PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

Last Sunday was as good day, a day apart from worrying about what President Trump was going to do next, whether Congress would adopt a new health care plan, or when the Oregon Legislature would adjourn.

It was a day to walk along the Metolius River in Central Oregon, one of Oregon’s great treasures.

During my career as a state lobbyist, all I had to do to hear about the Metrolius was get time with Senator Betsy Johnson, a Democrat from Scappoose. She was raised in Central Oregon and had then and has now a sacred spot in her heart for the Metolius. You could hear thje cracks in her voice as she talked about the area that was a special part of her childhood.

From our vacation home in Black Butte, it is only about five miles to Camp Sherman, a small town along the Metolius, which is marked by a general store, an iconic church, small cabins, and a great restaurant, the Kokanee Café.

When we arrived at Camp Sherman, our first stop was near a small bridge over the Metrolius where, on occasion, you can see several kinds of trout swimming by, though it’s difficult because their color blends in with the rocks in the water.

Across the bridge, we then took a river-side trail that heads north for about a mile. Along the way, my wife, Nancy, stopped every few feet to take photos of wild flowers, of which there appeared to be more than 15 varieties.

On the trail, we didn’t see one person fishing, which is interesting, given that the Metolius is known as as a great trout fishing stream. Still, in the area where we were, the fishing has not been great in recent years, perhaps because it is pretty accessible, a standard most veteran fisherman eschew because they want more remote areas where they might have the only line in the water.

Along the way, we came across two meadows, resplendent in a cacophony of color. Like a well-trained symphony, the grass kept time with the beat of music we almost could hear. Even the weeds marked the beat.

We thought might see a deer or two in those meadows, but the graceful, beautiful animals remained behind the scenes, perhaps lying around in the shade to escape the 80 degree sun.

As we walked, we marveled at creation. And that was after listening the day before to a recording of a sermon preached many years ago by my wife’s late father, Neil Fraser. In that sermon, delivered at the church where I grew up in Portland, Neil said one of the best evidences for God is creation itself.

It is easier to believe that God created the marvelous panoply of flowers, water, sky and wildlife than to suggest that it all happened by chance.

As an aside, through the marvel of recordings, it was good to hear Neil prove again that he was very good at describing God and scripture in such a compelling way. A great man ahead of his time!

Well, after a couple hours along the Metolius, we arrived back at our car and drove the few miles to Black Butte for another great evening under the sun in Central Oregon.

Here, drawn from the Internet, is a little more history on the Metolius.

It is a tributary of the Deschutes River which flows north from springs near Black Butte then turns sharply east, descending through a series of gorges before ending in the western end of the Lake Billy Chinook. The unincorporated community of Camp Sherman lies astride the southern end of the river, a fact we knew well as we walked that river-side trail.

The Metolius River is fed by numerous springs and creeks along its route.

The headwaters of the river are art Metolius Springs where the river emerges from two clusters of springs at the base of Black Butte. Water flows to these springs from the drainage basin around Black Butte Ranch.

The River flows 28.6 miles from Metolius Springs through the Deschutes National Forest emptying into Lake Billy Chinook and ultimately the Deschutes.  The upper 11.5 miles of the river are popular for catch-and-release fishing, waterwater rafting, picknicking and camping. The lower 17 miles are on the boundary of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation and flow by “a primitive area where motorized vehicles are not allowed.”

The Metolius River was officially designated a National Wild and Scenic River in 1988.

But, don’t take my word for all of this. Make your own trek to Central Oregon and see the Metolius for yourself.  It’s worth the trip to see one of God’s beautiful creations.