Vibrations

Camping in the beautiful Oregon Cascades brought many memories for me to cherish. Sitting by a campfire after a warm summer day of hiking, swimming, fishing and exploring the surrounding area; we enjoyed stimulated conversations, song fests, and tons of laughter.

Also, the clear night sky displayed beautiful views of the moon, planets, and constellations. Even a galaxy or two could be seen with the naked eye. Sometimes we would make up our own 'constellations' of the stars connecting the dots in our minds relating what we see to each other. This became like a game conveying the different shapes we see. Yes, and sometimes these shapes would be so hilarious that we would laugh hard making us weak, almost falling down, not being able to stand up. (of course, part of that may have been the refreshments we were consuming) Inevitably, tears would come to our eyes.

Then sometimes, we would just stare taking in the vast universe above us, feeling the pulse, connecting with the harmony of the stars and planets. It would be as if we were feeling the vibrations of this orchestrated universal harmonic display.

During the day we would travel around the area looking for waterfalls, of course, many of the trails leading to the falls were near the campsites we stayed at. However, some waterfalls were far enough away. we would have to hike several miles to get to them. There was the fun though, the adventure of the trip, so rewarding, so awe-inspiring that we needed to keep exploring. Unfortunately, I did not scan some of the photos we took of these falls, so I am posting a few from some other photographers and I do give credit and copyright recognition to these people. The first waterfall picture is Clearwater Falls at Toketee, Oregon.

One really needs to see Clearwater Falls in the summer and right at dusk. The mossy rocks appear to illuminate a florescent green. Along with the colors, the fresh smell of mountain air and the sounds of the water was totally awesome.

The second waterfalls photo is that of Toketee Falls at Toketee, Oregon. The photographer really did a professional job in capturing the beauty of this waterfall by taking advantage of the natural lighting at a certain time of day. Both of these falls can be easily reached off from the North Umpqua River State Highway 138.

Toketee Falls provided other benefits as well. We visited it quite often, especially on very hot days. In the late afternoon and evening, we would hike to it and jump in the pool at the bottom. This was so refreshing, escaping from the heat. Its hard to believe that the area could have temperatures in the 90 deg. to 100 deg mark in mid-summer but it can. The source of this waterfall comes from Toketee Reservoir. This reservoir is very cold all year round averaging around 42 deg. F. The reservoir serves as water storage for a power generating facility. A penstock pipeline takes water on down below these falls to that facility at Soda Springs. The water level is controlled by the power company. Along with several other creek and stream inputs coming down from the higher mountain elevations and flowing clear water provides for the constant cool temperature. It can be very exhilarating and one tends not to swim very long!

One evening back at camp, after hiking, visiting waterfalls, swimming, and eating, playing guitars, and star-gazing; I felt compelled to write the following song and I share it with you now:

Vibrations...

Click here to listen to this song

The Universe sends vibrations
Babe, to the center of my Heart
For the brightness gives
Off the love I feel from the Stars

Sleep with me 'til the morning, Babe
And I'll wake you when I rise
And I'll love you with the
Passion from my Soul

Now the time has come to live
With me and love me 'til I die
And I'll give you all the Colours
In a Rainbow

For loving you means more to me
Than my basic needs I know
And the happiness shines in
My front door

Look into my Eyes I know
That you will realize
The Love I have for you
And the Feeling that is true

**********

Music of the Wind

The Columbia River Gorge highway from Sandy river east of Portland to about Arlington gives one of the most beautiful and inspiring view of the Columbia River as it makes its way to the Pacific Ocean. Photo was taken by professional photographer Ron Niebrugge.

I lived for a while in North Eastern Oregon and traveled this highway (Interstate I-84) quite often.

The Gorge has many waterfalls that can be viewed best from the old highway or scenic bi-way, however the one most famous of them all is Multnomah Falls. The Falls can be seen and accessed from the Interstate. It has a nice rest stop, souvenir shop and lodge. Here is the link to Multnomah Falls Lodge. The Falls is the second tallest year-round waterfalls in the nation. The water from the Falls drops 620 feet from its origin on Larch Mountain.

I share these photos with you to give you an idea of some of the beauty that can be found through out the Oregon Cascade mountains. It was Nature's beauty like this that inspired me to write most of my songs, either sitting by a campfire strumming on my guitar camping in these mountains, or driving through them. Sometimes it would be the lyrics that would just come out of me and at other times it was a melody. In either case the song did not take long to complete.

When I wrote the lyrics to the following song, I was awakened from a dream. Needless to say the dream was impressive. Some dream girl out there combined with Nature just lifted me into writing it. So I would like to post it here now to share with you:





Looking like a River...

Click here if you care to listen to this song

Lie in bed and dream of
me, my Darlin'
Awake not from your Dreams
Of old
For visions of our memories and
Words that say I love you, mean
More to me than all the gifts
Of gold

Looking like a River
Overflowing
My Love is pouring from
My Soul
Visions of Lovers just
Caressing
A smile upon your lips
Just seems to glow

Memories of the Mountain Streams
And the Music of the Wind, whispering of a Love
That'll never die
And the Waterfalls that fall between the
Walls of Mossy Green, portraying Nature's
Naked Skin

*********

Friendship

I mentioned before that one of my camping adventures in the past took me to Diamond Lake and Crater Lake area of Central Oregon. On one such adventure, a buddy of mine and a couple other friends decided to hike up Mt. Thielson. It was in the summer season and we chose the south slope because it was, for the most part, an easy walk until you got to the 'lightning rod' peak. However, we did not intend to scale the peak, just wanted to get to a view point where we could look out east and west to the horizon. For we had chosen a late afternoon hike to be able to be up there by sunset. At this particular time we knew that as the sun was going to set in the west, the moon was to rise in the east, simultaneously! We wanted to see this event from a very clear sky advantage point with no obstructions and we thought this place would be ideal. It rocked!! I mean to say that for the first time in my life I actually felt and saw the *EARTH ROTATE* and not just objects moving in the sky. It was like the moon and sun were still (as they should be!) and you were actually rotating on planet Earth! Everyone felt it and it was quite an emotional and spiritual event. With that we then hiked to a camping spot, partied, laughed and talked about it. This event also inspired me to write a song about my close friend that accompanied me on this hike. He had a very cheerful attitude and was also quite a comedian. He could cheer anyone up that was feeling down. I loved his sense of humor and how he brightened everyone's day. I share this song with you now. 

  

 Friendship 

 Well I feel like I'm kind of a brother 

And knowing its like no other 

Feelings that I've had 

And I know it makes me glad 

That I'm alive and feeling Well 

 Now tell me what's troublin' you 

And I'll try not to make you feel blue

 For gladness is the high 

That makes you want to cry 

And makes you so loving 

And happiness is from giving 

The laughter of your being 

The one who knows for sure 

That he has found the cure 

Of your sadness and your sorrows. 

 And its the laughter that drys your tears 

And washes away the years 

That you could lose control 

For he enters your very Soul 

And makes you feel like laughing

 *********