Where’s Waldo???

May 31-June 1, 2007

Westfir, OR

(looking upstream from our 'front yard')

Yesterday’s agenda had a visit to Lake Waldo, about 25 miles east of here off of Hwy 58. Our first stop along the way was at the Salt Creek Falls. For our $5.00 contribution to the Oregon recreation fund, we received a ½ mile hike and spectacular views of the second-highest waterfall in the state. Down the road, we turned onto the Lake Waldo road and after about 5 miles, snow blocked the road. We drove through the first drift, but others loomed ahead, so we turned around. Not ready to join the Donner Party.

Nearby was a trailhead for Lake Betty and Lake Waldo. We set off on foot and reached Lake Betty, where we were supplied mosquito repellent by hikers we met. Early mosquitoes were in the air---Lake Waldo is renowned for its mosquitoes in July, but it was only the end of May. Following lunch at Lake Betty, we set off for Lake Waldo.

It appeared that we were the first on the trail for the season. Snow covered much of the trail, so we followed blue blaze-markers attached to trees every couple hundred feet. Carly plodded through the snow, occasionally breaking through the top crust.

We passed a couple of lakelets, but Lake Waldo remained somewhere down the trail. At one point, Janice went ahead a bit searching for a hint of Lake Waldo. I remained with Carly (I thought), waiting for Janice's report. Carly, who was off-leash, headed in Janice’s direction, and then reached a point where she could not see either one of us. She panicked and took off downhill. After re-establishing contact with Janice, I took off after Carly. Neither sight nor sound of her for 5 minutes. These were thick woods. I began rehearsing my explanation to daughter Julie on how Carly became bear fodder in the Oregon woods.

With both of us calling for Carly (it's not a certainty that this 13 year old dog has much hearing left), I finally heard a stirring in the underbrush. Carly, still spaced-out, re-appeared and I was able to coax her back. We decided that Lake Waldo would have to wait for another day, and we retraced our tracks back to the car. Carly, who had been munching snow most of the day, passed on my offering of water, and just wanted to get into her carrier and snooze. It was a tough hike for the old gal, but she did well.

After a brief visit to Lake Odell, we returned long Hwy 58, stopping in Oakridge for a root beer float at the A&W Drive In. “I’d like a Brown Cow,” I told Melissa, the chubby, gap-toothed counter-gal. I had been thinking about a Brown Cow since Janice and I spied the A & W the day before. Actually, I might not have survived the aborted hike to Lake Waldo without the lure of a Brown Cow pulling me step-by-step on the way back. I really, really, really wanted a Brown Cow.
“A Brown Cow?” It was apparent that we were experiencing a generational cultural gap.
“A root beer float with chocolate ice cream,” I explained.
“No chocolate ice cream; how ‘bout root beer ice cream?” she offered.
“Nope, just make ‘em both with vanilla,” I replied dejectedly. After all, you just can’t make a Brown Cow with root beer ice cream.

Met a nice couple here…Al and Mary Lou from Salem…soon to be Midland, TX. They were the recent victims of the Mexico highways near Mazatlan and the lack of shoulders. They flipped their brand new fifth wheel (and truck)--miraculously surviving. Everything else totaled or disappeared in the aftermath, but they got right back on the horse, so to speak, and bought a 38 foot Suncruiser motorhome.

Today’s adventure had us heading for a nearby reservoir where a ‘canoeing landing’ was promised. Now this was to be the third voyage of our inflatable kayak, and the first piloted by Carly. As we arrived at the aforementioned landing, the dock was about 20 feet above the water level, so we drove a ways down to the water and I began setting up the kayak. Carly was already testing the water, and slurping a few gulps. Janice noticed a sign nearby that said “water hazard!” Reading the not-so-fine print, we were advised that the water contained a toxic form of blue-green algae that was a ‘great risk’ to pets and small children. A side effect is diarrhea, so Carly is on close watch, lest she engages in ‘interior decorating’ again.

Sea voyage cancelled, we drove through more of this beautiful country. Both Westfir and neighboring Oakridge are mill towns, with their respective mills long since defunct. Westfir is just a post office, and Oakridge is flourishing in comparison, although it is in need of a lot of paint. Worn out. And this is apparently a burg untouched by modern dentistry, judging by many of the folks at Ray’s Supermarket.

The local nine-holer (that’s a golf course, not a community out-house) lured me for a quick go ‘round. This is a course that’s fun to play, with nice greens. However, it won’t make my Oregon top 10.

Tonight the park is promoting a steak BBQ and we’ll be there, Pinot Noir in hand.

Now, the afternoon winds are beginning to subside. Should be a splendid evening. Splendid indeed.