Nick Visits

 Last Friday, Nick drove up from Napa to stay with us until Tuesday morning.  We all had concerns about COVID, so Nick was tested 3 days before making the trip.  Our intent to wear masks and distance the whole time proved unworkable, so eventually we gave up on that.  The weather was great until Monday evening, so we were able to do all the favorite outdoor activities on our list.  Nick, being somewhat of a foodie, meant we didn't skimp on kitchen fun and fine meals.  

The visit took a turn Monday night with an unprecedented natural disaster.

                     Saturday morning we headed south for a beach walk at Ocean Beach.

                         We've watched dunes grow during the summer - a seasonal phenomena. 

                                                              Exploring the rock fall.

                                        Intrepid spelunkers, not so intrepid photographer.

                                                                      What's that?

                 From the beach, we continued south to have an afternoon hike at Enchanted Valley.

                                            We saw this Northern Red-legged Frog.

                                                                        What's that?

Saturday night we made pizzas using squash, onions, mozzarella, garlic, rosemary, sage, thyme, toasted walnuts, and goat cheese.  Also, note a couple of the delicious melons Nick brought up from his garden.

                We all helped out on the pizzas even though the pictures tell a different story.

After breakfast on Sunday, we took a short hike on the trail across the road that we call Full Moon Trail, after Gail and I hiked up to its terminus on a full moon night.

Something that Nick noticed, that we never had, were numerous trees along the trail with these marks in the bark.  A check of my tracking books and the internet confirmed what we thought.  These are bear marking trees, the above picture being claw marks.  They also mark with their teeth, and by rubbing their backs on the tree.  The trees are usually along trails.

                      Where's Nick?  We returned to the house and walked around the property.

                      The afternoon was getting close to 90 degrees signalling "float time!"

Are we related to Esther Williams?  Synchronized aquashenanigans on the Yachats. Video by Gail.

Nick proves his manhood by performing total immersion.  I did my annual immersion a couple weeks ago, so was good for the year.  This water is colder than it looks!

                                                                           Sequence by Gail

Sunday evening, we had a chicken BBQ and a birthday party for Daisy who turned 28 in doggy years.

Gail made a supreme carrot cake for the occasion (but not for Daisy).

Daisy got a new squirrel, and long lasting chews, presented by Nick.  Daisy has accepted Nick into the pack, and a bond is germinating.

                    Monday, Nick and I canoed Beaver Creek in warm air and deep blue skies.

           On the return down the creek, the light was just right for the "shimmer" under the bridge.

                                                           The amazing "shimmer".

Monday evening, after a dinner of broiled halibut, roasted petite potatoes, green beans, and salad, the mood changed from contentment to concern.  

We started smelling wood smoke, and a warm east wind started gusting.  The electricity went out around 8:00 PM which meant no water to the house.  

In the morning, Tuesday, the smoke was very thick, ash was falling, the sun was obscured, and there was an orange glow.

I hooked up the generator to the refrigerator, freezer, and computer.  We can't hook it up to our water system, however.

When the sun was visible, it was a red ball.  We said goodbye to Nick, and he headed back to Napa around 10:00 AM.  

             I drove into Waldport to get more gas for the generator, and it was even smokier there.

We learned there were massive fires to our east in the Cascades, a fire outside Waldport,  and a big fire about 40 miles north outside Lincoln City.  The winds on the coast, similar to Santa Anas in Southern California, had gusted to 55 m.p.h. that night.  I saw where 4 trees had come down on Yachats River Road and had been cleared.  Some stores in Yachats had their storefront windows blown out.

                                  Seeing the smoke driving back up Yachats River Road.  

Gail and I loaded up our cars with essentials, pet supplies, and favorite keepsake pictures, etc.  We want to be ready for a quick escape if need be.

Our stashed emergency water, only 6 gallons, was getting low so we filtered some river water down at the river.  As soon as we finished, around 5:00 PM, the power came back on.

After wearing this mask outside for a couple days, it is now blackish on its surface.  Gail started wearing a mask, also, while outside.

Disaster central.  The little refrigerator on the left started defrosting after the power went out, resulting in puddles on the floor.

Nick's drive home turned into a near 17 hour marathon.  It had taken him only 8 hours to drive up.  As he approached Ashland, the I-5 was closed due to fire, and he had to reroute back to the coast.  And then, because the 101 was closed near Willits, he had to stay on Highway One all the way down to Albion and then head back inland to the 101.  He made it home safely, arriving at 2:30 AM.

Right now, Friday the 11th, the weather here is cool, no wind, and there is a chance of rain showers next week starting on Monday. I'm feeling fairly optimistic that we're going to be fine here.  So many people in Oregon and other Western States have lost their homes, even loved ones, and have had their lives turned upside down.

What a year this has been.  It was so fun to have Nick up, our only visitor in the last 6 months.  I'm hoping that 2021 means we have a COVID vaccine and no virus, no Trump, no massive wildfires, and the ability to travel and see more family and friends.  Give us the old normal!