Harris Beach SP: Loeb SP Hike

(+5 insets) Thank Goodness For Photography!!! Since today is Happy Fence Friday (hooray!), I must add my contribution, as I am a total junky for this crazy day too (I remember when I first encountered pictures labeled with "HFF" and was like…what is the DEAL with FENCES? Why is this even a thing?! Little did I know the insanity that would eventually come over me every time I find a cool fence or bridge or whatever might be acceptable for this day.)! Looking for a proper HFF contribution, I peeked in my finished pictures folder for our first campground stop at Harris Beach State Park and lo' and behold, discovered another folder inside. It was for a nearby place called Loeb State Park, and when I looked inside and found three pictures, one of which was this bridge shot. I could just barely remember this area. I looked at my trip notes…nothing. I guess I hadn't gotten around to mentioning our hike that day. Shucks. I went back to digging for clues. I went over to my folder of unfinished pictures for this place and it started to become clear. I oriented myself with a look at Google Maps, and suddenly, it all came back with a rush of memories. THIS PLACE!!! OH YEAH!!! I REMEMBER! WHAT A DAY! :D Scrolling through the pictures, I smiled and sighed in joy, stepping back in time to the beautiful trail we walked, the little waterfalls, the river, the flowers, the glow of springtime taking over…how lucky we were! I can't help but stop and think about the reality: if I hadn't taken all of these pictures, I'd have totally forgotten about this beautiful hike we took back in April. So much has happened since the beginning of our trip! There really isn't any way to keep it all straight except to take pictures and write down my impressions. I have tried to keep up with trip notes but it takes time, energy and a well of creativity to spend time writing. I don't always do it. But with the pictures, my memories are preserved and take me back to where I was. I say it again: THANK GOODNESS FOR PHOTOGRAPHY! (And Jenny, I'm thinking about you too--we've had conversations about the bad idea of travelling without recording the adventure in any way, just hoping the memories will be there. They probably won't! Here's the proof!) Today's Picture Loeb State Park has a small, primitive campground (no power or electricity) for tent campers and small trailers. What a special place to stay, it's just beautiful! The park also has a gorgeous trail which takes hikers along the Chetco River, past small waterfalls and through a gorgeous forest complete with dappled sunlight filtering down through the trees. This bridge was in a perfect spot for a cool picture and Steve and I had a great time playing with different angles and getting panoramas with our phone cameras too. It's wonderful to have an excuse to take pictures of fences and bridges because they really are neat, aren't they? Today's Insets I have so many pictures to share, but five insets will be perfect for today! You'll see the magnificent Chetco River and one of the many streams that had cascading waterfalls. A dappled trail picture is mandatory too! I have a view up through the trees to the blue sky peeking through and finally, a stunning white trillium blossom which looks ready for a wedding! Thank You For the Visits and Amazing Comments! I hope you're all having a wonderful start of your week. I want to tell you all how much your comments have meant to me--you've totally made my day with the things you've said! I'm totally glowing and truly delighted that I can make you guys happy with the images I've been sharing. :) Also, it's been such FUN to go around and visit! What a massive talent ipernity has! What a fine community…and what a lovely group of friends I have in you all. Have a super week and keep staying safe if you can!

(+6 insets) (Please scroll down to "Today's Image" for photo info) Notes From the Road: Exciting Times are Afoot! We Got Our First Vaccine Shot! The other morning Steve rushed into my room exclaiming, "I have some very important news!!" Holding his phone in front of me I read the headline: "Vaccine Now Available to All Oregon Residents Beginning April First." OMG! OMG OMG!! Steve and I immediately went to the registration site and were excited to learn that there was a vaccination event happening in three days, just an 8-minute's drive from Harris Beach State Park to Brookings! Furthermore, we were able to get appointments one after the other and in the late morning too. Huzzah! For the next couple of days we couldn't stop talking about our upcoming shots. Since vaccine research was first announced, I've kept tabs on developments but didn't fixate on them. Why work myself I into a lather every day? I watched the expanding distribution that began in December last year, and looked forward to the day we would finally qualify to get our first shots. In the end though, it was Steve who discovered we were eligible for our first shot! We arrived at the hospital early that day, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. It was a good thing because the paperwork took a while but soon we were sent back to a clinic room. We pulled our sleeves up and before we knew it, Steve and I were the very happy recipients of the Moderna version of the vaccine--as luck would have it, that was our preferred type! As I sit typing, it's the day after and I'm happy to report that neither of us have had any side effects whatsoever. I don't consider tenderness at the shot site a side-effect since that's a given whenever I get shots. I didn't sleep on my left side because the muscle is sore but that's normal. Steve only feels tenderness if he touches the spot where the needle went in. We don't expect any ill effects and feel great. We wonder if being on a keto lifestyle might have anything to do with lack of issues, though we do know that we've been extraordinarily healthy since we began this low-carb lifestyle years ago. We have appointments to return in a month, which will mean a four-hour drive each way to get from the campground we'll be at. We'd like to find somewhere closer but if we can't manage, we'll happily make the drive. The drive down and back up the rugged Oregon coast would be lovely so it's not something we'll worry about either way. :) I hope that folks are getting their vaccines too. In the end, even vaccinated there is a possibility of infection so we'll always need to be careful but what a relief it will be to have such great protection. (This post was originally written about April 10, 2021) Today's Picture Steve and I had such a great time on our hike to Loeb State Park! The trail was just the type we like, with plenty of elevation gain and loss, interesting curves in the trail, lots of variation in areas we walked through, including a lovely canopy of deciduous forest and traveling next to a river and various streams. I also loved the plants and flowers along the way. It really was such a pretty walk! At one point we found this old bench, made from logs, overtaken by moss and rotting away into nothing. I couldn't resist capturing this old relic and though it's not the greatest picture, I love the uniqueness of this hand-hewn place to sit, where one can look out at the pretty forest beyond and think about the good fortune of being there. Today's Insets The first picture would be perfect for Happy Fence Friday and shows an awe-struck view up a mossy-covered, boulder-strewn stream with a footbridge at the top and trees above. Steve and I couldn't get enough of this amazing spot and this is also my favorite picture of today's group! Other insets include the following: Logs beset by moss and shelf fungus, accented by dappled sunshine Another little stream waterfall A stream bed filled with boulders and accented by interesting branches to enjoy A lovely Wood Sorrel blossom sitting in its sea of leaves--any wonder why this is also called "False Clover"?! :) A vertical panorama featuring a dappled trail and the wonderful habitat we walked through Thank You For Stopping By! I've always have a great time romping about to see what each of you is up to. Such a wonderful way to get a fabulous world tour that includes photography of every sort, and many interesting things to read and think about. Hope you all have a lovely week ahead! :) Explored on 11/15/21; highest placement #1.