May 2021 – Welcome to Our World

2021-05-18 Bears can do What?

We were all happy to be able to move after yesterday’s hikes. We headed for the Yosemite Valley early to beat the crowds (a common theme with the group). The group had already decided not to do the Mist Trail or Yosemite Falls. Yosemite Falls has more switchbacks than they wanted and the Mist Trail route had changed due to Covid. The Mist Trail is 600 steps up, 500 yards across in full sun and then down. The hikers had heard of a lady being dehydrated the day before requiring an IV and help down. So again a negative from the hikers. (This is just to save you from asking did you hike the _______ trail and us going off for several minutes with more information that you wanted to know.)

So the quartet started off early and parked in front of a bear warning sign. The sign in a nutshell says that bears can look in your car, recognize a cooler or drink bottle and target your car. So basically bears can do smash and grabs. Debbie considered taking her food with her but can’t get her backpack off quickly and felt she might end up face down with a bear standing on her eating her sandwich. (Remember Debbie sometimes has vision). She did cover her drink bottle with a jacket but thinks the bear will be mad if he finds it and it is only water.

So off we went to hike lower Yosemite falls, Cook’s Meadow and Indian Village. . They watched rock climbers and picnicked on an empty camping area. Jerry, Joyce and Debbie started a hike but Debbie and Joyce started having flashbacks of the day before and all the climbing. So Jerry went alone.

Jerry was gone much longer than we thought he should be. Enough that we looked at our pictures to see what he was wearing. Debbie wondered if he had read the bear signs. Just as the group decided Jerry might be lost, he strolled up. Turns out that he had seen a bear but it was surrounded by park rangers.

Mark up another successful day without a bear incident.

2021-05-18 – It’s Hiking Time

Joyce had the group up and ready to hike early. It was important to get there early to get a parking place. We scored a place close to the restrooms. Our first hike was to Sentinel Dome. It was 1.1 miles, over a rocky incline with a scramble at the end. They were so enthused with success that they decided to hike to Taft Point.

Taft Point trail started out nice and shady but became much harder. The trail was through the shade, mud, over logs and over boulders. It was a long walk to the end and even longer back to the car. They might have started yelling “Car, Car when they saw it”.

It was a short day but yet a long day.

2021-05-15 Yosemite

When Debbie was little and her parents drove in the mountains or over a big bridge, she hid in the backseat in the bottom of the car. As Debbie matured, she took Dramamine and slept through the harrowing driving moments. Later in life, she progressed to holding on to the the arm rest as tightly as she could. Why does this matter? Well, today, the group drove to Yosemite from Sacramento. It was up a curving, twisting, HIGH, road with mind blowing drop-offs. Debbie tried to crawl over to the back seat but Jerry and Larry told her “No”. Then, she asked for Dramamine to no avail. The front passenger seat handle has Debbie’s fingerprints imprinted on it. They had to pry her hand off the handle at the rest stop.

On entry to the park, they saw some beautiful views and the famous half-dome. (Evidentially, everyone looks at the half dome and where it is). Debbie is not sure the big deal but knows to mention the half dome.

The group stayed at Yosemite inside the park, Yosemite West. Staying inside the park cuts a significant amount of time from entry each day. The park was about to go to a reservation system which would restrict who could enter. At the residence where they stayed, there was all sorts of Bear info and warnings. The Elk Queen was stressed from the drive and bears.

They ended the day with a drive to Glacier’s Point. Cultural Moment: Glacier Point, an overlook with a commanding view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Yosemite’s high country, is accessible by car (thankfully). The group went home and the Elk Queen barricaded the house from bear.

2021-05-14 Debbie, the Elk Queen

Once word spread that Debbie, the Elk Queen, had arrived in Orick her followers began to surround the house waiting for a glimpse of her. The others doubt she is the Elk Queen but Debbie just ignores the disbelievers and periodically goes out to wave at her subjects.

When Debbie was not at the Royal House, the group hiked through the coastal redwoods and hiked along the coast. Joyce had the group do a lighthouse hike (technically there used to be a lighthouse and is a miniature one.) Some of us got separated on the hike. (I know you are thinking how can this be?). Well, they spread out and lost sight of each other. Larry took a wrong turn and ended up back at the car before anyone else. He had to use the little lighthouse as a wind block waiting for the others. Debbie got on the wrong side of the hill with the car keys. Debbie, Jerry and Joyce at one time all thought that they were lost until they happened to walk up on the car. (Jerry says that he knew where he was going. Debbie was just going to tell everyone that she was the Elk Queen. New hiking rules were implemented. Everyone has to stop at directional signs before proceeding.

The next day the group headed for Sacramento. The Elks lined the road in sadness (not really) . It was an interesting drive to Sacramento. They saw foxes, rafting, towns like Big Flats or Big Bar. Once they arrived, Joyce took the group to Korean BBQ for dinner. It became clear that Debbie could not hang with the big boys or girls on the BBQ tour.

2021-05-10 – The Move

A few months ago there was a mudslide that onto the freeway in California. The state of California has began to repair. Here is the plan. The road closes for two hours both ways and then open for one way traffic for an hour. This causes long delays. Thus, the car was loaded and on the road by 8:00 to beat the 2-hour wait. They bid goodbye to the “Country Club” and left for a new Redwood Destination. Lucky Joyce had done her homework. They made it through with no delays.

Signs for mystery trees were everywhere. They quizzed for the name “Mystery Trees”. Why are they called mystery trees?

Joyce: Says it sounds mysterious.

Larry: No one knows where they came from

Debbie: I don’t have to play because I am writing this paper

Jerry: It is a marketing tool

Answer: There is a commercial redwood park. It really doesn’t mean anything. Jerry lucked into the correct answer – mystery solved

Next Question: What was Paul Bunyan’s blue ox called? (There was a statue of a blue ox and Paul – 2 stories high)

Joyce: I have no idea

Larry: Bessie

Debbie: Blue Ox

Jerry: Babe

Answer: Babe(Larry says that he said Babe but that is not what Debbie remembers.) Again, she is writing the article.

One of the most interesting activities was the Drive Thru Tree. One pays their $5.00 and drives up to a drive thru tree from the 50s. They lined up the car, Jerry and Larry exited the car and the first attempt was made with Joyce as the driver and Debbie as the navigator– Fail. Joyce backed out and two cars one with kids standing and waving hands out of their moon roof zipped through.

At this point, shocking action was taken. Debbie was fired. Yes, fired! She was asked to exit the car and replaced by Larry. Jerry directed from the outside – Debbie sulked as she took pictures of the successful pass thru.

They continued to the Redwood Park where Elk Prairie Lane where Debbie saw her first elk. The lane lived up to it’s name. Debbie thinks the Elk like her.

2021-05-11 Redwoods & Other Stuff

The next few days, the four spent time hiking in the Redwood forest and visiting the coast.

As we all know, Debbie reads the handouts. The National Parks Department gave out tick and poison oak information. Debbie read the information out loud to the other travelers despite their attempts to walk away. The park service recommends wearing light clothing, so the ticks were more visible and easier to see. Debbie only brought dark clothes and was distressed by that. Joyce told her that it was not tick season. Debbie thinks she made that up. They did not seem as concerned as Debbie although Jerry became a believer on the poison oak threat.

Joyce discovered the 70s station on the radio so they cruised down the freeway listening to tunes until the satellite was overwhelmed by the redwoods. They went to Jedidiah Smith Redwood State Park and hiked Walker trail, Simpson Reed Grove Trail. (Debbie kept checking for ticks and would not step off the trail). They also visited Society Hole. They don’t know why it was called Society Hole but think it was society’s swimming hole at some point They did see three little kids strip off their clothes and jump in the water. The group did not jump in but Debbie tested the water and declared it tick free.

They were shocked by the gas prices in California. It was more than $4.00 a gallon. So, they spent a day on the Oregon coast to get that cheap gas. They visited Arch Rock, Thunder Rock and the Natural Bridge viewpoint along the coast. They did have a strange incident where a man blocked the road with his van, got out, walked back to us and asked Joyce if she knew how to turn on the back wind shield wiper on his van. He had just bought it (It was new 20 years ago). Joyce responded no and he said “Oh well you don’t know do you?” Debbie volunteered to tell him about ticks and said he might be standing in poison oak. It is never dull.

Our GPS calls our house the “Country Club”. We are not sure why. What do you think? Country Club?

2021-05-09 You are closing what?

Sometimes, things don’t go like you planned. The group left Redmond for Crescent City after saying good-bye to Aaron and Lindsey. Redwoods were our next stop. At around 3:30 they pulled into the ranger station to check out information. Joyce had planned their drive and hike the next day for the Stout Memorial Grove. Well surprise! The grove was closed for the entire week to grade the road. It was open today until maybe 6 and then everyone had to leave. (The ranger was not a fount of information).

So, they jumped in the car and took off on two wheels. As the car approached the road, another ranger stopped us and gave us a sheet that the road closed at 5. They had an hour. The car bounced down the road. (It really does need to be graded). The car pulled into the parking spot, people spilled out of the car and raced off down the path to see the trees.

When it was time to leave, another ranger was sitting in the parking lot herding people out. He radioed ahead and told them to hold the gate open until the gray van drove through. As Joyce pulled through the gate, she told the ranger that she was the one that he was waiting for only to realize that she was the head of a parade of bumping and bouncing cars.

We made it to Crescent City and were able to multi-task unloading our luggage and waiting in line for a restaurant.

Did we mention that the Redwoods were stunning? I hope you like Redwood pictures as you will be seeing plenty of them.

2021 May – Weekend Update

Aaron had so much fun with the group dune bugging that the next weekend he brought the boys, Noodle and Leo, and Lindsey with him to Redmond.

A golfing powerhouse of Jerry, Larry, Lindsey and Aaron played 9 holes of golf on Saturday morning. They reported an excellent game. There was no declared winner and unfortunately, no pictures. As they drove down the course, the ball was spotted at the closest to the cup for each hole.

Debbie has doubts about the powerhouse nomenclature. Lindsey had never played before and said that they spotted from her ball most of the time. Debbie was able to find a picture from an earlier outing with Mia which shows the usual seriousness of their golfing.

In the afternoon, everyone but Larry played Pickelball. (He was designated dog sitter). What is Pickelball? Pickleball is a racquet sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis, and ping pong. It is playing ping pong with people as the paddles. (Debbie’s description). Debbie likes to play a lot. Aaron and Lindsey are very good. Debbie makes Aaron be her partner or play with his left hand. It is not Debbie’s fault that Jerry and Joyce did not know to choose partners quickly. Everyone did well except we caught Lindsey trying to doze off after her golf game.

Lindsey and Aaron surprised Debbie and Joyce with treats fresh from Bend for Mother’s Day. Debbie had her favorite chocolate croissant and got a coupon from Aaron to be her pickelball partner. She was very pleased and knows that she has another handmade card from Mia waiting at home.

Next stop – Redwood National Park

2021 May – Ten Mile Hikes

The group moved into Central Oregon and the Bend area for the next week. They settled into the resort at Eagle Crest for a few days.

Our first hike was Blue Pool. People can hike out and back a section of the McKenzie River Trail to a spot where the McKenzie River comes out of the ground and forms what is called Blue Pool (aka Tamolitch Pool). Let’s hear from our hikers.

Debbie: Well the whole hike was about 10 miles round trip

Larry: No, it is not that long.

Debbie: Clearly, you were delirious because you never drink enough water that hike took forever.

Jerry: Actually, the round trip is 4.2 miles. I looked it up on the internet.

Debbie: Jerry, I think I can tell the narrative, Remember how you had to wait with Larry at the pool and he started making friends with the butterflies? I think that you were distracted. Next you’ll be telling me that Al Gore invented the internet.

Larry: We were at the pool so long because we were waiting for you and Joyce.

Joyce: Because we were looking for you and Jerry plus we got tired and had to sit down. (Actually Jerry is correct it is 4.2 miles.) but it felt like 10 miles

Debbie: After consulting with my hiking team, I would like to change my statement to we went on a hike that felt like 10 miles AND Debbie sat a blistering pace going back because she had not eaten lunch yet.

Joyce: We stopped at Sahala Falls going home and Clear Lake to eat lunch.

Jerry: Larry and I enjoyed our meal by the water.

Joyce: I had to yell at Larry and tell him to stop feeding the birds. They were dive bombing my food. Luckily, I was sitting next to Debbie who scared them off with a stink eye and a well aimed pine cone.

Did the next hike go better?

Debbie: We went to Smith Park and hiked another 10 miles

Larry: Really?

Debbie: No, but it was really hard trying to walk up the hill to leave. Someone said that I was panting. It made me rethink my position on dune buggies.

Joyce: The day after Smith Park we went to the Newberry National Volcanic Monument.

Larry: Who knew that Oregon had lava fields?

Jerry: Yes, but some area were closed because of snow and Debbie wouldn’t get out of the car if snow was on the ground.

Debbie: The GPS also tried to send us into the wilderness. Google Maps betrayed us. We had to stop at the Dollar store for directions. The Dollar Store totally beat out Google Maps on directions. I think that I hiked 10 miles.

The Oregon Coast

We have cautiously started to travel again. We have had our shots and were ready to go. The last several days we’ve traveled the Oregon coast. We have walked the beaches ISO (in search of). We have searched for Dungeness crab, driftwood, new friends, lighthouse, tide pools and adventure. What were our results?

Dungeness Crabs? Debbie is thankful that they didn’t have to go catch their own. There was some talk of renting a boat, trap and bait but luckily after discussion that you would be in the harbor with the real boats – purchasing from a boat seemed sufficient.

Driftwood? – Joyce tried to bring home a tree but settled for some smaller pieces.

Light house? Check but they would not let us in

Tidal Pools? Check – Debbie even touched an amoeba.

New friends? Check out our pictures of friends on the dock

What about adventure? Well, they found the Spruce Goose. Please tell me that you know about the Spruce Goose. Who would have thought it was in Oregon?

But the real adventure was with Aaron. He was gracious enough to meet the group in Florence to ride dune buggies. Joyce thought 30 minutes was not long enough and that maybe we should go for an hour. Aaron said that 30 minutes would be long enough but Joyce was not sure.

As the dune buggy sat at the top of a huge hill poised to race downwards, Joyce leaned over to Debbie and whispered is it 30 minutes yet? Before answering Debbie wiped her face now covered in sand adhered to her face by sun screen, spit out the sand from her mouth, checked her watch and said that it had only been 15 minutes. She and Joyce wished it had been 30 minutes but knew they were in for another 15 minutes of nonstop roll coaster dune bugging. Debbie When they arrive back at the office Debbie staggered off and said that’s one thing off my bucket list.

Hats off to Aaron as he took the ride with no sunglasses. We felt he was probably spitting out sand hours later because we knew we were.