This process is interesting...

Sitting here in in the dinette area of Irv, I am looking out on the lake, watching the geese, boaters, birds of prey, the wind across the water, deciding what to write about today.  

It's been raining over the last couple of days.  Last night it woke me a couple of times with its intensity.  I am told that Oregon needs rain.  The folks who come to visit this lake and campground tell me often, that the lake is at the "lowest level they have ever seen" or "lowest level they have seen in years" or "they don't remember ever seeing the lake water level this low".  I have only known the lake for just over two weeks, so I have no opinion about lake water levels, or whether or not we need rain. Seems to be a lot of mosquitos around.  Sure doesn’t seem that dry.

Let me tell you about the lake…Lake Tahkenitch, my current location and home.  The lake is, I am told, the largest undeveloped lake on the west coast. Tahkenitch is 1674 acres and the shoreline is 25.5 miles long. According to the information I am using (Atlas of Oregon Lakes, Johnson et al. 1985;  http://www.aol.research.pdx.edu/?q=lake/383), the word Tahkenitch is an Indian word which translates to “many arms”.  When you look at an map or an aerial photograph of the lake, you can easily see the many arms.  Tahkenitch Lake was formed as a result of fluctuating sea level during and after the Pleistocene Epoch.  There is one resort on the lake, adjacent to U. S. Highway 101. There is also a Forest Service campground and boat ramp near the highway (The Forest Service boat ramp and campground are at my location) and a public launch provided by Crown Zellerbach (The primary landowner in the area).  I find it interesting to see the number of folks, in cars/trucks/vans/motorhomes, who drive in, stop for a brief view, use the public restrooms and depart.  Just this morning, there have been three trucks pulling boats, who pulled down to the boat ramp launch area, spent a few minutes (very few), and then pulled out, never getting their boats wet.  I guess I don’t quite understand why, if you have a boat on a trailer behind your truck, why not launch the boat and go fishing?

We arrived in Oregon, specifically Reedsport, Oregon, on April 29^th, after a relatively short drive from Roseburg, Oregon, and the Rising River RV Park, along the banks of the Rogue River. 

We had driven from Roseburg to Reedsport along the Umpqua River.  A beautiful and scenic route of about 70 miles, most of which was on a highway along the river.  Of course, prior to leaving Roseburg, we found it necessary to stop and visit with the folks in the tasting room at the Spangler Vineyards.  We met Pat Spangler, owner and wine maker, and had an enjoyable taste of his products, very enjoyable.  We favor reds and Spangler had some excellent reds.  We bought a bottle of their 2010 Malbec.

After our arrival in Reedsport, we were given a space at the Carter Lake Campground for a couple of days, until the camp host I was replacing moved out.  On the Thursday before my move in, we moved Irv to the Tahkenitch Landing Campground for the overnight and then drove the truck to Eugene in preparation for Deborah to fly back to Phoenix.  Very different climate between the coast and Eugene…cool, damp to warm, dry.  We spent the night in Eugene, ate some good food, went to a live broadcast of “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me”, and then, in the morning, took Deborah to the airport for her flight. 
So, now I am living alone for the summer.  More to come….