Southern Oregon Coast Trip, 5/31/09

Part 1:

Part 2:

Memorial Day 2009

Here is a closeup of the bench, with a broken limb blocking the view a bit.

This is the tree near the old schoolhouse where my dad went to school. Benches were put in between the trunks, but they eventually grew together.

Ranch where my dad grew up, off the Greenhorn Road in Yreka, California.

Sister Sharon poses in front of the house where she was born. This is in Hornbrook, California.

We went the back way from Yreka, California, and stopped at this bridge, which was once the highest in California.

Catholic church near Hornbrook, California. It was built in 1877.

City hall.

A bird sits on the back of a horse nearby.

Rick and Sheryl add some flowers to Dad’s grave.

Hard to believe my dad has been gone 12 years.

A breeze blew these little flags.

Mom’s grave marker.

Rob, Pat, Rick, and Sherry look at the graves of Rick’s dad and his uncle.

Putting flowers on his Uncle Don’s grave.

Entrance to Hillcrest Memorial Park in Medford, Oregon.

Roxy Ann Peak

A view from the north side of the peak.

One of the antennas familiar to residents of the Rogue Valley.

Despite the haze, Mount McLaughlin is still visible from both sides of Roxy Ann Peak.

Mule’s ear also thrive in this area.

Camus plants live up here.

Sharon decides to take a break.

Another view of the valley.

Yours truly looks like shit, as always.

Sharon poses in near the edge.

It was a bit hazy today, but what a view of the valley!

Today my sister and I hiked up to the top of Roxy Ann Peak, which overlooks the Rogue River Valley. The hike is strenuous in places, but it is worthwhile. The view of the valley looks almost like seeing it from a landing plane.

From Wikipedia:

Roxy Ann Peak is a mountain in the western Cascade Range which may be of volcanic origin. It is located at the eastern edge of Medford, Oregon. The peak is approximately 30 million years old. It rises 3,573 feet (1,089 m) above sea level, and over 2,000 feet (610 m) above the surrounding Rogue Valley.[4] It was named after Roxy Ann Bowen, an early settler of the mountain.

Lower Table Rock, Southern Oregon

Today I went up to Lower Table Rock. There were scads and scads of wildflowers, and there were some vernal pools that had not yet evaporated. It was difficult to see the rare vernal pool fairy shrimp, but I did get some pictures of tadpoles. Mount McLaughlin is in the background of a few of these pictures.

Jacksonville Woodlands Trail System

This afternoon I decided to drive over to historic Jacksonville, Oregon, and walk the Woodlands Trail section located above the Britt Festival amphitheater. Many flowers were in bloom, including the red bell-like Gentner’s fritillary, one of the rarest flowers in the world. They are found only in Jackson and Josephine counties, with the greatest concentration in around Jacksonville.

From this site:

Gentner’s fritillary is known only from scattered localities in southwest Oregon, along the Rogue and Illinois River drainages in Josephine and Jackson counties. It is highly localized in a 48 kilometers (30 miles) radius around Jacksonville, Oregon, on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service, Department of Transportation, Southern Oregon University, City of Jacksonville, and private landowners.

Upper Table Rock Hike

I just returned from a hike at Upper Table Rock near Medford, Oregon. It is very pretty this time of year, with wildflowers in abundance. People were also in abundance today enjoying the scenery. However, I didn’t see any fairy shrimp for the vernal pools have evaporated until the next rain. When that happens, the eggs laid by the female shrimp will hatch and the cycle begins anew.

The little white flowers I believe are the drawf woolly meadowfoam plants, which are not found anywhere else in the world except the Table Rocks.

There were many hawks flying around looking for food. There were a couple of vultures, but mostly there were hawks. I managed to get a couple of pictures of a couple of them in flight.

Eventually I will make a Blurb “book” from these pictures.

Easter 2009

Doodles

Niece Sheryl with Madison Hillman.

Grandma Sherry with Madison.

Madison enjoys walking on the trailer.

Brayden looks for his toy.

Madison learns how to “stomp” on the trailer.

Brayden finds an egg.

Another egg.

Madison wears her Easter dress.

The kids enjoyed finding Easter eggs.

Ready for the hunt.

Great-grandma Sharon, mom Kasey, and Madison.

Great-grandma shows Madison how to take her brother’s picture.

Shelby poses for the camera. We all had a great time today with the egg hunt and later on having dinner. Seventeen people were at the dinner.

Pear Blossom Festival 2009, Medford, Oregon

Spring Pictures–Medford, Oregon

I finally made it up to Oregon this afternoon riding with my sister. We went north via Alturas, California. The roads were fine.

I thought I’d take some pictures of flowers at the trailer park where my brother lives and where I am staying.

More Sam Pictures