August 2023

 

Today is the 21st -- we're closing in on September, which (to me) means cooling-down time, even if some of the hottest days of the year occur in September.  But the heat IS on its way out then.  Here in the West many of us dislike hot, dry summer days, fire weather.  Knock wood, we have enjoyed one of the nicest summers with cool nights and warm, not-smoky days.  Why, we're even enjoying rain from the remnants of Hurricane Hilary today, with truly cool temps.  Amazing August.

Jimmy and Matt have talked for years about taking our Sea Eagle down the American River like Matt and I did in 2015 (click here to see that run).  Jimmy and I haven't had it in the water for a long time.  Well, today was the day!  And it was a hot one.  Speaking of hotties, check out these two, above!

After pumping up the kayak (raft?) at Marshall Gold Discovery SHP, they had to figure out the best way to get it down to the water.  Some guy had plopped two chairs and an umbrella in the path at water's edge, but he agreed to move 'em out of the way.  A number of small kayaks were in the water, having fun shooting the rapids.  The guys were careful not to run over any of them!

Also, don't run over the duck!

Good luck, guys.  Hold onto your hats!

There's plenty of white water ahead!

A smiling selfie after tackling the first rapids.

Meanwhile, Evie and I drove to Lotus Park to await their stop.  We waded in the cool/cold water a bit, ate some lunch, drank an energy drink.  We didn't have to wait long before they zipped in.

The only day the guys could get together was Sunday, and you see how crowded the river was!  Mostly commercial outfitters with six- or eight-person rafts.  And then there was our little two-person Sea Eagle!  Plus a few SUP's!

Once ashore, they dumped the water out of the kayak, just like Matt and I had to do when we did this same trip eight years ago.

And then, it was back in the water.  Their take-out point would be Greenwood Creek River Access where Evie and I'd be waiting (they figured it might take an hour-and-a-half).  In the above picture, the main river current is close to the opposite side.  I don't remember how many Class II rapids they went through, enough to make it a fairly thrilling ride!

And here's where they ended their run.  But they finished within an hour and called me while Evie and I were still at Lotus Park playground!  As I pulled into the parking lot, they were carrying the kayak up the hill.  We walked down to get the rest of the gear, and then returned to Marshall Gold Discovery SHP to Matt's car.  We'd talked about late lunch afterwards in Auburn, but decided against it.  I know the guys had fun!  Maybe we'll do it again.  (Love those golden hills!)

One Saturday in August, I bought a box of Sun Crest peaches from the farmers market, peeled and quartered them, filling the giant pot with 14.6 pounds of ready-to-process peaches, and netting 13 pints and freezer bags of delicious peaches for winter.  Good job, Nickie! 😊

Next came the Nevada County Fair, from Aug 9-13.  This year's theme:  Country Roots and Cowboy Boots.  Again, we picked a Sunday, the last day of the fair, because that's the only day we could all get together.  I hope you can read Jimmy's shirt.  Enlarge the pic if you have to.  It's cheaper for old folks to get in.  Seniors is the word.

Every year the central walkway is lined with gorgeous Marigolds.  Jimmy is watching people careening down and getting soaked on the White Waterlog Flume.  I had to enlarge the pic to see what the other guy was carrying:  A little kid!

We got there around 11/ish before it got hot, but the day did heat up into the 90's ... too hot to spend any time in the sun!  Of course we stopped at the prerequisite photo ops, as seen above.

All the piggies in the AG livestock "exhibit" were all asleep, panting.  Fans blew air over them, but they were hot.  Kinda stinky, also.  Raised by 4H kids, they were shown at auction and won ribbons for best of (fill in the blank).  They probably didn't know it, but the green stripes down their backs meant "custom," as in prime bacon and ham.  The kids were very proud of their pigs, er, hogs.

We saw horses and cows and pigs and bunnies and, yes, chickens.  This handsome dudette, above, produced an egg, which the owner gave to Evie, below!  She was thrilled to hold it, a real live egg from a real live chicken (I think it was the above bird).  She didn't break it, either!

Look, Mom, what I have!  I think we all carried it for a while, Jen, me, Matt.

These two!

Matt and Evie

Other than lots of hikes around the neighborhood, there's not much else to talk about in August.  We are really enjoying our 65° daytime temp today, with light rain falling.  Highly unusual, but we'll take it.  As you can imagine, we're very dismayed about the devastating fire in Lahaina, where we were in May.  Horrible.  Sad to see the flooding from Hurricane Hilary in SoCal, too.  Everyone on earth needs to take care of our planet home.  It's all we have.

Rogue River, Oregon Mon-Wed, 7/17-7/19

Here's a new one for you -- Jimmy and I arrived between Noon and 1pm at Valley of the Rogue State Park in Grants Pass to check-in for our three-night stay.  That's when we found out that check-in at this park is 4pm ... kind of late, wouldn't you say?  We were directed to a large open area to sit in full sun (with other rigs) and await the magic 4pm hour, then we could go to our site and hookup water and electric.  A/C was desperately needed by this point!

Jimmy and I had been invited to Grants Pass to visit with friends, Sue and Mo, and to check out the new house they're building, or I guess I should say, having built.  We'd camped at Valley of the Rogue St Pk in 2014, so we were familiar with the park (just not it's check-in time!)  After we got Tergel set up, we drove to their new house for dinner.  Sue managed to put on a pretty darned good feed, considering that she's trying to operate out of the motor home, a fridge in their large storage building, and putting it all together in the new place. We ate in the "kitchen," beside cans of mud, the kind that's used on dry wall.

The new home will be built Craftsman-style and I'm sure will be a work-of art.

Above is a section of the great room.

Trying out a timed photo.  Not too bad for a first try.

Sue, Mo, me and Jimmy ...

... and Mattie.

The next day (Tuesday the 18th), we four met at Hellgate Jetboat Excursions at 8am for a five-and-a-half hour "cruise" up the Rogue River.  Think:  Fast! Loud!  I've never been on this kind of boating excursion before.  Indeed, I'm not one for fast or loud boats at all, but I thought this would be a fun, one-of-a-kind adventure ... and it was.  Our early (and cool) departure meant we had the river to ourselves; later on we'd encounter lots of rafts and kayaks.  These jetboats leave one heckuva wake, too, which isn't good for the shoreline and they had to slow down every time we met other watercraft or they'd be swamped. Still, I'm glad I went and the four of us enjoyed the whole experience.

76 miles, round trip!  The Rogue River is a beauty as it wends it way from its headwaters at the edge of Crater Lake west to the ocean.  Although we began in urban Grants Pass, the wild and scenic river flows largely through hills and coniferous forests.  We traveled upstream and passed through the Hellgate and into the Canyon with it's steep-sided rugged scenery.  The sun continued to warm us and I think the temp topped out at 90.  We spotted lots of Ospreys and several Bald Eagles, and a token Western Pond Turtle.  Sue and Mo saw salmon, but I missed that.  A couple of Class I and Class II rapids had everyone in the boat hooping and hollering!  Yeehaw!

Our turnaround point was Grave Creek.  Beyond that only a certain number of permitted boats are allowed to continue upriver.  On the return, we got out at Morrison Lodge for a tasty buffet lunch served on the terrace, overlooking their expansive lawn and the Rogue. That was nice.  

Hellgate Excursions' brochure stated that people shouldn't take a camera that "costs more than a Prius," (snicker, snicker) because we were gonna get WET.  I left my camera in Tergel.  I wish I'd taken it, since we had plenty of photo-ops when Joel, our captain, wasn't navigating the boat through rapids or spinning it around.  Other folks had cameras they'd pop out of a plastic Ziploc when it wouldn't get wet. Never mind, I spent enjoyable hours gawking at the wonderful landscape.  If you're gonna ride this boat, however, be aware that:  You.Are.Going.To.Get.Wet.  Soaked.

So, I have no pictures, but delightful memories.  

We got back to Tergel about 3pm and decided to hop on our bikes to ride the Greenway trail a bit.  We rode to the bridge over the Rogue River and then home again, over eight-and-a-half miles, giving Jimmy's new knee a workout.  The afternoon was fine.  Below are a few pics I took along the way.

Cute Bucky Beaver signpost on the trail.

A great time in Grants Pass!

Tomorrow is a new day, with new ground to cover!

Remembering Rob Nykvist -- 1957-2016

These rainy days, stuck indoors, have been a time of reflection for me.  My brother has been on my mind and in my dreams quite a bit.  His home on a Dog River canal in Mobile sold yesterday, but prior to its sale, we had a lot of back 'n forth with my sister and the realtor, keeping him alive in a way.  Nannie just closed his facebook page, but I snagged a few of his last photos beforehand.

Rob was a marvelous photographer.  And he loved being on the water.  Jimmy and I shared this affection, and we three spent many happy hours paddling multiple waterways in both Florida and Alabama.  One of our favorites was enjoying the crystal-clear spring-fed Wakulla River several miles south of Tallahassee, with its manatees, alligators, turtles and first-rate birding.  We paddled in the Gulf and Mobile Bay waters as often as we could.  He showed us Whiskey Creek in the Mobile Delta, and he steered us to an island across the Tensaw River; we put in at Rice Creek Landing, Buzbee's and others.  A special moment for us was watching Fairhope's July 4th fireworks directly overhead while in the bay by the pier.  Such wonderful memories.   One October, Rob manned the camera while Jimmy and I "posed" in our kayaks with St Marks Lighthouse as the backdrop ... we used that as our Christmas card picture!  Outdoor and wildlife photos were his specialty and he could capture a magical moment like none other.

When he was diagnosed with incurable lung cancer in July 2016, aside from the fellowship of family, he found peace and clarity the few times he could get out in his kayak.   Below are several photos he took in the two months before he passed away on November 5th.  His words are in blue.

Fall foliage at Dead Lakes near Wewahitchka, FL and the Chipola River.

(He loved taking nature photos, sunrises, sunsets, critters of any kind.  

This one he took a few years ago on a Florida kayaking trip.)

9/5/16 -- Shirt says, "Life is Good - Enjoy the Ride."  Hat says, "Paddle or Die." Here are a few photos taken while on a short kayak trip in Dog River today. Yes! Got enough strength to still paddle. :) Doing it while I can. Paddling along the shoreline pickerelweed and other wildflowers.

9/6/16

Rob loved kayaking Dog River and its tributaries. Seeing how others trashed it and the City of Mobile's indifference, made him an advocate ... he dedicated himself to seeing Dog River free and clear of trash and litter. His photos and text documented the ongoing deplorable condition of his beloved river, and his continuing efforts culminated in litter traps being installed. He won kudos for his commitment. Rightly so!

9/8/16 -- I launched the kayak in the dull dawn and paddled out into Dog River to share the sunrise with a couple of herons. A great blue heron stretches out high on the top of a tree (center). I believe herons look forward to seeing sunrises, too.

9/10/16

9/22/16 -- Black Creek has an example of what the destructive force of motorboat wakes has on shoreline trees in a relatively narrow creek.

9/23/16 -- Had to stop paddling and

 get a photo of this densely rotting tree trunk this morning.

9/25/16 -- Pre-Sunrise paddles like this one in Cotton Bayou when waters are calm and boats are absent can be mesmerizing and memorable.

9/28/16 -- Air Dancers. This morning's sunrise. If you use your imagination, look at the stumps in the center of the photo. It looks like a couple dancing in the air above the water.

10/3/16 -- Dog River

October 30th -- This morning's ever changing colorful sunrise over Mobile Bay,
taken from a car seat at Helen Wood Park, not a kayak...

He had no more strength to paddle.  He was running out of time.  Yet, seeing one more sunrise meant the world to him and he did what came naturally -- snapping the above photo to remember ... and share.  He never married and had no children, but he left a legacy as a clean water crusader, as well as a wealth of wonderful photos and memories.  He also left us too soon.

From a friend:  "I think of Rob often...he contributed so much, and that will be carried on. I am happy to have known him for 15 years, happy to have had great paddle trips with him over those years, and pleased to have had many good exchanges with him during his last months. Over the years, there were times we didn't paddle together or talk for several months, but he always surfaced at some point....I'm amazed he is gone and not resurfacing to talk any longer. I miss very much having him around. The headstone is perfect."

We all miss you, Rob.  Rest in Peace.

Rockin' on to Rocky Point, OR -- Sept 10-12, 2015

From the Valley River Mall in Eugene, Oregon, we drove the "back roads" (Hwys 58 to 97) to our friends, Sue and Mo, in Rocky Point. Sue had texted directional maps for us to use, but when we needed them most, we had no cell service!  Darned ol' road construction delayed us close to an hour (and we are always appreciative of our motor home where we can get up, move around, go potty, eat, etc).  Jimmy was at the wheel first and I spelled him halfway.  The road signage on Hwys 97 and 62 to Rocky Point was nonexistent.  I managed to do one of my infamous bat-turns in mid-highway when we missed a turn.  We truly had no idea where we were, but we saw lots of cows!  I parked in the middle of a farm road so Jimmy could walk to the farmhouse and ask directions for Westside Road.  Little did we know that we were spot-on.  As you see in the photo below, we made it!  Squirrely drive!

The warm welcome we received let us fast forget about that drive!  Sue suggested a walk with Rattie Mattie, so off we went, walkin' and talkin' and walkin' some more.  Mo stayed home to take care of needed yard work. Look at the gorgeous green grass!  They have the absolute best well water this side of the Mississippi (other side, too, probably).  Long shadows were falling by the time we got Tergel squared away in their driveway, and dinner preparations were underway in the house.  Sue fixed grilled salmon, a confetti coleslaw, and basmati rice with shredded raw zucchini, beans and corn and everything was delicious.  And then we had mouth-watering apple galette for dessert.  All the while, we talked and visited and laughed and enjoyed each other's company.

Funny how you meet people via blogging and you become friends, like you've known each other for years.

At dinner we four discussed what we might do the next day (Friday).  Kayaking on nearby Recreation Creek seemed to please everyone.  Instead of me and Jimmy hauling our inflatable Sea Eagle kayak out of Tergel, we were free to each use one of their extra kayaks.  Whoa!  Nice!  That's what we did.  Mind you, it's been years since either Jimmy or I have paddled our own kayak and we weren't sure how shoulder issues would react.  I'd be lying if I said we didn't feel the EIGHT MILES we paddled, but we really and truly loved being out there on the water.  L-R above:  Sue, messing with her camera, Jimmy in the blue kayak, and Mo on the right.

Even Rattie Mattie joined the fun.  She's a relatively new dog to Sue and Mo, and still unsure of some things. One thing for sure, she wore a life jacket, and thank goodness she did -- 'cause she jumped in (the water is spring-fed and cold), and Mo had to reach down to haul her bad-self out by the life jacket.  Maybe a lesson learned?  She shivered in Mo's kayak till she dried off.  (She's a rat terrier, hence the name)

We put in at Malone Springs Boat Launch on Recreation Creek, paddling north against a gentle current, to Crystal Springs.  This section of the Upper Klamath NWR is not heavily traveled and we saw no one else on the water. Sandhill Cranes and White Pelicans were the only wildlife we identified, but we scared up a few flocks of ducks and annoyed a Belted Kingfisher.  The shallow creek was bordered by tules for much of the way.

We came across several of these huge beaver houses.  I've never seen anything like it.

Enjoying the ride!

Sue and I beached our kayaks and got out to stretch.  Crystal Springs was amazing -- we paddled over a number of fissures with deep, clear and intensely turquoise-blue water, marveling at each one.  This was our turn-around point -- now we'd be gliding back with the current, oh boy! -- tho, truthfully, I didn't feel much of an assist!  

What is this?  The creek was lined with what appeared to be giant arrowroot leaves or something like it, but this is called a Wocus, which is a large yellow water lily found in the northwestern US.  Wocus was one of the main nutritious food staples of the Klamath Tribes, and the dried seed shells were used as a dye for the tules used in making baskets. This was all that was left of the yellow flower so late in the season.

We were so busy doing and eating (yum-yum) that I neglected to take more pictures.  We all retired early and were up early, making breakfasts and dinners.  Jimmy and I napped after kayaking, and then went right into eating dinner!  But this pic above was one of a set of pictures, taken Friday evening, with four adults and one dog, and this was the only one that at least one of us wasn't either making screwy faces or something!  We were all laughing and having a good time!  We really did have a good time.  Thanks, Sue, thanks, Mo for everything! (I made sure to fill up our water bottles with that pure well water before leaving!)

So, Saturday morning (9/12) we hauled out at first light and hit the road, aiming for home by late afternoon.  Our time on the road -- indeed, spent mostly near water -- was over and we needed to get back.  We had a grand time visiting with family and friends, walking beaches, listening to foghorns and nighttime raindrops (happy sounds), biking and hiking and being alive.  The trip mileage was 1,991 miles for the four weeks.  Jimmy said we should've driven another nine miles, make it an even two grand!

Next up?  Getting ready for The Big Trip!