Things Are Thinning Out

Things are really thinning out as the season nears its end. We're starting to see some color in the deciduous trees and the fir trees are dropping lots of small brown needles. We've closed 6 of our 17 campgrounds, with 6 more scheduled 10/7 and the rest closing 10/14. The number of campers has dwindled as well. All of our camphost couples have left leaving 4 of the original 18 hosts to manage the store and remaining 11 campgrounds. We've got 1 host working the store 5 days a week and Bud, Joan and I covering the campgrounds. We're flexing our schedules to keep everything caught up.

We do have some new helpers in managing the campgrounds, Iron Rangers. Normally camphosts make at least two passes each day through each campground to check in campers. Over the last week we've been switching to the Iron Rangers; small metal posts located in each campground that allow campers to self-register by filling out their information on an envelope into which they place their camping fee.

Colecting an Iron Ranger

Then they place the envelope in the Iron Ranger which we collect on a random basis. We're still visiting each campground daily to police the empty sites, clean  restrooms and ensure the Iron Ranger registration process is being followed.





Joan and I took a day trip to the town of Lake Oswego. just south of Portland. We had driven through a few weeks earlier and wanted to take a little time of explore it further. There were lots of small sculpture located throughout the downtown area and a nice shopping village on the lake.

Joan and I stopped this young lady to ask directions but she wasn't able to help us much. We did manage to find a small restaurant and really enjoyed a quick lunch while we were there. 

Right after we arrived in April Joan started a small garden. Now just weeks away from leaving we're starting to enjoy the results of her hard work.

Tomatoes, zucchini and a few herbs

Joan driving the switchback below the one on
which I'm standing

We had the opportunity to visit one of the more remote sites on the Mt Hood side of the forest; Keepsmill Campground. After driving 6-7 miles down one of the few paved forest roads, we turned off onto an unpaved rocky trail for a couple of miles containing numerous hairpin turns descending from the mountain to the stream bed.

Two shout outs this week: The first a belated Happy Birthday to my oldest son Doug. Good luck on your move to Atlanta.

The second to Bradley. Happy 10th Birthday. Hang in there Buddy, we'll be home at Christmas and looking forward to spending some time with you, Ryan and Emily.

Stay Tuned, More to Come