Whirlwind Visit

Weather Update for 27 July – 4 July

High Temp.: 91.6

Low: 61.2

Humidity: 86% - 14%

Rain: Zip

Cheryl's News from Camp Webegone

30 June 2015

Guests arrive!

Theresa and Phil land in Natural Bridge Campground, visit, and stay overnight in site 16. They brought gold: fresh blueberries and homemade pesto sauce. The pesto sauce we ate with gusto over noodles. Leftover olive oil from the pesto sauce we drizzled over bread. Exquisitisimo! 

Phil, Terry, and Rich

I managed to save a few blueberries for pancakes, very yummy. The rest disappeared quickly down our gullets. Short life expectancy for both the blueberries and pesto.

Rich and I also took them on a mini-tour visiting Natural Bridge and the Rogue Gorge. Then, in less than 24 hours since their arrival, they head out. A whirlwind visit, to be sure, but great fun for us. And you can't beat visitors coming bearing gold.

Rogue Gorge

By the way, Campsite 16 in Natural Bridge Campground is ranked as one of the top ten campsites in Oregon.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/terryrichard/2008/07/camping_oregon_top_10_tent_sit.html

From Kittens to Tadpoles

Rich's News from Camp Webegone

July 1, 2015

For those who have been following along, you may remember that last year we rescued some kittens. Well, this year we are rescuing tadpoles...

Tadpoles

When I was growing up outside Grants Pass, the area was filled with various sumps and pools that frogs loved. I can remember seeing the eggs and watching the tadpoles. But I have realized that I did not have any guidance while exploring the natural phenomenons that surrounded me.  In those days the only natural exploration and experimentation was the usual kind of cruelty administered often by young boys. I don't remember doing anything cruel myself, but I certainly did have friends who did. And frogs were an easy target.

So as I experience this place now, I regret that I did not have guidance that might have opened my mind to the miracles around me. Without that guidance, as I grew up, I soon abandoned those explorations of the wilds. And it is only now that I am recovering what I think is my natural curiosity.

Getting Water

Each day I get the opportunity to observe a new bird or mushroom or bug. Some we can identify like the pilated woodpecker, but many we cannot. How do you distinguish a white fir from a grand fir? And there, what a gorgeous beetle, and what bird sings that beautiful song?

The diversity here is thrilling, and in being here I slowly reclaim some of that curiosity and awe from my childhood.

Adding Water

But to get back to tadpole rescue. On one of our journeys to watch the water ouzels, we came across a small pool of water. It was the only standing pool on the lava flow that still had water - after this long, hot summer. And inside that pool are lots of tadpoles.

We started to watch them each time we came up, and soon realized that the pool (which is at most 2 ft. wide) was losing water. So we have been getting river water and filling the pool. We missed one day, and the pool was very depleted when we arrived the next day, and I am sure we lost half of the tadpoles. But the remaining tadpoles are now developing legs, and we hope that they get a chance to fully develop into frogs. 

Meanwhile the ouzel nest is now silent, and we hope they survived their introduction to air and water. We cross our fingers.

Late Update: Alas, alack, last visit to the little pool of tad poles and the water was gone..... Dang....

When does a tree become a log?*

Cheryl's News from Camp Webegone 


*A tree that falls of its own volition is known as a downed tree.
A tree that is cut or sawn down is called a felled tree.

Downed or felled trees become logs when they are sawed into smaller sections.

Thanks to the Prospect librarian, who comes from many generations of loggers, for the answer to this question. 


About 9 PM, as I am putting away the outdoor kitchen, I hear the unmistakable crack, crackle, creak, crack sounds of a tree in the process of falling.  The noise is loud and close.

I freeze.

Looking up to scan the tree tops for movement, praying that I don't see any. Praying that the tree is not going to fall into our camp.

Big THUMP! The ground vibrates.

But, whew! It wasn't a tree near our camp. Still obviously somewhere close, though. Rich and I jump on our bikes and go in search of the downed tree, very much hoping all camps and campers are okay.

Everyone was. As it turned out, the tree fell across the road, I estimate about 200 yards from our camp. It didn't hit anything. The prevailing emotion of the campers is excitement mixed with relief that everyone is okay.

The next morning, I went out to examine the tree. And I discovered that the tree had broken off about 3' from its base, its core totally rotten. The culprit is a conk fungus. Our mushroom book does not include this particular species, so it remains unnamed for now.

Forest Service personnel aptly call it a “cow pie” conk.

May Blooms

Cheryl's News from Camp Webegone

Last summer there was a large variety of blooming flowers all during the season at Natural Bridge Campground, unusual for the area. This was a result of increased rainfall during the winter and spring that year. And while I was at Camp Webeback, I couldn't help but wonder what this year's summer blossoms would be like, how much there would be if there wasn't all that rain.

But upon arriving in camp, it was clear that a lot of rain had fallen during this winter and spring, as well. Lush greenery all around, and the campground was laced with vole trails. Voles ruffle the surface of the earth as they tunnel around seeking worm snacks or - optimistically - a night crawler for dinner.

Rain = worms = voles. And thus, conversely, if you see vole tracks, it means there's worms, which means there was rain. We will be blessed with bountiful blooms again this year.

A lot of plants bloomed in May. I have pictures of 15 different plants. Here are my favorites.

Dogwood

Iris

Solomon's Seal

(Slipper Flower)

Vanilla Leaf

Wild Strawberry

Sometime I would like to come up in April to view the trilliums in bloom. There are a few precious such plants in camp.

A Day Off in Paradise

Weekly Weather Update

14 June – 20 June

Weekly High: 78.1

Low: 45.9

Humidity: 31% - 77%

Rain: Zip

Cheryl's News from Camp Webegone

Rich and I

Wednesday, June 17th, we have a day off. A day to be lazy. A day to eat and read to our heart's content. Back before we started camp hosting, when Rich and I would go camping, we called it going to eat and read, because that was how most of our time was spent.

On this break, in the afternoon after a long period of reading, we walk from camp to Natural Bridge. We walk along the Rouge River. Decades ago, in prelitigation era, the path, a small portion of which still exists,

Old Path

took you to the river's edge. You could sit and dip your toes in the water. You could walk across the natural bridge. Those days are long gone. However, for adventurous campers at Natural Bridge Campground, it is still an option. 

Still, there is a trade-off to doing so. Sitting at the river's edge, you miss the spectacular falls.

The main reason I wanted to walk this particular trail (deer trail for the most part), is there is a better view of the Rogue River entering the lava tube tunnel.

Into the Tunnel

Unfortunately, it's real hard to capture what's happening in a pic. Dang. But what you are seeing in the above pic is the river flowing under the log then into the tunnel.

After spending a leisurely time at Natural Bridge, we meander home to camp. Dinner is pan-fried pork chops, steamed yams served with a bit of butter and brown sugar and salad. The last of the salad until Tuesday. Dinner followed with reading while sitting outside in the meshed shelter until it is too dark to read. A wonderful meal and enjoyable books to close a wonderful day off.

First Visitors

Weather Highlights

7 June – 13 June

High Temp: 86.4

Low Temp: 44.6

Humidity: 33% - 91%

Rain: Trace

Wind Gust: Unknown

Cheryl's News from Camp Webegone

Friday, June 12, as Rich and I return to camp from cleaning pit toilets and vacated campsites, we are greeted by Lisa and Jim, who are staying at the Prospect Inn for a few days. A wonderful surprise.

Even better, they brought a little bit of heaven with them: strawberries and raspberries from their garden. All the fresh fruit available here is stuff brought up from California. We were so spoiled living in Portland, with access to local produce. 

Sigh. Another year without hood strawberries :(

Living at Natural Bridge is a good trade though. The Natural Bridge area is so gorgeous, photos do not really do it justice. With Lisa and Jim here, Rich and I enjoyed playing tour guide and sharing the sights of Natural Bridge, The Rouge Gorge and a meal at Beckie's.

Sunday, we all traveled to Ashland to watch the play Cabaret at the Cabaret Theater. The theater is small, seating about 100 and is cabaret style: tables and chairs. You can order food and drinks, too. And it was a lively and well-acted play. 

The trip to Ashlund is a long one, but it was pleasant and - for me - inspiring. I do love the theatre. And I'm still singing Cabaret several days later as I pen this down.

*

PS: We love visitors! Do visit if you can. Drop us an email or text (we do check emails and texts at least one a week) if you plan to come down so we stay close to camp. Or be spontaneous. But either way, keep in mind, the first Tuesday of each month, we drive to Medford and are gone for most of the day.

Dip, dip, Dipper

Cheryl's News from Camp Webegone

A little bird-watching story.

Ah, the elusive Water Ouzel, aka the American Dipper. Rarely do they still long enough to photograph. Not much contrast either, as their color is the same color as the rock they are typically standing on.

Dipper

For years now, Rich and I have tried to spot an Ouzel nest. But they are always located somewhere inaccessible, like a hole high up in a rock. Or you see them fly to a nest area that is across the river, with no path to get there. And if you try to take a picture all the way across the river, the Ouzel appears about the size of an ant. Not to mention, it turns out looking more like a small rock projection than a bird.

But today, it finally happened! The long awaited moment arrives, and we feel blessed. We spotted a nest.

Rich and I sat for a long, long time, patiently waiting for the Ouzels to arrive and feed their young. Waiting for a few decent photos. Waiting for a chance to make an interesting video. Long enough to need to stand up occasionally and walk around to get some circulation in your butt.

And at last, our patience is rewarded, and the Ouzels arrive. The female is not concerned at all by our presence. She flies straight to the nest, feeding frenzy, then flies off. The male is very shy. A bonus for us. He hangs near to the nest area, creeping a bit closer over time, maybe 10 minutes before feeling safe to feed its young. The bonus is, he sits still long enough to photograph and video!

(The picture and video are of our Ouzel nest viewing at Natural Bridge along the Rouge River! Enjoy!)