Donaldson Crew Adventures

Today there was a solar eclipse that had full coverage passing over Oregon. To get into the full path we only needed to drive a little over an hour south of Bend with our friends the Osters.  

This one was a little different than the one we saw a few years back in Aug 2017.  That one you could actually take your glasses off. Todays was known as a ring of fire where the moon passes in front but you can still see a glowing ring around the outside with the eclipse glasses.   Note the theme music selected in the background in the video below:)  

We went to the fort rock area. Oregon had a lot of cloud cover today but the clouds parted where we were just as the eclipse started.  

After the eclipse we drove over to Fort Rock state park, ate breakfast and hiked around the formation. 

Of interest last time we were at fort rock state park was May 2014. Take a look at how little Noah and Hunter are. 

We were able to sneak in a quick weekend camping trip to Paulina lake and Little Crater Campground the second weekend of September.  The weather was perfect early fall weather. Warm in the day and cool at night. Two nights of amazing sunsets as well. 

Friday night. 

Saturday Fun with friends 

Saturday Sunset

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. 

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.

Amazing sunset tonight. 

Over the last two months, I have been working on a backyard expansion.   I started the first week of April and just finished (end of May).  

Left (south) side of the back yard

Before: In 2018 we put in the first stage of the backyard in April of that year and I also built a garden off to the left side completed in June of that year.    You can see what was left natural.  

Here is the new expanded south side completed.

Right (North) side of the backyard

Before: We had a small rustic fire pit with log that got overgrown as you can see in the second picture

Here is the new right/north side of the backyard:

Some pictures of the project at various stages 

There is a massive rope swing at one section on the Deschutes river near an area called the big eddy. Noah and some friends went out to try it out. Here is a video of Noah.  Some serious hang time when you let go  

Hunter and I drove to Washington yesterday to pick up a ‘project bike’. It’s a 3 cylinder 82 Yamaha 750 with a shaft drive (vs chain). It’s not running now so first part of the project will be engine work. 

Below are some pictures of what people have done with these bikes to get an idea of the finished product. 

Oct 23… well I guess it happened oct 22 but we couldn’t see the mountains yesterday.