Page 2
The INDEPENDENT, August 1, 2001
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INDEPENDENT
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Serving the upper Nehalem River valley. Published twice
monthly, on the first and third Wednesdays of each
month, by Public Opinion Laboratory Ltd., 725 Bridge
Street, Vernonia, OR 97064, as a free newspaper. Edi
tors and Publishers, Dirk & Noni Andersen. Phone/Fax:
503-429-9410, e-mail: noni@vernonia.com
o
ODYsser
Jamboree is time to
remember friends
After 45 years, it’s fair to say that the Vernonia
Friendship Jamboree has become a tradition, and the
name of this community celebration is a great re
minder of its purpose. It’s not just The Jamboree, or
even the Vernonia Jamboree, no, it’s the Vernonia
Friendship Jamboree, an important distinction.
Many community celebrations are designed primar
ily to bring more business to town. The Friendship
Jamboree started for entirely different reasons— it was
designed as an excuse for old friends to get together,
as reunion time, and it works. During Jamboree, it’s
common to see many people who have left the area,
but who take advantage of the celebration as a good
time to visit.
Traditional aspects of the Friendship Jamboree may
also be seen in some of the events: The logging show
actually predates the Jamboree but, fairly early on, it
adjusted its schedule so the events were combined.
The parade has been a Jamboree element since the
beginning and the softball tournament is in its 26th
year, or thereabouts.
One place many people will want to visit is the His
torical Society Museum and they won’t be disappoint
ed, because it will be open this weekend. Friday and
Sunday hours will be 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On Satur
day, the museum won’t open until 1:00 p.m. so every
body can watch the parade before opening time.
Friends will also be stopping by the Vernonia Senior
Center for a visit, throughout the weekend.
Newcomers needn’t be shy, either. It’s a great time
to meet present and former residents and learn from
them what the town used to be like. It’s a time when
conversation with strangers is commonplace because
no one feels like a stranger.
Many of the events that have developed during the
Friendship Jamboree, have been developed by
friends for friends. The horse gaming is a friendly, fam
ily-oriented competition. Every year, the fast draw
brings friends from Canada, allowing an international
competition in this small town. Most of the musicians
at the Alternative Stage are friends. Friends organize
the cruise-in for others with similar interests. Anyone
who has attended the logging show knows that, in
spite of tough competition, laughter is the common de
nominator for both spectators and participants, as
long-time friends rib each other publicly.
It’s hard to imagine a better reason for a communi
ty celebration than friendship— let’s hope that reason
never disappears for, in the words of Samuel Taylor
Coleridge [1772-1834]:
Friendship is a sheltering tree.
\Ne invite you to join us in enjoyment of the Vernon
ia Friendship Jamboree.
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IAg gajg...
self-imposed minimum of 1300 cfs. Don’t be
scared off from booking a trip yet this year,
though. The upstream dams are supposed to
Summer ‘tis the season for family vacations! I boost the flow up to 1800 cfs in August. I have
just got back from a nine-day trip all across Ore been on this trip before and no matter what any
gon. I didn’t go hunting or fishing. This was a body says, three screaming 460 Ford engines
family vacation and a tour of some of Oregon’s combined to pump out almost 1000 horsepower
treasures.
is a kick in the pants any day. The day was
For those of you who haven’t heard, my bach beautiful and warm as we reached the white wa
elor days are numbered. I have fallen for a local ter portion of the river. I started wishing that I
lady who picks up trash in her spare time. Yes, if was in my kayak running these rapids -SLAP-
you guessed Donna Gehrke, you are right. We “Sorry again, sweetheart!” The Jet boat pilot was
thought the ultimate test of my devotion would very skillful as we dodged rocks and stream
be to go on a family vacation with her two markers. He also showed constraint about get
daughters, Erin and Jessie. See the end of the ting us wet - until we were getting hot. Then,
story to see if we’re still engaged!
look out! The girls liked the getting wet part.
Our first stop was in Eugene and a motel with There is talk about curtailing these commercial
a pool. We didn’t get started till after noon and rides in the lower Rogue River. I think this would
we just wanted to cut our next days trip to Brook be a travesty, since it would prevent thousands
ings down to size. The girls and I enjoyed the of people each year from experiencing the
pool, while Donna was content with the Jacuzzi. rugged beauty of this region.
The next day, we went through Wildlife Safari
Day four was spent traveling down Highway
at Winston, then headed over to the coast to 101 into California, then back up Highway 199
Harris Beach State Park. When we arrived, into Oregon. The redwoods on the first part of
there was a long line at the check-in booth. Don 199 were magnificent. I haven’t seen trees this
na had made reservations and we were allowed large since I was a kid. The highway parallels
to have express check-in. Not having been to a the famous Smith River, a kayaker’s paradise -
State Park in eons, I just pulled in behind every backhand- “Sorry darling, I was looking at the
body else. Donna hopped out of the car and hawk in the tree above that class V drop” -jab to
headed to the booth. Soon, she started waving the ribs-. Soon, we were at Cave Junction and
her hands for me to pull out of line and around the crooked drive up to Oregon Caves National
everybody else. I started to pass the line on the Monument. I thoroughly enjoyed the caves. I
left, but the guy in front of me thought Donna thought the girls might be afraid, but they
was a Park Ranger and cut me off. He sure had showed NO FEAR. If you haven’t been to the
a funny look on his face as I passed him on the Oregon Caves, it is a must. It is a trip deep into
left while he sat at the left side of the check-in the bowels of a mountainside, along the path of
booth with the sign that said “this lane for ex an ever eroding stream. Claustrophobic people
press check-in only,” and the imagined Park should not attempt this adventure, though. A
Ranger hopped into my passenger seat and we person also needs to be in good shape, since
drove off. Express check-in is the only way to there is a lot of descending and climbing on the
go!
.6 mile journey back in time. Oh, did I mention
Harris Beach is a very beautiful park, espe the stream that carved the Oregon Caves is the
cially the beach. The girls did a good job of get magnificent Illinois River, another kayaker’s des
ting wet, trying to outrun the incoming waves. I tination, -eye gouge-, “Sorry sweetheart!” We
kept wanting my kayak, -slap-, “Sorry, honey, my traveled to Gold Hill next and the incredible
mind wandered for just a second!" The camping House of Mystery. The girls loved the vortex’s ef
is typical of state parks, a small paved pad, a fire fects, especially when it made them taller and
ring and a picnic table. We pitched two back me smaller. This place is surely a mind teaser.
packing tents and called it home.
We spent the night camping next to the upper
On our third day, we traveled back up the Rogue River in a private campground near
coast to Gold Beach and the famous Rogue Riv Shady Cove.
er. We had reservations with Jerry’s Rogue Jets
Day five dawned clear and warm as we
for an action-packed 104-mile jet boat ride. We scrambled to pack the back of the car with our
had to settle for an 80-mile round trip instead, overabundance of gear. Soon, we entered
because of the low river level. The Rogue River Crater Lake National Park, where Donna and I
was flowing at about 1100 cfs, and Jerry’s has a
Please see page 2
By Dale Webb, member
Nehalem Valley Chapter Izaak Walton League