Calendar

Past Activity

Cape Arago, Shore Acres

  • Start date: 08/11/2011

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 08/11/2011

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

Cost: $45 members, $47 non-members. Due Aug 2
Reservations and checks to: Barbara Payne, 541-746-1964, 39478 Walterville Lane, Springfield, OR 97478

Beautiful scenery, flowers, sea animals and a U of O classroom are the focus of this south coast trip. Going to the coast will feature a leisurely visit to Shore Acres, a lovely state park that was part of the former estate of lumberman, Louis Simpson. One point of interest will be the large blooming rose and dahlia gardens. We will also visit Cape Arego State Park. Its offshore island, rocks and reef are part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Animals to observe are California and Stellar sea lions, harbor seals and northern elephant seals. We will visit the U of O Institute of Marine Biology in Charleston. There will be a tour and lunch (included) in the dining room.

  • Event Leader: West Mary Ellen

  • Assistant Leader: Kocken Verna

  • Event category: Bus Trips

  • Area Type:

  • Departure Location: See Trip Description

  • Rating:

  • Roundtrip total drive miles:

  • Season: 2011

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required:

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance:

  • Member Fees: 45

  • Elevation Gain:

  • Non-Member Fees: 47

  • Committee: Bus Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Mary Ellen West and Verna Kocken were the leaders of this trip. August 11 was a warm, sunny day for the Obsidian bus trip to the South Coast. Twenty Seven members and guests visited the South Slough Reserve, Shore Acres, and the overview at Simpson Reef. The South Slough was substituted for the Marine Biology Facility. The UO Charleston Marine Life Center will be open in the Summer of 2012, so the trip will be rescheduled.

Don Baldwin shared stories of Ewart Baldwin's life in the Coos Bay area. The family stories were a nice remembrance for a long time Obsidian.

The South Slough was established in 1974, the first member of the National Estuarine Research Reserve system, now 28 reserves nationally. They were established to improve understanding of esturaries and coastal wetlands. The South Slough is a narrow branch of Coos Bay south of Charleston. The reserve covers 5,000 acres of mudflats, salt and fresh water marshes and upland along the Slough. It has trails, viewing platforms and a wonderful interpretive center/staff to educate the public about the value of preserving wetlands. Research is ongoing. The Slough staff were informative, the video was excellent, and the bus/walk to the wetlands added to understanding the value of preserving wetlands. The Shore Acres State Park gardens were magnificent. Roses and dahlias were the features of the well maintained garden, once part of the estate of lumberman, Louis Simpson.

The last stop was at the Simpson Reef overlook, where sea lions, harbor seals and a few young whales were visible. This area is part of Cape Arago State Park. The offshore island, rocks and reef are part of the Oregon Island National Wildlife Refuge. Rick Ahrens, Obsidian bus naturalist, set up his scope for viewing the offshore animals. His commentary during the day added much to the trip.

Enjoying the trip were members:

Members & Guests signed-up & waitlisted

No. Status Full name Phone Transportation Needed? Trip Fee # Can Take?
1 Signed-Up West, Mary Ellen 541-342-8672 N 47
2 Signed-Up Kocken, Verna 541-513-3501 N 45
3 Signed-Up Adamcyk, Thomas 541-302-8160 N 45
4 Signed-Up Ahrens, Rick 541-689-3996 N 45
5 Signed-Up Anderson, Alice 541-338-3135 N 47
6 Signed-Up Arthur, Bill 541-844-5156 N 47
7 Signed-Up Baldwin, Don 541-513-3501 N 45
8 Signed-Up Behnke, Louise 541-359-8037 N 47
9 Signed-Up Cheadle, Mary Lee 541-689-1085 N 47
10 Signed-Up Cutsforth, Sharon 541-735-4703 N 45
11 Signed-Up Flanders, Barbara 541-747-9803 N 47
12 Signed-Up Flanders, Dennis 541-747-9803 N 47
13 Signed-Up Forsman, Jeannette 541-344-6440 N 47
14 Signed-Up Halker, Donna 541-302-9496 N 47
15 Signed-Up Newlove, Natalie 541-465-4909 N 45
16 Signed-Up Payne, Don 541-452-3617 N 45
17 Signed-Up Prouty, Virginia 541-484-1356 N 47
18 Signed-Up Reanier, Liz 541-687-1925 N 47
19 Signed-Up Snell, Julie 541-681-3110 N 47
20 Signed-Up Speelman, Richard 541-344-3019 N 47
21 Signed-Up Speelman, Janet 541-344-3019 N 47
22 Signed-Up White, Cristy 541-687-2305 N 47
23 Signed-Up Adamcyk, Judy 541-302-8160 N 45
24 Signed-Up Behnke, Tina — N 47
25 Signed-Up Crooks, Linn 541-484-5508 N 47
26 Signed-Up McCormick, Pat 541-342-2503 N 47
27 Signed-Up Reimer, Jean — N 47