OREGON – JUNE-JULY 2017

OREGON BOUND 

            Last summer I made a commitment to house sit this year in Oregon while in-laws, Dennis and Darlene, went to Europe.  Time to go play farm!

SEATTLE

            Routed through Seattle, I got to visit Courtney, my Great niece.

Court (her pups visible in left window) as we headed downtown

Hudson and Ripley 

Since Court and Jen were working, I bused downtown.  After visiting the tattoo shop's new location, I went on to the waterfront.

Crosswalk between new tattoo shop on corner (Court is manager) and University

Fountain at one of my bus stops, beautiful

             Cities are so much fun to visit.  I was headed to the Seattle Aquarium to see the octopus exhibit.  Getting there involved the Pike St. hill climb (down to the waterfront and, yes, back up), 163 stairs with landings offering various shopping/sights.  

One of the landings

The Pike Street Market, at the top, is always fun although I didn’t hang around for the fish tossing.  I tasted chocolate pasta, nice dipping sauces, etc.  The veggies were beautiful, especially liked the “easter egg” radishes.  Not in cooking mode, I moved along.  The fish stalls reminded me of Venice a little, but the octopus here were a little disheartening when I really wanted to see the live ones.

Veggies at Pike Street Market

The middle pic is an octopus on top of a huge halibut; the last one has a salmon, mouth agape behind a golden trout (plus a smaller octopus) and sea bream below.

Finally made it, beautiful location on the waterfront.  Starving, I had a lovely salmon salad and then went fishy sightseeing.  

Waterfront

Back side, cycling sea water

I just finished a book called The Soul of an Octopus that two different friends sent me to read.  The story based in an East coast aquarium mentioned the Seattle one.  So here I am.

The real octo (from reading, red coloration indicates contentment)

This tank was like snorkeling at home (except for the BIG grouper).  Yippee!

  

Hard to see this kind of detail when in the water, unbelievable creatures

Diana this one is for you, Stripeys and a Yellow band Coris, so cool

This guy is in the same family as our Hawaiian humu fishes, but from Indo Pacific, he’s called a Clown Trigger fish

            The outdoor exhibits were fun too, familiar birds, seals, otters.  This little guy was nostalgic for me as I had seen one in the wild when I worked on a salmon boat off Vancouver Island in the 70s.  They are so unique.

Puffin

THE CASCADE ARC

            The flight from Seattle, WA to Medford, OR was in a small prop jet and for once, I took a window seat.  I’ve seen the monumental Mount Rainier each visit to Washington but this time it was followed by the others that form the Volcanic Arc of the Cascades – all part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.  It is just ironic that mountains continue to surprise me in terms of their scale – these were breathtaking.

Mt Rainier (14,411')

Above: Mt. Saint Helens with Mt. Adams behind left (8,366' & 12,280')

Below: Mt. Saint Helens with Mt Hood right upper corner (11,250')

CRATER LAKE

            Fascinated by the Ring of Fire and the Cascade Arc of mountains included, I decided to visit Crater Lake National Park.  The crater is the former site of Mount Mazama, that stood at 12,000’ before it blew almost 8000 years ago.  The pristine water of the lake looks fake! 

            Deepest lake in the US, the amazing part is that the volcano under water is not dormant.  Living on a volcanic island, this info shouldn’t surprise me, but these mainland stats boggle me.  It was 100 times greater than the eruption of Mt. Saint Helen’s in 1980 leaving the crater rather than just knocking the top off. 

Crater lake viewing station at left

Spectacular with snow in July

CRITTER SITTING

            I arrive several days before D&D leave to learn the routine.  Their son can handle the business in Ashland, but the animals and garden require heart felt attention here.  Darlene gets stressed leaving for just a few days; I jumped in so she could enjoy going.  Gil to join me three weeks later.

Denny & Darlene: shrimp and chard tacos

A horse, a pony, 16 hens, 1 rooster, 7 domestic ducks, 5 wild mallard chicks ready to fledge, 2 old faithful dogs, 3 cats plus the mysterious barn cat all eat twice a day.  In addition, three does likely live on/near the property, one with two fawns and numerous birds including a flock of big jays that try to run the show.  They get peanuts in the morning and then steal the cat’s food.

The wild ducks with three of the domestics

Doe and fawns

Stellar Jays arguing over who has the best peanut

Curious deer at gate

He who wakes me every morning

HOWARD PRAIRIE LAKE

            Personal life consists of pockets of time between moving and feeding the cast of characters.  While the town of Ashland, 10 miles down the hill, is quite charming – really a very pretty university town, the getaway is more often Howard Prairie Lake – further up the mountain, where D&D have a boat. 

Marina

The late afternoon boat ride is really fun on its own, but looking for eagles is the highlight; we are not disappointed.  Of course, D&D know every nest on the six mile long lake.

A huge nest is up ahead (see yellow arrow)

Parent is on the lookout in nearby tree as an osprey thinks twice about challenging.

            The nest itself is huge (they can be 10 feet deep and weigh 2000 pounds) but nothing visible until a fish is dropped in and then we see heads of two large chicks!  They take turns with popping up or flapping, once the parent had decided they were safe.  Very exciting stuff, we let them settle down and then have our own on-board dinner picnic.

One, two!

Next morning, Darlene and I are up at 5am, feed critters, and head back to the lake with kayaks.  We spend our time at one end, rather like an estuary.  Though it is 4^th of July weekend, most campers are still napping and we have it to ourselves other than a few quiet fishermen.

Early sun creates steam on water

From a distance, Darlene thought this might be one of her favorite Sand Hill Cranes that like these fields, but it turned out to be a Great Blue Heron.

The Canada Geese outsize the ducks but the Pelicans dwarf the geese, pretty fun to share their morning

Mt. McLoughlin (9495') dominates the landscape (another in the Cascade Volcanic Arc)

            OK! time for Darlene to get back and finish packing.  She may not see many birds in England.

            Finally on their journey, I concentrated on my tasks and figuring out where everything was, etc. then headed back to the lake for a hike in the forest on my own.  The trail basically goes all the way around and is dotted with camp sites having nice facilities.

Loved the forest, pine smell, different perspective

A good reminder that even the mighty fall

Couple of characters

12 Spotted Skimmer (but to me it is the "polka dot dragonfly" of the woods)

Vivid Dancer, I would see literally, hundreds of these little guys

            I may set an alarm for 6am or later, but five-ish rolls around and the dawn wakes the animals and birds.  I don’t stand a chance of sleeping in. 

Dandy and Sugar (the pony), both have fly masks on.

Kitties: Blue, Danny, Pugsly

Old pups, Maggie and Molly behind

I was here years ago when Maggie was a small pup and carried her all over the place she was so adorable.  She still wants to climb in my lap.

I cut greens from the garden for myself and the poultry (then I eat the eggs and neighbors buy them). 

Rooster - thinks he's in charge           

The deer continue to visit and delight, sometimes just hang out.

Yummy

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Garden – sunflowers overlook Ashland below

Lillies are opening all over the property

Pears – cherries, apples

Thunder moon – literally kept me awake till I closed the blinds then the dog howled, answering the coyotes.  It was amazing.

            I did get caught up with chores enough to go back to the lake for another kayak venture to the NW tip.  Similar sightings, lots of swallows soaring, fish jumping, etc. but the highlight of the day was an otter.  I saw him swimming and it took a moment to figure out what it was but then I saw it go down and pop up again and again.  As I paddled back toward the launch area, I came around the corner and he was on land.  He thought he had lost me!

Otter

OK Phase One complete of my Oregon animal encounter and life of solitude as Gil due to arrive and family prepares to return from England.