On the Oregon Coast . . .

The picture above shows the view from our parking spot in Depot Bay on Saturday, July 27th when Nancy and I, Tasha, and Levi & Ramona Willits spent the week-end on the Oregon Coast.

We drove down on Friday in time to have clam chowder at Mo's in Lincoln City before checking-in at the Ester Lee Motel in Lincoln City for two nights. The wind was high & mighty when we arrived but had calmed down considerably by Saturday morning. Both Friday and Saturday our plan has been to have our main meal at a restaurant at Noon so that we could have sandwiches and left-overs in the evening in Levi & Ramona's room where there's a full kitchen. (Breakfast items are also in the fridge there ...) The weather has been great! The customary coast fog has not made an appearance, and Saturday morning at low tide was perfect for walking on the beach. - rw

The 4th of July in Oregon ...

On Sunday July 7th I drove the short distance from our condo to Willameette Mission State Park where a Civil War re-enactment was being conducted.

I drove out on Sunday morning in time for the 9:30 a.m. worship service that was conducted by a Christian Church pastor, suitably dressed in period costume. The preacher of the morning gave a brief 3-point sermon based on a statement Benjamin Franklin gave to the 1787 Constitutional Convention, urging daily prayer for wisdom. His points were: pray more, bicker less, and trust God. Several well-known hymns were sung by those of us in the congregation, accompanied by two trumpets.

After the brief worship service (about 40 minutes), I wandered around the encampment, looking at the tents of both the Confederate and Union soldiers. Then, at 11 a.m. visitors like me were seated in bleachers to watch the "battle." - rw

BACK HOME IN GOOD 'OLE OREGON!

Since Western Oregon is in the middle of a heat wave (temperatures in the 90's), I decided to leave the house on Monday morning shortly after 7:00 a.m. so that I could hike the 7-mile rim trail at Silver Falls State Park. (Pictured is the famous South Falls). I hit the trail at 8:05, parking the car at the small parking area at Winter Falls. From there I walked along the rim to North Falls, and then down the canyon to "Double Falls" (pictured below),

and from Double Falls, crossing the creek to make the climb up to "Lower South Falls," and then the further climb up to the top of the falls. It was cool in the canyon in the early morning hours which was very nice. By the time I got to South Falls and the Lodge there, I was definitely ready for a break! There at the lodge I rested for about 15 minutes before hiking the rest of the way back to the car. McDonalds in Silverton was definitely the place for lunch! (Lower South Falls pictured below) - rw