We took a ride up the Rogue River in a jet boat.
We had to wear these horribly stinky life vests for the "dangerous" part of the voyage. These vests had absorbed the sweat of hundreds of people before us. I am not really smiling here, but grimacing from the smell.
This is the turn-around place for the boats. People in kayaks and rafts have died near here.
The "Dinosaur Tree"
We saw five bears along the bank.
One year when there was flooding, the river actually rose up over this bridge!
Soon after moving to Brookings, we encountered The Waving Man. He waves like crazy to all the cars going up and down the highway. He turns around and greets both directions of traffic. He has many different styles of waving, bowing, and even dancing a little.
His name is Ira Tofer. He has been waving at traffic for many years. He is one of the most colorful and endearing characters around town.
Harris Beach sunsets
Liam finds an ocean treasure.
Rick and Michelle heading to the mysterious sea cave.
Tanner and Carrie enjoy a relaxing moment in the sea cave before it is completely filled again with water.
Olivia and Gage finding critters that are usually hidden under the waves!
Hana and Hendrix at the end of Secret Beach
Colorful starfish. (I know it is now considered politically correct to call them "sea stars", which is precisely why I refuse to do it.)
Rick on a REALLY BIG piece of driftwood. Possibly an old redwood root.
Meet Tony and his dog, Sadie. Tony was working on this raft for quite a while, planning to take it out on the ocean, with a tent on it, for an extended cruise. He took it for a test float on the river and someone called the police, who made him take it home and told him not to try it on the ocean, or he would be arrested. Sad to say, he abandoned his (sea) worthy quest.
This is a pretty remarkable feat of nautical engineering, as you can see. Note the water skis.
We heard a talk in a branch we visited that made us look at each other and say, "We relate!" Here's the story:A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. This the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore, and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, the devil decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man's weary mind "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it." This gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. "Why kill myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort and that will be good enough." And that is what he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.
"Lord" he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"
The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me, with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so?
Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done. I, my friend, will now move the rock."
We have felt so many times on this mission that we are pushing against a rock that won't budge. Some days we would come home and say to each other that all we did was push the rock. But we are accustomed to it, now, and are not letting discouragement discourage us any more! Besides, we have many good days, too!
