June 30, 2024 - Peavy Arboretum

Title:  June 30, 2024 - Peavy Arboretum
Hike Info : Description : Background : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking : 

Trail head: Peavy Arboretum Parking Lot

Trail: Forest Discovery Trail

Destination: Loop 

Distance:  1.99 miles

Start Time: 2:48

End Time:  4:15

Travel Time: 1:26  (1.39 mph)

Moving Time: 1:12   (1.66 mph)

Elevation Rise:  398'

Descent: 303‘

Maximum Elevation: 623'

GPS Tracks

Description:

I got up at my usual time: 5:45. There was no lightning to report and that is a good thing. I then had my quiet time. After that, read and cleaned up a few files on my phone.

Happy Hiker Wanna Be's

When everybody got up, Lawrence made them an egg special with onion, mushrooms and some other stuff. I already had eaten breakfast, so I did not partake. Andrea then set up the sprinkler system we put in Friday. All of this is in anticipation of the 10:00am opening of Costco today.

You might ask, what is so special about that and why did I include this in my blog? Today I will be like a kid in a candy store. First, I have been eyeing a computer to replace my eight year old computer. I have decided on one and we got it. Then Sherri has been thinking about getting a fitness watch. She decided to get an Apple Watch Series 9. The sale on it ends today. We have been thinking about moving around the TV in our front room and need a wall mount. Steven and I eyeballed three wall mounts while Sherri and Andrea were evaluating the different watches, Steven and I decided in a couple of minutes which mount to get. It was in the basket by the time Sherri decided. Then she wanted to get a TV wall mount without observing our buy. Now comes the part of being a kid in a candy store. We wandered the aisles and come across several items which our Costco stopped carrying. So into the basket they went. This trip to Salem all of a sudden got a lot more expensive, but in a good way.

Firefighter Dedication

By this time, it is noon and time for lunch. We muck around for a little while. We still want to go for a hike today. Andrea has one lined up for us. At 2, we are off to go to a place outside of Corvallis. Instead of taking I5 south, we go out Highway 22 and then some other backroads. That is my kind of driving. Interesting looking around. After about 45 minutes we came to the Peavy Arboretum. This is an experimental forest run by Oregon State University. It is different from our Sierra forests, more broadleaf trees and less pines.

We take off on a trail. The first thing we come to is a Firefighter Memorial. It is a picnic area surrounded by nine pine trees. The site honors all firefighters who have died while battling wildfires. The nine pines represent the nine firefighters who died in Colorado’s Glenwood fire about 23 years ago. It is a somber moment for me, not because I knew them, but because of volunteering with people who are firefighters that put their lives on the line..

Sherri making it up a slope

We continue up the trail when we get to a sign saying that the road is closed due to tree falling and spraying activity. But there is a sign saying the dates are from June 25-28th. So we go up a ways. The operative word is up as that is what our way does. The whole road is covered with branches overhead, making for a delightful green-colored tinted cast to our walk. I am surprised that while we are going up this slope, I am able to easily talk with Andrea without having to do much catching my breath to talk. Maybe I am getting a little bit of my old lungs back.

I probably gave her a lecture on some of the devastating, deadly fires. She listens patiently, and asks a few questions. Is she appeasing an old man? Maybe, but that is not in Andrea’s way of doing things. We shortly get to a cordoned off area which we decide is where we are not to go. We see a bicyclist coming down that way. But we see another trail which we take. More uphill and more plants. There are several plants which we wonder if they are poison oak or something else. Later on Google identifies the picture we took as poison oak. Andrea beware! 

 

 

There are many other plant life to look at. We wonder about some flowers we see, berries, plants with thorns and various kinds of trees. I think if we had picked up a brochure at the trailhead some of the trees would have been identified. As it is, there are small rounds with icons on them. I suspect the icons are keyed to the brochure to let us know what we are looking at.

The trail itself is pleasant to walk on. Most of the trail has something like small cinder stones on it, wide enough to allow two people to walk side by side, with a gradual slope. There are a few places which have some small roots coming through, but nothing which would cause too much a problem. Not quite an ADA compliant trail, yet most able bodied people could walk this with minimal effort. It made for an enjoyable walk.

 

Andrea and Case

 

After passing by a historic building and Randall Pond, we get back to the car a little after 4. I drove us back with navigational assistance from Steven and Lawrence. Pretty much when we get back to the house, Lawrence is on their family’s Sunday Zoom call. Andrea makes us dinner of Mac&Cheese with pulled pork. Pretty tasty. We get on our Zoom call with the Duran side of the family at 6:30 while we eat. Like most of our conversations, it is a combination of How are you doing, some serious talk about our lives, and lots of joyous frivolity.

I have gotten our car mostly packed and ready for an early morning take off. There is my Mom’s sewing machine case which is now Andrea’s. Lawrence, Andrea, Steven and I lug it upstairs-yes it does take us all to take it up the stairs. David built it solid and heavy

Sherri shows Andrea how to prune some of their shrubbery. And I? I just try to stay out of their way. It does get dark later on up here in Salem. When they come in, I am ready for bed. I get prone about 10.

Background

Deadly Fires I was referring to include: Mann, Glenwood (real title is South Canyon Fire and often the Storm King Fire) and Prescott (real title is Yarnell Hill Fire) fires.

Icons: These are keyed to the teaching materials for the Forest Discovery trail. Each one of these there is a cache which students are to goto find and explore the contents. If you are interested, there is a Brochure and Teacher’s Guide.

Extra Photo's

Sherri and Andrea relaxing

Time Capsule

Forest Discovery marker

Our stopping point

 
Flowers and Plants

Ironwood

Poison Oak

Half eaten cherry

Sweat Pea

Sequoia Gigantia

June 29, 2024 - Salem, Dragon Boat Festival

 Title: June 29, 2024 - Salem, Dragon Boat Festival

Andrea getting ready

Hike Info : Description :  Background :  Extra Photo's : Animals

Hike Info:

Type: Family

Description:

Today is Andrea's Dragon Boat Race. I get up at 5:40. no lightning. Yeah! then read until Andrea gets up at 6:15. I take her over to RiverFront Park, arriving at 7. Then stopped by the farmers market-it is not open yet. but I am seeing if Sherri's planter box vendor is there. I do not see them, but it is still two hours before the market opens up.

When I come back to the house, I have my breakfast, then read a bit. Lawrence goes off for a run and comes back about 9. That is when Sherri gets up as well. By 9:50 we are ready to go. but we will miss Andrea's first round race at 9:56-her boat wins that race. For the results of all of the heats her team was in, the Jade Dragons, see the Background. So we stopped at the farmer's market. Sherri would like to pick up some planter boxes, but we cannot find the vendor we saw last time we were here. so we pass-the main attraction of the day is Andrea’s race.

Results of first round race   

From World Beat Festival Dragon Boat Races Facebook page

 

It took a bit of doing to find a parking place, but we did. Andrea meets us and she talks to us about the first heat-the Jade Dragons won by a second. Judging by her succeeding races, this is a lot. We look at various vantage points for some shots for the next rounds. Then Andrea needs to go off to join her team mates for the second heat.

Midway through second round race

This round gets underway around noon. It is exciting to watch. I get a perch in the middle while Sherri, Steven and Lawrence are closer to the beginning. When they pass by me, it looks like the boats are about neck to neck. The official time when they crossed the finish line shops that the Jade Dragons lost by a head, 0.09 seconds behind. So close.

Second by a nose   

From World Beat Festival Dragon Boat Races Facebook page

 The Dragon Boat Races are part of the World Beat Festival in Salem. There are lots of food choices and some cultural acts. We wandered around and got our food. then sat in the shade and ate.

Jade Dragon returning from second round race

 At 1, Andrea went back to prepare for her next round and I went to move the car out of the three hour parking we had gone to. I scored a spot in the parking garage close by.

Getting ready for the third round race

When I got back. I found Steven and Lawrence, but no Sherri. We waited around for Andrea's next round. Also for Sherri to show up. After a while, I went looking for her, a bit concerned about whether she wandered off-that is not what she does. I have a tendency to wander, but I usually tell someone.

When I get back, without finding Sherri, Andrea's next heat is about to begin. This was an exciting four boat race, settled with another photo finish. The Jade Dragons came in second again. exciting. even if we cannot see the finish line. After the race. the three of us go off and quickly find Sherri standing in another viewing area close to the middle of the race. We go over and greet the Jade Dragons as they come up some stairs to their area.

 

Second by a head  

From World Beat Festival Dragon Boat Races Facebook page

The four of us grab a shaded spot to rest. While not hot by Fresno standards, there is a sense of relentlessness being in the exposed sun. A patch of grass looks inviting, so I lay on it until the last race. The Jade Dragons are in the finals, C class section. This is pretty good as this is their first year.

Midway through the last round, it is a close race

As the afternoon wore on, the wind came up, making the it harder and harder to get an even start. But it was managed and the remaining races happened.In this last race, we root the Jade Dragons from our perch. When we first see them, it looks like they are all close to even. But by the time they pass our spot, it looks like our team is about a boat length back. Not sure what happened there. My observation is that sometimes we see things from an optical illusion, but also the paddlers can really pull hard giving their boats a sudden burst of speed. Whatever it was, the Jade Dragons did well today. As you can tell there is a proud papa writing this blog.

Crossing the finish line on the fourth round   

From World Beat Festival Dragon Boat Races Facebook page

 

At Don Froylan

The Jade Dragons pack up and make arrangements for their next race in Victoria. We go on back to the house and unload. Lawrence, being energetic, works on running a wire from where the thermostat is down to the furnace. He got a new toy, an endoscope, which allows him to peer through small holes into the wall and catch a wire. He needs this and is able to get the wire down through several layers of wood.

After resting for a bit, we decided to go out to eat at Don Froylan Creamery. I have a cheesy chicken burrito. It was pretty good. Steven and Sherri have ice cream as well as their main course and think that is good as well. It has been a long day. Pretty soon after getting back, Andrea goes to bed. That 8 minutes of paddling during the day is really intense. She looked drained. Even the next day she was expressing tiredness-that is not her. I follow a little after 10.

Background

Jade Dragons:

Jade Dragons Team Picture   

From World Beat Festival Dragon Boat Races Facebook page

375 Meter Course   From World Beat Festival Dragon Boat Races Facebook page

 

Results of the Heats Jade Dragons were in:

Heat 8 Women Round 1
1	01:52.88	Jade Dragons
2	01:53.57	Catch 22 Storm
Heat 21 Women Round 2
1	01:50.06	Rip City
2	01:50.15	Jade Dragons
	Advance to Semis based on combined time.
Heat 28 Women C/D Semi
1	01:56.35	Catch 22 Storm
2	01:56.60	Jade Dragons
3	01:57.40	Mighty Women
4	01:57.52	Unsinkable Peace Warriors
	1st and 2nd to Women C Final, rest to Women D Final
Heat 34 Women C Final
1	01:54.74	Willamete River Dragons
2	01:58.09	Tide Runners
3	01:59.06	Catch 22 Storm
4	02:01.66	Jade Dragons

Don Froylan Creamery. With cement floors and high ceilings, the appearance is somewhat industrial. That may be because you can see them making their own cheeses through windows into their factory. But that is not what you come to a place like this, it is to eat. I had a chicken cheesy burrito. It tasted good and I did not have any of the sauces to enhance the flavor which would have been even better. Others in our group did and enjoyed them. My wife and son also enjoyed their ice cream, which was branded with a different small farm dairy operation.

Extra Photo's

After second round

After second round

Second round

Going towards the start of race

Andrea

 

Ukrainian Beer

 

Sherri and the friendly cow

After fourth round

After fourth round

 Animals
 

Grey Heron

Bald Eagle

June 28, 2024 - Salem

Title: June 28, 2024 - Salem
Hike Info : Description 

Hike Info:

Type: Family

Description:

No lightning today at least in my part of the Sierra.. So I slept in until 7:45. I was really tired yesterday, so this felt good. All but Lawrence are sleeping in as well, even Korra. Poor Lawrence needed to go to work.

By the downtown Capitol Park

After everybody got up and had breakfast, we just sat around and talked for a while. The “just” may not be the right word as it implies this is not important. Talking and enjoying each other’s company is what strengthens relationships, even if the conversations are not deep or life changing, it helps to make the relationship for the long term. Besides, I enjoy being with my daughter.

Andrea and I also go over what she wants to do with the backyard landscape. After I make my list of what


to get to make the irrigation system possible. We go to Lowes and pick up the stuff. Also Andrea is looking at replacing part of their deck because the boards are showing some weakness. By the time we get back, it is lunch time. I down my peanut butter and Nutella sandwich then it is time for a bit of a rest.

 

 

Tired out Korra

We have a full afternoon of playing with PVC pipe and drip irrigation. Andrea learns fast about what to do and how to manipulate the piping to get what she wants. By the time Lawrence gets home at 4:30, we are ready for another Lowe's run to get a few more items to complete the system. Lawrence and Steven join me in this quest. By 6, we have the system put together and tested. Only a few leaks to take care of and most of these are at the caps. Success!

Dinner is pulled pork sandwiches. It hits home. With all of the playing in the dirt and a bit of seat, time to take a shower. They have a good one downstairs in the basement. I am feeling good and refreshed. Then it is off to bed before 10-I am tired.