At Deschutes State Park

Our host site here at Deschutes, is the best site we have ever had.No other host site compares to this one. Manicured lawn,long paved driveway and pad,storage shed,first class utilities,I could go on and on but you get the idea. that is why we returned again this year for 2 more months.


We are very secluded up here.We have a little patio we set out on looking down on the campers and the river.We are shaded by a little grove of "Honey mesquite trees"as the gentle breezes keep us cool. Our little slice of heaven.
The weather has been below normal for July. Usually they are in the 90's

but this year mostly 70's and 80's.we got no rain last summer but already have had 2 or 3 days of rain in July. Last week,I went on the raft trip with Tom Peterson the Ranger here at Deschutes.If you remember last year,I went and had a great day fishing.I caught 2 nice "Steelhead" both natives so they had to go back in the river(catch and release). but what a fight they put up.I learned a great lesson from the ranger,"you can't Horse these fish in,you have to finesse them and let them run".I would of used that valuable piece of advise this year but....I didn;t catch a thing.Not even a nibble.The fishing has been poor at best this year because of all the rain and the below normal temps. But because of the poor conditions,the raft trip was very different this year. Nobody was on the river so we saw more wildlife,deer,big horn sheep,river otters,raccoons, and yes even a rattlesnake! While stopped for the night the ranger and I got in a little fishing. The grass is a lot higher because of the rain and tromping through it to get to our favorite fishing hole, we came across a "surly" 6 footer that didn't like us walking in his territory. As the ranger's foot came down right next to"Ole Surly",he let out a nasty rattle with his tail to let us know that he was ready to strike.We made a hasty detour and decided we would go to our 2nd favorite fishing hole! Because of the high water in the Deschutes,the rapids are a little more aggressive this year. On a scale of 1 to 6,there are four number 3's and one number 4,and a bunch of number2"s,but the high and swift water has made them a little more aggressive.A two might be a three or a four might become a five,well you get the idea,anyway,as we are rolling toward our first number three rapid, Ranger Tom informs me he had one of his passengers pitched out of the raft last week!!!, first one for him!! He calmly says "this is where I lost him...Hang on".Well I stayed in the raft but got drenched...over and over again with each rapid. After the last rapid I told him "just throw me a bar of soap"! It was a great trip and a lot more "white water" than "ole Philly cares for",but I thank Tom for another great rafting adventure on the Deschutes. Jeni and I have been real busy here as the campground has been full almost every night since we arrived. This park is very popular and everybody wants to camp here.We have met a lot of people here and a lot of the campers climb the stairs up to our site and sit and visit with us.It is our best "gig" yet and we love it here.yesterday I went out fishing on the Columbia river with one of the Rangers husbands Greg.He took me out last year and with the

same results...nothing!We were fishing for Salmon this time.But fear not,I still have another month top catch the elusive "Steelhead and Salmon"! Ya no, Even the most Idyllic lifestyle can hit a rut.Case in point,Beautiful scenery,great people,fantastic weather and not work but Volunteering.I use that word to make a point,Volunteering means donating your time.No set work schedule,no 8 hr work day,no boss, just camaraderie and Fun.(another key word to make my point) Anyway, Sometimes Jeni and I forget those key words. We get a little paranoid(ok,me more than Jeni). We think we are not doing a good enough job in one area of our duties or another.We try to do too much or we get down on ourselves.Then pretty soon we are working too hard and(like a regular job!) feeling stressed and depressed.........Then we look at each other and say....SNAP OUT OF IT WE ARE ONLY VOLUNTEERS FOR GODS SAKE! We then resume our fantastic life style and have fun doing what we love.After all like my Father used to tell me "you only go around once in life,you better enjoy it". As Jeni and I sit here in paradise on our little porch.The gentle breezes keeping us cool on a warm day.Watching the campers enjoying themselves on the emerald green lawns by the river,we raise our drinks and toast our surroundings and how lucky we are to be able to live this charmed lifestyle. Overworked,depressed, at Deschutes.....I don't think so!

Grandaughter visit and on to Deschutes

Our granddaughter Alyx came to visit us at Viento last week.She flew in to Portland and we picked her up.We visited the waterfalls in the area
back toward the park.She has become quite the young lady. They grow up so fast. Jeni usually books her flight on Southwest airlines but because money has been a little tight lately she found "Cheapo Air!"It is an online service that guarantees the lowest fares,well Alyx wasn't impressed. She flew one of those little commuter planes that holds only a handful of people. She was not impressed! And Grandma Jeni heard about it!

Waterfalls was the order of the day and we hit all the ones on hwy #35. Grandma and Alyx especially enjoyed Horsetail Falls as we spent the most time at. We got back to Viento and settled in for the night. Of course we had to play 31, Alyx's favorite game. Saturday we went in to Cascade locks for Pioneer Days. A festival depicting life in Oregon back in the late 1800's.there were settler's camps,Indian camps,military camps,and plenty of food and music. There is an island where all the festivities took place.On the right of the island is the Columbia. On the left is a channel where ships used to pass through the locks to get around some "nasty"rapids that used to exist on the Columbia.

They had authentic Indian teepee's and demonstrations of indian life back then. Life was probably a lot better for our native people before Government intervention took this way of life from them. Many historical accounts by settlers and immigrants to Oregon told of their friendly and helpful nature. And how did we respond, by putting them on Reservations! Great move!! Our Benevolent government.

The Trapper and Fur trader was a vital and necessary cog in the development of the area as he kept Dudes in hats and well to do ladies in furs.

At the military encampment,this guy had all the Vietnam vets diving for cover. He fired off that cannon 2 or 3 times an hour.It was load! I even jumped when that thing went off. It was a nice day and a great way to learn of Oregon's river gorge history. Unlike the "Gold rush"in California in the mid 1800's, the people coming in to Oregon were farmers and merchants. I think that's why Oregonians are a more laid back rural lot than the high strung high powered Californians.



Alyx had done a project in school about Oregon's friendliest Indian Sacajawea. The Indian princess who helped Lewis and Clark as they blazed a trail into the Gorge in Oregon. Of course Alyx had to pose with a bronze statue of her. Boy! those Indians were tall back then!! We had a great day at Cascade Locks. We went to Hood River for dinner and to do a Little shopping in the downtown area. Alyx just got her drivers licence so we let her drive to get the feel for Oregon drivers. She is a very good driver and handles our car very well. I felt sorry for her as she had two "backseat drivers" in the car.She handled the "Ole"
Susuki like a pro. Jeni and I were trying to keep her busy going here and there but her last 2 days here all she wanted to do was hang out with her Grandparents at home,so that is what we did. It touched us that she still likes to hang with us even though shes 16. Well all too soon we put her back on the plane(puddle jumper) back to Sacramento.We were sad to see her go and that night Jeni and I said how quiet the Motor home was.No sounds of silly laughter,no "buffing Grandpa's head",no sounds of Alyx and Grandma playfully wrestling.Just the memories of the years of Alyx visiting us on our full time travels,Tearfully that this might have been the last one as she nears adulthood.We love you Boo.
Tomorrow we leave Viento and drive over to Deschutes for our July-August volunteer job.
We have enjoyed this area and loved being so close to Hood River. A quaint little city with great food and entertainment.We will go from 70 degree weather to 90 degree weather.I am looking forward to shorts instead of levi's and to packing away my coat. Next blog post from Sunny Deschutes.On the road again for P&J adventures.