Snow comes to Camp Sherman & the Metolius

It's not that it's such an unusual event, mind you...that snow comes to the River Basin; almost every time this year you can count on it. A light dusting, usually...marks the REAL barrier to folks making more pilgrimages from less seasonally challenged climates.

But it is beautiful when it first comes, in part because we have all the wonder of children in us as it falls this early in winter...before we 'grow up' as the season winds on and we grow tired of slips, extreme cold and that &*%$! other driver that nearly clipped us...again.

But the river flows on. The aquatic life settles down and we have...silence. Lots of it. And can silence be bad? It's the balm that heals our jangled nerves and the scars from 9 other months of going full throttle, taming the world. Now, ... well, ... the world tames us.

Relax, light a fire and enjoy it. It'll be Spring before you know it.

Life is a Beach...and then we LIVE

Not at my beloved river today. No, instead I'm at Arch Cape. The family beach house. A wonderful spot that doesn't get its fair share of visits from us because...well, because of the Metolius. There is no other place to put blame.

But the Beach, our beach, is nice too. Better than nice, especially in the Dog Days of Summer. Days aren't as long anymore, and when it's hot in town here it is not. Here it is....Perfect!

What does it have that Camp Sherman does not? Sand, for one, though you can FIND sand at the Metolius or at near by lakes. But not this much sand; and not sand like this. And seagulls, squawking as they scavenge, forever cleaning the beach and forever messing it as well.

And crab, though now we are deterred somewhat, that early summer prices of 4.99/lb. have given way to late season $8.99. Salmon, line caught yesterday or this morning. Clams, the small steamers, so good that butter almost seems to detract. Caramel corn? Sea foam? Taffy? Oh yeah, all that too.

But if I there were nothing more than to wake up at the beach and smell the salty ocean air and see the Pacific one short stones throw from the door, to hear the gulls ... to maybe walk the dog the short distance to the sand she loves so much ... well ... Dayenu ... it would be enough.

Maybe it's Just Me, but....

You know I'd almost swear that there aren't as many people along the river in the Cabins as there usually are in the summer. But who am I kiddin'..when was I ever here this long to take a survey?

The fishing at my favorite (unnamed) spot is 'good to great'. Going there again this evening. Mostly small fish, but they all go back in the water anyhow so what's the difference? Is fishing a barbaric practice? The pleasure associated with tug-o-war with a frightened sub-species seems to root itself in machismo. Still, they ARE beautiful and we who catch them salute those who are about to LIVE on.

Hot weather. Upper 90's coming, with lower 90's now. Not complaining, mind you; just recording for posterity. Get in the river and its all JUST right.

Haven't left yet and already looking forward to returning.

Oh Yeaaaaaahhhhh!

Oh yeah, I'm up at the River and it's a bit of all right. In fact, it's amazing! It's warm (HOT even), the Metolius bubbles by at a healthy clip, making that wonderful little river sound it ALWAYS makes, soothing jangled nerves and restoring clarity of purpose.

• I love the sounds of children of all ages at play.
• I love renewing old friendships and making new ones.
• I love mornings when the sun first hits Green Ridge and warms MY side of the Basin
• I love long walks to the Camp Sherman Store that take FOREVER if I allow myself to stop and visit; and I almost always do.
• I love arriving back from my morning walk and reading the NY Times, the Bend Bulletin, or the Nugget News on the porch before it gets too warm. Not because I care diddly squat about what's going on in the world (ok, I do...kinda); just because its so damned pleasant a thing to do before starting the 'important matters' of the day.
• I love finally getting to 'the important matters' of the day sometime late morning or even afternoon. Important, as in goofing off, walking or sitting by the stream, going to the lake (any lake), fishing but seldom catching, reading, day dreaming ...
• I love the late afternoon/early evening when the light gets low and the sun paints the tops of the trees with gold, leaving marvelous shadows everywhere else.

I love it all. I love the Metolius. But shhhhhhh ... keep it quiet. Or everybody and their DOG will be here. Well, ok;  they can come too.

Well this is sure BIG! Metolius is Protected!

I've been informed 30 seconds ago that the Oregon House passed a bill that had been held up which should protect the Metolius Basin from destination resorts of the type that might have endangered the fragile ecology of the River area. This is HUGE and historic and its a testimony to the understanding of Oregon leaders that had these developments been allowed their would have been nothing that would protect the Basin from loving it to DEATH! Of course the Governor still has to sign this in to law, but he had been in favor of it as written, so....

Makes me glad to be an Oregonian all over again!


Update: On July 15th, in a ceremony on the Bridge at Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery Governor Kulongoski Signed into law language protecting the Metolius from large development.

Spring time..the fish must be getting hungry

It's been to long since I've tied on a fly (dry OR wet) and gone out to play 'hide & seek' with the Metolius stock, or to my secret 'guaranteed catch 'em' spot. All winter long they've been fattening up on the underwater bug life so abundant in Central Oregon streams and lakes. All the while I'VE been fattening up, too, but that's another story.

I wanna walk those streams...peruse those ponds...meander the shores of those mountain lakes. Scouting...reconnaissance...watching where the Osprey feed, and when. But UNLIKE the Osprey I don't kill my prey. In fact, too often I don't even lift one from the water. You see, as everyone who does this knows, there's a reason they call it FISHING, not catching.

The real pull is just to be out and feel the water flow between wading legs; cool air on the face; pine needles baking. I'd do it if I knew the streams and lakes where sterile...if there weren't even a prayer of a strike. It's all too good. Time drifts like the river and you promise you'll leave as soon as you've had ONE more good cast...just one more...good...cast.

Say what I want...mean what I say...

This is my site, right? So I can say what I want, but I should mean what I say. Well, I just finished a film that helped crystallize my feelings on the Destination Resort efforts in and around the Metolius Basin.

We DON'T need or want another Black Butte or Sun River (or, paste name here____________) in West Central Oregon. Water resources are too scare.

I'm tired of hearing that a site situated up on Green Ridge won't disturb the flow of water in the Metolius/Deschutes watershed. LIES! For in this case those that have the money want to have more; that's the motivation and the nature of the species. It's NOT because we need another one or two golf courses pulling water for no other reason then to keep grass green for a VERY few to enjoy; we don't NEED that. That's it....end of story.

The amount of water needed to hydrate 18 holes of golf is obscene. Water in the near future...I say in OUR lifetime...will become so precious that this use will seem absurdly wasteful. Run off into the aquafir from fertilization and pest control to maintain a 'garden' on Green Ridge will poison nature.

Oh, I'm an extremist, you say? NO, a realist, says I. There are too many examples of this happening to ignore it. Bottom line, greed corrupts. Do you think corporations have your best interests at heart?

The water in the Basin....OUR Basin MUST be protected. It's a sacred trust. That which flows freely can't be owned and we shouldn't allow that it be bought, stolen or polluted.

Be vigilalent and when you see a hearing on this issue, or other clean water issues, pay attention and be ready to act. Write letters, attend meetins. Once a water resource is depleted their is no restoring it. The Metolius River is one of Oregon's truely special treasures. We MUST protect it.

But hey, I could be wrong....