Leaving home, I had one goal—to take a nice, leisurely drive around Dorena Reservoir, that pretty little lakelet just south of Cottage Grove.
Having taken that short journey many times, I had no specific purpose other than enjoyment unless I was working. I would usually be irrationally happy just to dawdle along daydreaming but ready to snap to attention should a person or animal appear on the side of the road or in a nearby field.
However, this time, I wanted to refresh my memory of specific landmarks, campgrounds, and the lake to share with you.
Driving down I-5 just above and ahead of me, I watched a small plane making a shallow turn, presumably to land at Hobby Field in Creswell. To the southeast, a crest cloud hung over Bear Mountain like a big, fluffy hat with earmuffs – and it’s not even Fall yet.
My brother’s other home is the golf course along the freeway at Cottage Grove. My only experience with golf was banging one of my husband’s clubs against a filbert tree. I’m not sure he ever forgave me for that.
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During my working years, I drove by Schwarz Campgrounds many times yet had no reason to stop. Our family preferred in-the-woods primitive camping instead of ‘glamping’ – where just about every amenity is offered – and Schwarz falls somewhere in between. The grounds are big and beautiful, with carefully shorn grassy spaces.
A sign read, “59 campsites, many designed and dedicated for multiple camps.” Some sites offer lakeside spots, but the majority do not. Standard restrooms, trash facilities, and a docking area for fishermen and boaters exist.
Along the loop, I encountered several walkers, kids playing, and folks sitting around their morning campfires. Lots of waves and smiles made the drive-through even more enjoyable.
Back on the main road, I continue around the lake. The views of the lake are somewhat spotty, as many mature fir trees are lining the road. Toward the upper end, it becomes primarily grass and marshland. This is ideal for bird watching and probably nesting sites.
Turning left on Row River Road, I saw a sign posted: “Road closed at milepost 8.62.”
Well, phew. I’ll just go as far as I can and see what happens.
Zoom! A young man in his driveway was having a great time playing with a remote-control car. He would race it down the pavement, spin it around a few times, and make it roar back. It was as much fun watching him as the car.
Making it all the way to the closure, it appeared the road had either eroded on its own or the construction (destruction?) crew had taken out a twenty-to-thirty-foot section. I sat for a while, just enjoying the view of the grasslands. Glancing down Row River Trail, I saw a group of young women joggers running in cadence, their long ponytails keeping time with their pace.
And that’s when it hit me that this drive had been at least as much about people as places or things … the pilot, undoubtedly taking last-minute readings on his instrument panel, the golfer checking his blood pressure (chuckle), the campers and boaters at the campground, the joggers, the kid with his car, and people just out seeking some downtime.
“Fresh air is as good for the mind as for the body. Nature always seems trying to talk to us as if she had some great secret to tell. And so, she has.” — John Lubbock
Get out and enjoy — there’s so much to see. Every drive does not have to be a Grand Canyon or Mount Rushmore. Some can just be a little lake.
Norma Gavick is an outdoor columnist for The Chronicle.
