Likely because my growing-up years were walking distance to the South Umpqua, and visiting Bandon for the best family vacations, I love your experience along the Coquille. In retirement now we are just a brief walk from Rickreall Creek which looks like a river in the winter. I feel my heart swell when we see the Willamette. Thank you for these thoughts.
I grew up around big rivers, the Columbia for one, and the Puyallup. Find the shallow tributaries to look for spawning salmon, they are amazing to watch when they’re swimming up stream.
I love the last photo. So beautiful: the reflection.
Growing up in the Netherlands, rivers weren’t just there—they shaped a life. They carried goods, connected towns, and sometimes flooded the land. To keep them in check, we built dikes and canals.
Did I live by big rivers? Not quite, but they were always close. A bike ride away. Dutch rivers, they keep going, no matter what. Did you know that according to legend, our river, the Rhine, is home to the Rhine Maidens, who lure men with their songs? But in reality, it's the river’s rapids you should watch out for—much more dangerous than any melody!
There, that's enough talk about rivers. I live in a land of rivers and I love it.
The Gunnison can be pretty spectacular, too, as most of the Colorado rivers can be. I just haven’t spent any time around these soft, quiet, wide bodies of water.
In my late teens/early 20's, I lived in a beautiful Victorian house right at the junction of the Willamette and Marys Rivers. I used to sit on the bank for hours imagining all the people who'd perched in that exact spot over the centuries, seeing just what I was seeing. Rivers are magical and timeless.
Thanks so much for the essay on rivers in Oregon! I was wondering if you know that all the rivers you mentioned are named after native tribes? I continue to be delighted that you are enjoying your move to Oregon, as it is a place that continues to be important to me, even after 36 years of living in Sweden.
Growing up my Grandmother lived in northern Minnesota near the start of the Mississippi river, and you can walk across the river on stones, so I can relate to your comments about smaller river beginnings.
I did know the rivers are named for local people, but thanks for the chance to illuminate it more fully. And I LOVE that you have memories of walking across the headwaters of the Mississippi. God Jul!
My only river “memory” was growing up in Cleveland, OH during the time when the Cuyahoga River caught on fire - spawning the EPA and Clean Water Act. Then again, living my entire life in the Midwest, surrounded by the Great Lakes (which are really fresh water seas) offers a similar contrast to your own experiences with rivers.
I’ve heard about that fire. Wild! The Great Lakes are pretty astonishing, for sure. I’ve really only seen Lake Michigan, but it feels like an ocean when you stand on its banks.
I'm surrounded by rivers now, so much that when the hurricane hit our area, we were flooded in for two days. The people who built close, around the river, well, they felt the effects of a 500-year event. In early October, the rivers and creeks were angry, churning water with downed trees and other trash floating by. Now, they're back to their normal November levels, gently flowing through rocks and probably shallow enough to walk across. Kind of like the ups and downs of our lives.
We lived near the Snake River (In Idaho) as a kid, and I was always amazed at the size of that river. The mirroring effect of clouds and mountains shimmering in the middle are a bonus.
The hurricane did some serious damage. I’m glad you came through all right, and that the rivers are back to their normal levels. Wise words on the ups and downs of our lives.
I live on a river!! I say that with exclamation points, because I didn't set out to live here, it happened almost by chance. But I took that chance 6 years ago, sold my home in Providence, and moved some miles away to live in this loft in an old mill on the Blackstone River in Pawtucket RI. It runs south, turning into the Seekonk River, and empties out into Narragansett Bay. My view is breathtaking, and though I'm in an urban environment, the wildlife I see every day is astonishing. Even peregrine falcons-- they nest in the city hall tower across the river. Raccoons, woodchucks, herons, all sorts of ducks and geese, swans, the occasional loon, loads of birds at my birdfeeder. Even a beaver once. The reflections on "my" river at night are magical. I loved reading about your rivers, Barbara.
Likely because my growing-up years were walking distance to the South Umpqua, and visiting Bandon for the best family vacations, I love your experience along the Coquille. In retirement now we are just a brief walk from Rickreall Creek which looks like a river in the winter. I feel my heart swell when we see the Willamette. Thank you for these thoughts.
The Umpqua is so insanely beautiful! It’s my favorite so far.
I grew up around big rivers, the Columbia for one, and the Puyallup. Find the shallow tributaries to look for spawning salmon, they are amazing to watch when they’re swimming up stream.
Ooh, that’s a great tip. Thank you, Deb!
I love the last photo. So beautiful: the reflection.
Growing up in the Netherlands, rivers weren’t just there—they shaped a life. They carried goods, connected towns, and sometimes flooded the land. To keep them in check, we built dikes and canals.
Did I live by big rivers? Not quite, but they were always close. A bike ride away. Dutch rivers, they keep going, no matter what. Did you know that according to legend, our river, the Rhine, is home to the Rhine Maidens, who lure men with their songs? But in reality, it's the river’s rapids you should watch out for—much more dangerous than any melody!
There, that's enough talk about rivers. I live in a land of rivers and I love it.
An enchanting description of the landscape and rivers of your childhood. Thank you.
Those pictures are beautiful. Like you, I’ve spent my life around Colorado rivers. Is some ways I still like them better—they tend to be wilder.
I spent some years in the southeast and my sister lives in Seattle, so we’ve explored those “ocean rivers” too.
I’ll take the San Juan as it winds its way through the red rock canyons of Utah crashing off canyon walls and boulders.
The Gunnison can be pretty spectacular, too, as most of the Colorado rivers can be. I just haven’t spent any time around these soft, quiet, wide bodies of water.
In my late teens/early 20's, I lived in a beautiful Victorian house right at the junction of the Willamette and Marys Rivers. I used to sit on the bank for hours imagining all the people who'd perched in that exact spot over the centuries, seeing just what I was seeing. Rivers are magical and timeless.
Thank you for that beautiful image, Kelly.
Thanks so much for the essay on rivers in Oregon! I was wondering if you know that all the rivers you mentioned are named after native tribes? I continue to be delighted that you are enjoying your move to Oregon, as it is a place that continues to be important to me, even after 36 years of living in Sweden.
Growing up my Grandmother lived in northern Minnesota near the start of the Mississippi river, and you can walk across the river on stones, so I can relate to your comments about smaller river beginnings.
God Jul (Merry Christmas) from Sweden!
I did know the rivers are named for local people, but thanks for the chance to illuminate it more fully. And I LOVE that you have memories of walking across the headwaters of the Mississippi. God Jul!
My only river “memory” was growing up in Cleveland, OH during the time when the Cuyahoga River caught on fire - spawning the EPA and Clean Water Act. Then again, living my entire life in the Midwest, surrounded by the Great Lakes (which are really fresh water seas) offers a similar contrast to your own experiences with rivers.
I’ve heard about that fire. Wild! The Great Lakes are pretty astonishing, for sure. I’ve really only seen Lake Michigan, but it feels like an ocean when you stand on its banks.
I'm surrounded by rivers now, so much that when the hurricane hit our area, we were flooded in for two days. The people who built close, around the river, well, they felt the effects of a 500-year event. In early October, the rivers and creeks were angry, churning water with downed trees and other trash floating by. Now, they're back to their normal November levels, gently flowing through rocks and probably shallow enough to walk across. Kind of like the ups and downs of our lives.
We lived near the Snake River (In Idaho) as a kid, and I was always amazed at the size of that river. The mirroring effect of clouds and mountains shimmering in the middle are a bonus.
The hurricane did some serious damage. I’m glad you came through all right, and that the rivers are back to their normal levels. Wise words on the ups and downs of our lives.
I live on a river!! I say that with exclamation points, because I didn't set out to live here, it happened almost by chance. But I took that chance 6 years ago, sold my home in Providence, and moved some miles away to live in this loft in an old mill on the Blackstone River in Pawtucket RI. It runs south, turning into the Seekonk River, and empties out into Narragansett Bay. My view is breathtaking, and though I'm in an urban environment, the wildlife I see every day is astonishing. Even peregrine falcons-- they nest in the city hall tower across the river. Raccoons, woodchucks, herons, all sorts of ducks and geese, swans, the occasional loon, loads of birds at my birdfeeder. Even a beaver once. The reflections on "my" river at night are magical. I loved reading about your rivers, Barbara.
That sounds beautiful, Karen, exactly the things about rivers that so enchant me. Worth every exclamation mark!
I’ve always thought the canoeing among mangroves would be a great experience.