At our age, we YEARN for a nice, quiet place to enjoy the 4th of July. Huntley Park seems just like the place. Huntley Park is 7 miles up river from where Highway 101 crosses over the Rogue River…eliminate the twists and turns, we are probably 6 miles as the crow flies. There was a large fireworks show in the harbor near the bridge in Gold Beach…we could faintly hear it from Huntley Park. Could actually hear the “new tent neighbors” (man, woman, two little girls) way more than the fireworks…both adults like to talk loud, and …how can I describe this in a nice way…talk in a very impolite way to each other.
The Oregon Department of Forestry has taken over the fighting of the Lobster Creek Fire. This fire has been handled VERY WELL by all those involved…unlike last year’s Chetco Fire where the fire, discovered in June, was allowed to burn uncontrolled until the August Winds blew it up to a 200,000+ acre fire. Lobster Creek has been stopped at around 450 acres, it is fully lined (fire break all around it) and as of last night, it is 30% contained (large enough fire break that “if” fire blew back up, it is unlikely to cross that containment line.) They have multiple heavy and medium lift helicopters working the fire, and the planes are ready to fly in from Medford, but they are not needed anymore. Over 700 fire fighters are working the fire, and the command center and camp area has been moved to the Fairgrounds in Gold Beach. Outside of Sunday night and Monday morning, we have been smoke free…and very little smoke is pouring out from the fire right now anyway. If you want to see some good pictures, including a bucket drop of water on the fire, look at this site here.
These young men fought the fire all night long on Sunday, and a temporary camp was set up in one of the group areas here at Huntley Park where they came in Monday mid-morning, took showers, and then slept. by 7 pm, they were gone, as was their entire camp site equipment…Marcia enjoyed the view for one morning. 
Around 8 pm two county sheriff’s cars came cruising through the campground. At first I thought there might have been a problem, although the park is still less than 3/4 full…but then I realized they were making their presence known looking for firework activity. Heck, it has been so free of booms and bangs that I forgot all about fireworks. Glad to see them, we sure don’t need any stupid person starting a fire lighting off fireworks.
After I took the solar panel in for the night (see the black cord at the back of the motorhome, that’s what I hook the solar to), I took this shot to show that we now have more neighbors. On Tuesday, only the cargo van, which is owned by the Camp Manager, was here…now we have a person sleeping in a van, and numerous RV’s that are beyond that trailer you can see at the back.
Out our entrance door side we have the tenters, and two RVs off in the distance. However, the Hydroplane Races are this weekend…there are two family reunions coming into the two group spots today, and I expect that we will be excited on Sunday evening after most of the people pull out and go home. 
Speaking of Solar earlier…yesterday was not a good solar day. Lots of high clouds, marine layer stuff, keeping us with few glimpses of the sun (mostly as the sun was going down), and temperatures which were frankly just a bit on the colder side. Had to run engine for 90 minutes to charge batteries during the evening hours. Had a hard time sitting outside for very long, so I sat in the front seat and plugged in the Kindle and watched a Spaghetti Western which I had not seen before. Even though it was the 4th, I went down to the Library on a hunch, and YES, their Internet was up and going and strong as I pulled up next to the building. Filled up both Kindles with movies. One thing about Spaghetti Westerns…you think you have seen them all, as you watch you realize that you have not seen this particular one, but it is as corny as all the other Spaghetti Westerns you have seen (outside of Clint Eastwood ones, of course).
I promise pictures of the hydroplane boats as they pass by. We are elated that the fire is under control, and not a worry anymore. Have decided to stay here until July 17th, then we started heading south to my son’s wedding.
The only bad thing about "camping" is the OTHER campers. Always noisy and impolite it seems. Glad the Sheriff was keeping up on the fireworks problem. No doubt some idiot somewhere will start another fire. I'm glad they jumped on that one quickly. Hydroplane boats? Me thinks your peace and quiet is a goner!
ReplyDeleteThe Hydroplane race is Sunday, on Saturday a lot of them go up and down the river to practice. Essentially when the race starts, they leave Gold Beach, head past us to Lobster Creek Bridge...that is phase one. Phase two they leave Lobster Creek Bridge and head back to Gold Beach...again zooming past us. Phase three they leave Gold Beach and the race ends at Huntley Park (at least, this is how it worked last year) YES, noise...but not a constant, and does not last too awfully long.
Delete