Visitor From the East

Many of you may already know but Willy came out for a week long visit in early July. His trip, unlike many other trips to Stumptown, came with a packed agenda. Willy has the advantage of being a veteran traveler to Portland so less time is spent in the city and more is spent out and about. For his trip this year we were adventure bound and heading southward. Not that there isn't enough adventure to be had in Portland but watching smelly hippies play Frisbee along the waterfront but it was not part of our master plan, not this time.

Willy got into Portland (hassle free for the first time) on Thursday the 3rd. We took it easy the first night and let him settle into the Portland attitude. The next morning we headed up to the mountain in search of glacial trails and mountainous views. Our plans were altered by low lying clouds and a washed out trail. We switched our route and headed into the gorge for a stroll along the famous Eagle Creek Trail. Still taking it easy we opted for the 4-mile loop that turned around at Punch Bowl Falls. The trail is known for it's narrow trail that winds allow the canyon walls created by Eagle Creek. Before getting to Punch Bowl Falls we took a side trail to view Metlako Falls.

The infamous Eagle Creek Trail.

Willy about to snap a photo of Metlako falls.

Punchbowl Falls from a hidden side trail scramble.

When we got back to town it was time for an afternoon nap before the real festivities began. We had a little shindig at the house to celebrate the independence of our beloved country. What better way to do that than with some saw horses and a sheet of plywood, let's not forget the plastic "keg" cups and cheap beer. That's right. . .to celebrate the creation of our country we played Beer Pong. Willy and i were victorious over the beer pong vets. Actually, the victory really goes to Willy as i did very little to contribute to demise of our opponents. I did, however, drink plenty of Pabst Blue Ribbon. The evening rounded out with a patriotic display of illegal fireworks in the street. My neighbor was kind enough to donate some mortars to our cause. It was a nice display of our love for mother America.

Keg kup karnage.

The real adventure began Sunday morning when we started toward Crater Lake, Oregon's only National Park. Yes. . .you read correctly. . .Oregon's only National Park. Hard to believe i know but when your state does a good enough job of protecting it's land, the feds don't need to step in an protect it for you. On our way southward we stopped off in Bend to grab some nourishment, a pint, and stretch our legs. After a walk along the Deschuttes river it was back into the truck and on the road. The two campgrounds within the park were both closed due to snow so we settled in at Diamond Lake. The campground was pretty empty. We grabbed a spot along K-loop and pitched camp under the looming view of Mt Baxter (or something like that). The lakeside site was nice but the it came with the usual lake side annoyances. The gnats were so plentiful that you could hardly see through their swarms and regardless of what any of my exes may say, the mosquitoes found me to be sweet. After settling into camp it was time for some libations, great conversation and in the end. . .sleep, precious sleep.

Willy's home for the week.

My lovely abode for the week.

(little) Bigfoot sighting

The next morning we toasted up some bagels on the Coleman and started the 20 minute drive down to Crate Lake. The drive to the lake offered a variety of landscapes, from pumice deserts to snow topped peaks. As we started up the rim drive i was struck square in the face with what felt like a bat. It's amazing how the 7th deepest lake in the world can sneak up on you while you're driving. When the lake suddenly came into view like a. . .turkey flying into the side of a truck. . .i nearly drove the two of us to our deaths. The view is something pictures will never even begin to display but i make my feeble attempts below. We didn't make it down to the boat launch that provides people with an opportunity to hike Wizard Island because the entire east side of the rim drive was still under snow. We still managed to get a couple solid views of the lake though.

Crater Lake and Wizard Island.

Ditto.

After a two day stint with the bugs and the beautiful views of Diamond Lake it was time to head west and into the Umpqua National Forest. Our destination was Horseshoe Bend Campground, which is situated along the banks of the North branch of the Umpqua. . .it was time for some rafting. We got into camp pretty early and decided to just settle into our new home away from home. We met our raft guides our first night and one joined us later in the evening for some farkel (dice, similar to squelch for those of you who are familiar with it) and switch (an incredibly card game similar to Uno, which was handed down to me by an irishman). The next morning we hopped in the van with the guides and headed down to the boat launch. Our first day on the river we were accompanied by a family of three from San Diego. They were cool enough folks and kept the conversation going and the water flying, when necessary. The other boat in our party was filled with a bachelor party. The boys were rowdy and useless. At one point one of the fellas tackled their guide and took her into the river with him, leaving the rest of the group to fend for themselves. Lucky for the guide, they were apparently scared to get their paddles wet, so they didn't get very far. Lucky for us. . .they were the other group on the overnight trip, so we were stuck with the for the night and another day.

Safety first.

A random rapid along the North Umpqua.

Looking back to check in on the slacker bachelor boat.

After a long day on the river our guides cooked up some cedar planked salmon, redskin mashed potatoes, garlic bread and some peach cobbler fresh out of the dutch oven. Dinner was delicious and our rowdy bachelor party companions provided plenty of entertainment. We stayed up late partying with the bachelors and guides. We threw down some more farkel and switch and drank our share of boxed wine (at least i did). The next day it was back to the river. There were two other boats scheduled to head down the river with us. Our counterparts for day two were a wedding party and the bachelors. Hoping to avoid a day in the boat with the rowdies we begged and pleaded with our guides to break up the wedding party. Our efforts were lost and we were bachelor boat bound. Something must have gotten into them (besides boxed wine and watered down beer), because they paddled their drunken, meat-headed hearts out, at least until lunch. After lunch the river was pretty tame and the antics began. We rodeoed our boats (someone stands on the front or back of the boat and tries to keep their balance as everyone else in the boat sporadically spins the boat in different directions) and tortured the wedding boats. The wedding boats didn't have much in the way of personality (later to find out that one of them was from Maryland, psht). It could have been because we incessantly doused the groom with buckets full of water and knocked the bride off her tube with another bucketful. Although the North Umpqua River isn't thrashing with whitewater (it boasts more rapids per mile than any other river in Oregon), it make for a beautiful trip along some of Oregon's pristine national forests.

Group photo with the bachelors.

I think it's the same random rapid. You be the judge.

We headed back to Portland Friday morning. The trip was uneventful. Once we got back into the town we headed over to Apizza Scholls for some the best pie known to man. Tired from the week's excursions, we called it a night. The next morning we had an early wake up call for Willy's flight back east. All in all it was a great trip. Living so far from family really makes you appreciate the time you do get with family. It certainly doesn't hurt when it gives you reason to gallivant around Oregon too.

There will be more pics posted from this trip. My little 256 memory card could only handle so much beauty. Willy will be sending me some of the stuff he shot during our adventures. I'll post them when they make their way out west. Ta ta for now.