The Oregon Territory - Friday, June, 19, 2015

It's Friday, the one day I paid for the full American Volkssport Association Convention package at The Grand Hotel. A 10k Capital Volksmarch started at The Grand Hotel in downtown Salem where I met up with Susan and Darren.

We walked along city streets for a few blocks until we turned into Salem Riverfront Park at the Riverfront Carousel. Unfortunately for us, the carousel building did not open until 9:00 am and we were there at 8:10 am. If the building had been open, I would have taken a ride on the carousel.

Historic building in downtown Salem, Oregon

Carousel sculpture in Salem's Riverfront Park

We continued along Riverfront Park, passing a Rip Caswell sculpture (Tom McCall Memorial), A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village (children's museum), and continued to the State Capital.

The Tom McCall Memorial honors one of Oregon's governors. Great attention to detail is provided in this sculpture of Governor Tom McCall fishing in the waters of the Umpqua River. He is carrying a fly rod and his steelhead "catch." Caswell used McCall's own waders and the actual fly that caught the fish to create a true-to-life scene. (Information from Rip Caswell's Monument Site.)

Tom McCall Memorial

Volksmarchers in Salem's Riverfront Park

Soon we entered the State Capitol State Park. Salem was the capital of the Oregon Territory in 1851.

Salem, Oregon's Capitol Building

State Capitol Building

Susan and Darren in front of "Covered Wagon" bas relief

Capitol building topped by the Oregon Pioneer

Looking up inside the Capitol's dome

Mosaic of State of Oregon, 1859

Our checkpoint was inside the Capitol building. Guided tours of the capital were being offered at 9, 10 and 11 am. We were there at 8:30 am. Missed that opportunity too.

From the capital grounds we crossed the street and entered Willamette University's campus. There we walked into the center of five huge Sequoia trees to look for the star shape formed by the upper branches of the tree. In the photo you can almost see the star.

Founded 1842

Sequoia trees with "star" at top

Huge Sequoia trees. Sculpture in left
foreground is of graduates.

Eaton Hall

From Willamette University we walked through neighborhoods, walked to the front entrance of Willamette Heritage Center (formerly Mission Mill Museum), then passed through Yew Park garden at the Deepwood Estate, walked over to Bush Pasture Park and followed a route past the ballfields, through the park and past Bush House (not related to any presidents).

Willamette Heritage Center

Deepwood Estate (open for tours)

Bush Pasture Park fields

Colorful hanging basket of flowers

Side of Bush House

Front of Bush House

As the finale to our walk, we took the Pringle Creek Path along a stream which brought us out to a park with a pond. A nutria was swimming around the pond.

Nice salmon sculpture at Salmon Run Apartments

Nutria swimming in pond

From Pringle Park Path it was a short walk back to The Grand Hotel where the convention was being held. The carousel horse below, from Salem's Riverfront Carousel, was on display in the lobby. A placard with interesting facts at the base of the horse is worth sharing:

1. It takes approximately 700 hours of carving, 50 hours of sanding and 50 hours of painting to get me ready to go on the carousel.
2. We have 32 horses on the carousel at any one time.
3. There are 25 brown-eyed horses, 13 green-eyed and two blue-eyed horses.
4. There are ten horses without shoes and three horses that have animals in their tails.
5. We have events at the carousel almost every month. Visit our website at www.salemcarousel.org to see what event is coming soon.

Decorative wall in The Grand Hotel

Volksmarch Start and Finish tables

After we had our books stamped at the finish table, Darren, Susan and I drove over to J.C. Penneys. They wanted to buy clothes for the banquet and I wanted to buy a pair of black sandals. Once that mission was accomplished, it was time for lunch. We walked down Liberty Street checking out eateries and decided on The Brick Bar & Broiler. Oh my, all of us were delighted with our food selections.

Friday afternoon, Susan and I went to our classes and the Closing Session. I attended "A Brief Stroll through Salem History," and "Publicity Roundtable." At the Closing Session, presentations were made to tempt us to the next AVA Convention in 2017. The two choices for our next convention were: Billings, Montana and Albany, New York. I really wanted to go to Albany, New York. However, the delegates chose Billings, Montana. Elections for new officers were held and my friend Susan is the new Southwest Regional Director. She will represent clubs in New Mexico and Texas and help them as needed.

At night, we had our closing banquet. There was also a dance, but I left after dinner because we had to get up early in the morning to hike at Mt. St. Helens. The two post-convention walks were Mt. St. Helens and Portland, Oregon. Stay tuned for recaps of those wonderful walks.

Charlotte, Susan and Joanne at the closing banquet

This Volksmarching Convention, with all of its walks, has showcased the current Oregon territory.

Travel Bug out.