The Reedsport Elk Herd by r. thomas (LVH resident)

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Yesterday, we set off on an adventure to visit the Roseveldt Elk Herd outside of Reedsport. Most of you know we have a Ford minivan and so it is fairly roomy for Seniors on a trip. Roomy it may be but getting in and out of the back seat is a very hard, albeit a humorous situation for short legs and arthritic knees. There is my method of grabbing for every handhold in site to lower myself to the floor with my feet dangling out the door and then standing up and waiting for my knees to wake up. Then there is the graceful Beverly who somehow manages to slide off the seat on to the floor and then exit as if there is nothing to it at all. There were 4 of us and we all had a good time.

On the trip were Jacky Thomas, Ginger Stout, Bev Garvey and me (Ron Thomas). Ever since the four of us went to see the Lion King in Portland we have become good riding buddies. The conversations swirling about the cabin jumped from the ribald to reminiscences of times long past and experiences of growing up in a era much different from today. The elk as expected were not in the elk viewing area.

Once you get to the viewing area about 5 miles east of Reedsport you will see a nicely constructed area with (the ever important) restrooms sprinkled liberally throughout the roadside park. What you usually will not see are the elk! Yet signs proclaim that this nice park is the elk viewing area. For years we have turned back several times in disappointment that there were no elk to view. Then one day by accident we drove east for an adventure. Viola! Just a quarter mile east of the Elk viewing area was the elk herd. It seems that the grass is greener there... Somebody has to be watering it and that is what makes an elk happy. Since that discovery we have always seen elk on this trip.

On the way home we decided to show our friends Winchester Bay because it was such a beautiful camping area. What happened to it? It had changed from its normal serene beauty to an ocean of campers and four tracks with a sprinkling of dune buggies zipping up and down the road shoulder like a swarm of annoying bumble bees. We turned around and started home but Bev spotted a bakery next to 101 and 3 of us went in to case the joint. I bought a big shepard loaf of Jalapeño/Cheddar bread and Bev bought some cheese... Lunch! Pretty darn good.

The chatter continued as the scenery passed by until we got to Florence and a drive through Old Towne was in order... It was packed. Then over the cliff drive to Yachats were we did the van Exodus scenario at a local Mexican bistro/restaurant where the terrible service and overpriced cuisine was only matched by the 4 thumbs down fare. That aside, returning home we saw a NOAA ship parked at its birth and all the new NOAA 2 story buildings have their walls up.

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