SHERWOOD MERRYWALKERS
happy birthday mike!!!!

What a day!  Starr and I just got to my house and decided to get the web stuff done before we head out to the patio and enjoy our slush.
I want to first thank all of our volunteers who helped out and made this a great success.  Second, I want to especially thank all of those walkers who did TWO WALKS TODAY!  We ended up with 123 walkers and I think Gresham had close to the same.  Great day for volkswalking.
The winner of the New Balances shoes was our own Merrywalker, RACHAEL SPANKS!  Congratulations!
Now for our slush.

The Gresham pictures are up!  Some of the Merrywalkers didn't make it to their walk because we walked in the Sherwood Robin Hood Parade.  Those pictures will be up later tonight.  See you at Rose's!

The weather was perfect.  It got a little warm, but then us slow walkers, would stop under a tree, give the dogs some water, and would just generally rest.  We ended up only finishing about 15 minutes later than the fast walkers, but I think we might have blew of some of the walk, but it seemed like a 10k.  We were tired and we were glad we went!  Starr was able to take pictures of the 10k walkers and I'm sure Dick will be sending his in shortly.
Don't forget Saturday there are 2 walks scheduled: one in Gresham in the morning, and a nice COOL EVENING WALK HERE IN WONDERFUL SHERWOOD!  I hope all of you can make it.  We are giving away one free pair of shoes from New Balance.  The festival should be a great place to hang out and hear some music and purchase food.  Then Rose's is giving each walker a 10% discount and Baskin and Robins is offering a "buy one and get one free" for all walkers.  See you on the weekend.  And don't forget Sunday Parks Walk.

We had a nice walk with the Snails today and picked up a new Merrywalker on the way, Katie.  She's even going to join us for our picnic tonight.  All of the pictures will be up later.

Today we headed out for a nice breakfast back at the Drift Inn.  Then it was off to the craft show at the Commons, then a little tour of the Log Church and then off for another walk to get Starr and Mary Ann their "N" in Newport.  On the way back from the walk we met up with Bekki, Bob and Sharon who said we needed to go to Local Ocean for their garlic seafood soup.  So we just had to go and have a cup of that with the fish and chips, and then we were almost ready to head back, then we had to make that stop for the salt water taffy.  Another great walk and another great trip!

How do you get to that perfect day?  Head to Yachats and do the Coastal Gems walk.  Before we even started we headed over to the Blue Whale for an omelet and then to the walk were we met up with 100 of our closest friends on the trail.  It was fantastic.  We were able to tour the new botanical garden, have lunch and then go to the meeting and see who received all of the awards.  After the meeting it was out to dinner at the Driftwood Inn where we feasted on the very best bread pudding we have ever had.  One piece, 3 scoops of ice cream, 4 spoons.  After that, it was one more stop, the Music Festival.  Now it's off to bed and wonderful memories of another trip and another walk!

It's amazing how many walkers showed up for the walk today, considering how hot it was going to be.  I opted for the 5k with the group led by Joe Titone and Heidi reading the map to make sure we didn't get lost on the trails.   She did a great job going from the Wildwood Trail, to the Redwood Trail, to the Fir Trail, etc., etc., etc.  and we didn't get lost!  Larry and Rita let Milo share their dogs water, and then Bekki, Mary Ann, Heidi and Barb had a little break on the log. Joe was very patient with us slow pokes and they all decided if Jane wanted to go one way, that would definitely be the wrong way, and it worked!  Mitch picked up the lead with Joe and we all made it back.
 The other group was led by Dick Baker,  and I can't even tell you all who was in that walk.  I do know the Merrywalkers: Starr, Judy and Tom Mikel.  We did see the Forsythes, the Finnegans (Pat and Steve), Bob, but there were a lot!  It was pretty nice out there, considering we all thought we'd boil, but I would think it was in the mid 70s most of the time.  The 10k walkers hit the Rose Garden and the Holocaust Memorial.  It is a premier walk, and if you weren't there, I hope you have a chance to see it soon.
This weekend it's Yachats! 

This is a bit late because I was having some problems with the computer, but it is all back to "normal" now. 
We had a great walk at the Refuge this week.  We split into two groups, one group did the 3 mile loop, while the rest of us just walked for about an hour.  Again, the wild flowers have been spectacular and we saw quite a bit of wildlife this week.  We saw 2 blue herons, one nutria, red winged black bird and the eagle.  If you don't have a chance to go with us on Monday mornings, please see if you can stop by there just for a visit.  It is so peaceful just to walk the paths and check out all of the fields just  blooming with so many colors right now.

Where do volkswalkers spend the 4th of July?  We walk in a National Park located right in Vancouver.  It was especially nice this year, they farmer's market was going on at the same time.
Today was a very eventful day for the Merrywalkers.  Not only did we have 9 Merrywalkers doing the walk, but we had Linda join us for her first 10k and then ...we had TWO SNAILS THAT GRADUATED and did their first volkswalk. CONGRATULATIONS, MARY ROSE AND BARB!  
Because all of us walk at different speeds, there were the fast walkers group, with Starr, Kathy and Cheryl.  Then we had the medium group, Linda and Carolyn (who also toured the Grant house) and then us slow pokes, trying to keep up with those snails!  
After we had to celebrate so we headed to one of our favorites, Ste. Honore's off of Vaughn and 23rd St.  
By the way, did you notice Dick in the picture with all of us gals?