Where were YOU? Photo taken on our sixth or seventh hike, along an access road to a reservoir off Blodgett Road. A very beautiful place.
Here's another, taken on September 14 about two miles along Ten Mile Creek road.
Unless noted in the text below, plan on meeting at the designated place at 9:30 AM on the Monday in question.
Members
John
Margaret
Jan
Gary
Sherrie
Maggie
Mary
Jim
Gillian
Sue
Yvonne
Vern
Ginny
Jo
Cheryl
Shirley
On Monday, November 16, despite high winds, we hiked on Dick's Fork road once again, thinking that we would get out of the wind as we traveled inland. The forest kept us from getting buffeted and there was very little rain. We saw more vehicle traffic on this secondary road than ever, and a (South County Water?) crew actually recognized us as the Waldport Walkers. The driver was present at last Thursday's City Council meeting. This crew passed us twice and called out "You guys are fast" the second time. Compared to last Monday, it was pretty uneventful, but fun, as always. Hikers were John, Margaret, Gary, Jan, Jim and Mary. The additional 4.5 miles today puts us close to 100 miles since we started.
On Thursday, November 12, our mentor, John, was honored at the Waldport City Council meeting, receiving a commendation from Governor Ted Kulongoski for his leadership in promoting physical fitness, which John certainly does, and does well. The award was presented by Waldport Mayor Herman Welch. In the photo, Councilwoman Sue Woodruff, in the background, is one of us walkers. Following the ceremony, some of the Walkers and John's Green Bike helpers adjourned to the Salty Dawg for a libation. Congratulations to you, John.
On Monday, November 9, John and Margaret were tired from a difficult hike that they took the day before, and besides, the weather was awful, rain and wind, and had been that way for three days. Jan and Gary, Mary and Jim decided to stay in town and cross the bridge. The rain let up a bit and off we went. Partway across the bridge, as happens so often, the wind came up, at our backs, portending a tough return trip. We walked into the Seventh Day Adventist area and beyond, then started back. On the bridge, a squall came up and it was difficult to walk at all. Did I mention we all failed the daily IQ test this morning? Yes, Gillian, we saw you crossing the bridge northbound in the dry comfort of your car. We managed to walk 2.86 miles but were soaked for the trouble. No discussion was held about next week, so just meet at Keady, unless the weather is similar to yesterday.
On Monday, November 2, John and Margaret, Gary and Jan, Jo, Mary, Gillian, Sue and Jim investigated the trails that Mary and Margaret found last week off Bayview Drive. Those confounded ankle-snatchers caused two human falls on this hike. The terrain was undulating, downhill, and a lot of uphill. We ran into two dead ends, and found a second trail which we may investigate further next Monday. That, or, if John can find out where another group who investigated trails near Drift Creek were, last week, we may try to find a link between these two trails to aid in establishment of the "C to C" (Corvallis to the Coast) trail. Standby for further info. In any event we will continue to meet at Keady Wayside.
Another rainout on October 25, EXCEPT that Mary and Margaret not only walked around town in the rain, they explored a forest road off of Bayview Drive here in Waldport. I think that is where we will attempt to go next Monday, meeting at Keady Wayside as usual. Perhaps we should bring kayaks and canoes with us?
After three days of heavy rain and commitments of many of our hikers, we called off the Monday, October 19 hike. John had some good news about a preliminary input for a grant to make the red ditch trail and others improved to the point where tourists and local residents could use them. We will meet again next Monday, October 26, at Keady Wayside, and discuss whre we might go. Cummins Creek is still a goal.
On Monday, October 12, Shirley and Sue returned to the trails, joining Jan, Gary, Margaret, John, Mary, Gillian, Jim and Jo for a return to the new Oregon State Park area off Beaver Creek Road. As we approached the gate, someone suggested that we needed leashes on some of the members. Darned if there wasn't a new sign on the gate, "Leashes Required." The trail guide of the day (me) had a plan for exploring the Canyon Loop and then Snaggy Point. As we started up the hill it was obvious that it was more like a mountain. Plans changed, and I lost complete control of the group. Canyon Loop was bypassed. We went directly to Snaggy Point, a great overlook area, and judging from the "evidence" of elk in the area, we had spooked a large herd of them. They obviously can read, and noted that this area is posted "No Hunting," and probably all elk in the local area had gathered there. From there we descended on several trails, many of which were labeled "Cougar Ridge." I think there are several Cougar Ridge trails. It was another adventure, and incredibly, the nineteenth in a row without a rainout. The leash law did not work, as John found a different Cougar Ridge trail and beat the rest of back to the parking area. Hasn't this been fun? Next Monday we will again meet at Keady Wayside and return to the Cummins Creek trail south of Cape Perpetua. After a week of rain it will be interesting, but then all of them have been so.
Monday, October 5, John, Margaret, Gary, Jan, Jim, Gillian and Mary repeated the first of our hikes, up the red ditch or wash from the LCSD baseball fields and associated trails which are in the City of Waldport. There is a short stretch of that trail that will certainly require some work such as a stairway, as it is steep and slippery. Many hikers would be turned around by this, but not our intrepid group. We found some very interesting natural wonders, fallen trees, snags and things that created interesting sculptures. Rhododendrons growing up on the trees. Many trails near the city park would require very little work to make them appealing.
I gave some of you copies of the photo below. I took two, and the other isn't as good. Somehow I gave that other one to one of you. In it, Gary is looking down. I will be glad to give whoever got that one, the better one. Please let me know. Jo, we missed you.
Next Monday, October 12, we will meet at Keady Wayside and carpool to the Beaver Creek Oregon State Park site, which is posted against hunting, and continue to explore that area.
I will continue to leave the September 21 discussion below, as you all seemed to enjoy it.
Alas! Our Vern has gone away, now who will keep the bears at bay?
-----Mary----
Taken on hike September 28.
Link to a photo album of our adventures Click Here
OLD STUFF
On Monday, September 21, another new guest, John Beauchamp, joined Vern, Margaret, John, Mary, Jillian, Jo, Gary, Jan and Jim for a hike to explore alternate routes to the former trail along Lint Slough. Jo's 13 year old dog, Pepper, also came along and really enjoyed getting into the mud along the way. There are some real possibilties along the west side of the slough, as John suggested, some viewing stands for birders and naturalists. There are also some really tough trails along there that we had some difficulty negotiating. Eventually we separated into three groups. Vern had shoe problems and Jo wanted to get Pepper home, so they left us. John M, Gary and Jan took off on some sort of Lewis and Clark excursion, leaving Jim, Mary, Margaret, John B and Gillian behind. Undaunted, those folks tried to follow the trailblazers, unsuccessfully. They backtracked to the starting point and contemplated sending out a bulletin to find the "lost" hikers. Gillian cruised up and down Crestline Drive trying to locate them. Did you three ever come out of the woods? If so, please email us about your adventure. I also apologize for not putting out the word to bring clippers, machetes, chain saws and bulldozers for today's hike.
Jim took his daughter Lisa and son-in-law John B to our favorite rainforest off Blodgett Road after lunch. They really enjoyed the tranquility of that place, as we all experienced when discovering it.
Next Monday, as it was Vern's choice on his last hike with us this season, we will meet at Keady Wayside and carpool to Cape Perpetua, to hike the Oregon Coast trail which runs south of the parking lot there. Vern wants to have a view of the coast, as he and Marlene will be returning to California.
Jan and Gary sent this update: I guess Gary and I are the Meriweather Lewis half (since he is a Lewis decendant). However, we did not find the old road nor the trail back down, which John M. did! We finally came out of the underbrush somewhere up near the head of the slough. Our apologies to all of you for the inconvenience!! We definitely over-did and we're glad you all had the good sense not to follow us! See you next week!
Jan & Gary
I decided to leave the Beaver creek map on here below. The black trails are "driveable," though after doing so, I would recommend a four wheel drive vehicle. The yellow dotted trails are hiking only. There is a lot of marsh and meadow there, but some trails in the forest. "No Hunting" signs posted everywhre.
Thanks to Mary, here is a history of what we have hiked so far. We have been busy.
1) In-town from baseball field (June 8)
2) In-town from Range Drive (June15)
3) In-town from Maggie's office, across the bridge and beyond (June 22)
4) From Waldport Highlands to Lint Slough (with Ricoh) (June 29)
5) In-town from Ranger Station (July 6)
6) Dick's Fork Road ending up on Wakonda Beach Road (July 13)
7) Dick's Fork Road (just you, Vern and I) detour to Foxglove Meadow (July 20)
8) Eckman Lake (July 27)
9) Second section of Dick's Fork Road Jim, Vern, Gillian and Mary (August 3)
10) Blodgett Road/reservoir road (August 10)
11) Blodgett Road: power line trail and reservoir road (August 17)
12) Amanda's Trail (August 24--11 hikers)
13) Arnold's Creek (7 miles up Alsea Highway) (August 31)
14) Beaver Creek, new Oregon Parks land (September7)
15) Ten Mile Creek (September 14)
16) Along Lint Slough, seeking a new trail (September 21)
17) Cape Perpetua Oregon Coast trail, partway up Cummins Creek (September 28)
18) Repeat of hike number 1, from the baseball fields (October 5)
19) More exploration of The Oregon Parks land off Beaver Creek (October 12)
20) Mary and Margaret only braved trails off Bayview Drive (October 26)
21) Bayview Drive trails investigated by Mary and Margaret, this time with 9 (November 2)
22) In-town, across the bridge (November 9)
23) Dick's Fork Road (November 16)
I think it is a great idea to "document" our trekking. Maybe we could have a party when we hit the 100 mile mark.
Mary