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.

Spring fever

After months of sunny weather we allow the rain to fill up the river and form snow caps on the mountains to ensure required water levels for the summer season. River rafting and fly-fishing are just around the corner and yes, we've been out there already and did some great training runs on the upper McKenzie. A special thanks to my mock-clients Theresa, Dick, Nadine andRon to warm me up for this upcoming season.

At the McKenzie River Inn we have been upgrading our wireless high speed internet for better accessibility and

of course higher speeds. Especially for our business guests it is a must to have a broadband connection that meets the highest demands for internet access. Our internet service provider ensured us designated server space an routing to it, so drop outs should be a thing of the past.

The McKenzie River Inn hosted for the fourth year the 28th annual Public Interest Environmental Law Conference with more participants than ever before and our lodge, as well our cabins were jam-packed with people, drawing in representatives as far as from the Dakota's. Over the years I have been reporting about this event and have to say that we keep learning more and more about the perspective of the first Americans. It is obvious that the complexity of environmental issue's and the necessity to find solutions for it's problems (as well for the economic, social and ecological situations) a matter is for all of us, and needless to say, to be dealt with and overcome.

The added value for all participants of this conference is the force or feeling that unites people in general and especially within the realm of common emotion and/or interest. Clearly at the end of the conference there was a bond of understanding between all of us, as a (growing) group.

As I'm out and about, guests and other people will often ask me if the bed and breakfast business has slowed down due to the recession. You know with the recession our country is in, my expectation was that people wouldn't to be traveling as much, I was wrong. I can happily reply that business hasn't been bad. Yes, it slowed down mid-October last year as it always does and we didn't get that Indian summer we wished for. So who are these people that can afford and keep traveling? This is my take on it. There are still the events in the area that attract certain guests--events that people look forward to or plan for year after year. But, in between the events, what reasons do people find to travel? I think that recession or no-recession, people work hard and need a vacation. Those people are usually resourceful and taking vacations closer to home. Some guests come from as close as an hour's drive, some come from the Portland area or Roseburg or coast to get a peak at our historic lodge and to experience the bed and breakfast hospitality. Guests may not be traveling as far to get away, but they still can feel rested, relaxed and "vacationed" by checking into a bed and breakfast or one of our cabins.

Low cost and free activities in Eugene or here in the McKenzie Valley enhance their get-a-way so once here guests do not need to spend a lot of money to have fun. Some bring their mountain bikes and ride our beautiful and free McKenzie River Trail or experience hiking in our Willamette National Forest. Others take great pleasure in a soak in the Terwilliger Hot Spring or spent a few hours floating the McKenzie river in a drift boat. For lunch and dinner, the McKenzie Valley has a wide variety of restaurants to choose from so dining out does not have to be expensive.

The recession has not been to bad for the bed and breakfast business in general. For us it's actually great to see people stretching their imaginations to come up with ways to vacation without emptying their wallets. So, if you've been thinking of spring flowers and the sme

ll of a cup of steaming hot coffee and a peach cobbler, you might consider a drive to the McKenzie river and if you there stay in a room or cabin at the McKenzie River Inn. I have to get back to work ....for you.