Thursday, November 17, 2011

Fall

Ooh Fall, ...the colors are incredible with many sunny days a beautiful sight along the McKenzie river. We just returned from our vacation in Northern  California with absolutely astonishing sunny weather. The splendor of the Redwoods with all it's autumn colors. You can't ask for more. Shall we clean up all those leaves or let them on the floor until after Thanksgiving?

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

October??

Yeah, we all have that feeling.... October?? What happened? Did this summer fall short, ... was it not so hot or is an Indian summer on it's way? Either way, the kids are back in school and the salmon are spawning. It must be that fall is around the corner. Yes, July was colder and more wet than June and business was slow, but here came August. Some of the highlights: - the Reppert/Weinberg bi-annual family reunion took place with even more participants then before, but even that week with Bocce ball, rafting, golf and great food was over before we knew it. Came September. Sure we had a great rafting adventure with a group of people from the Leatherman company from Portland which was awesome, because I met again with James Schmidt and his family and I hooked up with some great people, Tanya and Tim Moomey, relatively new guides on the river, from TnT White Water Rafting and what a blast we had going through Martin Rapids four times in succession.
So here we are, August and September made up for July regarding over night bookings and October is just a couple of days shy from changing the calendar.
Earlier this week I heard on the radio, I 'm sure it was on OPB, that scientists discovered 'new' sub-atomic particles that can travel faster than light. Although this need to be verified by the scientific community it would make a big impact since it would throw over Einstein's theory that nothing can travel faster than light and therefore time travel is not possible. But if this is true and scientifically established and those particles are faster than light, ....well, ...can we than go back to June 2011?  For I just loved this summer with all its weather idiosyncrasies and those many guests we saw coming back to our spot on the river and all those rafting and fishing trips I have been doing with so many people, young and less young, familiar and new!

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Water safety

If there is one thing I enjoyed tremendously this week it has been doing a presentation at the Cooper Mountain school in Beaverton, Oregon for third graders. Divided into two groups of about 75 students each I had a captivated audience so open minded and inquisitive about the use of lifejackets this summer during water activities. It makes me rethink the language to use when composing questions. In an answer to one of my questions:- "What kind of bodies of water do we know?" I've got a small dissertation about this kids body and how it was made out of this precious water. 
It also made me realize that the teachers, who are dedicating their time and efforts, have to use a language that third graders understand all the time. 
Anyhow it was a blast. With the help of my laptop connected to the overhead projector I was able to show pictures and text to emphasize the importance of wearing a life jacket and how important it is to tighten the bottom strap of the jacket and/or having an extra strap attached to the jacket looped between the legs. I threw in a little science by using statistics to show these little fellows the odds of an accident when not wearing one. As an river guide/outfitter I hope it all contribute to a great summer while spending time on beaches, lakes and rivers wearing lifejackets in safe manner.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Many people are thinking this spring in the Pacific North West has been cold and wet. I don't blame them, yes, ...but there have been years that set a record and I don't think this was one of them. Actually I would say this spring made our garden incredible lush and green and full of colors of blooming flowers. The rhododendrons , azalea's, lilacs, snowballs are so voluminous and big and with so many flowers it looks like our yard is on fire.


With weddings coming up next week and summer we called in some help us to get the whole property to look at it's best. Ellie, my innkeeper and sister in law, has made together with Yvette and my wife a tremendous effort to get all the flowerbeds, pathways, sitting area's, trails etc. ready, and it looks fantastic. There's still work to be done, but for now the blend of the manicured and natural area's make this Bed and Breakfast stand out in it's own way.
Last weekend it was gorgeous weather and guests enjoyed the property sitting in lounge chairs watching the river flow by and by walking the river trail that starts at the waterfront. With fresh wood chips on top it will take you into the forest and meanders towards the entrance bypassing many indigenous plants and trees. There's even an old trunk covered with lichens (see picture below: a combination of a fungus and algae) some of them in bloom. It is beautiful and the McKenzie River Inn is shaping up for summer.



Thursday, March 10, 2011


Now here is a thought. March and April 2011 is the month to start your McKenzie River Inn savings account. Stay for “ two nights in March & April and we'll deposit a $100 credit in your account for any return visit. When you stay with us in March and/or April and return again for any two night stay during 2011, even in the summer, you'll have a $100 credit waiting for you. It's like getting paid to enjoy yourself. There is limited space available for this special offer, so make your reservations soon."