hestness Landing on the North Umpqua this weekend. I am so jazzed that they enjoy it so much...boating alone is a big NO-NO. And it's more fun with more people.

Hope everyone is well and enjoying what they are doing! It's the only way to go.

Just a quick post to let everyone know we had a great time this weekend at the Trees of Heaven Campground and rafting that section of the Klamath River. It was Jack, Caron and Rocky's first outing on whitewater in inflatable kayaks! They all did great! I was the only one that went over! It's SO imbarrassing when you are the one with the most experience! Oh, well. We all had a great time! Here's a few pictures... one of Jack and I's new camping abode!

And a few to give you and idea of the trip! Hope everyone is out there enjoying life as much as we did this weekend!

We've got our next rafting trip planned for two weeks from now on the Deschuttes River outside of LaPine, Oregon. No better testiment that everyone had a good time! Hoping Leo and Signe will join the 4 of us for that trip!

Got to get to bed.... work tomorrow!

I've stayed up to late but I finally have the pictures loaded of all the changes we've made since we moved in on June 16th! As I've said before it's thanks to hard working family and friends that these things have happened!

Caleb and Leo where the "foremen" for the two huge projects - putting in 30 yards of concrete for driveway, patio and workshop - and putting in an inground sprinkler system for the 1/3 acre we have!

I am happily doing the landscaping! It's a work in progress but there is progress. The fruit trees I mentioned in an earlier post can be seen and the Arborvita that were in our wedding ceremony are doing great at the edge of the patio. We even got one of the bird feeders hung!

And the very first flower bed is installed at the edge of the patio! It may have to be moved or raised but atleast I have something kinda finished! Since these pictures were taken we've put river rock around the arborvita and I've rototilled the entire area and made the first stab at leveling it out and getting it ready for the sod we'll put in this fall.

We are happy homeowners! :-) This weekend we are off to raft the Klamath River with Rocky and Caron! Our 1st real campout in our new travel trailer! Yeppee!