Day 2 on the Rogue River

Our second day began with a talk by Will on fire prevention, conservation, and the ramifications of that for our forests.  Then it was down to the river to begin the day of adventure.  Today they brought out the kayaks for the first time which meant Brett was going kayaking.  We also had our first member of the Rogue River Swim team as Griffin was swept overboard, paddle and all.  He calmly remembered his training and got into a safe position from where he was able to get back into one of the boats without much difficulty.  Brett was oblivious to the whole event as he was in the kayak, while Joy was the one experiencing the most panic at losing a child, temporarily.  After getting to shore, we went on a spectacular hike to the Mule Creek Waterfall and slept the night at Marial Lodge with another hot shower.

Will gives his morning talk to allow the rest of the crew to prepare our boats and supplies.

Griffin often rode up front, taking the waves face first.

Garrett provided a strong right side paddler.

Sometimes Griffin just kicked back and relaxed.  Other times he was echoing the calls of our guide for paddling.

I'm going to get some good muscles out of all this rowing.

Checking out some more of the wildlife...terapins.

Bryce re-enters the boat after cooling off.

Balancing on the front of the boat...

Turn around and jump in!

Griffin tries to keep his balance but keeps falling backward into the boat...finally Bryce just runs up and tackles him taking them both into the water.

Bald eagle watching us pass.

Bryce shows off his good arm but moving back further from the river edge and still making it across to the other side.

Brett helps Joy back into the boat.

A bunch of Mandalorians with the rifles out front.

Hiking up from the river to an artists' home.

Yummy lunch.

Brett is out in the kayak, avoiding rocks.

Joy and Bryce go for a swim to cool off.

Griffin is a bit cold after getting back in the boat.

We have arrived at our 2nd night destination:  Marial Lodge.  We spotted an osprey nest.

Hiking along the Rogue River Trail.

Dre, our fearless leader, gives a motivational talk about the Rogue River.

Good thing you brought that head lamp, because we walked back in the dark.

The Mule Creek Waterfall:  we reached our destination on this hike.

Mule Creek Canyon where the coffee filter spinner is located.

Griffin sees what he can see.

Bryce spots some more birds of prey.

We were the last ones to bed on the second night, even staying up later than the guides as we played cards and Brett played a little guitar.

First Day on the Rogue River

After having all our vacations cancelled since COVID-19, we really were feeling the urge to leave our little county that was starting to rack up cases rapidly.  Selecting a company we had experienced great things with the year before and reading up on their new COVID guidelines, we felt comfortable being outside with this company for three days.  We tried to recruit some friends to go with us, but that didn't work out so we settled in for a good family bonding time.  Also on the trip were two millenial couples from Portland who were lawyers (Brendan and Gabby, Joe and Julia), a couple from San Francisco who live close to Oracle Park (Dan and Ellen), and an older couple from Portland (Bill and Deborah) who is a geologist.

Safety speech--all the do's and don'ts, listen carefully.

This is COVID rowing!

Manning the front of the boat--our 3 boys.

Coxswain and sometimes paddler, Griffin

The left side of the boat:  Dad and Bryce.

Class 5 rapids...I think we will go around...

Hiking around the class 5 with our masks in case we get too close to others in our party.

The way around the class 5, pretty difficult in itself, a narrow convoluted passage that our guides took the boats down.

Garrett rests after our hike while we wait for our boats to make it safely through.

Bryce spots a bald eagle, one of a number we saw our first day on the river.

Griffin stands tall and proud on our waterfall hike.

Bryce prepares to find the phantom fish, about 3 feet long nesting under the waterfall.

Griffin and Garrett on the waterfall adventure.

Dad is the faceless masked man with Griffin and Garrett.

Joy goes for a refreshing swim.

What are you going to do about it, Bryce?

Oh, you might me to relax and look like I am enjoying myself?

Garrett relaxing by the waterfall after a little swim.

Griffin jumps off the rock.

Bryce makes a lizard sound as he jumps off the rock.

Arriving at our first lodge stop on the Rogue River.

Where we were greeted by deer, everywhere, fawns, mamas, and young bucks.

The boys carry their dry and day bags to their cabin.

Griffin shows off his mask, red day bag, and yellow dry bag while a deer watches with great curiosity.

Game time before dinner.

Joy takes note of Nubbins, the begging deer, moving in closer and closer while we ate dinner.

Black Bar Lodge photos

The boys had their own separate cabin, D, across from ours, C.  We each had hot showers, a flushable toilet, and reasonably comfortable beds.

Driving to Oregon

We began our makeshift vacation to Oregon on the Friday of the July 4th weekend.  We encountered many SUVs and trucks pulling boats up to the mountains on I-5.  Fortunately, we left early enough that there was no slow traffic and we made good time.  Brett began pointing out Mt Shasta as soon as he could see it on the drive, which began a joke that every mountain with snow on it was Mt. Shasta (more on that later).  We stopped in Weed for lunch and some football playing to get the blood flowing.  No problem making it to our meeting at the Morrison Lodge, but we would wait to eat dinner until after the meeting.  Brett drove into Merlin to Baldini's to get some good calzones that we ate in our "expensive" (well it was July 4th weekend) lodge.

Shasta!

Sweating while reading "Chains" (still) in the sun, Griffin stuck his bookmark on his forehead.

Our walk at Morrison's Lodge.

Joy in front of the Rogue River, upstream of where we would set in the next day.

Three flies up!