Annual BBQ and Wine Tasting

For our 10th annual BBQ and Wine tasting we wanted to do something different. So we had Alphonse (www.rollingbaywinery.com) doing the honors of serving a variety of wines to our guests. For our musical needs Bert played light acoustic songs along side with Rachel on cello. It turned out to be quite successful. Guests raved about the wines and appreciated the musicians efforts to please everyone. Isabelle's (Hubertina's and Bert's daughter) birthday was celebrated with a sing along birthday song and in return Isabelle sang, shy but not overwhelmed, "Midnight Sun" into the microphone accompanied by guitar and cello. You have to start somewhere!

Next day family and friends could enjoy rafting and a driftboat float. We put in at Hamlin boat ramp to float down to the McKenzie River Inn. The weather was outstanding and the kids loved the excitement.

This weekend also means the spin-off for the summer season and it turned out July as one of the busiest months of the year. Two weeks in July we welcomed back the Weinberg/Reppert reunion and what a great week that was. From Bacchi Ball to Badminton tournaments, from rafting to hiking, this family is able to cram in quite some activities in a week stay. If you work, or start working, in the hospitality business and read this blog, I can tell you right now that guests like these are one of the highlights of being in this business. We are grateful to have them coming back every other year and to share our spot on the McKenzie river with them. With the help and exchange of pictures (thanks Jill!) we can look back on other great and successful summer.

Summerfun

Early this morning swarms of Mayflies above the grapes danced their way into reproduction. At the waterfront guests sipping their coffee at one of the picnic tables while enjoying the river view. I walk around with my point and shoot camera trying to capture the new paint job on the lodge and cabins. After all I like to show off the results on this blog. Hubertina did a fabulous job putting the color combination together and the feedback from guests has been great so far. So has been the quality and flexibility of our paint contractor who went the extra mile adding trim pieces and doing shingle repair. Thanks Virgil (www.OpusInc.us)), also for being creative with the shop doors and your help putting up gutters! It really shows!
After yesterdays hot weather we are in for a new one. Over a hundred degrees! Last time I wrote a posting about our annual BBQ party I reported something similar. Today we experience a nice breeze though, making it more bearable.
I'm making my way into the orchard. A sweet fruity smell welcomes me. I disturb a black tail deer, munching on apples that lay on the ground. We make eye contact and she takes of into the forest. It's going to be later than last year, but we are going to have a huge harvest, the fruit tree's are loaded. Ellie told me a few day's ago she's on her last jar of plum jam for our guests breakfast, reminding me at the same time that we lost two plum tree's this year. Hopefully pressing for apple cider won't be at the same time as the wine crush on Bainbridge island. You have to keep them separated!
I walk past the canopy and take a peek at my drift boat. There is some wear and tear on the chines, but the hull let the under layer of green paint shine and make this old timer look great. This summer I started guiding for myself and James, our web master (www.bigapplewebdesign.net) did a great job putting a web site together for my guide service (check out: www.bertsguideservice.com). In June there was some big water in the McKenzie and it was tough getting that nymph to the bottom. I have been enjoying it tremendously and always look forward to the next trip. Alright, with this hot weather we are calling it the "dog days" for a reason, making the fishing really slow, but we also know this weather won't last and can go out and hook a few!
I'm making it back to the drive way and follow the path to the river front. After a two hundred feet I stand in front of the lodge. The darker green paint on the shingles gives it a more distinguished look especially with the white trim, ..I like it, ....one more picture!

Spring preparation

Well, here we are! A shipload of snow in the mountains, a weather change for the better, and a lot of work to do. Fisherman's weekend (April 26th) coming up with hobnobbing at the boat show next door at the Eagle Rock Lodge, as a kick off for the fishing season. It looks like we have a bigger draw to guided fly-fishing on the river this year, since many of the lakes are snow blocked and inaccessible for fisherman.

In the meantime we prepare ourselves for a new paint job on the Lodge and cabins. We are looking forward to new colors on the cedar shakes and fresh painted eve's and trim. Hopefully the weather helps us out to have this done before our annual BBQ party on Saturday the 28th of June. The preparations are in full swing. We are celebrating and commemorating the Inn's being in business for 30 years, it will be a big event. It all starts around 4.00 PM. The McKenzie River inn will be providing gifts, music, salmon, ribs & chicken as well our usual wine tasting featuring award winning wines by Al de Klerk. If you are interested in joining make sure you RSVP at 541 822 6260.