Take Three

Ok. We are posting this from a computer. Hopefully this will work. If not, you can see the video on the blog site.

Less than two weeks after we arrived at Cascara Campground a lightening caused fire broke out about 10 miles east of us. It's been over a decade since the last fire. Since we are right on Fall Creek Lake helicopters and air planes have been hauling water out of the lake. It is extremely noisy. At one point there were four planes picking up water. I am glad we had the opportunity to see the helicopters and planes pick up water and I will be very glad when the fire is contained. Hopefully sometime in September the campground will be smoke free. We are spending a chunk of each day in the trailer to minimize breathing smoke. Guilt free sitting in the trailer reading.

Scooper Plane

 

Second attempt for scooper plane video. If the video will not play and you would to see a scooper plane in action email Rich or Cheryl and we will email you the short video.

Smoke On The Water

Scooper Plane

Less than two weeks after we arrived at Cascara Campground a lightening caused fire broke out about 10 miles east of us. It's been over a decade since the last fire. Since we are right on Fall Creek Lake helicopters and air planes have been hauling water out of the lake. It is extremely noisy. At one point there were four planes picking up water. I am glad we had the opportunity to see the helicopters and planes pick up water and I will be very glad when the fire is contained. Hopefully sometime in September the campground will be smoke free. We are spending a chunk of each day in the trailer to minimize breathing smoke. Guilt free sitting in the trailer reading.

Visitors Welcome

Cascara Campground
August 20, 2017

Fall Creek Lake

On a clear, windless day it is gorgeous. Today there is an inversion so the lake and mountains are obscured by smoke from the nearby Jones fire.

Cascara Campground has 39 sites, all dry, no water or electricity. Many of the sites have a view of the lake. Swimming, boating and fishing on the lake are wonderful leisure activities. Because of fire danger no campfires are allowed.
Cascara is located about 25 miles SE of Eugene. Visit. Stay in your own site or we have space for a small tent at our site.

Kayaking the Lake

A Story in Pictures
August 13, 2017

Putting on plenty of sunscreen

Getting geared up. River shoe is on the right.

Securing kayak for travel

Kayak exits truck

Paddle assembly

Inflating the seats

Kayak touches water, finally

Lovely heron sighting

Our happy and rather goofy kayaking faces

Kayak docked until next time.

Our News From Cascara
August 6, 2017

Our Backyard View


We arrived at our new campground hosting site August 1. We arrived at the beginning of a brutal heatwave. Campers descended.

We were blessed that a large number of the sites were occupied by a church group that was on retreat. Morning and evening they gathered in the amphitheatre and the campground  filled with song.

The campground is mid-sized with 39 sites. It is wonderful being in the woods again.

Closing Thoughts

Rich's News Post Pleasant Hill, Oregon
July 30, 2017

Doing the Bocci. Steven Woolpert and Rich.

Upon leaving Jasper Recreation site.

This was our first adventure hosting in a day use site. It started with a viewing of an owl, an auspicious beginning. We found we liked the rhythm and the solitude as we were basically alone for much of the time. It was a big park and often we would have only one or two people there during the week. The rangers were quite friendly and willing for us to do what ever we wanted. So Cheryl cleaned and managed the barbecues. We both take great pleasure in managing micro garbage and thanks to Ranger Rick we were given a new pick- up stick that was awesome.

I did get exercise with my weed aerobics but find I have not lost the weight I usually lost at Natural Bridge. The main difference is I did not ride my bike much. Part of that was because our tasks often required our golf cart Club Car and with that we could cover a lot of territory. The park is big and takes a bunch of time to cover. We enjoyed the site.

My weed aerobics provided a clear focus for the first six weeks. The site is not tended during the winter and there are blackberries, dandelions and various other weeds to grow to their hearts content. I did manage to eliminate the viable scotch broom and look forward to attacking that again next year when we plan on returning. But as usual I find great appreciation for completing simple jobs. Noting that my own home did not get the care I administered here. A long time predilection of mine to enjoy working on other peoples yards.

My last task was a painting project which again had its reward of completion.

The river of course provides a wonderful edging to our little paradise. We had quite a variety of birds. The first a sap sucker who serenaded us with drum solos in the morning on our electrical outlet cover. S/he actually had two drum surfaces there which made it quite entertaining. The ubiquitous robins whose egg shells we found. Goldfinches seem to reside there or are they called yellow finch? Bald eagles I am sure have a nest in the cliffs across the river. Canadian Geese honking as they flew over and I caught site of three of them escorting their three goslings that we saw as tiny beings early on. A constant presence of turkey vultures, bats, swallows, woodpeckers, wrens, nuthatches and probably others that escape my memory.

We will be back. Looking toward our next adventure. It is such a delight to change from place to place and find its particular treasures. Having access to local shopping proved to be a plus as we could access what ever we needed in short order.

Thanks to everyone who visited!

All in all a good time.