The Great Workamping MisAdventure

Delta Forest Service Campground
Williamette National Forest

Blue River, Oregon
May 10 through September 16, 2009

     Our days off each week were spent exploring the countryside with the Mighty 350 or the ATV. We ventured to two different Forest Service fire lookouts. The lookout on Indian Ridge is no longer used for fire watch, but can be rented from the FS for a fee. We found that in order to see the country, one must find the highest places. These mountains are quite different than the geography of Colorado. Slopes are steeper, forests are taller, and the jungle under the trees is thicker. The Carpenter Mtn Lookout is built upon the top of the mountain which looks like a smaller version of Devil's Tower in Wyoming. The gentleman manning this lookout was very informative, answering all the questions we could put to him. The Three Sisters dominate the view to the east from both lookouts. Wolf Rock, as viewed from the Carpenter Mountain Lookout, is the third largest rock in the world.

     We also found many mushrooms and other fungus. This is a Chicken of the Woods and we were told later that it is delicious to eat. Although we did not partake in this fungi, we did enjoy its beautiful presence growing out of a deadfall.

     We have run into some very weird campers this summer. One group collected tiny scorpions from around the lake. Another woman brought some of her maniken heads, complete with wigs and hats, she said she had several dozen. Another camped with her lion rabbits and two parrots, David is holding the African Grey.

Covered Bridges of Lane County

Goodpasture Bridge below Leaburg Dam.

     Lane County has more covered bridges than any other county in Oregon. A truss and housing design furnished by the State Highway Departmant was used for most, but not all, Lane County covered bridges. Sixteen of the bridges are owned and maintained by Lane County, and fourteen of these are still open to traffic.

Belknap Bridge in the community of Rainbow.

     Oregon bridges are typically built of native Douglas fir. They were covered to protect them from the rainy weather. This approximately tripled the lifespan of a wooden bridge. Many of Oregon's covered bridges have been preserved, and are popular visitors' attractions.

Office Bridge located in Westfir, Oregon.

Oregon Friends

     We made friends with lots of people while workamping. Mike "Chipper" Anderson (above left) was our boss and handled the attendant position at the hot springs. Shannon Hockensmith (above right) is a delightful gal who ran the vegetable booth at the Farmer's Market in Eugene and keep us supplied with fresh green goodies. Rickie "Black Eagle" (below right), Maria "Moondance" Jensen, Ryan, and Shawn also worked at the hot springs. Our camp host family at Slide Creek Campground was Chad and Erika and their kids Tammy and Zack (below right). George came biking through Delta Camp daily and usually would stop and chat. Frequent campers Bob and Jeani Cornett gave us a bottle of wine on their last visit. Matt Vidal was our forest manager with Hoodoo. Sam and Sharon Pack along with Bill and Terri with a T ran Patio RV Park, our source for water, showers, and black water dumping. James Griffin was the FS Law Enforcement Officer for the Willamette National Forest. Tia, Shawn and all the folks at Harbick's Country Store in Rainbow that keep us supplied with fuel, propane, and last minute groceries as well as paid us for recycling.

Beer and Your Health

     David has been sampling the local brews and finding many excellent beers. He is a loyal fan of New Belgium Brewing Fat Tire Amber Ale, in Ft. Collins, CO. Two local Oregon brews that have received high marks in his trials are from the Deschutes Brewery located in Bend, OR, Twilight Seasonal Ale and Cascade Ale. Twilight is made with a unique blend of four hops and malts, is straw-colored and has a vigorous hop essence with a malt body, by far the winner this summer.

     Other fine beers sampled and receiving high grades are Fish Tale Organic Amber Ale, McTarnahan’s Amber Ale, Rogue Brewing Dead Man Ale, and Haymaker Ale from Sunshine Brewing. Lots of time was dedicated to conducting this search for the perfect brew. David is still searching for the perfect suds.

     As Ben Franklin said many years ago: In wine there is wisdom, In beer there is freedom, In water there is bacteria.

     In a number of carefully controlled trials, scientists have demonstrated that if we drink one liter of water each day, at the end of the year we would have consumed over 2 pounds of Escherichia coli, (E.Coli) – bacteria found in feces. In other words, we are consuming poop.

     However we do NOT run that risk when drinking beer & wine (or tequila, rum, whiskey or other liquor,) because alcohol has to go through a purification process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting.

     Therefore it is better to drink beer and talk stupid, than to drink water and be full of shit.

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