Rogue River Trip-First Days of Vacation!
My husband, two Golden Retrievers and I just got back from a week's worth of wonders in Oregon--from southern Oregon, Grants Pass area to central Oregon, then home to Fishhawk Lake.
I took so many photos (no surprise!) that I'm going to have to break the trip up. This first stop was to stay at the Riverside Inn, a dog-friendly hotel for a couple of nights. Great staff!
Our view was right on the Rogue River and we walked over a bridge to take our two dogs to a stunnning park across the River every morning, and evening.
(Our view standing on the bridge)
The next morning the two of us went with about 37 people on a "Hellgate" pontoon excursion that started at 9:30ish and included lunch.
Everyone had told us to do this and we weren't disappointed! You see spectacular views from shallow calm to rushing waters,
wildlife galore and huge rock outcroppings that have been made famous in such movies as The River Wild, with Meryl Streep and even was spotlighted on Gunsmoke eons ago.
We saw only one raft, that was dwarfed by these rock beauties, giving you some idea of how very immense they are.
Fishing was a no-brainer and many boats had large catches that they showed off to us as we slowed down to create no wake (good boating ettiquette).
The wildlife is what made me happiest. Blue Herons,
osprey
and a bald eagle
made appearances for all of us capture with our cameras!
Even "Moocher", a local Blue Heron who hangs out with any fisherman willing to share a scrap or two, stood around long enough for a couple of photos. (Note: he's hanging out behind the fisherman in the photo collage, top right).
We saw two different osprey nests, one "occupied" and one abandoned. The one with the osprey in it was hundreds of feet in the air and I didn't even know there was a bird in it til I got back and looked at my photos!
Randy, our tourguide was full of useful and interesting information and threw in dashes of humor.
We ate a hearty lunch, got back in the boat and he took us on a much wilder ride on the way back--if you do this, prepare to hang on and get wet!! VERY EXHILARATING!
I highly recommend signing up to do this and with it being after Labor Day, there aren't as many crowds. We'd definitely do this and the Riverside Inn (part of CountryHouse Inns) again!
Next installment: Prospect Oregon and Crater Lake--stay tuned!!
!
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