A Willamette Mission Style Campfire

The month of August at Washburne Campground included the delightful routine of a nightly campfire at Ken and Karen's spacious site # 7.  We all brought snacks to share and a drink of choice.  Terry usually had the fire set by 5 pm and we'd meet as soon as the Lighthouse late shift returned to the Campground.  Between the stories and laughter that we shared Terry kept the fire at a steady crackle.  He earned the fire tender award from all of us.  We knew there would be no 'happy hour campfires' at Willamette, but never guessed that Terry's skills would not be wasted!

In my last blog I told of learning to use the dump truck at the Burn Pile in the field beyond the office.  We didn't know then what a long history that Burn Pile had.  It had been receiving limbs, logs, sign posts, cement, metal and huge log posts for at least 6 years and was covered with a Blackberry Jungle.  The Rangers at Willamette must have seen Terry, the Fire Master, coming because they asked him to torch the "Burn Pile".  What a great job for Terry- no little campfire here!

Of course, it had to be tended.  The only thing that could approach the task and destroy the Jungle was a little John Deere and driver!

Once the Fire was going the huge mass had to be corralled into a strong burn and that took lots of work.

When lunchtime rolled around I realized I would have to feed the hungry Fire Master and check to see if I could help.  By this time the metal and cement chunks were obvious so I did help get those into separate piles and away from the tractor's path.

Terry had a very full and busy day eliminating the Burn Pile.  He was happy to help and the staff at Willamette Mission were delighted to see it burned at last!  Terry's many work skills are so well used
here and he had all that practice every night in the month of August.

Once my helping was done I got a chance to enjoy the view as the promised evening rain storm approached.

New Friends--The Cushman and the One Ton Dumper

From Willamette Mission State Park, near Keiser, OR

We arrived at Willamette Mission on October 1 excited about  our return and seeing the leaves change during the time we are here.  Last year when we arrived in Nov. most of the leaves were gone and the fall rains had started.  The rains just started today.  It had been bright and sunny and very warm for outdoor work.  The change is nice.

Last year it took me about 2 months to find a good fit with my abilities.  This year I could jump right in.  I didn't know my Kubota ATV would be used by other hosts at the Horse Camp this month so I had a little adjustment when Terry got the Cushman ready for me to use on my clean up duties.  It hadn't been used in so long that the battery required an hour long charge, but he left it parked at the door.  I did jump right in, slammed the door and the window crank fell off and hit the floor along with some window trim.  Oh well, I could fix that.  I just needed to get going a Litter Alarm had been reported on the Gravel Bar in the Willamette River and I was sent out to find it.  I turned the key to start the engine and nothing happened, again still nothing.  I started checking to see what was wrong when I saw the clutch pedal-- Oh!  how do you use that?  I remembered enough to chug and sputter my way out the drive to the River, about 1 1/2 miles from the shop.

Since no one knew which Gravel Bar or where on the Gravel Bar it was I had several checks to make.  At the first I got out to check the trail and walked through high damp grass to get there.  When I got back in to turn around I had to stop and turn onto the Bike Path. I put my foot on the brake which promptly slid off and hit the accelerator which caused the Cushman to gasp and choke and stop dead on the trail.  By this time I was laughing out loud.  Thank goodness, no one was around to see that!!!  The pedals do show a little wear!

My third checkpoint was on a long ( about 1/4 mile) gravel bar that I never knew was there.  It was a lovely spot with the morning mist still rising over the River and the birds calling, but a little too isolated for my comfort.  I trudged on the length of it and did fill a large bag with an assortment of clothes, shoes, cans bottles, TP, rope, boat parts and even a braided carpet.  It was a little spooky when I stumbled on a lean to covering a dugout in the sand and when I heard twigs breaking as someone or something wandered the forest above me I left in a hurry.  The dumpster was not too far away.

As I loaded the trash in the dumpster these beautiful trees were a delight to see!  The dark firs behind them just seem to highlight their color.  Fall is lovely here as the staff told us last year and it is just beginning.  Last weekend the Park hosted 2 state level 5K runs and we helped with the preparations.

Terry drove the tractor down to Mission Lake and I got to drive the One Ton Dumper--a big step up from the Cushman.  We cleaned brush and stumps out of an area that floods each year and needed clearing.  Terry and I worked together on getting the debris dumped on the Burn Pile near the Shop.  On the last trip I loaded the One Ton as high as I could reach and drove it back to the Burn Pile and dumped it all by myself!!!  That one was not on the 'bucket list', but an accomplishment for me.

You can just see our trailer next to the office building in the background.  The Hop Shed, one of 2 sheds in the Shop Area, is just behind the vehicles.

Stay tuned for more work stories from Willamette.