Forest Service Road Travelers

Monday, we put our two cameras out on the Forest Service road above our home and retrieved them this afternoon. The first camera we placed where I had seen a bear cub last week. There was also an animal trail crossing the road, and bobcat scat on the road. Looked promising! Here are some of the videos from that camera.

The bear in the above video is investigating the camera in the video below.  Luckily it didn't knock it over or worse!

The second camera was placed a few miles further up the road in an area dense with berry vines. We had spotted an animal trail going into the vines and placed the camera near the exit facing the road. The video below is the only animal shot we got.  

I guess the camera spooked this bear and it took off - pretty impressive speed for such an ungainly looking animal!

Drift Creek Wilderness

Yesterday, after looking at our Siuslaw National Forest Map, we decided to see if we could make it up to a trailhead that would take us into the wilderness.  We drove east of Waldport along the Alsea River, and then up a national forest road to the Harris Ranch trailhead.  The trail was a descent of about 1,100 feet to Drift Creek through some old growth forest.  The map says it rains about 120 inches a year here. It was quite rain foresty.  We had lunch on some beautiful open rock slabs along the shore.  There were numerous potholes in the rock filled with water and containing a number of Rough-skinned Newts.

  No other cars at the trailhead and not one other person seen all day.  Definitely not Southern California!

 This forest has a great mix of  kinds of trees and ages of trees. 

 We recognized this plant from Alaska - Devil's Club.  It is covered with spines, even its leaves.

 A good example of a nursery log now straddled by this large hemlock.

 Drift Creek was a very pleasant surprise, and a great place for lunch.

 We had lunch on some beautiful open rock slabs along the shore.  There were numerous potholes in the rock filled with water and containing a number of Rough-skinned Newts.

 There were some calm, deeper pools, too.  This is a very important creek for coho and chinook salmon.

 Moss covered tree.

 The trail up the creek was very overgrown.  We were trying to find where it connected to a trail coming from the north down to the other side of the creek, but finally gave up.

 Hiking back out, we saw this garter snake cross the trail and try to hide.

 This sighting by the amazing eagle-eye Gail, was one for the books! A Coastal Giant Salamander consuming a banana slug.  It seemed comatose, possibly from the slugs chemical slime.

 Although this one is about 7 1/2 inches long, Coastal Giants can reach 13 inches in length, making them North America's largest terrestrial salamander. They have been known to eat mice, fish, and just about anything they can fit in their mouths. They can also bark like a dog!

We didn't see the salamander or the slug move in any detectable way.  I wonder how this ended.

National Forest Road 5300

About a quarter of a mile from our house is National Forest Road 5300. It is a seldom traveled one lane road that winds through the mountains, intersecting other Forest Service roads and logging roads, eventually coming out near near Waldport after about 15 miles. Monday, I hiked it out and back about 9 miles. There was a down tree across the road near the start that I had to climb through.  After my turn around, I came upon a bear cub about 50 up the road. It quickly scrambled off into the berry vines. I was carrying a big stick and talking loudly as I passed by where it was.  A few minutes later, I heard the slow loud drumming of a pileated woodpecker.

Tuesday, Gail and I drove up to the downed tree, cut up a passage through it with our chainsaw, and drove up a couple miles to begin a hike further along the road.  It was a beautiful sunny day, with some awesome animal sign along the way.

Monday

This downed alder meant I probably wouldn't have any vehicles on the road to disturb the peace.

Turn up your volume and listen to the territorial drumming of North America's largest woodpecker.

Tuesday

After cutting our way through the downed alder and driving up the mountain a couple miles, we parked and started walking.

 This large bear scat contained the hooves of a fawn. 

 Further up the road, another large bear scat.

 A thin layer of mud on the tarmac was a perfect substrate for these bear tracks.

 We noticed that banana slugs have an appetite for various scat.  This one is dining on bear scat.

After a few miles, we explored down a secondary gravel road that is pretty much a half lane road now.  We want to come back to this one and explore further.

A Pale Swallowtail butterfly on a cow parsnip flower.

Andria's Family Comes to Yachats

Andria, Dave, Nora, Soren, and Susanna came to stay with us from last Wednesday to Sunday. Most of the following pictures were taken by Andria which I will designate with an "A".

Susanna immediately became the daily goldfish feeder. A

The kids wanted to help out with the chores, especially chopping wood. A

Susanna scraped the moss off the logs. A

Nora mastered splitting logs, even using an overhead swing when needed.  A

Soren worked hard all morning.  A

Haulin'.  A

After all that work, a trip to the beach was in order.  A

Sculpture and sand castle fun. A

 The Devil's Churn

Kapow! A

 Cape Perpetua 

Silly version.

A juvenile Bald Eagle watches from above.  A

Andria, me, Susanna, Nora, and Soren.  A

 Hay ride time!  A

A

Susanna is very serious about her strumming.  A

She also enjoyed picking chard and watering the vegetables.

Watering the beans.

The spa was a hit!

The talented Susanna is also a hair dresser.

One last group shot before saying goodbye.  A

What's Been Happening

A few notable events have happened for us the past four weeks.  Brian and Lorie found time to come over a week before their wedding, my friends Gabriel, Bob, and Mary Ellen came for a two day visit, and we flew to Sedona for the wedding. Plants have been blooming, too, and we've been busy keeping up with the mowing and trail clearing.  A very noticeable change has been virtually no rain for the past month.

We have started doing Sunday bike rides into Yachats for the farmer's market. We always like to see what the belted Galloways are doing around the half way point (May 13).

The cabana at night.  Gail has tweaked it with romantic touches. (May 14)

In the greenhouse was this little Dunn's Salamander, doing pest control I hope. (May 17)

 Brian and I fired up the humongous grill that came with the house to cook two tiny steaks.  Grill worked great!  (May 19)

No one can resist trying on Gail's steampunk glasses - not even Lorie! (May 19)

The river has been dropping, but looking more inviting for a dip.  (May 21)

In fact I gave it a float on a way too small inner tube.  There were too many shallow spots, however, to want to try this again.  It will be better to float around in one of  the deeper pools on a bigger craft. I'm looking forward to a 95 degree day when a plunge sans wet suit will be fun. (May 21)

I can't believe how the plants have grown since this picture was taken on the 21st.

Spider, as well as the bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies, is liking all the flowers in the front. (May 22)

 Gabriel, on the right, has been a good friend of mine since 1973.  Bob and Mary Ellen worked in the adolescent program at Napa State Hospital with me during the 70's and 80's and have since moved to Salem, Oregon. We're neighbors! (May 23)

 Gail, Mary Ellen, Gabriel, and Bob. (May 24)

 We drove out to the old covered bridge down the road before they left.  (May 24)

Gabriel and Bob. (May 24)

 In Sedona, we took an early morning hike around Courthouse Butte. (May26)

 We also circled Bell Rock.  It felt great to be back in the desert looking for tracks and enjoying the great variety of plants.

Javelina track!  Javelinas are very common around and in Sedona, but we have yet to see one.

 At the wedding, my sisters Sarah and Berta and her husband Paul. Berta and Paul came all the way from Ireland!  (May 27)

Lorie and Brian, bride and groom, flanked by Lorie's family. 

Nick also made it, as well as my Nephew Justin and his daughter Katie from Connecticut. That's Nora, my 12 year old granddaughter on the right. She can hang right in their with adult converstation, no problem.

 Nora and Gail

 Nora and Gail again.

 My grandson Soren and sister Sarah. Later in the evening, Soren was a dancing machine!

 The two flower girls, Katie, and my granddaughter Susanna.

The boys - Dave, me, Paul, Soren, Justin, and Nick.

 When we got home, we were greeted by this blooming peony. (May 29)

While we were gone, our trail cam captured the bobcat at 4:40 in the afternoon on the 26th.

 After three days stuck in the house, Yummy was happy to get some fresh air again. Don't go too far, Yummy! ( May 30)

Yes, the sun does shine here every now and then.  (June 1)