Thursday, August 09, 2012

up the river


One of my favorite memories from eighth grade arose out of my Oregon History class. 

Mrs. Meyers told each of us to choose a county for an oral report.  For me, the choice was obvious.  Even though we had lived in the Portland area for almost five years at that point, I still thought of myself as a Powers boy from Coos County.

So, when she read Coos off of her list, my hand shot up.  She looked in my direction, pointed, and said:" OK, John.  You have Coos County."

Like Ralphie in A Christmas Story, I simply thought my teacher was mistaken.

She wasn't.  She had chosen my friend John Crayne, who sat behind me, to present on behalf of my county. 

But I recovered by grabbing Coos's neighbor -- Douglas County.  Home to another branch of the Cotton clan.

Most grade school presentations slip into the ether before they even reach the ears of fellow students.  For some reason, mine was stuck deep in the recesses of my mind's basement.  But when we started driving through the Umpqua valley on our drive to Powers, I sounded like a tour guide with glossolalia.

Douglas County has something that exists nowhere else in the world.  Colliding rivers.


The North Umpqua River (top right) and the Little River (bottom right) meet almost head-on at Glide, Oregon.  In the winter, the water creates quite a show as the two streams crash into each other.  In the summer, the water simply jacuzzis around in a deep pool (middle right).

The effect is a little less overwhelming than what I imagined when I gave my report.  It is even less interesting when you notice that the main channel of the North Umpqua has carved a path to the west of the collision point.  Nature has a way of rectifying its oddities.

Further upstream is Zane Grey country.  My grandfather and my cousin's son rate Zane Grey as one of America's greatest authors.  He was perhaps the most egotistical of an arrogant-prone trade.  But there is no doubt that he was one of the world's great sports fishers.


Even though he fished throughout the world, he had two favorite fishing spots in Oregon.  The first was the Rogue River.  He wrote a series of articles about the benefits of the Rogue that attracted groups of wealthy easterners to the river's banks.

That infuriated Grey.  He wanted his own river.  And he found it in the North Umpqua with its steelhead runs.

His temporary camps are gone.  But the river is still there.  Even if the steelhead runs are greatly decreased.

And then there is Diamond Lake.  The Cascades are filled with mountain lakes.  My favorite is Diamond Lake.  I would pick Crater Lake, but it is in a class of its own.  Frozen in amber as a National Park.


Diamond Lake is a working lake.  "Working" in the sense that it is a recreation lake.  Campers.  Fishers.  Boaters.  Swimmers.  Where the wilderness meets civilization.

The last time I was at Diamond Lake was on a 1969 camping trip.  I was in college at the time.  Two of my classmates (John and David), their high school friend Carl, and I decided we would spend a week boating and fishing at Diamond Lake.

The first day there, we rented a boat.  Being college students, we opted for a canoe rather than a boat with an outboard engine.  The cost difference was not great (something like $3 rather than $5).  But we were young and strong.  And ready for adventure.


So, out on the lake we went.  I do not remember catching anything.  But around noon, a northerly wind came up.  Struggle as we might, the four of us could not get the canoe back to the dock on the north end of the beach.

We were eventually blown to the south shore.  There was nothing to do but have two of us walk back to the north shore to rent a boat with an outboard and return to rescue the canoe.

In the end, we paid for two boats -- and were fishless.  But we had more exercise than most college students get in a month.  And we had purchased a great tale for future campfires.

We celebrated at the end of the week by combining all of our leftover food into one large stew.  We started with cans of chili and added a dozen eggs, some bacon, the remnants of a mustard jar, sundry vegetables, and a few items I cannot recall.  We named it in honor of France's newly-elected president.  Chili Pompidou.

It was terrible.  But the French president was not much better.

Of course, not all of that was in my eighth grade report.  But my mother was a far better audience than my classmates.

Who thought I could ever recycle old research?

17 comments:

min said...

If you have a chance, when you go back to Melaque .
Go visit" El Careyes" should be 2hours max driving from where you are.

Watch the free Polo show(Season Jan-May) mingle with the elite from all over the world.
I like to hear tale from  Writer like your self.you will find many story to tell.

It's the most beautiful place I found in Mexico.
While I was in  Careyes(month) found inner peace(from beauty) and the understanding of Mexican.
Not just through eyes of every day Mexicans,also through elite Mexican.
How system work in Mexico.

Babsofsanmiguel said...

Beautiful, beautiful country.  I can't believe you remember so much from so looooooong ago!

Steve Cotton said...

You know what they say about the elderly.  All they have is their long-term memory.

Steve Cotton said...

I have planned on attending the polo matches for three years, but something else always comes up.  Maybe this year -- if I am not in China.  I just found another great deal.

John Calypso said...

We used to pass Zane Grey's house along the bank of the Umpqua - at least so we were told. Took a three day float trip in that back country the week Mount St. Helens blew off.  Arriving at civilization someone immediately told us Harry Truman was dead. I said we hadn't been gone that long - of course we knew Truman was dead. "No. not that Harry Truman - the one living on Mount St. Helens."

Dave Nic Nichols said...

steve, good resurrection of a life well lived! gret seeing you the other day, and knowing now that you did not get bucked off a roof removing ivy from a chimney. (san & dave)

Nita said...

I am amazed that you can remember so well what you did in grade school and high school. I can remember college classes, but not much further back. I guess my mind was more on basketball games since I was a cheerrleader.

Tafreeburn said...

reading your recent posts makes me miss the northwest. i think i am homesick now after spending 4 weeks in the states. still, i love living here and try to make the most of every day.

have a great weekend steve.

teresa in nagoya

Steve Cotton said...

Good to hear from you again, Theresa.  I had a great time in Oregon and Nevada.  Now I am at the coast in California.  It has been a great trip.

Steve Cotton said...

Seeing places has a great restorative power.  Travel seems to be good for the memory.  

Steve Cotton said...

 Another memory we share.

Curtiselowe said...

Zane Grey was born in Zanesville, Ohio.  Get the name connection?

Steve Cotton said...

When I was up on the ladder. I was not certain I was ever going to return to land with a soft landing.  But I did.  And I am ready for another trip up.

min said...

 All is well!
I am planing on Visit Korea next year if all goes well with  according to my time. maybe combine with China and Thailand.

It has been 20years since I visited Asian country.
My older sister still lives in Korea.

My best memory of Korea is visiting country side when I was  few years old, mingle with local clan.

Whole town had My last mane treat me with loyalty.Ha!

I am really proud of them how far they become ,such a  short time  as world power player.

Read little history before you go if you are interest it.
Animosity still run deep between China,Japan,Korea.

Imaging the 5000 years old history with human behavior.

min said...

 All is well!
I am planing on Visit Korea next year if all goes well with  according to my time. maybe combine with China and Thailand.

It has been 20years since I visited Asian country.
My older sister still lives in Korea.

My best memory of Korea is visiting country side when I was  few years old, mingle with local clan.

Whole town had My last mane treat me with loyalty.Ha!

I am really proud of them how far they become so short time , as world power player.

Read little history before you go if you are interest it.
Animosity still run deep between China,Japan,Korea.

Imaging the 5000 years old history with human behavior.

Steve Cotton said...

Korea has made great strides economically and politically during my lifetime.  When I was in China in February, I noticed a complete absence f Japanese cars.  For the obvious historical reasons you mentioned.  I hope your planning goes well.

min said...

 Thank you .