Odell Lake and Bats in the Belfry

Before I get started, I want to invite you to take a peek at my son, John’s, latest post.  He doesn’t post often but when he does it’s interesting stuff.  He just got back from a trip with his wife, where they stayed in a Tree-house.  Pretty cool place.  And here’s another Oregon story that I found interesting from The Back Porch View about Power of the Past.

The west end of Odell Lake seems like a different body of water altogether, from where we stopped for lunch.  Accessed by a long fairly steep road near the summit of Willamette Pass, Shelter Cove is quiet and serene compared to its wild and windy sister at the east end of the lake.

We made our way down the rock strewn drive as a light rain began to fall.  By the time we got to the lake the rain had stopped and there was barely a riffle on the water.



Shelter Cove Resort is a 17 acre parcel that has everything for the lake enthusiast.  There are several boat docks, launching and gasoline, boats and cabins for rent, and an RV park. 

The cabins are all different and range from older, tiny spaces to modern town homes.  All are lake front and have their own dock.


This is one of the newer lodges.  It has four town house type apartments and faces the lake.  The front has a gorgeous wrap around porch but I was tired and took the picture from the car as we drove through!!


Poppy was happy as there were more new smells to enjoy.  Her eyesight is failing badly, and her hearing is not what it used to be.  But her nose works just fine, thank you very much, so we allow her to use it as much as she wants.  It makes her happy and gives her input that is lacking from her other senses.  She deserves to enjoy what she can.


The general store sells a good variety of items and even some prepared food.  We always like to get an ice cream here but it just seemed to cold to do that today.
 
And this is where the bats come in!  Many years ago, about 16 if I am not mistaken, I was still working at the bank as the Compliance Officer.  My boss was the Chief Financial Officer, in charge of all the lending.  We held the mortgage on this property and it went bad.  The bank repossessed the property and guess who was volunteered to go up and keep an eye on things?  Yup, my boss said “go” so I went!  The concern was that inventory and equipment might make a hasty exit with the owners gone and the bank 70 miles away.

It was a fun venture for the most part, until my boss wanted me to spend the night rather than drive back and forth and collect mileage every day!  And so it was on a Thursday night that I climbed the stairs to the owner’s quarters; just a big dormer bedroom and bathroom.  The kitchen and living area were downstairs.  With nothing but a mattress on the floor, it was pretty sparse but I could make do.  Then I checked out the upstairs bathroom.  There, in the tiny little stall shower, were two dead bats!  If there were dead ones there had to be live ones!  I called Russ and told him if he would come up and spend the night there with me I would love him forever.  He did and I do, but that was the last night I spent there!

For the most part, I had a good time at the resort.  I did everything from buying supplies for resale in the store, to washing and folding towels for the cabins.  I had to do inventory on each of the cabins and make sure nothing walked off.  I only did this for a couple of weeks until my boss could decide  which employee to trust and then they were put in charge.  It was a lot more fun than sitting in my office reviewing loan files!!

The property eventually sold and the new owners did a wonderful job of updating and making needed repairs.  It has been a very successful enterprise under their watch.  But all good things must come to an end and as we pulled in I noticed that Shelter Cove is once again for sale.



The owners are retiring after 15 years and for only $4,000,000, you can own this piece of heaven, along with all the headaches that go along with it.  Frankly, I would rather rent!!

Here’s a picture of a couple of the campsites.  They have water and electric and a honey wagon to do pump outs.  This place is packed out all summer.  Many people, my former boss included, come for the season and spend all summer catching the kokanee that are so plentiful on this lake.



I see the promise of another nice day as I sit by my window and watch the rising sun sparkle on the river.  I think I’ll go enjoy it.