Kelly and I along with Jenn (Kelly’s sister) and Dylan got away for a quick two day retreat to sisters staying at the five pines resort.
We hike along the Metolius to get out for some outdoor fun.
Noah wanted to do a backpacking trip with some friends for his birthday. Unfortunately, one of them broke his foot, so it was just 4 of us this year. A few years ago we did the same on his 13th birthday.
This trip we went to another one of the cascade volcanoes. Mt. Thielsen in southern Oregon.
Variable terrain from burned out forest to mountain streams coming right out of the snow. Only downside is that the mosquitos were horrible.
Happy Birthday, Noah!
1 6 looks good on you. 🎈
Today I took a 2 hour intro to blacksmithing class a place in town called the DIY cave. We have been there a few times before including one of hunters birthday building camp chairs (https://blog.donaldsoncrew.org/hunters-13th-birthday-party) and an intro to welding (https://blog.donaldsoncrew.org/diy-cave-welding-class) class with the boys.
The project today to get is started in learning different hammer techniques was a bottle opener.
Here is a picture of me with my two other classmates and a video of the opener in action.
Last Christmas we went here for the first time to see a band but it was dark and winter. Kelly and I said we wanted to go back when the weather was nice. We went with our friends Ryan and Molly Oster to listen to music, with food and wine.
We just completed a super fun and leisurely 3 day raft trip on the lower Deschutes River, north of Bend putting in at Buckhollow (just outside of Maupin) and taking out at Mack’s Canyon. It was only about 20 miles making for shorter days on the river and lots of fun at camp. This trip was with the Lovejoy family as usual and the Starlings, (Chris, Hattie and their 3 girls) who we have known for years but never had the opportunity to boat together.
We drove north to Maupin and we were on the river around 10:30 on Friday morning.
Camp on night 1 (Friday)
Warm day so the river and the shade along the shore was greatly appreciated.
Starlings hosted dinner the first night. They served flatiron steaks, smashed pesto potatoes with a wedge salad. Chris is a great cook and the presentation was phenomenal.
Classic Donaldson/Lovejoy camp shenanigans.
As the trip was only 2 nights and 3 families, we hosted breakfast Saturday morning since there were only 2 dinner meals. We did up spicy sweet potato hash and scrambled eggs along with fruit salad and OJ + mimosas for the adults.
Camp night 2 (Saturday)
Saturday target was a camp that Chris (has done this stretch of river a number of times) said was the best site by far. We ended up getting the site and it did not disappoint. An A++ site for sure. Big sandy beach, rapids and a great eddy to swim in and park/launch boats. Lovejoys hosted dinner Saturday and made pulled pork tacos which were delish. Mark got things rolling early with the margaritas which made for a fun afternoon.
Sunday was a short 4 miles to the take out. A great weekend trip that was too short.
Fathers Day hike with the family near Sisters. Little chilly today but great to get out.
Also Abbie made me a cake which was so cool!
Amazing sunset tonight.
Hunter had his high school graduation Friday evening June 9 from Baker Academy. We went to Bend Burger Company after for dinner. Saturday June 10 we had a graduation party at the house for family and friends.
Graduation party setup
Graduation Party
Graduation night
This was our second annual year end boys bible study raft trip. My neighbor and friend Mark hosts a boys bible study weekly through the school year and the raft trip is the year end capstone.
https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/1519/main
We actually put in about 4-5 miles upriver from the states start at tollgate campground as there was a place to park our rigs. This upper section of the river was narrow and filled with excitement. It was actually our favorite segment of the entire trip.
This made our trip approx 47 ish miles for the weekend putting in Friday at mid day and taking out Sunday at mid day. Friday we did about 12. Saturday was our long day at over 25 miles and then Sunday was about 10 miles to the take out in monument.
The put in
Fun on the river
