Panning for gold on the Rogue

July 31st
Judy spent the evening on the river banks patrolling for ducks and we laid in the tent reading and listening to the river run. Shadow broke his ultra lightweight fishing rod while trying to reel in "Big Moe".
This morning we woke to our food safe and sound. This was the first time we had used an electric fence to keep bears away. At campsites along the trail you will find them, bear boxes, and bag hoist. As we sat eating our pop tarts and coffee for breakfast this morning a bear started down the sand bar about 75 feet from us. He moseyed completely around our site keeping the same distance. You could see him pawing the bushes to grab blackberries. He finally made he way back to the trail heading the same direction as us. Sure enough about a 1/2 mile down the trail we saw him again and he took off uphill.
Back in Eugene we spoke to a guy that told us about camp hosting and we have begun to look into that. Seems as those most state and national parks look for caretakers during the busy month to help out with things. In return they give you a free place to stay. Well, we stopped at a national historic home today called River Ranch. You can get to it by car, trail, or boat and it is worth the trip. Official it's on Bureau of Land Management property and they too look for caretakers for the season. This place was gorgeous. A two story home that was used as a museum. There's a blacksmith building, a barn, and a caretakers home. Their job is to maintain the facilities and grow a garden. How perfect it that! During the season rafters stop by for a break and check the old ranch. This river has been home to Native Americans dating back 8,000 years. The white man came in search of gold and they they continue to find it. Mail was actually brought down by boat to the Pacific due to lack of roads. The writer Zane Grey had a home here that has now been taken over by BLM. The caretaker gave us apples from her tree and lettuce from her garden for lunch so we sat on the picnic table and ate.
About a mile down trail after lunch Shadow saw a bear coming toward us. Judy took off and chased him till he jump down hill. She was on the top of the world! I'm so glad she can't talk. I can hear it now... The next hour she was on high alert. Surprisingly she hadn't seen the other from this morning and the two from yesterday.
We hiked 14 miles today. It was more than we had planned, but the spot was well worth it. We were like two kids as we roamed the cliffs of Mule Canyon watching rafters below like Native Americans and check out the creeks for gold. Today was our 8th anniversary and we wouldn't have it any other way.
We set up camp and fixed spicy Ramon to celebrate. Judy left us for the tent and want me to hand feed her from inside. I guess she too tried tonight to look for ducks.

The bear chaser.

Mule Canyon

River Ranch

Rest Stop

2nd night camp spot

Pooped pup

Fixing Dinner

Country Mouse and Shadow