June Begins in the Mountains

Monday, June 2  - back to work.  We had driver's training - (because our driver's certification certificate had not arrived in the mail), we drove with our boss into Sandy for work errands - then he could approve us for certification to drive the BLM trucks.  In Sandy, we dropped off tools for repair and then had a cup of coffee at the "Ant Farm", a local non-profit coffeehouse.  Their mission is to help train youth in life skills.  There we met a fellow motor homer from Sandy, we told him about RVillage and got him signed up.  Brian introduced us to two business owners from the Mt. Hood area, it was interesting to talk to them about the history of the area.  On the way back we stopped and cleaned the restrooms at Sandy Ridge, the nearby mountain bike trail park serviced by the BLM. Gary did some mowing when we were back at the park.

Tuesday - This morning as we were having breakfast, we heard a woodpecker outside.  Gary went out and found a Pileated Woodpecker working on a birdhouse, so the pecking sound was amplified.  The woodpecker then flew to a log on the edge of the ball field and soon wood was flying from all over from his pecking.  Gary was able to get great pictures - hard to do usually, the Pileateds' are very elusive.  This woodpecker is one of the two largest in the country, very distinctive by their loud call, huge head with a red cap and this one was about 14 inches long.  Back in to the office, Brian had me help him start the key inventory process.  We worked all day on the keys, I was buggy eyed from comparing one key to another for all those hours.  Gary went out and mowed, it was one of the few sunny, dry days.  Late afternoon, we went home and packed a bag for going to Salem - we were going there after work on Wednesday.   http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/pileated_woodpecker/id

Pileated Woodpecker

Look how big he is!

 Wednesday -  all the camp hosts had fee booth training this morning.  We went to the entrance fee booth and worked through the procedures for collecting fees, using the cash register and balancing our receipts at the end of our shift. Not necessarily a safe job, while we were there we had a lady drive in and up on the curb in front of the booth.  The day before, a lady had gone off the entrance road, down in the ditch and hit the welcome sign that shows the parking fees.  She said she was trying to get her coffee cup and got distracted.  Luckily she was not hurt.  After training, we checked out, cleaned up and headed to Salem for the weekend.  Gary had to be at the Elks Club late afternoon for a membership interview. When Marilyn was off work at 7:30, we went out for supper and then over to Nick's house to see them.

Distracted driver hits park sign

Thursday - Right away we went out for and exercise walk and then had breakfast.  Marilyn was exploring with us today, we drove up to Portland to see some sights.  We went to the river walk there, hoping to see the Navy ships that were coming in for the Rose Festival weekend.  Unfortunately, we were too early - they were arriving in the afternoon.  We were able to see a big Coast Guard ship,(The Alert) a Canadian sailing ship, the USMC Oriole (we talked to their crew - they had sailed down the night before) and there were some river patrol gun boats used in Vietnam that Gary toured.  We saw the lift bridge gates go up, no boats, but we think they were practicing for the Navy boats to come. By then it was lunch time, so we walked up to the Thirsty Lion Pub & Grill and had coffee and sandwiches.  Then we drove up to the famous Portland Rose Garden, located on one of the hills in Portland.  Somewhat like the tulips, there were rows and rows of every kind of roses.  It was beautiful.  The Rose Festival and Parade was taking place the next three days, but we did not want to fight the crowds to see all that.  There was a great view of Mt. Hood from the gardens, but hard to get pictures of.  We really enjoyed walking around seeing all the colors and variations.
Leaving there we headed southwest out of town and drove back to the Salem area.  We saw fruit stands and a cheese farm, we decided we will have to go back for them.  Close to Salem, we took Marilyn to the Red Hawk winery we had visited before.  With the clear day, we could see the three mountains from their yard, Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens.  We tasted the wines, Marilyn joined the wine club and then sat and had a glass in the picnic area.  Awhh, retirement!
Back to the house, we relaxed with G&M and grilled burgers for supper.

Coast Guard ALERT

Drawbridge Up

PBR Boat and Royal Canadian Sailing Boat

Vietnam PBR Boat

Thirsty Lion lunch stop

The Rose Garden view from the top of the park

Brilliant pink

Variegated colors

Red plus more

A beauty

Portland Rose Garden

Mt Hood from the Rose Garden

Red Hawk Winery enjoyment

View from winery

Friday - Gary and I walked again, Marilyn had a hair appointment early.  We worked on our computers for advertisers at the house, then drove to the BLM headquarters in Salem to pick up supplies for the park.  Afterward, we met Marilyn and did a Costco run.  Back home, G&M went with us to the Willamette Cheese Farm.  You drive in past the working girls (the dairy cows) and go into the little cheese shop on the farm.  We tasted about twelve different cheeses, they make different variations of Fontina, Cheddar, Havarti, Gouda and Jack cheese.  Very good, some had herbs, some had fruit, and there was a white cheddar with cinnamon that we liked.  That evening, we joined their friends for supper at Cafe 22.  It was a nice evening to sit outside and the fresh strawberry shortcake special was delicious!  After supper, we went to Nolan's ball game and afterward helped G&M take the kids home to their house to babysit, so Tyler & Jen could go out for supper.

Saturday - The two Garys headed out to run errands for the masonry business, Marilyn and I went for a walk and then ran some girl errands.  We shopped for birthday presents for Piper, she was two today.  Back at the house, we packed up our things and went and got our groceries bought to take back home.  Then we went to the big birthday party for awhile before heading back to the forest.  It was fun to see all of Jen's family there.

Piper - Age 2  (We gave her the shades)