September - (Trip #2) / October 2010 Camping Trip

Fall camping in Oregon can be a real treat if the weather is good, and Karen and I hit a lucky streak this past week. Not one drop of rain the entire outing, and the daytime temperatures got up into the mid to low 70's. Perfect for still being able to wear shorts, and even better at night when the temperatures got cooler, as we could enjoy the warmth of a campfire. We'd planned this trip in November of 2009 with our friends Dave & Sandy, as we both love this place for camping. Large camping sites, full-hookups, great hiking trails, and the North Santiam River to explore and water Abby (let her swim). At this time of the year, the Santiam river is running with salmon on their way to the spawning beds, as well as the trout that frequent these waters. Thus the name "Fisherman's Bend".

*** Click on the pictures to make them larger for viewing ***

The North Santiam River Overlook by camp

Fall colors are just starting to show

It happened that we were about 10 minutes late arriving at Fishermen's Bend, as most of their "double" camping sites are first come first served. The man right before us took the last "double" site. This left us no choice but for each of us to get a single site. Dave & Sandy ended up with site #5, and Karen and I were able to occupy the larger "Camp Host" site, as they had just left for the year.

Our Campsite - #1 (The "Camp Host Site)


Off Duty... but some people couldn't read

As you can guess... we actually ended up playing "Camp Host", as several people knocked on our trailer doors asking questions, or wanting to buy the stacks of wood available for campfires. Karen and I joked that instead of the normal $5.00 per cart wood cost, that we should charge $20.00 instead... thus paying for our camping trip and perhaps a Pizza Dinner at a local eatery. :-) We ended up having to place a towel over the "Camp Host" sign, and this at last gave us some privacy as the other campers finally left us alone.

Fire wood carts $5.00 (we wanted to charge $20.00)


Our very own Amphitheater. The trailer is on the other side of the screen.

As usual, we explored the trails and local wildlife in the area. We'd camped here earlier this summer, and a Cougar had been spotted in the thick brush and forested area. The warning signs were along the trails, but what we saw later in the week... (a Large Hairy Upright/Walking Beast) stunned us all! :-O More about this later.

Cougar Sighting

Abby & I on one of the beautiful hiking trails... here kitty kitty kitty


Spider web in the trees


Domed spider web on the forest floor

Ferns growing on an oak tree


The sunlight breaking into the forest darkness


Fungi growing on a log


Winters coming... better hide that peanut

Our son Kevin and his wife McKenzie had decided to head out for a camping trip in their newly purchased trailer, for their second trip. They'd made reservations at Fisherman's Bend, and none of us knew that each of us were going to be there at the same time. We arrived on Wednesday, and they arrived on Friday. What a hoot!

Kevin & McKenzie's campsite. Kevin works on the campfire

One afternoon, Karen and I heard a woman screaming... followed by another blood-curdling scream... and another. Something had definitely scarred this woman... but what was it? Perhaps the footprints at the local "Nature Exhibit" could share some light on this subject. I do see a small human sized foot print (upper left)... but what could have made that larger footprint to the right of it? Could it have been "BIGFOOT"! :-O

What a curiously LARGE foot print...


Yep... that's "Bigfoot" giving me the "thumbs-up" sign! (Yes Kevin... we all know you'd have punched him if he's come anywhere near you or your campsite)


Getting ready for the next filming

Ok... ok... so it was really a park ranger in a really bad gorilla suit, but if you saw this coming through the woods at you, you'd be screaming like a little baby too (right Kevin)! :-) Actually... some of you may have read my posts about "Bigfoot" last year at this same campground. The BLM is filming a movie (staring "Bigfoot"), that's going to be used to teach kid's about the care of the forests and not cutting down live trees for firewood, picking up trash, and respecting other campers. I just happen to catch this "Bigfoot" between movie shots. :-)

Well... that wraps up this trip. Abby seems to know this campground as well, especially all the short-cuts to the river and her favorite swimming holes. Even though she has dysplasia of her hips and a fused spine, we still let her swim just a few times. We can't let her go on like she used to when she was younger, but she loves the water... and after all, she's on a "vacation" with the rest of us as well.

A simple stick, a river, and a Labrador Retriever. Life is good!

Thanks for checking in on our adventures and camping trips. Life is just too short not to enjoy every day of it! Happy Trails...

-Gary, Karen, and Abby Too-