#11 Lockdown Hike Myrtle Creek, Oregon

Hike #11  Myrtle Creek, Oregon
#52HikeChallenge

Date:  March 29, 2020
Distance: 3.77 miles
Weather: Cloudy with a few light sprinkles 
Type: Urban
Company: Started out solo but ran into my grandson and his other grandmother and we continued together---while practicing appropriate social distance! 

Reflections: I debated what to do today. I knew that I needed to get out and spend some time in nature, but I wasn't sure where I could go. I contemplated heading out towards Glide and trying to find an abandoned trail (yes, I know they are technically closed, but I thought if I went to a lesser know, off-the-beaten path trail it might be okay).  After watching the news this morning and seeing that the death count in the US rose from 1000 to over 2000 in just three days and that our country now has over 100,000 cases, I reconsidered and decided to follow all the rules and stay close to home. 

I took my camera with me today so I could document the experience and show what a small town on lock down looks like. I know they are not using the language "lock down." It is an executive order to "Stay Home to Stay Healthy." But things looked pretty locked down to me. Anyway, someday in the future, my grands will be studying about the pandemic of 2020 at school.  I wanted to have something to show them, to remind them that they were here and what it was like. They are too young to remember this moment. But I know that this is a pivotal moment and nothing will ever be the same as it was before.  There is no going back to "normal." There is only moving forward and establishing a new normal.  

So, with all that doom and gloom mentality and a bit of a heavy heart, I grabbed my camera and headed out. The first thing I noticed was that the streets were EMPTY. Deserted. I left my house around 11:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning. A time when people are normally out and about doing their thing and taking advantage of a weekend.  Not today. There was no one out there. The entire time I was out I saw about 10 cars and 2 motorcycles. VERY unusual!  I usually start my walk by heading three blocks from my house and doing the loop through Evergreen Park so that seemed like a good place to start today, right? Nope. Not an option.  As I approached the park I was greeted by a traffic cone barrier and a sign declaring the park closed until further notice.  I mean parks were closed...but I guess I didn't know that meant I wouldn't even be able to walk THROUGH them. It's not like I wanted to hang out on the playground or host a family BBQ at the pavilion. I didn't even want to go to the bathroom!  I just wanted to walk through the park and enjoy the peace and quite.  Not today, Debi. Not today. 

With that route blocked, I turned around and headed back down the empty streets. I encountered closed signs or barriers at every park or open space I passed.  Soccer field, skate park, playground...anywhere people can gather. CLOSED!  Okay, so yes, I knew everything was closed. I expected that. But expecting it and seeing it are completely different. I was not prepared for how weird it was. Seriously strange. Unsettling. I caught myself looking around for Walkers a couple of times and planning escape routes. Glen hid under a trash bin for an entire off season was that an option for me? Where are the trash bins? Are they closed to?  I mean come on...I know you are thinking it to. What  other explanation is there? Zombie Apocalypse!   Of course, then I noticed all the police officers cruising the streets. I actually saw three or four police offers while I was out. Remember there is NO ONE out there so what were they all doing?  There was this one time (at band camp...anyone?) when one of them turned on their lights, pulled up next to a small group of people and apparently made them disperse. I saw apparently because I didn't hear the conversation-- I just saw what I saw. They were there, he pulled up, spoke to them, drove off, and they separated and went their own ways. After that I felt less like I was in an episode of  The Walking Dead and more like I was in a some sort of Police State situation.  Freaky.  

In addition to all the parks, I encountered several business sporting closed signs as well. 
Some business tried to be funny and show they understood that these are strange times. Others were pretty straight forward and had a more angry or hostile feel to them.  Stressing the point that closing was something that was forced on them and not something they chose for themselves. All of them were sad reflections of the time we are living in. Businesses from gyms, to churches, hair salons, and veterinary offices were all hidden away behind closed doors waiting for a time when "regular" life can resume. 


Even during the lock down some businesses, those deemed essential, are permitted to remain open.  We have a couple of those here in downtown Myrtle Creek. Tommy's All America burger is open for walk up orders (no dine-in). But not on Sundays, so their parking lot was closed. That left the hardware store and it was doing a decent business today. Apparently it was the place to be today!   It was also the bright spot for me because as I was snapping pictures of the business, I heard one of my favorite voices in the world call out for Nana!

Tonna and Ryder heading my way!

After all the doom and gloom from the first part of this Lockdown Hike, meeting up with one of my favorite people on earth was just what I needed to help me find some joy in the day! We teamed up and continued our walks together--maintaining an appropriate social distance of course! I certainly didn't want the Popo rolling up next to us.

From the hardware store we headed over to Millsite Park where we were greeted by yet another closed sign. But while the park was closed, the walking trail was not!  Finally we were getting to to some nature!  Look at that cute boy hanging out to document this journey! Remember from the beginning of this blog, my goal when I set out on this Lockdown Hike was to document it for the Littles.  Since I was fortunate enough to run into one of said Littles, I was able to get a picture of him with next to one of the signs.  Someday, he will be able to show this picture during one of his history reports!  Hopefully, he will appreciate the foresight his Nana showed! 

Even with the crazy times and closures signs everywhere, all it takes is a little nature and some good company to turn a gloomy day into a fun adventure. I mean...how can you be blue when you are surrounded by views like these? 

Find the joy in the every moment!

 #nanalove #everydayadventures #thingsthatmakemehappy 

#52hikechallenge

#10 Social Distance Hike Myrtle Creek, Oregon

Hike #10  Myrtle Creek, Oregon
#52HikeChallenge

Date:  March 21, 2020
Distance: 3 ish Miles
Weather: Sunny 
Type: Urban
Company: Solo- practicing Social Distancing

Reflections: On Friday, March 20, 2020 Governor Brown held a press conference encouraging Oregonians to stay home and avoid crowded areas in order to practice "social distancing" and help stop the spread of COVID-19. While it was a strong recommendation she stopped short of making it a direct order -all though that did happen as a result of this weekend! It was a beautiful weekend in the Pacific Northwest and Oregonians flocked to the beaches, trails, and any outdoor space they could find. There were tons of pictures from this weekend of crowded parking lots, packed beaches, and people just generally ignoring the recommendations. In addition to the many pictures of packed places, social media was full of pleas from residents of many of the small towns impacted by the swarm begging people to stay away and help them stay safe. Needless to say on Monday, 3/23/20 Governor Kate Brown issued  an executive order requiring Oregonians to "Stay Home to Stay Healthy." The order also closed all parks and any space that people would be tempted to gather (basketball courses, trails, playgrounds, etc.) and put in place the possibility of being fined or otherwise ordered to disperse. But on this day, parks were still open and I was practicing social distance by staying close to home and avoiding contact with others. 

I walked around my town looking for trees, water, and a dirt trail!  I found all of them. After walking through Evergreen park,past the pool and skate park, and checking out the buildings down town, I made my way to the disc golf course by Millsite Park. That is where I found a couple of actual trails! For a few brief moments it felt like I was out in the forest and away from the world...my absolute favorite place to be!  

I followed all the trails in this section just so I could feel disconnected for awhile. I took time to enjoy the view of the river and appreciate the fact that I was able to find a little oasis so close to home. There were a couple of disc golfers out this day and it was fun to watch them in action while trying to stay out of their way! I would call the Social Distance hike a success!
#52hikechallenge, # everydayadventures #thingsthatmakemehappy 

Commitment Update #2

Commitments, Habits, and Goals

At the beginning of this year, I set three commitments:
1. Learn Spanish
2. Complete the #52HikeChallenge
3. Embrace Creativity

I followed this up with three habits I wanted to build:
1. Establish a supportive morning routine that includes waking up at a set time, yoga, meditation, and journaling.
2. Move every day for 30 minutes
3. Eliminate alcohol from my life.

Then I went one step further and established three goals I would like to focus on this year.
1. Generate a second income stream
2. Take control of my health
3. Travel solo

I have worked on these commitments, habits, and goals over the last three months.  Let's take stock and see how I am doing.

Habits:
I am actively working on my Spanish lessons. I work on Duolingo almost every day.  I have completed the intro section (8 topics) and am working on section 1. I have complete 6 topics in this unit and am currently working on 4 more. I have access to the next 3 but won't start them until I make a little more progress on these 4.  I am currently in the Amethyst League--whatever that means! I am in 13th place here so I do need to step up my game if I want to advance to the next league. I have completed level 10 and have a somewhat sporadic pattern. Some days I do a lot, others just the minimum.  BUT I am still moving forward.

#52HikeChallenge is on pause because of the Corona!  My last hike was on March 10 at Cathedral Hills in Grants Pass, Oregon...before we were under this "Stay Home to Stay Healthy" order. Trails and parks are closed--anywhere people would congregate.  I did take a "social distance" hike the other day around my town.  I didn't count it as hike because I didn't GO somewhere specifically to hike. It was just here where I live. I think I might do it again tomorrow--if not raining and count it as a hike.  I have to make up some ground!  We are 13 weeks into the year. There are 39 weeks left. I have only done 9 hikes.  I need to get busy!  So, tomorrow I will explore and see where I can find to go. If I can find a dirt trail I will count it as a hike.

I am embracing creativity through blogging faithfully---not every day, but I did not commit to that. I am being consistent though.   I set some sub-commitments for this quarantine period to work on my photography, paint, and write a book.  I haven't make any progress on those. But I do keep a journal (as part of one of my habits) and the blogging are going well!

Those were my commitments!  ON track.

Habits-- doing okay.  Working on the consistent morning routine that involves getting up more than 15 minutes before work starts, doing yoga, meditating, and writing in my journal. I accomplish this most days. I have a habit tracker that I am keeping and it helps hold me accountable. I struggled a bit this week with motivation but I am not going to hold that against myself.  These are weird times and I am going to grant myself some grace here. 

Moving 30-minutes a day is the same. Most days I am on it. Whether it is going for a walk, mowing my yard, cleaning out the shed, or having a dance party in the living room I have been good about movement. Again, not every day and definitely not hard core. But I am doing it.  I set a sub-habit for this corona quarantine period to learn Tai Chi. I did my first lesson today. Looking forward to lesson 2 tomorrow. 

Eliminate alcohol. I was on this. I was doing good!  I had gone like 14 days--and then I caved.  I had a margarita--it made me sick. I didn't have any more. Then I bought some beer. And for about four days I had one or two beers throughout the day.  I didn't care for them.  Last night I decided I wanted to try wine again and see how I do with it. So, I ordered some to be delivered. When it gets here we will see how I feel. Right now, I am thinking I will just put it away and save it for guests. But if I change my mind and have a couple of glasses, I will again, grant myself grace.  One step at at time.

Okay, goals---Well...here is where things fall apart! Generating a second income--I actually did get accepted to teach English online through VIPKids. But then I researched it more, looked at the crazy hours required for folks in the pacific time zone and never followed through. Then I got all set up to list my house as an AirBnB when I travel, submitted a proposal for an AirBnb experience, and got approved to drive for Lyft....and then we entered our new lockdown phase.  Everything is on hold for the moment.  I am actually very grateful to still have my full-time job, so I am not going to hate on myself about a second one.

Travel Solo----Uhhhh...yeah.  Lockdown.  I can travel solo from my living room to my bedroom to the office back to the dining room with a sweep by the bathroom and a stop in the kitchen. I'm on it! 

Finally, take control of my health. This one is written purposefully vague because I was trying to focusing on only one thing--like weight--and focus on my entire being. So, I would say I am doing good with this one. I am doing my yoga, meditating, journaling, started tai chi, moving regularly, being kind to myself, accepting my limits, and trying in the face of all this craziness to reduce my stress.  I am not eating the best---but again, I will accept where I am right now.

There we are. 3 months into the year and I am still moving forward on these commitments to myself, habits I want to develop, and goals I would like to achieve.  One step at a time.

The Story of Nana #1: Digging for Buried Treasure with Richard

My daughter gave me a book a while back that I am supposed to fill in with stuff about me. If gives you lots of prompts and then space to write. Something to share with my granddaughter so she can get to know me.  I filled in the basics. Where and when I was born, who my parents are, my grandparents, siblings, and so on.  But then it starts getting hard.  Like did you have a favorite blanket? Does a stuffed mouse count?  What did you do for Valentine's Day?  Stupid school parties and heart shaped cookies. Isn't that what everyone does when they are a kid? Was I supposed to do something else? What did I miss out on?  What is your favorite spring time memory?  Why just spring time? What if I have summer memory? What if it is not a good memory? I remember when a stick shoved in my cousin's eye and she had to have her eyeball removed or something like that. I don't think I was there when it happened, but I remember it. I remember her having a patch on her eye and someone telling us what happened?  It seems like she was hunting for Easter eggs with her other cousins and tripped.  But maybe I was there and it just feels like a story. That's the problem with memories. I don't know if I actually remember things or if I just know about them.  Truthfully, I don't remember a lot.  I am HORRIBLE at remembering things from a long time ago--like last week. People be like, "hey remember that time when....blah blah blah."  NOPE!  I don't.  In fact, let's just agree that if any sentence starts with the words "remember when" or "remember that time" that I don't. I don't even remember things about my own children. What kind of Mom doesn't remember every detail of her children's lives? "Hey Mom, did I have this or do that when I was young?" I don't know...ask your dad. He usually remembers.

But then like I said before even when I think I remember something, I don't know if I am actually remembering it or if I just remember someone telling me about it, or, frankly, if it was a dream that I thought was a real. Cuz' there are definitely a couple of those. Like DO I actually remember when the stick went in my cousin's eye or do I just remember people describing it? I don't know. I have always been a book nerd and had a pretty active imaginary life. I can create very vivid images of things I read or think. I was a bit of a loner and created whole worlds in my mind. So, sometimes I am not sure if things happened or if I made them up. Dreamed it. Read it. Or heard it. There is one in particular-- aside from Sissy's stick in the eye thing--that I truly thought happened. I have actually told people the story as if it was real--because I thought it was. It's a very sad non-memory.  Makes me tear up thinking about it. Of course it never happened so there is no reason to tear up, but that is how real it feels. But turns out...never happened.  I asked both of my parents about it. They looked at me like I was crazy. NOPE. Never happened. I made it up. Dreamed it. Invented it. Totally a Debz World thing. I remember every detail of it though--including all the emotions.  But things that really happened-- no clue.

I have definitely lived a life. I have done a lot of stuff, gone a lot of places, had some fun experiences. It's just that I don't really remember being a kid. I just don't. Maybe I wasn't a kid. Maybe I am some weird experiment or alien that just appeared when I was a young adult and my family all agreed to take me on and never tell me about it. There are a lot of pictures of me as a kid. Really cute ones too. Of me posing with phones and props. Of me and my brothers and my cousins, and grandparents, and great-grandparents, and horses, and all kinds of stuff. Of course they could be be faked. Someone could have just recreated those to make it seem like I had a childhood.  We don't have any actual proof that I was ever a small human besides my parents and they might just be trying to protect me.  I should talk to my brother and cousins to see if they have any early memories of me. I could be on to something here. I probably couldn't get my parents to admit that I was part of an experiment but I might be able to get my brother or my cousins to crack. They have probably been waiting to tell me forever! Wouldn't you?  Perhaps, it is not that I can't remember things, maybe it's just there isn't anything to remember. Hmmmmm.....

I read something recently about remembering and how people should write things down or that somebody wrote something down...what the heck was I reading? Hold on. Oh! A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller (thanks for the recommendation, Sue!). In this book, the dude talks about creating a meaningful life or making a difference or living with intention or something. Anyways, he talks about stuff. He brings up this point about life being made up of moments and how we don't really remember those moments. But then he shares the story of a guy who writes down everything he can remember about his life. Every moment no matter how small and the guy has like 1000's of pages of memories or two pages-- definitely something in between there.  So, now I am thinking maybe I just can't remember on demand. What is my favorite spring time memory? I don't know.  That time when I wasn't on self-quarantine and went outside my house? That is a good one. In fact, they are all my favorites when they are happening and then I forget them when I am done.   I am like Drew Barrymore in 50 First Dates, only that's my life every day and there is no traumatic brain injury---that I am aware of....or is there? Maybe, I am like that weird book I read when I was a teenager about a girl who had accident and her parents recreated her life for her so she wouldn't remember the accident.  Hmmmmm....... Wait...where was I? Oh yeah, maybe I just can't remember on demand. So, what if I just write down everything I can remember and see what comes out. Let's try it. 

The most vivid memory I have from when I was young is of digging for buried treasure with my brother Richard. We lived in this cool, old house. Big yard. Trees. Fireplace--maybe.It was in Trawick...right out of side of  Cushing.  It was 1973 (I know that because my mother put a picture of it in a cookbook she made and labeled it as 1973--thanks, Mom!)  Anyway, so we lived in this cool house with a big yard and at the edge of the driveway was a giant rock buried in the dirt. My brother, Richard, decided it was a treasure chest and we needed to dig it up. He was very excited and passionate about it--as he was about most of his ideas. HIS being the operative word. Everything with him was 150% all the time! He was all in or all out. No in between. This day he was all in. I can see him now with his giant smile urging me to dig faster and keep going because we were almost there. We dug for what felt like hours--or at least it seems like hours now. Who knows how long it really was. I think I actually was doing most of the digging and he was doing most of the directing, but in the picture we are both pretty covered in mud so it was probably a joint effort.  

My memories of this moment are that it was so much fun. We were having a blast and were totally committed to this adventure. We were determined we were going to find a treasure and Richard had all kinds of ideas about what we would do with it.  For however long that moment lasted, my brother and I were in our own little world. Our own space in time. It was a magical moment.  Well, shit... now I am crying because I miss my brother and it really sucks that I can't call him up and share this memory with him. Maybe there is some advantages to not remembering things after all. Excuse me for a minute.....

Anyway, my mom stopped us eventually--or maybe we just got tired of digging--but either way we were COVERED in mud from the tops of our heads to the toes of cowboy boots. I remember that we were a little nervous that we were going to get trouble for being such a mess and we knew we weren't going to be able to track all that mud inside. But I don't think we got in trouble.  There are no negative feelings associated with this memory at all.  It seems like my mom laughed with us, sprayed us off with a garden hose, and listened to our stories about digging for treasure.  You can see from the blurry pic that we were pretty happy with ourselves!   It was a good day. 

What would I share about this day with my grandchildren? The joy, the love, the excitement, and the adventure that my brother created for me. Since my brother is no long with us, this is the perfect story to share who he was to me. I would encourage them to embrace opportunities, play in the mud, create stories, find joy in the #everydayadventures, take lots of pictures, and keep a journal so you don't lose those moments! The individual moments are EVERYTHING.

For Ryder, Kota, and Benntli.....the beginning of the story of Nana. 

Social Distancing

In the craziness that is our world right now this term "Social Distancing" is being used like it has always been a thing. Like social distancing has always been a part of casual conversation. Oh no, we can't come for dinner tonight, we are social distancing.  I am so sorry, I would love to come to your selling something party, but I am social distancing.  I am going to need some time off from work next week--it's my social distance week. Kind of cool, right? But totally NOT a thing.  It is not a phrase that we have used in the current context. Personal space, personal bubble, antisocial, hermit...yeah those are things. But "social distancing?" Nope. Until now.  Am I the only one who thinks it's weird how the media can just introduce words or phrase and suddenly we all embrace them like they have always been a thing?  Without missing a beat.  This is totally going to be the WORD for 2020. We need to "social distance."  Let's practice "social distancing." Did you hear that all bars, restaurants, schools, and gyms are closed and groups of 25 or more are banned? Oh yeah, of course...social distancing! Leave six feet between you and others, don't shake hands---choose elbow bumps and bows. Isolate yourself to protect others.  SOCIAL DISTANCE already!

It is noble. It's for the greater good (and I do believe that). It embraces the "takes a village" mentality. It's people helping people (side bar--isn't that a song? People helping people? If not, it should be). Many, many people are changing their entire lives and are making great sacrifices by embracing this idea of social distancing in order to be responsible citizens and stop the spread of this virus. I respect all of them...all of you. MAD RESPECT.  But you know what I figured out-- social distancing is my jam. My norm. It is my everyday life. I have been social distancing since before social distancing was cool (sort of like country--Barbara Mandrell, anyone?)! I work from home. I live alone. I love my home and am happiest when I'm here. When I am not here I prefer to be in nature--hiking, kayaking, watching water, seeing trees, standing on hills, walking on ridges-- or hanging out with my small group of friends, my children, and my grandchildren (definitely under the 10 person limit recommended by the federal government). I avoid crowds like the plague that they now are. I choose to shop at my small local grocer even though it costs more just to avoid crowds. Actually, my preference is to order my groceries on line or have them delivered but that requires planning ahead and I am not so great at that. But the point is...I am on the cutting edge of social distancing. Yep...I got this!

In order to make this new version of "social distancing" something different, I feel like I should use this time to learn something or take on a new challenge.  I mean if I am going to be stuck home by someone else's mandate rather than my own natural inclinations then I should treat it differently. I am not hanging out here on my couch in my cozy home because its my favorite place to be! I am social distancing to help the world!  This is like "social distancing plus" or "government mandated social distancing."  I don't know. The point is, I should use the time intentionally! Right?

Alright, let's come up with a plan. We will start with a list, because that's what people who plan do. Right?  My daughter is a huge planner and she loves a good list. All kinds of lists. As a kid, and I am sure still as an adult, she had notebooks full of lists! Songs she liked, albums she had, books she had read, books she wanted to read, things she had done, clothes to wear on vacation SORTED by day....lists, lists, lists. I am not saying she did, but I am just saying she MIGHT have had lists of her lists. It's possible. It's also really weird. Where did she get that from? Not me. As mentioned above, I am a non-planner.  Hmmm..... I feel like I should probably be going to a support group or something. Hi, My name is Debi and I am a non-planner.    Next level....I am a non-planner parent of a hyper planner child.  WELCOME DEBI! We feel you! We got you. Ahhh...thank you imaginary people. I feel validated. Unplanned is OK!  Let's make bumper stickers or badges or BOTH. Moving on!

Back to my list.  Things I want to learn or do:

1. Write the song People Helping People.
2. Learn photography.  How to use all the features on my camera, frame shots, pick shots, manage shots, etc.   I love photography and would really like to understand it.
3. Learn to play the guitar. I don't have any reason for that--I just want to do it.
4. Write a book. I don't know what it would be about or even what genre. But I read an article about how you can write a novel if you set a goal to complete so many words a day and then just do it. No matter what. 
5. Paint. I am not good at it but I like it.  I would enjoy doing it more.
6. Learn to cross stitch. Seems like a cool thing to do.
7. Cook more.  More variety. Different foods.  Maybe a theme. Then when the "social distancing' is over, I could have dinner parties. I probably won't. But I could.
8 Build a desk.  Yep. I have ideas.
9. Learn Tai Chi. People look so cool when they are doing Tai Chi. Like they know the secret to life! I want to be cool. I want to know.
10. Start a book club--well, I guess I can't actually do that because SOCIAL DISTANCING--unless I did it online.   Okay do over...

#10 Start a virtual book club!

10 things?  Whoa. I am going to need a lot of time to get through that list. That is intimidating. My heart is now beating rapidly. I am feeling warm.  DEEP BREATHS. Breathe. You got this, Debi.  I have heard projections that this could last through August-- I hope that is not true but it does give me some time to work with. So, I guess, now that I have named them, it's time to roll up my sleeves and get to work. I have a lot of questions though. Where should I start? How much will I get done? Will I do anything? Or will it just be a list on a blog never to be checked off? What good is a list if you don't check or cross things off? Even a non-lister like me knows that's the whole point of the list...to cross it off. Done! Check!

Suddenly this feels like a whole lot of pressure and I am not into pressure. Why are you pressuring me pretend readers?  Back to the deep breaths. Maybe some meditation. Where's Adriene when I need her? (Yoga with Adriene--You Tube. Check her out!) It is just a random idea of a lot of things.  Let's see what happens.  I'll keep you posted. I know your intrigued!  I got ya! But for now I gotta go, I'm social distancing! 

#9 Cathedral Hills, Grants Pass, Oregon

Hike #9  Cathedral Hills Outback Loop, Grants Pass, Oregon
#52HikeChallenge

Date:  March 10, 2020
Distance: 3.5ish Miles
Weather: Sunny and warm
Type: Trail System
Company: Solo Hike

Reflections:  This was the first week on my new schedule and I found myself with a glorious and sunny Tuesday afternoon and no work. So there I was with a whole afternoon and nothing to do.  What to do, what to do? I had options of course.  I could do the dishes.  Paint the bathroom wall. Clean out my laundry room.  Fix the vacuum. Go grocery shopping.  You get the idea. Since I had just gotten home from a weekend trip--the list of things that needed attention was long!  Or, I could go HIKING!  Well, if you know me at all by now--you can guess which route I took!  HIKING baby!  Of course!
I checked out all my options and decided to try something new. I typically go east past Glide, north around Eugene, or west to the coast.  I really haven't gone south much. In fact, I have only gone south once--and that was to Table Rock. So for this day--- south it was!  Grants Pass here I come!  Similar to Eugene, Grants Pass has a pretty established trail system right in town. Unlike Eugene--it's a bit more rugged (although still close to town).
Even after making the decision to go hiking and driving all the way to Grants Pass (an hour away) this hike almost didn't happen. One of the first things I saw when I got to the trail was a sign that read, "Safety Concerns: Ticks, poison oak, rattlesnakes, slips and falls in wet conditions and steep slopes."  Why must there always be snakes!  SNAKES!!  Given the choice between snow and snakes, I would take snow every time! And I seriously dislike snow!  To be fair, I did, for a moment, consider calling it off.  It was a pretty drive--wouldn't have been a total waste of an afternoon!  But after a momentary panic, I rationalized that it was March and probably not warm enough yet for the snakes to be hanging out.  Of course I was cautious, stayed on the trails, and kept my eyes peeled! Definitely makes for a more "aware" hike!
I have to say, this was a fun trail.  It is a shared trail so I had to watch out for bikes and sidestep a whole lot of horse poop! But it was pretty, quiet, and extremely peaceful. It was a good reminder that if you want to be on a trail out in nature---you have to remember that you are, in fact, in the wild!  If that means that a bee--or a couple of them--choose to follow you through most of the trail then you just have to accept it and let them buzz about!  It also means that if you stop at the top of a ridge to take in the views and a deep cleansing breath--you might swallow a bug.  It could happen. I am not saying it did happen--I am just saying it could and you should be prepared. Things to be aware of in the wild!
I really liked the trees on this trail. It is so interesting how different areas of the state have completely different trees. The weird twisty red trees in this area were so cool. Sculpted by the wind and elements--they were like treasures just waiting to be discovered! I don't know what kind of trees they were--in the deep, dark, recesses of my mind I seem to recall Sue or Jennifer referring to them as manzanita trees when we went to Table Rock,  but I could totally be making that up!  It's hard to say for sure. Whatever they are--- they made me smile and couple of times I actually laughed out loud as I walked around a corner and stumbled on a new sculpture. 
Another cool thing about this hike was that I got to walk along the ridge line.  I felt like I was on top of the world--looking down on creation. A couple of years ago I went to a lecture series and listened to Dr. Carloni talk about the local Native American tribes that lived here, how they managed fire, migrated between seasonal homes, and traveled.  He talked about the way they traveled along the ridges, above the tree line so that they had a clear view of the area below (or so I assume).  It was such an interesting talk filled with fascinating little tidbits and I was seriously intrigued by the whole thing.  In fact, I am pretty sure I have bored everyone I know with my own feeble attempt at re-sharing the stories. I tend to get i completely and totally wrong--but the passion and appreciation is real! On this hike...I got to follow in their footsteps--literally! And it was cool. Really cool!  So glad I chose hiking over what I "should" have done. Remember--never ever "should" on yourself!
Side note, you may have noticed by now that there were no waterfalls on this hike. Not a one! But I didn't even mind!  Sometimes all you need is a quiet trail, some trees, and time to get lost in your thoughts! No destination. No end game. No sight at the end of the trail. Just the hike. The journey. The moments. To wrap this up with another of my favorite John Muir quotes---"and into the forest I go to lose my mind and find my soul."  I couldn't have said it better myself, Mr. Muir.

# 8 Drift Creek Falls, Lincoln City, Oregon

Drift Creek Falls and Bridge

Hike #7  Drift Creek Falls, Lincoln City, Oregon
#52HikeChallenge

Date:  March 7, 2020
Distance: 3.2 Miles
Weather: Bliss!  The trail was gorgeous--there was a little rain but it was so worth it!
Type: Waterfall
Company: Sue, Traci, Jennifer-- Ripley and Jack

Reflections: This was the dream hike! My dream hike. I have been wanting to go on this hike for years!  About four years to be exact. Back to the moment when I fist start hiking and saw the pictures on Facebook. I was in awe that this place existed and knew that I had to see it someday!  It is about four hours from my home...so not exactly a day trip.  It's taken me a minute to pull it all together and make it happen. When I first started considering it for my birthday, I originally thought I would go by myself because I didn't think anyone would be able to get away on such short notice. I was wrong. When I mentioned it to my friends, they immediately rallied and joined me for the entire weekend.  I am so insanely grateful for friends who are willing to drop everything for a friend.  We rented a condo in Lincoln City for the weekend and spent a lot of time relaxing, laughing, and just being in the moment.  Moments are good!

Who ordered snow? 

After a somewhat eventful morning at the condo involving overflowing toilets, backed up bathtubs, and service calls, we finally headed out for the hike.  On the way up to the falls, we drove through snow...SNOW--Hello, Oregon what are you doing to me?! I waited a long time to get here and now you are going to bring snow into the mix! SNOW!  Okay, to be fair it was not a lot of snow but it was SNOW!! Even with the distance, I actually would have turned around and left if I had been there by myself. I am a wimp when it comes to snow and would have been nervous about driving into deeper snow.  Fortunately, I was not alone and Sue drove on through the snow like a pro!  As it turns out, we drove out of the snow...not into more!  So glad we did not turn around!  By the time we made it to the falls, the weather was beautiful and perfect for a hike! The dream hike!

Drift Creek Falls

The trail is pretty gentle both in and out and is filled with ttrees, muddy trails, a couple of bridges, mossy trees, and flowing rivers.  Paradise! Gradual inclines and declines that left plenty of time for conversation, laughter, goofiness, taking in the views, and just marveling at natures' wonders. I feel confident claiming this as my favorite hike to date.  Hands down.  The suspension bridge was as amazing as I expected. The pictures definitely DID do it justice. For the record, I am not saying mine will--just that others I have seen did.  Sadly, there was one casualty on the hike though. Let's all take a moment to remember my lovely sunglasses that fit perfectly over my regular glasses.   They were on my hat when I entered the bridge and were gone by the time I reached the other side. They were clearly sacrificed to the cavern as I stood on the bridge peering down at the magnificent falls.  They were good glasses and served me well. sniff sniff. Sad.  But even after that loss--all I can say is...WORTH IT!

I waited so long to go on this hike and I feel like I should have some profound, witty, insightful bit of information...but I am still pretty awestruck and all I can say is WORTH IT!! Along those same lines, for someone who wanted to go on this hike so bad, you think I would have put more effort into documenting it with Insta Worthy photos. But I didn't. I didn't take a lot of pictures at all...INSTAworthy or not.  I just took in the moments. Breathed. Hiked. Enjoyed.  It was all I had hoped for and everything I wanted!  Happy 52nd to me!

 

Sue, Jack, Debi, Traci, Ripley, and Jen
March 8, 2020
Drift Creek Falls

There were quite a few people at the falls and we were able to convince one kind soul to take a group shot of us. The pups were not on point and I had my normal awkward pose--sort of like my daughter's awkward, "I'm with a famous person" head tilt from her concert days--but we were happy to be there and grateful for the photo!  Quick question though--why AM I such an awkward poser? I think I need to go on one of those Instagram Photo Tours Jen told me about so I can learn how to pose naturally at beautiful locations!  Maybe that will be the trip for my 53rd.



I can't really leave things there though, can I? I mean we were in Lincoln City for the whole weekend, right? What else did we do? Well, what would you do if you were on the coast for a beautiful weekend? Hang out at the beach? Check. Watch the sunset? Check.  Sit around a fire pit and listen to the waves? Check (until I wimped out from the cold!)  Relax. Unwind.  Breathe. Check. Check. And Check.

Sunset, Lincoln City
March 2020

#7 Wild Iris Ridge, Eugene Oregon

Hike #7  Wild Iris Ridge, Eugene, Oregon
#52HikeChallenge

Date:  March 1, 2020
Distance: 2.5 miles
Weather: Gorgeous Sunshine!!! Ahhhh...Hello March!
Type: City Trail
Company: Sue, Traci, and the four pups-- Mali, Jax, Ripley, and Jack

Reflections: Today's adventure took me to Eugene to meet up with Traci, Sue, and their pup pack. Sue had her two babies-- Mali and Jax. Traci had her new baby, Ripley, along with Aaron's boy Jack!  Let me just start out by saying that hiking with four pups is quite the trip!  Actually, I am sure that doing anything with four pups is probably a trip. They are all lovely and well behaved but it definitely adds a new layer to the adventure!  Overall the day was lovely, the trail was beautiful, and the company was first class!  Since the trail was on the outskirts of town I got to take the scenic route there. So scenic drive + hike. Win! Win!

We did a section of the Ridgeline Trail System. Eugene is such a cool town in the way it embraces natural spaces. They have these trails running all over Eugene and Springfield and if you are fortunate enough to live in that area you can literally be on a trail surrounded by trees in a matter of minutes without ever leaving the city.  Side note: This is the complete opposite of where I live--which is completely surrounded by trees yet you must drive at least an hour to access a trail system.  Weird.  "Where Nature is Your Backyard!" Puh-Lease!  It may be some body's backyard--but it is fenced off from the masses and completely off limits! Not cool. If I had money I would buy a large tract of land and open up hiking trails here!  Wouldn't that be the best? I would probably be the town hero. Maybe I could ride in a float in one of the parades or something! Right? Until then I will just be satisfied with urban hikes at home and the chance to explore cool places like this when the opportunity presents itself!  I will take it!
Oops...off topic! Back to Eugene. They have these trails EVERYWHERE and they are pretty cool. Really cool.  Hills. Trees. Nature.  Bliss. One downside---it was PACKED! Cars were literally circling the parking lot waiting for people to leave.  Staring you down and stalking you until you run to your car and peel out of the parking lot! Not saying that happened to me, but let's just reiterate that there were LOTS of people ready to get out and enjoy the sunshiny day and take in some amazing views. I mean--come on!  Look at these views! What's not to enjoy! Love. Love. Love.

In addition to lots of people getting out to explore and enjoy the sun. There were lots of people with dogs. Lots of Dogs! I think it was the most heavily populated dog zone I have ever been in!  Some of the dogs were pretty nice. Some maybe not so nice. Some big. Some Small. Of course our group added the mix! We had 3 people and 4 dogs. We were totally outnumbered! Something I learned. Dog people are chatty! Like really chatty.  Dogs stop and sniff--butt and nose. Like "hey, what do you smell like? And who have you smelled? Have I smelled them? Should I smell them? Must. Smell. EVERYTHING!". Dog owners stop and chat about the dogs. How big they are, how good they are, what they thought that would be, what they really are. It's cute and somewhat weird. Like parents on hyper drive!  Seriously. I love my children as much as dog owners love their dogs, but I don't recall ever stopping strangers to talk about what good kids my children were. No comments on their weight, height, feet size, bowel movements, etc. Maybe I should have. Wouldn't that have made for fun playground conversation! :)  I wonder if dog owners who also have children did that with their kids? Like were they at the playground comparing poop size with other mom and dads?  Clearly, I missed out on some important bonding time! 
In all honesty--the doggies are pretty awesome! Look at these guys! How can you not melt!  Pup Pack on the prowl! Makes me think of the show my grands love so much...Paw Patrol. Whenever you are in trouble, paw patrol on the double!  Or something like that. Paw Patrol assemble!   Don't they look ready to go?  I am not sure what was the better view on this trip---the scenery or the dogs!  Right now I am voting for the dogs!

Okay, back to the trail!  It was lovely--as I think I already said.  And hilly.  Lots of uphill. Or maybe it just felt that way because of the combination of the hike from the day before.  At the end of this hike, my Fitbit said I had climbed 143 flights of stairs over the two days.  That is a lot of stairs! And believe me...I certainly felt it over the next three days!  It took me until about Wednesday to recover enough to even start thinking about the next hike!  But recover I did and it is a good thing because there are 45 hikes to go!!  Where to next?!

#52hikechallenge #thingsthatmakemehappy #everydayadventures

#6 Thundering Waters Highway 138, Douglas County, Oregon

Hike #6  Toketee, Watson, and Fall Creek Falls
#52HikeChallenge

Date:  February 29, 2020
Distance:  6ish miles or so.  Fitbit and Maps never agree!
Weather: Sun, Rain, Snow....all over the place!  Guess MoNa didn't know what to do with an extra day!
Type: Waterfalls...as in 3
Company: Me

Reflections: Woke up this morning and decided to take advantage of the bonus day (leap day) and take a little
solo hiking day!  After a quick stop to see my granddaughter, I headed out Hwy 138 to see what I could see!  My first stop was Toketee Falls. This is the iconic Umpqua Highway Waterfall.  The pictures of this fall graces the pages of most travel brochures for the Umpqua Valley. Loved by both locals and tourists alike it is the primary stop for visitors (do I sound like one of the travel brochures?)! The hike ends up at a viewing platform that overlooks the falls. The two (or is it three) tiered waterfall is in a word BREATHTAKING! Words can't even begin to express. I guess there is a reason it is the iconic waterfall of this area.  I, personally, rank it right up there with Multnomah Falls. As in, Multnomah Falls is often the iconic image of Oregon waterfalls and Toketee is the face of the Highway 138 waterfalls. Other evidence of that theory is the fact that even though the day was a little misty the parking lot was packed with adventurous souls ready to get out and enjoy the sights! Seems like leap day really was the perfect day to get out and explore!  Word of caution: The extremely adventurous...or careless as it would be....sometime bypass the platform and make their way down to the base of the falls. There have been several injuries and dramatic rescues as a result of those curious or foolhardy souls! So If you are in the area....definitely go check it out! You won't be disappointed!  But, please, stay on the marked trails and be safe!

After the crowds at Toketee, I headed over to Watson Falls and found the parking lot delightfully empty!  BLISS! Watson is equally beautiful and much less populated than Toketee. But trust me it is really cool and well worth your time! If you hike up to the final lookout point you can actually feel the spray from the waterfall! On a good day that is.  The day I went was not so good--weather wise that is. After a bit of a misty start at Toketee it started snowing on me at Watson.....let me say that again...SNOWING! What is that about?  I wasn't prepared for the snow. I mean I was prepared for most contingencies gear wise but that doesn't mean I was mentally prepared for or happy about it! Actually, funny story. On my way up the  trail to Watson I had taken a picture of a little patch of snow and was going to include it in this post with a little blip about how that was the way I liked my snow. WELL, apparently the universe wasn't amused! As I headed higher up towards the falls the light rain turned to snow! SNOW!!  While I did make it the upper viewing platform, I had to turn right back around and head back down to my car because of the SNOW...did I mention there was snow?! If you come...definitely go! Hopefully, you won't get any snow.

On the way back to Roseburg, I decided to stop off at Fall Creek Falls. This one is my absolute favorite in the area. I absolutely LOVE this hike!  It is not usually crowded and allows time and space to just enjoy nature. So beautiful. The first part of this trail leads to the base of the waterfall by winding through a crevice,  past some cool rock formations, and following a beautiful stream.  Once you make it to the base you can play in the water, feel the spray, stop for a picnic, marvel at the beauty...or as in the case of the day I went, follow the trail past the base to the second tier and eventually the very top.  I only went to the second tier. It was getting late and I was tired! No judging.  I will make it to the top and and I will take the detour to see Job's Garden (rock formations) but this day was not that day-- so I will save that part of the adventure for another day.

I am forever blessed to live in such a beautiful location. I am amazed everyday that these marvels are within my grasp!  I will be honest and admit that I wasn't in love with Oregon when I first moved here. I was sad and shocked by the reality of raising my children away from family. I was fortunate to grow up surrounded by extended family--parents, siblings, great-grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins,1st, 2nd, and 3rd! In my wildest of dreams---and believe me I had some wild ones-- I never imagined a world where I would have to raise my children away from that supportive environment. So, I didn't love it.l It was hard. During those early years, I focused on my children and never really explored this area or built a life for myself. As my children grew up, my marriage crumbled, and my life started changing---I realized I needed to find my own place, my own way.  I tried out a few ideas and had few false starts but I finally realized that Oregon is my home and I needed to learn to embrace it. Once I put some effort into making friends, figuring out my own interests, getting outside, and learning to appreciate what was around me I realized how incredibly lucky I was! In a weird twist, I remembered that as a child I was fascinated with Oregon. Back in the days that Disney showed the Sunday night movie, I waited all year for the showing of 7 Alone (or On to Oregon--one was the book and one was the movie). Next to Where the Red Fern Grows, this was my absolute favorite movie! I was obsessed with tails of the Oregon Trail and read or watched everything I could find about it. So, in hindsight, moving to Oregon was inevitable and perfect!  It just took me a while to remember and embrace.  Now, I am proud to say that while I was not born or raised here (California and Texas respectively) I am an Oregonian through and through.

On that note, I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes (which I am sure I have shared before).

Of all the roads you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.   John Muir

#blessed #everydayadventures #thingsthatmakemehappy #52hikechallenge