Oregonians like to tell the story about the old Oregon trail that brought chuckwagons full of prospectors westward across the Prairies and over the mountains to the west coast. At the end of the trail was a sign - on one side was a drawing of bars of gold and an arrow pointing left; on the other the word "Oregon" and an arrow pointing right. The illiterate, they smile, hung a left to California while the well-read were bright enough to know they’d just about arrived in paradise.
This issue of CottageLink Magazine takes a look at the wonders of Oregon and northern California, a region of considerable natural charms. We were guided by our good friends Scott & Jann Taylor of Cave Junction, who took us deep into the Oregon Caves, to the rim of an extinct volcano to catch a glimpse of one of the most beautiful lakes in the world and into one of the state’s many exciting whitewater rivers for a sometimes harrowing introduction to rafting.
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Every day when we returned to their ranch on the outskirts of Cave Junction, we’d keep an eye peeled for four deer that hung around their property, often found grazing in their corral beside their horse Mo. Though wary of humans, the three young deer would let me get fairly close to snap pictures before bolting to another pasture. Meanwhile, Mom would keep her distance, quite heavy with the next generation, and we hoped we’d be able to see her babies come stumbling forth during our brief stay.
We weren’t lucky on that count but as you’ll read, we were pretty much on a natural high the entire week we spent exploring the wilds of Oregon.
Closer to home, another summer at the cottage has come and gone, with Labour Day upon us and thoughts turning from golf and hiking to skating and skiing. And while we cherished our days in Ontario’s lake country this summer, we’ll never forget our spring in the Cascades.
Glenn Garnett/Editor, CottageLink Magazine
Ever since the Boston Tea Party, there’s been a streak of rebelliousness in our friends to the south. But it’s a little known fact today that if not for the outbreak of the Second World War, a group of disgruntled counties in the Pacific Northwest might have preceded Alaska as the 49th state of the union. Today, the State of Jefferson is symbolic of dissatisfaction with big government and high taxes for those who live there while offering some of the most spectacular scenery and natural attractions in the American west. See story 1.
Seeing the splendours of Oregon from inside a Jimmy is one thing - doing so while clutching a paddle and dodging sharp rocks in a surging river is a whole other high. For many in the Pacific Northwest, whitewater rafting is an exciting sport bordering on religion. Check out our rite of passage in story 2.
They’re Mother Nature’s roach hotels - bugs check in, they don’t check out. "Carnivorous plants" exist all over the world, luring gullible insects inside with the promise of nectar before the horrors begin. Check out story 3.
"For Sale" signs represent two things - an opportunity for the buyer and a life-changing decision by the seller. Larry Johnston has a fish pond for sale, and an interesting story to tell about realizing his lifelong ambition and his decision to move on in story 4.
In our winter edition, we return to Europe and medieval times, touring the walled towns of Germany’s Romantic Road. We call ‘em Muskoka chairs while our friends in the U.S. insist they’re Adirondack chairs. But we all agree those wide-armed deep-seated wooden chairs invented over a century ago are the height of comfort and style at the cottage - we’ll talk these and other chairs for the cottage. And while we’re sitting in one, we’ll learn about a new book that helps you reach a zen state. All this and more coming November 1.
If you have any comments or suggestions on articles you’d like to see in CottageLink Magazine, just drop me a line at cggarnett@telus.net. Remember - this is your magazine!
Cover photo: McKenzie Falls, central Oregon
