Oh Oregon!
Travels with Heart, by Annie Bowler, October 1, 2026, Volume 38
John and I head to Oregon each September; it was lovely to be back! I love Oregon’s many
powerful rivers, winding roads, and so much green!
John and I spend time in Oregon each September at the lovely Belknap Hot Springs with
longtime friends and some new ones too. Some fished the McKenzie River, while others hiked
nearby trails, read, cooked, sang, laughed, soaked in hot springs water, played games, crafted,
and shared meals together. All in all, we had a grand relaxing time in this a delightful setting
where the McKenzie River literally surrounds the campground on three sides. It was especially
fun because we celebrated my birthday with these wonderful friends.
The geology of this region, with its lava beds and disappearing rivers that flow through lava tubes for up to seven years, is fascinating! John and I hike to Proxy Falls, which are two waterfalls that disappear into lava tubes. Fall colors were everywhere!
Next we drove the steep, narrow road to McKenzie Pass and Dee Wright Observatory, which is an amazing lookout that was constructed in 1935 during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) using locally sourced dark basalt rock. From the lookout, you have a 360 view of mountains near and far. It is stunning!
Then we headed into Sisters, one of my all time favorite towns, for coffee before returning to camp for our final dinner with our friends.
On the last day, I hiked 5.5 miles of the 26 mile McKenzie River Trail. It was steep but gorgeous!
I was truly pleased with how well I handled the steepness of this trail and it made me realize I
am well enough to take on the American River canyon again. I plan to hike the entire
McKenzie River trail over the next year or two.
Leaving Belknap, we headed to the beach, near Florence, OR, where we explored the nearby sand dunes, a gorgeous lighthouse, a Hobbit trail, hiked the lovely Woahink Lake, and spent more time with dear friends.
John, Rich and Carl fished for salmon on the Siuslaw River and boy did Rich get lucky! A seal bit the tail of the fish, but Captain drove the boat toward the seal. It was an exciting moment for them all.
On the way home, we had a delightful time with Beverly Jump, a friend from our college days.
Bev’s husband, Elis Jump, was John’s first sculpture professor and both Beverly and Elis were
amazing artists. Sadly, Elis passed of Covid a few years back, but Bev’s home is packed with
their familiar and beloved artwork. It was so nice to spend time with our dear friend surround
by so much that we have long admired!
John and I had a wonderful lunch at the Flower Farm Café catching up with old friends, Gary
Gutowsky, Junko Baker, and Kathleen Crawford and made some new friends, as well. After
lunch, I walked the farm and was truly impressed by how beautiful it looked with the fall season
rolling in.
The pumpkin patch that’s surrounded by cutting flowers is stunning, there was live music
playing, and people celebrating birthdays and showering a mom to be in the Café gardens.
Others were enjoying at quiet afternoon and delicious wines on Casque’s patio. I was tickled to
see so many people have a fun day as this is what we had hoped for when we started the
Flower Farm.
One more thing, you have got to meet the ducks that live in the pond between the Cafe and the Casque tasting room. They are simply adorable!
I hope you and yours have a peaceful fall season.
I love how this excerpt captures the relaxed atmosphere of spending time with longtime friends while also making new memories. The combination of hiking, fishing, cooking, soaking in the hot springs, and celebrating a birthday makes the trip sound especially enjoyable. Basketball Random feels unrelated to the travel story, but the sense of friendship and shared experiences comes through beautifully.
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