Exploring the Rogue '21

We've been getting on the river a bit more this year locally, which has been fun.  We need to get a raft... and doing the Wild and Scenic is high on the list...

Went back to back this weekend...

• Gold Hill down to Rogue River (should take out at VOTR as that last section is flat)
• Touvelle to Lyman's (it's chill down to Fisher's Ferry, from there there are 2 or 3 tricky rapids that are class II).  
• Gold Hill to VOTR with the boys (forgot the IK... whoops)
• 4th of July SUP with Jasper from Gold Hill to VOTR
• Dodge to Touvelle with Balesteris, Jasper, Fam
• Dodge to Touvelle with the Smiths and Jasper

Shasta in Shasta! Selling Seashells in Smokey September

That's the sun... 

Late Aug to mid September was rough in S. Oregon.  Well, most of the west coast actually this year.  So much smoke from record breaking wildfires.  We had finally had it and decided to join the Balesteris for a weekend camping trip in Shasta over Labor Day.  Sand Flat area has tons of open camping enough for a 1000 folks to camp socially distanced.  But it's quite dusty.  Anyway, we had a blast playing games (can jam, poker, bags, etc...)

Shasta at Shasta.  He always looks like he's in trouble when I try to take a pic of him in front of something...

Mama! Gimmie mo' ramen!  Nikko, why are you in a can jam?

There are some fun trails here, but many parts of the trails need some more TLC.  Also, the dirt here is sooo dusty... 

Can Jam!

we rode from Ski Bowl down to our camp... there were lots of hike a bike sections... but the kids fared well.  

A bit dusty...

Let the games begin!

a dip at Lake Siskiyou was essential after this trip.  

Doran Beach! Again!

Back to Doran Beach... finally.  This place rules like O'Doyle, but we hadn't found the time to make the trek up for 3 years.  I made this a priority this year and we lucked out on another beautiful weekend playing in the sun, sand, wind, and waves.  What a great spot.  

Good naps on the way up!

Kai got some treats while Nikko was asleep... shhhh don't tell Nikko

stopped at Bodega Bay Oyster Co on the way up.  

mmmm

met up with the Mooreheads and Kate, who happened to be only a few minutes behind us.  

we went across the street to Oyster Rockerfeller's to get some happy hour tacos.  

mmmm

And got to Doran Beach at sunset.  

Some jammin' around the campfire... 

And woke up to this on Sat!

Went out for a quick paddle to Bodega Rocks before the wind picked up.

Where tons of seals were chillin...

There were some folks Abalone diving.  Gotta do that next year!

On the way back ran into these folks... 

Meanwhile... back in the Kuwabara tent... 

Not only is there an awesome beach a stone's throw away, there's a great tree to climb!

Kai going out for a paddle.

We spent all day at the beach... and were never bored.  

Scout

Check out the shade structure!

hi

Brynn kite flyin'

Soon the Balesteri's showed up.  I forgot, I think they had soccer?  Or a show?  Anyway, they made it up, that's the important thing

And we got out some more oysters...

spike ball!

at night it cooled off quickly as it got windy... 

Next morning, I took the kids on a beach walk... 

and we encountered a sick bird... 

Kate, entertaining us... 

Sweet!  And that's a wrap folks  

Strava Link
Doran Beach from 2014

Tips for next time:

• Go on a morning run after paddling across the bay.  
• Bike up there.
• Get some buffalo ice cream!
• Sites C and D are primo.  Then E and F.  
• Take light up stuff
• steel wool?
• Abalone diving - there were folks diving off of Bodega Rock
• Take wet suit, SUP, nets, snorkel, masks, gloves, etc...
• SUP across the channel and go for runs on Bodega Head in the morning.   Scope out places to tidepool?
• Go to the campfire program?