Mid-July Park Excitement

Sunday - July 13   Sitting in Mass, we heard thunder!  Rain predicted, but we had not had a thunderstorm before.  It rained on and off through the morning.  A group showed up that was supposed to use one of the picnic kitchens, but asked to use a covered shelter because of the rain.  We got them set up and then worked on projects at the office and shop.  Late afternoon, we closed the shelter after the group left, it kept raining hard on and off.  I was in the shop, Gary was driving the cart back from the shelter, when we heard a loud crack.  I thought it sounded like behind the shop, Kathyrn in the office thought it was in the RV park next door and Gary thought it was up on the ridge.  It rained hard again after that.  Later, when we headed back to the motorhome, we discovered the lightning crack had hit a tree on the edge of the ballfield, next to the shelter by our site!  We drove around, finding pieces of bark and tree all over the ballfield and even in the shelter the group had used earlier that day.  Wow!  Later we found out that it had affected one of the electrical outlets at our site, but did not damage the motorhome thanks to our Surge Protector!!  Did affect the surge protector but less expensive to replace than other components.  We were Lucky!

Lightning struck tree

Monday - we showed our bosses the struck tree.  We all realized the tree was really damaged and the zoo kids group would be back in the park on Tuesday.  Mark, our ranger, called the main office and arranged for foresters to come and take down the tree late that day.  As we picked up the small and medium pieces that morning and took pictures, we realized the tree crack was widening.  We put up caution tape around the area and monitored the area to keep any park visitors away from the tree.  Gary had to mow the field that day, so he started on the far end.  I drove the golf cart back over to the field to take a picture.  As I looked at the tree, the wind picked up.  I watched Gary mow under and past the tree, then heard cracking and watched the top half of the tree come down on to the field!  It was the very best way for the tree to fall - if it had gone other directions it may have hit the shelter and/or fallen knocking other trees down.  The very worst direction would have knocked trees down very close to our motorhome.  But, it worked out fine.  Late afternoon, the guys came with their mega saws and chopped it all up.  We sat in the ballfield and had a tree cutting party.

The crack widens

Early morning pickup of shattered tree

The top half that fell

Top half on ground, lower half still stands

Tree stump diameter

Tuesday - a sad day for all of us.  Our boss, Brian, left for his new job in Florida.  It was a good move for him, his daughter, siblings and parents are all there.  In the morning, we worked on hauling the branches from the tree that we could handle.  We had a going away lunch for Brian and then helped him finish things at the office and pack up his trailer to travel.  He found he did not have room for his bike, so I now have a new bike to use.  We were sad to see him go, he certainly made things fun for us at the park.

Our friend Chris, Park Ranger Mark and Volunteer Boss, Brian

Wednesday - Park work, Gary hauled more branches, I cleaned curbs in the parking areas.  We quit at noon, cleaned up, packed and headed to Salem for the weekend.  For supper that night, we all went over to Tyler and Jen's house and were treated to wood fired pizza from the new wood pizza oven that he built in his backyard.  Great pizza and then baked chocolate chip cookie dough.

Tyler's fireplace and pizza oven

Thursday - off to the coast again, this time with Gary and Marilyn.  We drove to Lincoln City and found the house we would stay in that night.  Tyler and Nick have a friend that let them/us use the house for the weekend.  A very nice place, four bedrooms and three baths.  We dropped off our stuff, then went in to town to Kylos on the beach for lunch.  Seafood menu, we ate out on the deck on the warm, sunny day.  It was cooler by 15 degrees than our park and Salem.  Very refreshing.  That afternoon, we drove to Newport and looked around there.  Marilyn and I stopped at the outlet mall for a couple things, then drove along the coast before going back to Lincoln City for an early supper at McMenamins.  Back to the house, Marilyn, Gary and I drove over to the beach and took sunset pictures.  Watched a movie and to bed.

Outside Kylos at lunch

Overnight digs

Newport Beach

Newport bridge

Sunset at the beach - Lincoln City

Friday - we slept in and then went for breakfast at Sambo's in Lincoln City.  Then we drove to Depoe Bay for sightseeing.  We went to the whale watching center and watched long enough to see the spouts of water and the back of a whale, several times.  We also watched Coast Guard boats doing a towing drill and other boats going in and out of the smallest port in the country.  Another nice day at the coast - sunny and warm.  We stopped at the Sea Hag, a well known bar in Depoe Bay.  We went back to Lincoln City for lunch, Mo's was too busy so we went to a local place.  Back to the house, we packed up and left to go back to Salem.  After a winery stop, we went back to G&M's house, had a late afternoon snooze and then drove to McMinnville to eat at the Golden Valley Brewery for dinner.  A gorgeous night to eat outside.

Smallest port entry

Coast Guard boats

Depoe Bay marina

Saturday - for breakfast we met friends of G&M, Don & Krista - we have spent time with them in the years we visited before.  Don just retired in June, it was fun to hear about the fun he has had doing things since then and things he plans to do.  Afterward, we did one more trip to Costco with Marilyn, went to the Willamette Valley Winery and out to lunch for pizza.  Then it was time to pack up and head back to the forest.  Once home, I discovered we had had a guest while we were gone - a mouse!  I spent the rest of the evening vacuuming and cleaning up - Gary went up to the shop and brought back a mouse trap - we caught the hungry little devil during the night.  Thank goodness.