1st Anniversary Adventure

For our 1st anniversary, I wanted to go somewhere really special. Thinking back to all of the places we've visited since we arrived in Oregon almost 3 years ago, the place that stood out most to me was the Southern Oregon coast and California Redwoods.

And so it was. I booked our stay at the always amazing WildSpring Guest Habitat in Port Orford, OR. WildSpring makes an incredibly beautiful home base to explore this part of the Pacific NW.

After looking through my book of coastal hikes, Tom and I decided to take a day to head down to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park in California. The hike we chose—Fern Canyon—began after a 4x4 drive down a forest road and splashing through a number of giant puddle fords. The trail tucked into the woods from the parking area next to Gold Bluffs Beach.

Tom on one of the many wood plank creek crossings in Fern Canyon.

The trail follows Home Creek up the canyon for about .5 mile. The canyon walls are covered bright green ferns that wave gently in the breeze to say hello.

Waving ferns.

Tom losin' his pant legs on the mini bench.

After leaving the box canyon, the trail loops through some amazingly tall trees—Redwoods, Sequoia, Coast Douglas Fir, Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock.

Loving the big trees from a log-walk perch.

Smaltzie in the woods.

Kissing the tree bear.

We found some flower petals shaped like hearts—the woods said, "Happy Anniversary, Dings!"

Love.

Tom inside a hollow giant.

The 7-mile loop ended on Gold Bluff Beach. We walked out to sit for a few minutes and rub our tired tootsies in the warm sand.

Mist clings to the coastal trees.

The day after our adventure to see big trees, we decided to stay local around Port Orford. We hopped in the car and drove a few miles north of town to Cape Blanco State Park and then followed the twisty road along the Sixes River til we arrived at the end of the road and a cool stream-side campground. We spent a little while enjoying the sun and water.

Big sitting/sunning rock.

Smoochin'.

We also spent some quality time at WildSpring. The grounds are beautiful, our cabin was perfect and we spent a lot of time soaking in the hot tub that overlooks the Pacific.

Buddha guards the hot tub. Great spot for some cold beverages. :)

The main guest house is also a great place to spend some time chillin'. There are lots of books, games, teas and places to snuzzle in. This is also where our delicious breakfast was served every morning. So good.

Main guest house at WildSpring.

On the 4th of July, we went downtown for dinner at The Crazy Norwegian. People call their fish and chips the best on the Oregon coast. It was excellent. :) Afterwards, we had a beer at a local dive bar, Pitches Tavern.

We watched the fireworks show from the yard of WildSpring. The following morning, we enjoyed our last breakfast at WildSpring and hit the road. Before leaving Port Orford, we went down on the beach at Battle Rock State Park (where they shot the fireworks from the night before). There were some guys playing in a golf tournament down the beach.



Rather than fight traffic on I-5 for hundreds of miles, we cut east near Eugene and enjoyed the drive home on forest roads through Willamette National Forest. We found a cool lake and campsite and stopped a few times for a beer and to enjoy the woods.

Tom & Teddy

This trip and the drive home were very nostalgic. We spent one night at WildSpring and a day exploring the Redwoods in 2006 on our first trip to the coast over our first Thanksgiving in Oregon. Driving home towards the south side of Mount Hood, we took the exit for Hwy 35/Hood River. We reminisced about taking that exit for the first time on our moving-cross-country trip. :)

Although the California wild fires doused our wedding view with smoke last year, Hood was out in full force for our 1st Anniversary. Thanks, sir. :)

We picked up our little buddy on the way through the valley at Pet Camp. He was happy to be home and completely exhausted.

Nap time.

Turning Thirty-Too

I spent my actual birthday this past Memorial Day with the fam at Lake Tessier, Quebec, but returned home to a "surprise" party that Tom had planned for me at Lost Lake. It was a beautiful sunny Sunday and it was nice to be home in Oregon. :)

Cooper wonders why we're passing all these perfectly good woodsy spots.

Tom had rented the group pavilion at Lost Lake and invited a bunch of HR friends. We arrived first to find about 3 feet of snow covering the path leading to the pavilion. Awesome. We spent about 45 minutes dragging coolers, grill, chairs and other stuff a couple hundred yards through the snow. The spot was really cool though, with a view of the lake and our own private shitter.

We found a dead hermit thrush in the pavilion.

Happy Birthday in the woods.

We tried to rent this same pavilion for a pre-wedding picnic last July, but it was still under 6 feet of snow! This is the 3rd time we've rented it and the 1st time we actually got to use it—with just SOME snow.

Erin, Vicki, Jim & Sam chillin'.

Vicki and I went for a walk and ended up disappearing for an hour on the Old Growth Trail. Lost Lake's original, American Indian name was "Heart of the Mountains". And it is.

Big trees.

Some bits of snow here and there.

We bbq'ed, threw some washers, had a little camp fire to warm us up in the shadow of the big trees and enjoyed a spectacular day out in Mt. Hood Nat'l Forest. My ding is good to me. :)

The Ransoms are good times.

Thanks to everyone for helping me celebrate the big Thirty-Too. Too good. :)