| Cults, Tulips and Trilliums |
Dateline: 04/06/97
This weekend I went on three volksmarches. The first was in Waldport, Oregon and began at the Bayshore Inn. The Bayshore Inn has been in the news recently because back in the '70's this was where Heaven's Gate cultists came, held meetings, and recruited several of the townsfolk. Some of these people gave their kids to relatives and took off with Mr. Applewhite.
The Bayshore Inn held no weird vibrations on Saturday, however, as we arrived at this location on the central Oregon Coast amid bright sunshine and gentle breezes. I walked with Elizabeth Ireland and her stepson-to-be (a great teenager). The walk toured the town, which included some lovely beach homes, and a nice stretch along the beach itself. Jamie and Elizabeth were excellent walking partners. We walked at a brisk but not strenuous pace. The Yachats Coastal Gems hosted the event. Their startpoint was outside in front of the Inn, with a good info table and fresh cookies for sale.
After the walk, we ate at the Happy Family Restaurant inside the Inn, which had very good Chinese food. The Oregon Trail State Volkssport Association meeting was then held, possibly in the very same meeting room used by the Heaven's Gate folks. We had a large attendance of 50 club members and representatives.
On Sunday I was joined by my friend Betty for two walks in northern Oregon. The Monitor Tulip Walk is a yearly event that features the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, with tulips stretching off to the horizon. The Estacada Timber Trekkers Club hosted the event. George and Diane Ilg welcomed us warmly and reported that the first day of the event they had over 500 walkers. The day was sunny and cool, perfect walking weather. This year it started at the Monitor Fire Hall. We walked through the farming country on county roads in gently rolling terrain. At about the 6K mark we came to the tulip fields. The fields were dotted with camera tripods as people strove to capture the perfect photo of the fields. The checkpoint at Wooden Shoes Tulip Farm allowed walkers to buy tulips and order bulbs as well as use the facilities. We continued on to the end for a very nice walk.
Betty and I then headed up I-5 back to Portland to Tryon Creek State Park. The park is located south of downtown Portland. The walk began at Lewis and Clark College and was hosted by the Columbia River Volkssport Club as a March for Parks to benefit the park.
The park was a profusion of trilliums, those three-petaled white to pink flowers that are native to the Northwest. The park has towering Douglas fir as well as birch and alder. Some portions were shady while others were sunny as the birch and alder do not yet have leaves. At the checkpoint at the Visitor's Center we toured the photo art show, saw the nature displays, bought a cookie, and saw the native plants sale. The walk was on both the paved bike path and the natural trails, with plenty of hills to keep us aerobic.
So, two days, three walks, 30K, two hatpins and many hours talking with friends while walking in the sunshine. A great walking weekend.
Photos © Wendy Bumgardner, 1997, licensed to About.com
