DAVE'S LIFE ALONG THE RIVER

The wild Siuslaw River

Dave is retired now. To him retirement just means he can do more of all the many things he enjoys. First and foremost on his enjoyment list is fishing for salmon and steelhead. He lives along the Siuslaw River where long about October of every year the river fills with salmon returning from their ocean wanderings to spawn in streams that are along the Siuslaw. He told me that you can actually see them in the river swimming in droves after a rain -- fighting their way back to spawn. 

Dave moved to his river home about 20 years ago from an Oregon farm in central Oregon. His, new to him, river home was originally a school house built in the latter part of the1800s. He told me the floor beams under the floors were fir with the bark still on them and were round rather than square. He has spent many years -- since moving into his home -- designing a garden and making all types of objects out of wood. 

He also picks his blackberries in the summer to make jams, cans sweet pickles, and cleans salmon on a special tray that he built off his river deck side where he cleans all his fish.  

Dave's cleaning tray

He has a large workshop on his property where he appears to be able to make anything with his hands and imagination. He told me that creating with wood just comes to him naturally -- he is self taught. 

I counted at least 20 birdhouses on his property. He also had a few bat houses placed near some of the birdhouses. Both bird and bat can live near each other he told me. "At night," he said "the bats swoop out over his property looking for insects."  

Neighbors -- Birds and Bats

He has lived in Oregon all his life. 

His drinking water comes fresh from a mountain spring, clear and cold, that is not far from his house.  

One thing stood out while I talked to him at his home -- that he is a kind man that loves nature and the outdoors. 

Before I left he gave me a jar of homemade blackberry jam, a jar of his famous sweet pickles, and a frozen piece of fresh salmon out of his river. I made this visit to Dave's home a week ago and guess what, I have finished off all the goodies he sent home with me -- DELICIOUS!

Thanks Dave!