Room With a View: Sarah Helmick Day Use Park

Sitting in the rig, the Luckiamute River song/sounds delight our ears. This photo was taken from inside the rig and out the back window.

Rich and I have ended our stay at Sarah Helmick Park. We are resting and on vacation now. The resting part is a theory as most days one of us, Mimi included, has a medical appointment.

Shelf Life

One of the great aspects of the new rig is there are a few shelves to display sacred objects.

A Bit of Greece

Who would have thought that in the small town of Lewisburg, which is about 15 minutes south of us, a Greek festival is held in October. A very well attended event, we learned last year to arrive early for lunch. At 11:05 A.M., five minutes past opening, we were in line behind 50 or so folks. Well worth the wait. At last, food in hand, we happily savored the tastes of Greece.

A Day Off

A beautiful afternoon spent walking in the Peavy Arboretum.

Cheryl's Five Days of Summer

Sweet Mimi

Well. July took a very unexpected turn. Rich and I hoped to head to southern Oregon to visit family and camp at Natural Bridge Campground. Fires started early in Oregon so we didn't head south.

I headed to Lincoln City to visit with my daughter. Long story short, she moved to New York shortly after I arrived. I spent two months painting and doing other minor repairs in preparation to rent the house.

The daytime high was 65 to 67 degrees. One day was in the 70s and I wore a skirt. Not what I would call an ideal summer, weather-wise.

A Room with a View-Cascara Campground

So. . . the big news is we have a new rig. Bigger. Room for friends to visit. A dining table. A spot for the cat box so we can use the shower. And a back window. Above picture was taken inside the rig and through the back window.

The Lake 2017

The Lake 2018

No swimming this year. Or fishing. Or kayaking.

Fall Creek

Last year when we volunteered at Cascara Campground, Rich and I were unable to hike in the nearby Willamette National Forest which was closed due to a forest fire. This year we enjoyed hikes in this gorgeous and serene rainforest.

Rich and Cheryl's Big Adventure

Belknap Hot Springs

A lovely soak in the hot springs. A lovely walk in the woods. And a lovely time by the Mackenzie River.

Sunny Days

It's hard to believe that our first month at Jasper State Park is coming to an end. There has been no rain so we are enjoying sitting outside in the sun. There are two downsides of no rain. Weeding is more of a challenge. The park opened to the public May 1. One of our main jobs is weeding and getting the park presentable. The second is the water level in the reservoir will be low later in the summer which will affect how often and where we will kayak. Right now, we are truly enjoying the sunshine.

photo: a painted rock tucked in a stump.

Out of the Woods

Trillium

It has been four years since Rich and I have been at a park when Trillium is in bloom. At Silver Falls, there is an abundance.

Upper North Falls, Silver Falls State Park

At each and every park we have volunteered, there have been deer sightings. This little guy and two other older deer frequented our hosting site at Silver Falls.
 
Our site was nestled in the woods which created a wonderful ambiance. Contrast direct sunshine, when it wasn't raining,  for maybe a few fours each day with the brilliant sunshine all day at Jasper Day Use Park where Rich and I are volunteering this month. In truth, we love both. Living in the woods with a rustic lifestyle and lots of pine needles everywhere. On the floor, stuck in your socks, in the washing machine. Now, a return to urban living, and the ease of living it brings. Imagine us sitting outdoors in reclining chairs with eyes closed and the warm valley sun shining on our faces.  

Silver Falls State Park

North Falls

North Falls is one of the places I visit yearly in the Pacific Northwest that feeds my soul. Deep nourishment for my soul. North Falls can be a spiritual place of healing and insight. Many times when I visit, there will be a woman standing behind the falls or off to side. Standing still communing with the spirit present. A sister in spirit as I stand behind North Falls meditating.  

South Falls

A Brief Time

View from our front door

Rich and I feel blessed to be able to volunteer at Silver Falls State Park for six weeks. The park is beautiful and is marketed as "the crown jewel" of Oregon. We work hard cleaning cabins. The downside is feeling rather exhausted at the the of the day. The upside is we are in better physical health. The park elevation is about 1300 feet. Many mornings are in the thirties. On those mornings we bundle up in many layers and shed clothing as needed. And yes, we had three days of . . .

SNOW

We worked in the snow, too.

Who Needs an Alarm Clock

Mimi's, I am an angel face


It is 6 am. Mimi jumps on the bed and yowls is my ear. If she is feeling particularly sweet, she puts her nose in my ear and purrs, loud. Time to go outside, time for fresh food, she says. Is the draw to go outdoors, birds she hears? To pee? I have no idea. I don't turn on a light or put on my glasses. Rich and I had a wonderful reprieve with the time change to daylight savings. Reveille at only 7 am. As spring ebbs to summer and dawn is earlier, wake up is now about 6:30 am. Rich and I adjust to Mimi's rhythm. Take turns letting her outside and putting down fresh food.  

Ops!

Relaxing in the Welcome Center during the Super Bowl

Well, Rich and I were having so much fun at Beverly Beach, we forgot to post a blog and now the month of February is over.

During the month of February our volunteer task was campground maintenance. Our favorite! Our challenge was the cold weather. Some mornings we would work for about thirty minutes and then warm up in the Welcome Center. The cool thing was our golf cart broke and the replacement was a gas powered, two seater vehicle, "gator". The golf carts are slow, you can walk faster than they go. The gator is a speed demon. Rich was in gator heaven.

Welcome

Working in the Welcome Center at Beverly Beach in January has been fun. Our main job is to greet visitors. Occasionally, we have a sale and have to remember how to run the cash register. Housekeeping duties require the most effort, a 30 minute effort. During down time if I can distract Rich from a puzzle, we play cribbage. About 20 inches of rainfall to date so we are very happy to be indoors.

Watching Whales

One of the greatest perks volunteering at the coast in December and January is watching gray whales during their southbound migration. To be perfectly honest, a gray whale sighting usually means seeing its blow or spout.

In December Rich and I took the Whale Spoken Here training so that we could volunteer during the December whale watch week. Geared up with layers of warm clothing, rain pants and coat we volunteered for two wet and windy days. Our second day, there were over 100 visitors. We enjoyed talking whale with folks and will volunteer again.

A couple gray whale facts.

Only the males vocalize.
For some reason, only females have been documented approaching tour boats.

Rich's note. There is a gray whale that is now exploring the atlantic ocean. To arrive on the east coast from the west coast, it swam the northwest passage.

A Normal Day?

                       Cheryl in the kitchen at Yaquina Bay Lighthouse.

                                        Rich in the lighthouse dining room.

                                          Lighthouse from the back.

December at Beverly Beach was unusually dry. About four inches of rain. About ten inches is normal.