October, 2021
Deer neighbors are such dear neighbors. They really are.
Inside major metropolitan cities in the USA there is lots of fantastically wonderful stuff. But when I get outside the major metropolitan areas in the USA, it seems to me I find even better stuff. Today I found homes, almost none of them with fences or gates around them, and wild deer living their lives here as they have for centuries, and I found views of mountains, and waterways, and forests, and I listened to bird song … not just bird song, but bird choruses.
One or two blog posts ago, I mentioned I had been looking for something when I came across other things of interest, such that I never found the first thing I was looking for. Well, today I found that first thing I was looking for … the Mayfield Dam. Come take a look!
I was the only visitor.
This sign (above) near the dam showed the larger area and the waterways in the area. I was camped at Ike Kinswa State Park. I’m visiting the Mayfield Dam today, although I will visit the Mossyrock Dam later this week.
The Mayfield Dam might be considered a small dam in the scheme of things, but it looked huge to me.
Look at the detail below … all the walkways … everything needs inspecting and maintenance … and safety is critical.
The road across the top of the dam (below) easily accommodates the largest semi truck ever built.
But what’s that semi-circular concrete construction on the left side of the dam in the photo above? I’ve not seen that on other dams.
The photo below is of two inlets (one on the left and one on the right) that direct water from the lake above the dam, then through underground conduits, bypassing the dam, eventually feeding the turbines downstream that produce electricity. I’ve visited other dams in the Pacific Northwest and not seen anything as complicated as this. I want a private tour so I can learn everything. 🙂
I walked around for at least an hour, trying to figure everything out, and truthfully for a good portion of that time I just stood and listened and watched and enjoyed the water and the forests and the birds. The road further up the river/lake, the road around to the other side of the dam (and to a road that led to the bottom of the dam) was closed to the public.
And so, by and by, I headed on up the road. This was one of those days where I simply turned a corner, chose this road over that road, not having a clue where I was going. I loved it. 🙂
The two cabins below were old log cabins that had been improved and could be rented for a weekend or longer. They had electric heat and lights and flush toilets, and small kitchens … and an antenna and a satellite dish for TV and internet.
The modern home below was modest in size but exceptionally well-maintained.
And this large estate, below, was spectacular. On a clear day, without the cloud cover, there would be snow-covered mountain peaks there in the distance. The sunsets shining on the mountains would be stunning.
As I drove past the home above, and then turned a corner onto another road, something caught my eye outside my passenger window …
Hi deer! 🙂
And further on yet, the home below had a number of deer neighbors who were visiting.
But my favorite deer folk today was the trio below. They were prancing and dancing, kicking up their heels, happy-go-lucky, not a care in the world. They had obviously been up this driveway towards this home many times before, and were happy to be back here again. One of them stopped and looked back at me as I snapped the photo below.
Hi deer. 🙂
Great dam. I don’t know of any near where I live, but now I’m going to find out, they’d be great to explore. Do any of them have tours?
Yes, Joe, lots of them do have tours. You will likely need to call ahead or schedule a tour online. But yes, do that, great fun and fascinating stuff.
Ha! deer neighbors vs dear neighbors, that was fun. 🙂 And super photos. Love photo #6 (of the dam) and photo #17 (the last photo).
Those two photos are my favorites too. 🙂 Thanks Tina.
Very fascinating dam! Usually you can get a tour, May have to call ahead and schedule. I have had great success. Very nice! Love the dancing & shipping deer!! Keep on posting Ann! Happy trails!
Will do Melly. Same to you! 🙂
Your question about the dam I would say is the spill-way for high water conditions.
Ah ha, that makes sense! Now I see it. Thanks Vernon, glad you’re here.
I love your header photos as much as I love the real blog reports. This one with the fern curled is spectacular. Ok I also love the “deer/dear” neighbors. You seem to listen to wildlife, animals and plants, and “get” them.
Thanks for that info about the curved part of the dam Vernon. I couldn’t make sense of it either until you wrote that.
One of the things I like about camping is being around wildlife, whether plants or birds or mammals or frogs or whoever. It’s all so fascinating and teaches me about myself. Maybe some day I’ll “get” me … ha! 🙂 Thanks Ruby.
That dear/deer neighbors thing was great, made me smile right out loud. 🙂
Enjoyed the houses and dam too, thoroughly. Thanks for that explanation Vernon, I wouldn’t have known either. Great photos Ann.
Oh I like that … “smile right out loud”. 🙂 Thanks Emily.
Vernon, you are terrific, you get your own personal replies! I’d bet Ann is fine with that. I didn’t have a clue what that round thing on the dam was.
The deer were great, but that four “car/truck/RV/semi” garage on that estate home property was massive and really impressive. Prancing deer are great too. Pretty soon here, one of them will need a red nose. 🙂
You bet, Tim. I am perfectly fine with personal replies from Readers to comments from other Readers.
Wasn’t that garage huge? I think I could square off a house inside that garage four times over. The garage probably had more square feet than the house did.
Ha, yes, Rudolf should be making an appearance soon. 🙂
Fun stuff. 🙂
🙂 I think so too.
We have a lot of deer around here too. Our three amigos (triplets born this spring) were pared down to a duo, but they are still hanging out together and decimating my landscape. I don’t even care, it’s been so fun to watch them grow up. We have a buck hanging around too…so there will be a new crop of babies next spring.
Isn’t it just a miracle to watch this stuff? And you have a good deal of it right in your own back yard … deer and birds and all sorts of wonderful folk.
Hey, Readers, if you haven’t checked out Dawn’s blog, you should. Click on her name and it will take you to her blog. Her photos are gorgeous!
Dear baby deer are especially wonderful. 🙂
Spill-way indeed Vernon. You know dams. I’ve tent camped next to so many dams on private/government property without permission necessarily but with a blind eye from the employees who trusted me. Nice to hear from other folks who know the lay of the land, or the lay of pacific northwest dams. Best to you Vernon.
Nice comment, Steve. Thanks. 🙂