22. The Fruit Loop, 10/23/10

How many of you have heard of the "Fruit Loop?" I had heard of the fruit loop but obviously had never been or it would not be on my "list." As people asked me about my next adventure and I told them, I was surprised...no...shocked at how many people had never heard of the fruit loop. For those of you who do not know, the Hood River Fruit Loop is a celebration of the rich agricultural bounty of the Hood River Valley. First established in 1992, the "Fruit Loop" as it is fondly known, first started as a way for orchardists to promote farm stands that featured primarily fresh apples and pears. While the region is still prized for its fruit orchards, the Fruit Loop has changed over the years to reflect the diversity of agriculture in the region. Visitors who explore this scenic valley and visit its 30+ ag businesses can still pick apples fresh from the tree and sample different varieties of pears and cherries. They can also enjoy touring vineyards and wineries, nut and berry farms, lavender fields, and even alpaca farms. Whether you live in the area or are visiting from afar, you will feel right at home when you sample all the Hood River County Fruit Loop as to offer.

As Jess and I began our road trip heading East toward Hood River, we were truly blessed as the weather forecast was not sounding promising; however, we did not get rained on at all while on our adventure. We began our adventure with map in hand with the "best" places marked off for visiting. We found most of the stops on our list, but what road trip would be complete without a few missed stops and a few extras as well.



The "best" food was by far was at stop #23, Apple Valley Country Store & Bakery. We had an awesome pulled pork sandwich, pear coleslaw, and cider baked beans. I also had fresh biscuits served with hot, fresh apple butter while Jess enjoyed a pumpkin milkshake. The "best" place to pick/buy apples/pears is stop #17, AKA, Kiyokawa Family Orchards & Fruit Stand. They had an absolutely wonderful selection of apples, pears, squash, and anything else you would want (except carmeled apples, so sorry Jess).

I believe we found the "best" fresh cider, a lovely blend of two different types of apples, at Cody Orchards Farm Stand, stop #11. It is here where I also saw Lady Apples for the first time. They are the cutest, smallest apples you will ever see. I also had a carmel apple made from Lady Apples, it was so YUMMY!




The "best" bakery would have to be stop #14, The Apple Cider Overboard Packer Orchards and Cookie Stop Bakery (that is a mouthful). They had a HUGE assortment of cookies including black & white, macroons, double chocolate chip, white lemon, and pumpkin chocolate chip, to name just a few. Now that I have discovered the Fruit Loop, you can bet I will make it an annual event. This is truly one of Oregon's best kept secrets.

21. Donating Blood, 10/22/10

Thirteen years ago somebody I loved very much needed a blood transfusion. As a matter of fact, he received 12 units of blood. Until that time, I had never known anybody who had received a transfusion, and I never understood the importance of donating blood, the gift of life. Every minute of every day, someone needs blood. That blood can only come from a volunteer donor, a person like you or me who makes the choice to donate. After Joe died, I had decided that at some point I wanted to pay it forward and donate blood.
Here are some interesting statistics about the gift of life: Blood.

• More than 4.5 million patients need blood transfusions each year in the U.S. and Canada.
• Someone needs blood every 2 seconds.
• Only 38% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood – less than 10% do annually.
• One pint of blood can save up to 3 lives.
• Healthy adults who are at least 17 years old, and at least 110 pounds may donate about a pint of blood every 56 days, or every 2 months. Females receive 53% of blood transfusions; males receive 47%.
• AB is the universal recipient; O negative is the universal donor of red blood cells.
• Blood or plasma that comes from people who have been paid for it cannot be used for human transfusion.
• Cancer, transplant and trauma patients, and patients undergoing open-heart surgery may require platelet transfusions to survive.
• A patient could be forced to pass up a lifesaving organ, if compatible blood is not available to support the transplant.
• Thirteen tests (11 for infectious diseases) are performed on each unit of donated blood.
• 17% of non-donors cite "never thought about it" as the main reason for not giving, while 15% say they are too busy.
• The #1 reason blood donors say they give is because they "want to help others."
• Shortages of all blood types happen during the summer and winter holidays.
• Blood centers often run short of types O and B red blood cells.
• If all blood donors gave 3 times a year, blood shortages would be a rare event. (The current average is about 2.) If only one more percent of all Americans would give blood, blood shortages would disappear for the foreseeable future.
• The actual blood donation usually takes about 10 minutes. The entire process - from the time you sign in to the time you leave - takes about an hour.
• After donating blood, you replace the fluid in hours and the red blood cells within 4 weeks. It takes 8 weeks to restore the iron lost after donating.
• You cannot get AIDS or any other infectious disease by donating blood.
• Forty-two days: How long most donated red blood cells can be stored.
• Five days: How long most donated platelets can be stored.
• One year: How long frozen plasma can be stored.
• 46.5 gallons: The amount of blood you could donate if you begin at age 17 and donate every 56 days until you reach 79 years old.

When you make a blood donation, you join a very select group. Currently, only 3 out of every 100 people in America donate blood. Joe, this donation is in memory, in honor of you. While I may not be able to donate 46.5 gallons, it is my intention to pay it forward and at least give back 12 units of blood. Everybody who donates blood does if for very different and very personal reasons…I would challenge each of you reading this right now to dig deep inside, find what motivates you, and donate the gift of life: Blood. Thank you Maria for doing this with me.

20. Treehouse & Zip Lining, 10/9/10

Treehouses are the realm of children, right? Putting aside the Swiss Family Robinson, no adult would stay in a treehouse, or would they? It turns out that treehouse accommodations, perfectly suitable for adults, are available in locations around the world, even here in Oregon. Growing up in Portland, I never had the opportunity to have a treehouse let alone sleep in one, but that all recently changed. This past weekend Josh, Sara, Jimmy, and I went to Takilma, Oregon, which is about 3 hours and 15 minutes south of Eugene, Oregon, and stayed at Out 'n' About Treehouse Resort.

At Out 'n' About Treehouse Treesort, 13 accommodations are available, some of which have room for only 2 guests and some of which can handle 4 or more adults comfortably. The treehouses range from 8 to 37 feet off the ground and include skylights, stained-glass windows, and hardwood floors. At 37 feet high, the Treezebo is the highest accommodation. Some of the treehouses have very modern amenities. The Treeroom Schoolhouse Suite, for example, includes a refrigerator, microwave oven, and an antique clawfoot tub with a shower. The Mastree Bedroom boasts stained glass windows, a king bed, and a full bathroom. Many of the treehouses, including the Swiss Family Complex and the Serendipitree, are multi-level. The Cavaltree Fort is 2 stories tall, with a living unit below, and an observation deck above. The Peacock Perch has only 100 square feet, and visitors must use a chamber pot or descend 26 feet to use the communal bathroom. We stayed in the Forestree. At 35 feet, this treehouse is not for the acrophobic. You must take the Mountain View Treeway (a bridge made out of wooden planks) to get to the Forestree. It sleeps up to 4, sports a queen-sized bed and 2 singles - toilet, sink, and refrigerator with solid walls and opening windows. This unit is heated.

Treehouse tours (unoccupied units only) are available to non-guests, and a giant zip line is available on the 36-acre property. Other available activities include horseback riding, rafting, crafts classes, swimming, and more. Out 'n' About Treehouse Treesort provides courses on treehouse construction, and other classes, such as map reading and water hydraulics, are also available (you do not have to be a guest there to partake in any of these activities).

Josh, Sara, and Jimmy graciously agreed to cater to my whim of wanting to try ziplining. Zippers will see approximately half of the ziplines stretched across the meadow out back of the treehouses. Here you meet the experienced and friendly guides, who will explain and help you get suited into the zipline gear. From here you will take a short walk up the meadow to the Test Line, once at the Test Line the guides will explain the few rules for ziplining and instruct everyone individually on proper techniques for steering, braking, and dismounting from the cable. Upon finishing the Test Line, you climb two 10-foot ladders to the second deck of the Poultree platform were you will zip 650 linear feet down the Chicken Run to a ground dismount. Then comes a short hike up the hill to the Round Robin platform and zipline where you zip 430 linear feet into the Big Zip tree.

Arriving at the Big Zip tree, you will step down to the Big Zip cable where you will zip 650 linear feet back down to ground level. Next comes another short hike, which leads to a 12-foot ladder climb up to the Gap platform and cable. Here you will fly 300 linear feet to the backside of the Big Zip tree where you will climb another 10-foot ladder to the Big Dipper platform and cable, which is the highest at 70 vertical feet and the fastest, with speeds up to 40 miles per hour. Finishing the Big Dipper cable back at ground level ends the Basic Course Tour. For those seeking more thrills and adventure, they offer 2 more advanced tours. I would highly suggest this adventure to anyone who has a whim to take an outdoor adventure.