August 26-30, 2013

Humbug Mountain State Park, OR

Monday-It was great sleeping in this morning.  Around noon we decided to take a ride into town. 

Our first stop was at the Tseriadun State Recreation area at Agate Beach. 

 

 

 

 

 

This day use area is tucked away, almost like a secret. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We only came upon it a few weeks ago while we were just driving around Port Orford.  That day we didn’t have time to explore the park.  We came back today because we are leaving in one week and figured this would be our last opportunity to check it out.

There was plenty of room in the parking lot. 

As we took the trail down to the beach I could feel the change in temperature. 

 

 

 

 

 

There were quite a few people stooping over picking up what I assumed were agates. 

 

 

 

 

This really cute dog charged at me with a stick in his mouth.  He dropped it down at my feet. 

 

 

 

 

 

 I thought he wanted me to throw it but as I bent down to pick it up he grabbed it and ran away. 

 

 

 

 

 

Then he dug a hole in the sand and buried the stick.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I scanned the shore with Monte’s new binoculars.  I didn’t see any whales. 

Monte began looking for agates. 

 

 

 

While Monte continued to look for agates I was content to just take in the beauty all around me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 A view of Garrison Lake from the parking lot 

We spotted a doe and her two little ones. 

They let us get just so close  

Before deciding they had enough

And took off into the woods.

We took our nightly walk down to the lower loop.  It was chilly so rather than sitting outside, Norm and Cheryl invited us into their rig.  We spent a pleasant couple of hours visiting with them.

Tuesday-We didn’t do anything exciting today.  I stayed inside in the morning so I could be close to my phone.  We have very limited cell service at Humbug Mountain.  The only way we can make or receive calls is to use a booster that requires placing the phone in a cradle.

I have been researching places to stay in Florida for the winter.  My Mom and Dad offered to check them out for me.  They called after each one to give a report. 

In the afternoon I vacuumed out my car while Monte worked on getting all the sap off our awning and slide toppers. 

It was warm tonight as we took our walk down to the lower loop and it was nice to be able to sit outside as we visited with Deralyn and Mahlon. 

 

Wednesday-

We had a very small group for our Beautiful Butterflies program.  The kids really enjoyed doing the craft associated with the program-making their own butterfly using a clothespin, coffee filter, pipe cleaner and beads. 

 

 

 

 I had to really crop down the picture so as not to have any faces shown that would have required photo releases.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monte took these pictures of Norm and Lori goofing off.

 

 

  Norm was giving the fence near the JR Ranger Site a much needed coat of stain.

Monte and I decided on the private RV park we will winter at in Florida.  In the afternoon I took care of filling out the application and making copies of  documents the park requires to be accepted as a tenant. 

Thursday-

Rain, rain and more rain.  Today was only the second time in two months that we had to cancel our program due to rain. 

 

 

 

 

We did pretty much nothing all day.   And neither did anyone else in our loop of the campground.  The most effort I exerted was to prep all the ingredients for my contribution to the Host’s pot luck dinner scheduled for the next day.  We came up with a Mexican theme and I volunteered to make chicken enchilada.

Annie was happy to sit on her Daddy’s lap. 

 

We watched one group putting up their tent in the pouring rain. 

 

Ah, the joys of camping.

Friday-

It was a little overcast this morning but very warm.

A lot of campers left early yesterday in the rain. 

We drove around both loops inviting the few kids we saw to the program.  We had to allow a little extra time for setting up a monitor for the video we show as part of the Beaver program. 

In addition to a 5 year-old girl and 7 year-old boy, one mother showed up with her son and toddler daughter. 

For the first time in two months our program was a disaster.  The toddler kept talking and wandering off so that the mother had to chase after her.  One little girl asked when the program was going to be over and another girl asked if she HAD to stay.  Yikes.

Usually when we show the 10 minute video of beavers building a dam, the kids sit quietly or ask questions related to the beavers.  Today, the kids were more interested in the Steller’s Jay flying over them, the dog taking a poop just outside of our site and the constant parade of campers passing by.

Following the video we normally would play a game of Beaver Bingo with a Frisbee being awarded to the winner but towards the end of the video I whispered to Monte that I think we should just give each kid a Frisbee and ended the program early. 

Our pot luck dinner was scheduled for 3PM.  We chose to have it that time so that all the hosts could attend.  Some of the hosts were scheduled to sell firewood at 5PM and wouldn’t have been able to attend the dinner if we had it later in the day.

On the spur of the moment I decided to bake a cake to bring to the dinner.

Our beverages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had placed a sign in the office inviting the rangers who were on duty to the dinner. 

They included Lori, Mike and Sarah.  Greg, the ranger in charge of interpretive hosts, came a little later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lori helping herself to some homemade chili. 

Sarah trying some of my chicken enchilada.

 

 

 

Greg 

 

Norm & Cheryl 

What is this?

Mahlon was presented with a toaster as a prize for selling the most firewood.

 

Mahlon, Deralyn, Norm, Cheryl, Rupert, Joan, Me & Monte

I am really anxious and excited to be on the road again come Monday after being at the same place for three months but as I looked around at the new friends we have made I felt just a little melancholy.  I am going to miss these wonderful people.