Adventures of Chloe Rue: Oregon Summers

It’s story time! For those who are new here, I have kept a record of Chloe’s and my adventures during our travels! I write and publish these about a year after they happen, for various reasons, but mostly per my grandma’s advice. And I don’t know about you, but you ALWAYS listen to your Grandma’s advice- they know. Here we Go! Brace yourselves, it’s time for an enticing, incredible, thrilling and heart wrenching: A Tail of Chloe Rue (I know its tale, I just can’t help it).

It feels like it was yesterday, when I took a winter snowboard trip from Minnesota, to Mt. Hood and was asked to return to Oregon on a permanent basis. It was a difficult decision, because Oregon is where Chloe and I lost our camper home, and Oregon is also 1600 miles away from my entire family.

However, the decision was also one that always felt right to me. Similar to when I first saw a picture of Chloe Rue, or when I first followed an Occupational Therapist. There are moments where life seems to click into place and the heart and the brain knows it is time to make a move.

Therefore, after an amazing adventure where everything I own fit into an 8×10 foot U-haul, my sister and her husband Jake accompanied me on my last long haul for a while. It lead to me landing in Oregon, just in time for summer, 2021!

Happy Tulip Here

I am so happy to live here (tulip, to live- get it?), in Oregon, permanently. My two best Oregon friends celebrated my arrival with Chloe Rue at the Woodburn Tulip festival, where Chloe and I tiptoed within so much beauty.

The abundance of dogs was amazing, and seeing everyone outside enjoying fields upon fields of tulips was so incredibly unique as well as beautiful! When they say “everything grows in Oregon” they are absolutely right.

Earth Day YAY

In a twist of fate, my college roommate actually lives in Portland, Oregon. It is about an hour and a half away from where I live. I reached out to her about Earth Day, as I was eagerly looking for a volunteer opportunity to help the environment in any way that I could. A rather amazing opportunity presented itself in the form of an ocean clean up; where scuba divers and a local wildlife rehab center worked together to clean the ocean floors in Newport Oregon. Chloe LOVES the ocean, and spending time with her nose buried in the sand, digging for clams, playing in the salty waves are definitely one of her favorite things to do. My old roommate, Chloe and I had a blast cleaning up the ocean floors in Newport!

I felt SO lucky to give back to mother nature and play a role in protecting Earth. If the wildfire that totaled my camper taught me anything, it’s the important role I can play in protecting the environment. Plus I saw my first live star fish, had the unique opportunity to save a starving crab and participate in an extremely unique and fun Ocean clean up day.

The Mckenzie River Mothers Day

The Mckenzie River area of Oregon may be less well known than the Columbia River Gorge, or the Trail of Ten Falls at Silver Falls state park but it has its own unique, rural beauty that brings so much life into my explorations.

In order to celebrate dog-mom day, Chloe and I went camping together. We had the goal to find waterfalls, and that we absolutely did. You’ve probably seen these images already on social media, but Proxy Falls is incredibly stunning. Not to mention, I chose to go at a time after snow had melted, but the road was still closed. So Chloe and I treked 6 miles up a completely deserted trail, where she could explore off lead safely and happily. The tree cover and cloudy day created such a unique, quiet, and peaceful mood that we will never forget this mothers day of 2021.

Canyoneering and White Water Rafting, without my Chloe Girl

As you all know, my time with Chloe Rue is absolutely precious to me. I love to hike and bike and skijor and climb and drive and adventure in every dog friendly way imaginable, as often as possible. But there are always those adventures that you just know your dog won’t love. With Chloe’s fear of water (despite its massive improvements) I cannot imagine her enjoying a White Water Rafting trip, like some dogs do. Chloe also is not able to safely cliff jump, rope swing, or use a harness to rapel down waterfalls as she does not have opposable thumbs, and would be absolutely terrified.

However, I love to play in fast moving water and when I made two new friends who were incredibly inviting, and encouraging to try these amazing new activities I was thrilled! Chloe has an incredible daycare here in Albany, where there are always a reasonable number of doggos (Shout out to Lisa if you’re reading! You’re amazing!) And I know Chloe will have a fantastic day playing with her dog friends when she goes.

Therefore, on the four day white water rafting trip down the Rogue River in Oregon, and on my day long canyoneering adventure, Chloe had an awesome time at daycare. And I got to fly down fast moving waters and savor the “wild and scenic” Rogue River. Can we just talk about the pure wonderful-Ness that are raft naps?

I also had the amazing opportunity to canyoneer down Quartzville Canyon outside of Sweethome, Oregon. Rapelling down waterfalls, cliff jumping from awesome heights, bumping my way down past nature made driftwood caves that certainly MUST have fairies dwelling inside of them- well I was VERY bummed I left my camera at home for canyoneering. But am thrilled at future adventure opportunities with the friends I quickly accumulated in this beautiful new home of mine.

Lavendar Love ♡

One of my favorite stories last summer in Oregon, was the Bachelorette party and wedding of one of my Oregon Besties: Brandi. She was there for me when I was in town as a traveler and she kept in touch when I left town.

Brandi’s Bachelorette party consisted of something called the “Fruit Loop”. This is an awesome circuit of wineries, farm stands and orchards outside of Hood River, Oregon. Naturally the lavender was in full bloom, and sunflowers were also eating up the sunshine that was this amazing weekend. I captured some amazing photos during this super fun party, and had an incredible time exploring the Hood River area.

As with most people who like to live on the edge, Brandi celebrated her wedding the day after her Bachelorette party. We joined her for food and dancing at the beautiful venue with a Columbia River Gorge view.

Oregon Summers are amazing

As a midwesterner, I have come to appreciate summer time. Lake time, garden time, a welcome reprieve from snow fall. In Oregon it’s a similar feeling, with the cool nights and sun filled days that are absolutely cherished after 9 months of rain. My first summer permanently in the Willamette Valley was kissed with beauty and blessings. It was like taking a breath after such a long time struggling with the loss of my home and no longer traveling full time. Oregon 2021 was tainted by the Covid Pandemic, but the vaccination was allowing more gatherings, more safe adventuring to occur; which also perhaps made the summer extra special. But of course, every adventure with Chloe Rue is extra special to me. ♡

I hope you all are savoring your sunny summer days today! What dog adventures do you have planned this summer? Stay happy and healthy and remember to have many happy tails and happy trails ♡

Barking Embarkers