Beazell Memorial Forest

Journeys in the era of Covid-19

Today was a hiking day. It could very easily have been a stay home and vegetate day, but we mustered enough motivation to go for a short drive and a little hike. The weather was questionable. Predicted to be the drier day of the weekend, there were showers around. With backpacks, rain gear, hand sanitizer, and the dog loaded into the van we headed off across the valley to Beazell Memorial Forest.


It's tricky finding hiking locales these days. Finding a hiking trail with an open day use area and unlocked bathrooms is a happy occurrence. There were a number of cars in the parking area, and a few people and dogs milling about the place. Bruno whined a bit at the other dogs, but otherwise was on good behavior. (Good dog! Don't embarrass Mom and Dad.)



With no particular plan, we headed across a foot bridge and up a gravel road. The sun was making lovely highlights as it shone through the forest canopy. Everything is so green. Bleeding hearts were out, a few iris that are starting to fade, and many other flowers that I don't know the names of. Bruno found plenty of good sniffs to snuffle.

Heading up the gravel road

Cute little gazebo



Lots of good sniffs.

Breaking in my new hiking/running shoes the right way

It wasn't all this muddy.

We veered off the road onto Plunkett Creek trail. Lovely trail. Not too much climbing, just some ups and downs, and several nice bridges crossing the creek along the route. Bruno had a nice splash about or two in the creek.

Bleeding Heart

So much green!

Splishes to be splashed

Pretty. Anyone know what this is?

Seriously mossy.

Another bridge crossing

Another unidentified flower. 

Didn't expect this!

New ferns



Yours truly and Bruno

Fungi. Was down the whole length of this log.

There are a couple trail options along the way, but we chose the trail that looped back to the gravel road. We ended up following a family with little kids that Bruno dearly wanted to join. They got farther ahead of us when I stopped to put on my rain jacket. Yes. The rain caught us. A gentle rain that was actually pleasant and peaceful. We could always dash back to the car if it got too bad.

And yet another unidentified flower.
How many years have I hiked and still no field guide to flowers! 

Tiny little moss on a tree

Bird loop trail is close to the road, so there's more car noise, and the scenery isn't quite as lovely, but there are some great old Oak trees that are interesting, and plenty of birds singing to help drown out the cars. Bonus for the doggo - some deep grass to roll about and play (and catch a tick or two perhaps?). Farther up the trail, there's also poison oak, so no more venturing off trail for the dog.

Teasel

Triple Teasels
Or is it a trio of teasels?

Grand old Oak tree

Meadow view with a clearcut in the background

Another meadow view.

Oak galls

Cool old barn.
Looks remote, but the highway is just on the other side.

We made it back to the van, not too terrible soaked through. Fortunately I still had a couple of old towels in the van to dry off the dog. (Lovely wet dog smell in my van now though.) Picked up some take out lunch in Albany. Burgers and fries from Burgerville. Bruno liked sharing the fries.


https://www.co.benton.or.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/natural_areas_and_parks/page/2572/trailmapsplanbeazell.pdf

https://www.outdoorproject.com/united-states/oregon/beazell-memorial-forest

Comments

  1. RichardM5/3/20, 7:08 PM

    Nice photos! Oregon is so green for a reason...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bluekat5/4/20, 10:21 PM

      Thanks Richard, yes rain rain and more rain. 🙂

      Delete
  2. SonjaM5/4/20, 1:20 AM

    Awww, the green! On a rainy day in the Black Forest it is not as green as on the We(s)t Coast. Great pics from an outing to my liking ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bluekat5/4/20, 10:24 PM

      Thanks Sonja. We had some sunshine before the rain. The sunlight really made everything glow.

      Delete
  3. redlegsrides5/4/20, 6:30 AM

    Really nice green conditions and light....I liked them pics with subtle leading lines best. Colorado is making its way to its usual tans and browns below the snow line....but then if it rained like it does up in your part of the empire, the Rockies would probably have washed away! :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bluekat5/4/20, 10:32 PM

    Hi Dom, You may get your tans and browns earlier than us, but you get all that beautiful fall color too. I can’t imagine anything could wash away the Rockies.

    ReplyDelete

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