Friday at Lincoln City, OR

Boy, things started out nice this morning...having rained all night (Oregon mist)... the wind stopped and the sun came out. It was about 45 degrees. We took a motor trip (Bren's car) fifteen miles or so into the mountains...Coastal Range, for geography buffs. What a ride.

After three or four miles on a normal two lane road with center lines we headed straight up a paved, single lane, logging road to a National Forrest park called Drift Creek Falls. After climbing 8 miles we came to a parking lot with no cars, but an honor system for day use pay station....except...I whipped out my Golden Age Pass (thanks to Chick for introducing me) which was honored and we were in for nothing (normally $5...perhaps I have lived in Holland too long). Again, this gave me a chance to show off my GAP, but no one was around to see it. We put it in the dashboard and started our hike. There were four cars there when we got back, so maybe one of them noticed...or maybe a ranger wondered by...

The trail is about two miles down a fairly well kept mountain path which ends (for most) at a pedestrian suspension bridge which is about 200 feet above a picturesque falls and river. That was our goal. (Not sure where the path goes from there.)

I have been several places in the NW in the past ten years that have inspired me...the rain forest in the Olympic Penninsula; Mts. Ranier, St. Helens, and Hood; Mancinita and Pacific City on the coast to name a few, but Drift Creek Falls is up close and personal...very inspiring and now added to the list.

The procession down the path was Rose in the lead (off her leash after the first 50 yards) Truman running, Brendon close on his heals, Pappy, then Aleene and Amy enjoying the scenery and the inspiration. Down and around we went. Over creeks and on the edge of giant stands of timber...basically straight up and straight down on each side. We got to the bridge and then it was a test of who had the guts to take the single lane swinging bridge (really, it was of sturdy construction and anchored in concrete). Truman and Bren were first across, with Aleene close behind snapping pictures as she went. Pappy followed looking down (which is not good for altophobics) at the vista...forest, water and in the background, falls. Amy and Rose stayed back...at least initially. Bren was keeping up with Tru on the return across the bridge while Aleene and I once again contemplated living in this environment. We looked up and over came Rose with Bren in the lead.

Rose does not like strange things to walk on and the narrow wooden deck freeked her out at first...but she made it...and of course Tru was on their heels for a second crossing. Incidentally, the bridge is probably 100 yards long and it does sway a little when someone runs on it.

We turned around at this point and headed back across and up the trail. The 45 degree weather in the DEEP forest was refreshing coming down, but going back the 2 miles made me sweat. It was such a great walk. Needless to say Rose and Tru were whipped when we got back...Rose would not admit it openly, but she has been flaked out ever since we got back. Tru made it all himself, with the exception of one short leg that he spent on his dad's shoulders. He virtually ran it both ways.

After lunch, Tru, Bren, Rosie and I napped and Aleene and Amy went to the outlet mall here locally. I have threatened to go to the casino which is within walking distance from us...but I am about ready to cook and that will about do it for me, I fear. Tonight we will play games of one description or another and go to bed after some TV...did I mention the great cable service they have in this park?

The computer has been a source of entertainment as well, for Bren and me. He has his laptop with him and we are a pair of blogging fools. By the way, he has taught me a bunch this trip.
WiFi at these RV parks is great.

Enough...we are due for some serious rain tonight, so we are planning indoor activities and then pull out about 9:30 or 10:00 and head back over the Coastal Range to Newberg.

Our best wishes to our friends the Sieverts as they head out Saturday night for a family dinner, overnight at GRR and an early morning flight to San Diego where they will meet Marilyn's sister and brother in law for a two week cruise through the Panama Canal and up the coast of Central America to Ft. Lauderdale. That is a cruise I would love to take some time, but for now, the Pacific Northwest is calling. Give our regards to San Diego as you fly in, folks...God speed.