Road Trip With Daisy

Last week, we did an overnight road trip with Daisy, her first with us.  We headed south about 65 miles to Tugman State Park where we had reserved a yurt.  We made several stops along the way to let Daisy stretch, and to make some unexpected purchases.

 First stop was the beach in Yachats to let Daisy blow off a little steam.

 Then it was off down the coast, passing the mist shrouded Haceta Head Lighthouse.


Before coming to Reedsport, we stopped at the Tsunami Gallery in tiny Gardiner.  Gail fell in love with sculptures made of kelp that an artist makes. She bought a smaller one.  Then we happened to notice a myrtlewood gallery that listed slabs as one of its offerings. We have been wanting a rustic slab of wood for a River Song sign we'll place near our driveway entrance.  We found just what we were looking for.

Turned horizontally and with letters burned in, I think it will be what we are looking for.

 In Reedsport,  there is a 7 acre dog park we took advantage of.

 It even had a doggy obstacle course.  Daisy nailed the teeter-totter.

 She saw no need to jump over the high-jump, however, and skirted the obstacle.

 Our very own yurt!  It came with heating and lighting, but no plumbing.

 It was cozy for the 3 of us, the only drawback being the noisy trucks on the 101 that seem to run more at night than the daytime.

 In the morning, we hiked along the lake that is part of the park.

 Daisy drinking from the lake.

 Then, it was a short drive to the Umpqua Lighthouse and its nearby beach.

 Daisy is getting very reliable about retrieving a tennis ball.

 Daisy's side trot tracks.

 This surfer was the only other person we could see on the whole beach.

 Another wide-open Oregon beach - dog heaven!

 A rare rest by the the 3 year old.

Daisy got an "A" for her first road trip with us.  Hmmm, where will we go next?

August Flashback

Here are a few photos I forgot were in my camera since  August 24.

I believe this dragonfly is a red-veined meadowhawk. He was very cooperative for close-ups!

 I still don't know what the plant is that he is resting on, but it is one of our most spectacular bloomers in the front yard.

 Another kind of "meadow hawk" is this Allen's hummingbird, also in the front yard.

The promising apple crop turned out to be an apple bonanza with enough apples for the bear and us.

River Song Updates

The past two weeks have been very Daisy centered, resulting in trips to the beach, hikes, and romps in the yard.  Gail did manage an overnight in Eugene to do art exploration and a show, while I stayed home tending the critters.  Below are some pictures of what's been happening around here as we head into fall.

 Daisy loves it when we let her loose for short romps in the yard.  She seems to like getting her feet wet.  We're still concerned, though, that she might take off after an animal or alluring scent.

 With the rains the past few weeks, mushroom season is off and rolling.  We picked these chanterelles in about 10 minutes at one of our not so secret spots.  I started using the dry sautee method and love the results.

 Gail brought home this deluxe bed for Daisy, and she approves!

 Aaaahhh!

 Daisy really blows off steam at the beach and is getting quite reliable about retrieving a thrown tennis ball.

 "Yes, I'm a dog's dog!"

"I also love to carry around my dead squirrel."

The bear continues to return most nights for an apple feast.  I put a camera up in the tree.  There are few apples left, so it may be about done with this tree.

I inadvertently caught this pretty Red-breasted Sapsucker yesterday morning.

Hiking up the 5300 with Daisy this morning we saw these young Shaggy Mane fungi coming up in the middle of the road.