Our original plan was to drive to Tillamook, have lunch, check in at our hotel and then head to Cape Lookout State Park. As we were driving on Oregon Route 6, we entered the Tillamook State Forest and by chance, we stopped at a scenic overlook. There was much educational info about the multiple huge forest fires in the 1930s and the work of thousands to replant some 70 million seedlings. But there were also signs advertising a fish release at the Tillamook Forest Center. So we drove a few more miles and made an unplanned stop at the Tillamook Forest Center - it was a very good decision.
Among the many exhibits was this steam powered machine used for logging. This one had been abandoned in the forest, found and cleaned up by volunteers, and now a permanent display.
At 11:30, the Oregon Department of Forestry put on a presentation suitable for kids, but educating us all about how the ODF manages the forest balancing the competing interests of businesses, environmentalists and those who want recreation. We learned about anadromous fish - those that live in both fresh and salt water - five types of salmon (chum, sockeye, king, silver and pink) and two types of trout (steelhead and cutthroat trout). And then we went out to release some steelhead trout into Jones Creek just before it enters Wilson River - one of the five rivers that feed into Tillamook Bay. As we went out the back of the forest center, we crossed the Wilson River and headed into the woods.
The kids were allowed to go first, but they had enough for adults to also release steelhead trout. Patty was given two in a cup and walked down to Jones Creek and carefully released the fish.
Then it was back across the river and to the Forest Center, the exhibits and the gift shop.
Megan's boyfriend Jon had recently posted a memory in Facebook - a photo of him and a Forest Service colleague just after they had used a two man saw to cut down a large tree. So when I saw this display in the Forest Center, I knew I had to take a photo of it and share it with Jon.
Finding and exploring the Forest Center was one of those fascinating places that we found by chance - how nice we had the time and interest to stop and learn.
Among the many exhibits was this steam powered machine used for logging. This one had been abandoned in the forest, found and cleaned up by volunteers, and now a permanent display.
At 11:30, the Oregon Department of Forestry put on a presentation suitable for kids, but educating us all about how the ODF manages the forest balancing the competing interests of businesses, environmentalists and those who want recreation. We learned about anadromous fish - those that live in both fresh and salt water - five types of salmon (chum, sockeye, king, silver and pink) and two types of trout (steelhead and cutthroat trout). And then we went out to release some steelhead trout into Jones Creek just before it enters Wilson River - one of the five rivers that feed into Tillamook Bay. As we went out the back of the forest center, we crossed the Wilson River and headed into the woods.
The kids were allowed to go first, but they had enough for adults to also release steelhead trout. Patty was given two in a cup and walked down to Jones Creek and carefully released the fish.
Then it was back across the river and to the Forest Center, the exhibits and the gift shop.
Megan's boyfriend Jon had recently posted a memory in Facebook - a photo of him and a Forest Service colleague just after they had used a two man saw to cut down a large tree. So when I saw this display in the Forest Center, I knew I had to take a photo of it and share it with Jon.
Finding and exploring the Forest Center was one of those fascinating places that we found by chance - how nice we had the time and interest to stop and learn.
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