Kasey spent time digging into a story about his cousin Tommy, details he’d picked up from the papers we were returning to Pam. With copies of old letters providing dates and names, he tracked down where the original media archives were kept. Tommy had lived with cancer until he passed away at age 17, and a news series highlighted his final days. Learning that those video archives were preserved hit Kasey with a wave of emotion, realizing he might actually be able to see the footage if he reaches out to the right archivists. The award-winning series was later turned into a special and touched countless lives. There’ll undoubtedly be more to this story later, but for now, Kasey is simply grateful that Tommy's memory endures.
The weather was delightful, so we opened the windows and door to catch the breeze. It was a serene morning, right up until it wasn't. Being Wednesday and tucked between rainstorms, the groundskeeper decided it was the prime moment to trim the partially brown, two-inch grass with the noisy riding lawnmower.
Cutting it once wasn't thorough enough; he made sure every single blade was precisely leveled to 1.5 inches. That meant making several buzzing passes inches from our rig. By the third round, we scrambled to slam the doors and windows shut to muffle the roar.
When Tad gave us "the look," we took it as our cue to go for a walk and leave the mower to his mission. Stepping into the surrounding woods, the noise dissolved almost instantly, bringing immediate relief. It brought to mind the Umpqua Watersheds motto: “More Nature, Less Stress.” It really works. Having the trails all to ourselves, we immersed ourselves in the woods. A pileated woodpecker flew past, a great blue heron glided down toward the water, and Canada geese skimmed across the mirror-still lake. We paused to admire the wildlife while Tad made a few ripples of his own at the shore.
Along the path, we noticed heavy metal rings set in the brush. These containment rings are used by the park’s natural resources team to manage fine fuels. Crews thin out invasive buckthorn and clear excess undergrowth, piling the branches inside the tall rings so staff can burn brush safely without igniting the dry leaf litter on the forest floor.
Looping through the east side, we checked site 85, confirming our coveted spot was still empty. A few other campers were parked nearby, mostly in travel trailers.
By the time we wandered back, our noisy friend on the mower had moved on. Next door, one of the camp hosts was prepping his truck and trailer to head out, finally stowing the unsightly sewer hose that had dominated our view. We reopened the doors, cracked the windows, and flipped on the fan. But just as the fresh air returned, the smell of cigarette smoke forced us to shut things down again. Before long, he drove off. He’s a genuinely nice, helpful guy, impeccably dressed in tan pants and matching shoes, shirt neatly tucked in, looking like he stepped straight off the cover of a Lands' End catalog. I skipped taking a photo to avoid being obvious, but you get the picture.
We played a few hands of cribbage, then hopped on our bikes to grab groceries for an upcoming visit with Ash and the grandkids. Carrying only a backpack and a fanny pack meant sticking strictly to the basics. The ride was smooth, thanks to wide roads and well-maintained bike paths. Kasey couldn't resist picking up a 12-pack of Coca-Cola, though I had serious doubts about how he’d transport it. Watching him strap it down, I had visions of pop cans bouncing across the pavement into traffic and exploding under passing tires. I pleaded with him to let me re-secure the load, and he patiently let me take over.
Shortly after we got back, the family arrived. Kasey already had a fire crackling in the ring, and Ash jumped right in to make grilled cheese, with hot dogs arriving in the second car. The kids were thrilled to be outdoors in the mild weather. Bo immediately made a beeline for the tree line to inspect whatever treasures nature had left—acorns, sticks, and fallen leaves. I warmed up a side of beans and set out the condiments.
Ladderball provided plenty of entertainment as the kids practiced their toss. With our neighbors gone, we had extra space to spread out for the evening. We also reunited Odin with a few items he’d left behind during his visit to Oregon.
As night fell and the family packed up to leave, a damp chill settled over the campsite. We called Jeri and Woody to see how things were in Roseburg and catch up on events. We then hurried around in the twilight, tucking our gear away under cover before the moisture set in.
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