The place some call Oregon and we call home rides atop the North American land plate as it slowly and ineluctably eats away at the remnants of the once immense Farallon Plate. Forcing it down 60 miles below where it melts, the molten Farallon bubbles and rises – fighting its way back up and exacting a unique revenge on the landscape by torquing and peaking it into an archipelago of volcanoes. The eight large river basins flow east, west, north and south and form the second profound feature: giving each basin a life different than the others. Scattered about, though mostly concentrated in the river basins protected by the volcanic archipelago, nearly 3.5 million people live in towns, cities, farms, and wildlands.
For the last half-decade we have spent nearly every weekend and free moment hanging sheetrock, running plumbing and wire, painting, pouring concrete, installing windows, and framing a home. Where did our camping gear ever get to? Do we remember how to get anywhere other than Home Depot?
Oregon Summer is our declaration to explore this land, its cities and towns, and its people as intensely as we can from May 14 to October 7. We want to river raft, hike, walk a slot canyon, swim in surf, brunch at fine hotels, mountain climb, rock climb, see the Pendelten Round-Up, bird watch, kayak, and bicycle.
Why a blog? Oregon Summer – to us – is about spending time with our friends and family in this grand landscape. We – and, hopefully, you – will use this blog to announce trips, make connections, plan and record photos and memories for others to share. Anyone can post (anyone with the password, that is). After your post or comment, please sign your initials.
