P.O. Box 327 News

 We left our home spot at Silver Falls SP for the last time on Oct. 20.   After 5 wonderful years of working there and 10 total years of volunteering,  we have decided to spend our summers just traveling.   We stumbled on our first volunteer job in 2011 just after Terry retired and never got back to that 'see the national parks' retirement trip we had started.   So next summer we will begin our second retirement trip.  Where's that  'Bucket List' ?

The summer was a very busy one.  Phil, Terry's brother, was working there when we arrived and stayed on even after we left.  The rangers in the park didn't know what to think of the work machine the 2 of them made together.  They made some very significant changes and loved the opportunity to share jobs.  I got to spend time with my sister, Jane and her husband, Kevin.  We finally got a trip to the Japanese Garden in Portland.  What a beautiful place!!!

In early October we traveled together with my sister, Ann to visit cousins in Pennsylvania.  Their little town and lovely home were delightful as always and we hated to leave.  The countryside was just beginning to shine with autumn leaves and bright orange pumpkins.

When we leave Silver Falls we have to cross Santiam Pass before Sisters, OR.  We were greeted with the first snowfall of our trip home.  The 'Bomb Cyclone' rain and snow was just behind us. The snow covered mountains made the whole trip such an adventure and we never got into more than snow and rain showers as we drove.  

We don't spend the night in many rest areas, but our favorite is Oravada, NV.  Here's the show we got at sunrise.

When we got home we had to sort out a post office mix-up about our permanent address.  Please note we now have a new  address  -----P. O, Box 327.

  It is so nice to be at home.  Things are in full swing in the community and I am line dancing 3 days a week.  Terry is back on the radio and enjoying daily bike rides and exercises.  Our flowers loved the monsoon rains and our faithful neighbor who watered.  All is good.  Come see us.

Mid-Season at Silver Falls

 Traveling through Eastern Oregon on the way to Silver Falls is always a fascinating part of our trip.  This year we decided to stop long enough to explore the hillsides in search of rock specimens.  McDermitt, NV/OR sits right on the state line and is a favorite spot for many rock hounds.  We now include ourselves in that group.

The ground around our truck is literally covered with orange and cream agates, a stone that polishes to a smooth glassy finish. The dirt road ahead led to a similar spot with purple agates and a remote camping spot with fantastic views.  We will return to these hills on Disaster Peak Road.

This year at Silver Falls is very different for us.  For the 4 previous years we have had a core group of the same 10 volunteers.  We all had become very close friends, but this year only 2 have returned.  We only have campfires a few nights a week now, but we are enjoying working with new folks.  When we arrived the flower fields nearby were in full bloom.  Look at these poppies!

We celebrated our 35th Anniversary on August 2 at a fantastic Lodge in our favorite coast town, Yachats. It is set in a beautiful garden by the sea. We slept each night with the ocean breeze and the sound of waves crashing on the rocks below.  Absolutely wonderful!  Breakfast was delivered to our room.

As much as we love all of Oregon and especially our friends in the Parks, we have decided that this our 10th year of volunteering will be our last.  We were on our 'see the National Parks retirement trip" when we got our first volunteer job at our first national park visit, Great Basin.  We think the time has come to get back to that 'retirement trip' and the joy of seeing more of our beautiful country.  It will be a sad and happy change for us.  Stay tuned.

Desert Spring to Oregon Fir Tree Shade

Spring has been beautiful here this year as the Senna Tree at the edge of our community Cactus Garden shows.  The Campground is in the background.

This is the Garden entrance.  I visit several times a week to keep pace with the changing blooms.  Volunteers do a great job maintaining it.

This apricot Prickly Pear was absolutely beautiful.! I walked up daily while it was blooming.

We had a little potted plant garden with everything elevated to keep the rabbits away.  One morning I actually found a rabbit sitting in the pot eating the zinnias.  I had to raise that one a little higher.

This is our neighbor's Aloe Vera plant in bloom.  Our kitchen window looks out on it.  You can imagine my surprise when I saw a Hooded Oriole sipping nectar from the blossoms.

We now have 5 small Aloe Vera plants around the property sold by the Cactus Garden Volunteers.

We will leave all this behind when we leave for Oregon and Silver Falls in the morning to start work there again on July 1.  The cool shade of the huge fir trees will be such a delight after a record breaking week of over 100 degree weather.  A very kind neighbor will water for us while we are gone.  Hopefully some summer monsoons will help too.

We will join the local wildlife in the cool tree shadows until the end of October.  Come See us at Silver Falls State Park near Salem.