Valentine’s Day 2010 was officially the Worst Day of the Year—bike ride, that is. With a total of 3,500 cyclists, it was the second largest turnout in the event’s eight-year run. Cyclists and their bikes dressed up for the affair: I saw festive Valentine’s Day costumes, a flock of Flamingos (25 Silverton residents who came up for the ride), a swarm of bright-yellow bees, cupcakes, superheroes, scuba divers and of course, lots of creative rain-weather attire. People came in their finest—Portland style.

The morning clouds looked ominous and as we lined up at the start, light drizzle seemed to indicate impending rain. This apparently, was just a fake-out. The “worst day of the year” was actually sunny and mid 50s. Reports said there was mild weather last year as well, proving (as Oregonians know so well) that northwest weather is truly unpredictable.

Back to the race: Fueled by a bear claw (free doughnuts for all riders!) we were off on the 18-mile course that looped from the Lucky Lab on SE Hawthorne, down the Eastbank Esplanade and across the Steel Bridge, around the Pearl District to REI, the first rest stop/hot chocolate station. The course continued across the Broadway Bridge and north to the second stop at the Community Cycling Center on Alberta (cookies and water here). We rode east to the Alameda Ridge and then zigzagged west and south, through charming tree-lined streets, until we landed back at The Lucky Lab, where we dined on a hot meal from Laughing Planet Café. Perfection.

All in all it was a fantastic experience; a leisurely ride through Portland’s scenic neighborhoods with yummy local food and awesome bicyclist camaraderie.

Though I can’t brag to my friends about biking in the elements, I can say that I’m excited about biking in this city. Admittedly, I’m a fair-weather biker and will MAX, Tri-Met or even drive in winter weather. But with sunny months in our near future (hey, a girl can dream) I plan to join the ranks of the roughly 20,000 bike commuters in Portland. I know there’s lots of controversy on biker versus driver safety in this city but coming from two-wheel commuting in San Francisco, where roads are narrow, drivers are usually tourists if not angry cabbies and the hills are gigantic, Portland roads are a breath of fresh air. I can’t wait to get back on my bike and why not, with wide, bright green bike lanes, conscientious drivers (from what I’ve experienced), lots of alternate pathways and a omnipresent biking community, this city makes the transition from four wheels to two easy.

I also plan on signing up for “Worst Day of the Year Ride” 2011. If the weather from the last two years is any indication, I’ll be wearing short sleeves.

See More Photos from the Worst Day of the Year Ride

My wife and I moved to Bandon Oregon in 2002 after touring the entire coast going to all of the lighthouses. We were amazed at how friendly and welcome everyone made us feel in the town of Bandon, we felt like family.

Along with my love of lighthouses I also love boating, crabbing, fishing and really doing most any outdoor activity. For the past few years I tried my hand at trolling for Chinook salmon but always snagged the bottom or twisted my lines. The salmon really had nothing to fear!

This year all of my asking questions and persistence paid off. I was trolling one foggy morning by myself and was slowly coming around a bend in the river when my rod slammed back. I thought to myself great I snagged the bottom again and lost another set up.

I put my boat into neutral and went back to fuss with my snagged lines. I grabbed my rod and gave it a couple of tugs and then I was able to start reeling in my line without any resistance. Cool! I saved my gear then when my flasher was about ten feet away from my boat it turned around and started rapidly peeling line off my real and then I realized I had caught a salmon.

The salmon ran maybe thirty yards away like it was nothing. I then reeled it back in and to my surprise it jumped a foot or two out of the water. This went on for thirty minutes and then the salmon tired and came alongside of my boat.

With one hand holding the rod I grabbed my net and attempted to net the salmon with my other hand but to my surprise the salmon was to big for my net.

I was able to get the salmon scrunched up a little in the net and I dropped my rod and grabbed the net with both hands and with a mighty tug managed to get the salmon over the side and into the boat.

I measured this huge salmon and it was 46 inches long, almost four feet! I had never caught a fish of any kind this big before. When I got back to dock I weighed it and it was just over 36 pounds.

Dave Schradieck
Owner: Bandon Beach Vacation Properties, LLC

Back in September, we along with the Oregon Coast Visitor’s Association and five other South Coast communities, hosted the first “South Coast Press Trip”

The trip started in Coos Bay-North Bend and ended here in Brookings-Harbor.

It occurred to me that given the chance, most of our visitors would love the trip we provided these writers; I know its an experience that I’m lucky enough to relive on a regular basis so I thought I’d share some of these insider tips for our visitors.

We started the day by meeting at Brandy Peak Distillery and then proceeded to Harris Beach State Park. Strolling along that beach is something I never tire of and I show off every chance I get. The beach combing here is fantastic and the views still take my breath away. When I take that walk with my wife, it reminds me what a lucky man I am.

Next we took our writers to the Driftwood RV Park for a wonderful Salmon BBQ lunch and then on to Azalea Park for a walking tour of the gardens and the Capella by the Sea.

No visit to Brookings-Harbor would be complete without at least a tour of, if not a quick “back nine” at Salmon Run Golf Course.

We then checked our writers into some of our local lodging facilities; The Wild Rivers Motorlodge and The Brookings Inn Resort to freshen up before a mouth watering dinner at O’Holleran’s Steakhouse & Lounge. Not all of Brookings-Harbor’s special sites and scenes can be viewed or enjoyed in a single day, so the next day, our group met for breakfast at the Flying Gull Restaurant and proceeded to a short tour of The Port of Brookings-Harbor and then on to the finale, Flora Pacifica. Being this close to the new Crissey Field Oregon Visitors Center, we had to take the opportunity to show off our beautiful and environmentally responsible new State Welcome Center.

When we sent the writers off, I overheard the same conversation that I hear from visitors on a regular basis… they were already making plans for what they would do on their next trip here. When I think about all the planning and work that I put into organizing this trip, it makes me realize that some of our visitors might agonize over the same details and might like a little “insider” knowledge.

Many people travel from all over the United States to Brookings to enjoy our summer, fall, winter and spring, many of them not half as close as you are. Imagine yourself here in the Brookings-Harbor area and then make it happen. We’re closer than you think.

Les Cohen
CEO, Brookings-Harbor Chamber of Commerce

Editor’s Note: Adventures on the Southern Oregon Coast is the product of the South Coast Partnership which includes the towns from Brookings to Reedsport and all the wonderful fans in between.

Welcome to beautiful, scenic and historic Port Orford and North Curry County. Port Orford is the oldest town site on the Oregon Coast and most westerly incorporated city in the contiguous United States. Port Orford is a little piece of “Paradise”, loaded with culture, vistas, trails, rivers, creeks, galleries, eateries and history. Every where you turn, you’ll find something unique and one of a kind here in Port Orford. I can assure you that if you stay long enough, you may want to stay forever.

Starting 13 miles to the north, is the little town of Langlois, home to schools, galleries, ranchers, artist, foresters, fishing and the best world class wind surfing on the Oregon Coast. Tucked under Langlois Mountain, Langlois is right out of a Norman Rockwell painting with Flores Creek flowing next to ranchers herding their sheep. Floras Lake, located just south west of Langlois is home to the world class wind surfing. Langlois is truly a delightful stop to any passerby.

The start of America’s Wild River Coast is the town of Sixes, located Five miles north of Port Orford. Sixes River is a hiker’s, camper’s, fishermen’s and explorer’s dream come true. Campgrounds are abundant up and down the river for both tents or RVs. The Historic Hughes House is located at its mouth just shy of five miles down Cape Blanco Rd. Built by Patrick and Jane Hughes, this 1898 home is a step back in time.

Just west of the Hughes House is the Historic Cape Blanco Lighthouse. Built in 1870; the most westerly lighthouse in the contiguous United States, the tallest, oldest and 1st ever operated by a woman still shines today. It’s light beams every 20 seconds and can be seen for nearly 30 miles. Both the Historic Hughes House and the Cape Blanco Lighthouse are true treasures of history. Tours of both are available from April through October, a must for anyone here at the Gateway to America’s Wild River Coast.

The second river at the Gateway to America’s Wild River Coast is the Elk River located 3 miles north of Port Orford. A campers paradise, the Elk Rivers is lined with camping in a state facility or just in your own private spot by the river. It is also known for its Salmon Fishing. The Elk River Fish Hatchery located 8 miles up the river is a national leader in the preservation of the salmon species. Fishermen flock from all over the county to try their luck on the Elk River during the two annual runs.

Port Orford was founded in July of 1851 by Captain William Tichenor and 70 of his men while aboard the steamship Seagull. The oldest town on the Oregon Coast and the gateway to America’s Wild River Coast will be fixed in time by those brave men. Captain Tichenor looked here and had a vision of the possibilities of a community. One of the only natural deep water ports on the west coast brought trade through shipping. An abundance of timber, fisheries and beauty brought work for all who wanted. Today, Port Orford is a cultural treasure. Its diverse galleries, restaurants and one of a kind business’s set in natures paradise offer anyone endless possibilities and opportunities.

The Port Orford Lifeboat Station was built on Coast Guard Hill in 1934. There are hiking trails out to the Port Orford Heads which give you an almost 260 degree view of our coastline. The Historic Museum, and Life Boat Station still sits on top of Coast Guard Hill and is a testament to all the men who served and their incredible courage to save lives and cargo. One of which was the 190 ft steam ship Cottoneva, who on February 10th 1937, ran aground at Battle Rock during 75 mile an hour winds. All 26 seamen and the captain were saved by the Coast Guard. The Historic Museum is open for tours from April until October.

The Port of Port Orford is the only open ocean dock in Oregon. The fishing fleet is hoisted in and out of the water by crane. This procedure is quite a site to see and is available to view year around. As you may imagine, fishing is one of Port Orford’s economic staples. There are quite a variety of fresh fish harvested and shipped all around the world, from Sea Urchins to the Asian buyers to Salmon and Crab to our local buyers. The Port of Port Orford offers chartered fishing as well as fresh fish to the public. A definite “must see” on any travelers list of attractions.

Battle Rock Wayfinding Point at the south end of Port Orford is a vista with breathtaking beauty. Facing almost due south with Humbug Mountain towering in the distance, it is the second most visited wayfinding point on the coast. Battle Rock received its name from the battle that took place between Captain Tichenor and his men against the local Native American tribe. When hiking on the legendary rock, you might come across the graves of some of Tichenors settlers.

Battle Rock Wayfinding Point offers scenic beaches as far as the eye can see. Beach access is not restricted, but we ask that you keep the beach in the clean, pristine condition that the Captain, Native Americans and we have enjoyed for over 150 years. If you desire any information, the volunteers at the Visitors Center located at the Battle Rock Wayfinding Point will be more than happy to assist. There are also many brochures and pictures located inside.

Just south of Port Orford is Humbug Mountain State Park. It has an abundance of
hiking trails and camping. A hike to the top of Humbug Mountain will give you a 360 degree view of the coast and surrounding area as far as the eye can see.

Port Orford is a special place filled with special people. The scenic beauty, clean crisp air, pure untouched landscape, diverse business community and wonderful people make Port Orford an incredible place to live. We hope you enjoy your stay with us here at the Gateway to America’s Wild River Coast, we will see you soon, take your pleasure in Port Orford!

David B. Smith
President
Port Orford/North Curry County Chamber of Commerce

The Columbia River Bar is called the “Graveyard of the Pacific” for good reason: it has a horrible history of more than 2,000 ships that have floundered and sunk on this shallow shoal, characterized by a crosshatching of currents, eddies, and whirlpools.

But the danger and the record of disasters belies a getaway that will keep you coming back many times, as I have – especially to visit a place that tells the Columbia River’s powerful story of untamed nature.

The Columbia River Maritime Museum (CRMM) in Astoria puts you in touch with danger; a place where respect for nature runs deep and the history of the region comes to life in unique and exciting ways.

Ocean swells coming down from the Bering Sea are caught by a near-shore sandbar that helps create huge waves. In winter especially, these waves and their breakers can occur in gale-force conditions and challenge the most experienced mariners in the largest ships.

It’s the mouth of the river that runs through the heart of the Pacific Northwest and at this Astoria landmark you will find many intriguing swirling stories. We’ve shown you the fascinating power and fickle nature of the Columbia River first hand in previous getaways – in fact, just last summer, on a fishing trip to the famous Buoy 10 salmon fishing grounds where dense fog nearly cost us as a two-hundred foot long ship showed up out of nowhere. And, last fall, we joined lifelong local fisherman, Steve Fick, on a Dungeness crabbing adventure. He showed us a new respect for the power of the river and the bar.

The people who work on the water know this danger well and they accept the risk. For example, U.S. Coast Guard personnel put their lives on the line each day to help folks who get into trouble. Their story is told at the CRMM through a dramatic blending of photos, equipment, video and a full sized motor lifeboat. Curator Jeff Smith noted that visitors to the Maritime Museum come face to face with all of these stories – but in winter, it’s all indoors, where it’s warm and safe. He noted that the varied photos, exhibits and video displays merge the past with the present and provide you with a compelling place to see, touch and learn more about an important corner of Oregon.

Editor’s Note: Grant’s Getaways is a production of Travel Oregon brought to you in association with Oregon State Parks, Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife and Oregon State Marine Board. Episodes air Fridays and Saturdays on KGW Newschannel 8 and Saturdays on Northwest Cable News Network.

Jerry Scdoris has twelve of the most faithful friends one mountain of a man could ever hope to have in a lifetime. Consider what they do for him: Whenever Jerry hollers “Hey,” these dedicated buddies of his rise to their feet and go. Actually they run and run and run anywhere he tells them to go. They will pull hundreds of pounds while enduring deep snow or slippery ice and a biting wind that would send most of us indoors for rest and relaxation beside the nearest toasty warm wood stove. And get this: They never, ever complain. In fact, they live to be outdoors when winter is its roughest: downright mean and nasty.

Jerry’s best friends are huskies. They’re not big or brawny either. Rather, they’re medium-sized pooches about twenty pounds each, but they are huge when it comes to desire and energy and enthusiasm to please people.

During a visit to Jerry’s Iditarod Training Camp near Mount Bachelor, I asked him how he trains dogs for the kind of pure commitment it takes to run and pull through the snow. He told me his dogs “are 110 percent go-power. They just have to run out of pure joy.”

Jerry is in his 18th season at Mt Bachelor, but he has been a professional musher for over thirty years. He also takes passengers on a thrilling dog-sled ride across a three-mile course. He’s covered 100,000 Alaska wilderness miles with his dog teams and he likes to say the dogs are “experts in motion.”

When you watch Jerry work with his dogs, you witness an incredible transformation when he attaches the huskies to their traces individually and they become a team. The older, veteran lead dog is generally calm in comparison to the younger huskies. The excitement and energy build among these youngsters, who bark and yelp for joy until the musher releases the drag brake and steps onto the back runners. No longer do you hear a dozen whining individuals, because the dogs’ eagerness settles into a determination to pull hard and fast no matter the weight in the attached sled basket.

Dave Sims, a longtime partner in Jerry’s business, designs and builds all of the equipment including the toboggan-style sleds that carry up to 600 pounds – plenty of room for Mom, Dad and a couple of kids.

With that, we were off in a moment of madness, down a slope into a wooded stand, leaving a snowy wake flying up behind us. The loop trail’s first part follows a narrow Forest Service trail flanked by Douglas fir and ponderosa pine. As we slip-slid along, it was a bit like a combination sled and rollicking roller-coaster ride.

The deep powder is a storybook landscape for speeding through narrow trails in a dense pine forest with boughs bent low from a fresh powdery blanket. You’ll want to stop in, though, and make Jerry Scdoris and his best friends part of your Oregon snow-country adventures. The training camp and rides open with the first fall of snow in November and continue into spring. There’s a certain peaceful feeling out on the trail – a feeling that –even for an hour or so – all is right with the world.

Editor’s Note: Grant’s Getaways is a production of Travel Oregon brought to you in association with Oregon State Parks, Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife and Oregon State Marine Board. Episodes air Fridays and Saturdays on KGW Newschannel 8 and Saturdays on Northwest Cable News Network.

Get fit on the slopes while learning a new snow sport on one of Oregon’s picturesque mountains, try your hand at fishing for steelhead or recuperate from the holiday hustle with a day at the spa.

And just in time for the winter crab harvest, we’ve got a Crab Fritter recipe from one of Oregon’s iconic seafood restaurants.

See you in Oregon where we’re unveiling two new eNewsletters.

~ The Editors

The maitre’d is a museum assistant like Kathryn Hawes, who roams the crowd with preserved examples of octopus eggs and other body parts. She’ll answer questions, tell stories and offer facts about this eight-legged creature of the briny deep. Then, with help from one of the HMSC’s volunteers, Hawes will roll the screened cover off the front two feet of the 12-foot square tank, and drop a live Dungeness crab into the water.

That’s the moment, naturally, when feeding time gets really interesting. From a corner of the tank, red arms curl and unfurl as they propel the bulbous mantle toward the crab. They don’t so much grab the food as surround it, sucking it toward the hub of all those curling arms: the sharp beak, which delivers a dose of neurotoxin to the hapless meal.

Sometimes, if the octopus opens up at just the right angle, HMSC visitors can see the beak as it bites the crab.

While all eyes are drawn to the beak, the tentacles are making their move. One skinny little tip comes over the tank’s edge, and then another — searching, anchoring, gaining suckerholds on the glass. Clearly, lunchtime is a window of opportunity, but Hawes is ready. She lightly detaches each arm and replaces the cover, securing it tightly with industrial-strength Velcro.

“It’s like trying to keep Houdini — they love to escape,” said HMSC’s marine educator Bill Hanshumaker. “They have no bones in their body, so they are able to slip through the smallest of holes. In the past, they escaped on a regular basis, and it was sometimes lethal to them if we didn’t find them soon enough. But the one thing they haven’t figured out yet is Velcro.”

Ready to meet the resident giant Pacific octopus at the Hatfield Marine Science Center? Here’s how:

• The center’s cephalopod is fed every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 1 p.m. Marine educators discuss the creature’s anatomy and behavior, and show preserved octopus eggs, a beak and more. Octopus wranglers (aka volunteers) are also on hand to answer questions. Assemble at the tank, located near the visitor’s center, to participate in this free program.
• A special Octopus Day is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Octivities will include a children’s coloring contest with prizes, an octopus feeding at 1 p.m., and the comparative necropsy of two squid and an octopus. Related films will be shown throughout the center’s day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The HMSC, on Marine Science Drive in the South Beach area of Newport, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. For details, call the center at 541-867-0100.

But wait, there’s more. Read more about the HMSC octopus mascot, head to http://www.oregoncoasttoday.com/octopusday.html

Niki Price is the editor and co-owner of Oregon Coast Today, a weekly newspaper covering arts, entertainment and the environment on the central Oregon coast. She roams the shores from Yachats north to Rockaway, covering everything from pelican proliferation to proffered profiteroles, with two underage editorial assistants often in tow. To follow them, and the TODAY, check out their Twitter feed and Facebook fan site.

This week’s Grant’s Getaway puts you face to face with a winter survival story that’s two hundred years old when a group of explorers found themselves stranded in Oregon.

It’s the story of survival that is alive and well at Fort Clatsop National Historic Park. In winter, if you travel the lower Columbia River near Astoria, you must slow down and savor the season at a place where Oregon history comes to life.

Chances are you will spy retired schoolteacher, Tom Wilson, covered head to toe in buckskins and history. He relishes the role of Capt William Clark – one of the co-leaders of the famous Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery – and is on duty this time of year at Fort Clatsop.

He explained to nearby visitors – “This fort wasn’t really in their plans – they had hoped to get downriver, see a ship, get re-provisioned, get back over the mountains before winter and home – Well, it is winter so things didn’t go as planned.”

Wilson is part of a small group of volunteers who bring the Lewis and Clark story to life through living history experiences that you can enjoy on your visit.   “Oh, it was a miserable, cold, wet winter. They were low on provisions, their clothes had rotted, military uniforms had rotted away and so the ship was going to re-provision them – Unfortunately, they arrived much later than they thought – the trading season was over.”

So, they were forced to stay – and the chose a small area on the Oregon side of the river to built a log fort – when you visit at this time of year, you get a feel for what the explorers experienced in December, 1805.

The Corps also stayed in Oregon because abundant deer and elk made the hunting easier – especially for the elk.

“Yes,” added Wilson – “The reason this fort is here is because of more word of elk and deer than anywhere else and so they were out hunting the entire time.”

Elk provided the explorers with many things: food, hides for clothing, elk fat for tallow candles and antlers could be made into buttons. Nothing was wasted.

Indoors – at the nearby Fort Clatsop Museum, you can learn more about the Corp of Discovery’s remarkable journey across America through exhibits, drawings and equipment that also put you in touch with history.  You can also do the same on the recently completed “Fort to Sea Trail” that stretches from Fort Clatsop nearly seven miles to the ocean.   And it can be joined at many locations along the way.

If you travel this way, you may also consider a longer stay at nearby Ft Steven’s State Park. The trails and campgrounds at Ft Steven’s are quiet at this time of year.  The summer crowds have disappeared and the beaches, Coffenbury Lake and the wetland areas are all yours to explore.

Ft Steven’s Park Manager, Mike Stein, explained: “People are looking to get away from the larger crowds and we specialize in that at this time of year. We’ve got over 4,000 acres to spread across, plus miles of beachfront and 9 miles of paved trail, plus another 7 miles of nature trail.”

If you lack a trailer or an RV, no need to worry, Ft Steven’s boasts 15 yurts that make the camping easy: “Yurts are wonderful camping opportunities,” explained Stein. “They offer a domed platform with canvas sides and top. They have furniture in them: a futon sofa and a bunk bed. They’ve proven to be very popular because they reach out to the visiting public that’s unable or lacks the time to invest in a tent or RV.”

Back at Fort Clatsop, Superintendent David Szymanski said that folks should consider Fort Clatsop a launching point to make their own trail of discovery in the region:  “It is a way to give a lot of people the experience of what the expedition would have faced. It’s a place where you can spend a day or two exploring and get to know more about our national history. “

Tom Wilson agreed – and for the next couple of weeks, he will be on hand to help you understand how important a place Fort Clatsop – the place where Lewis and Clark slept – meant to Oregon and the shaping of America.

“What they endured and how they persevered to make this place their temporary home for nearly four months – and the story behind it – it wasn’t just a camping trip – this wasn’t just a bunch of guys looking for an adventure – this had so many purposes and was well laid out and executed. It truly was the best of any expedition ever.”

Editor’s Note: Grant’s Getaways is a production of Travel Oregon brought to you in association with Oregon State Parks, Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife and Oregon State Marine Board. Episodes air Fridays and Saturdays on KGW Newschannel 8 and Saturdays on Northwest Cable News Network.

Winter has certainly arrived in Oregon with a one-two punch of colder, wetter weather this month. That’s okay because winter time is the only time you can enjoy this “Grant’s Getaway.”

You’ll want to bundle up against the cold when you go aboard the Jewell Wildlife Area Hay Wagon to feed the herd of Roosevelt elk. On a recent December daybreak, cold and crisp and quiet conditions greeted the visitor across the 700-acre Jewell Meadows (this is one part of the expansive Jewell Wildlife Area,) but the otherwise silent morning came to life when the hay wagon came into view.

Despite the mercury holding steady at just seven degrees, the morning hay wagon shows up on and the 200 elk that live quickly respond. Refuge manager, Brian Swearingen says the morning feeding is a regular winter event across Jewell Meadows – the feeding keeps the elk here rather than foraging across nearby private agricultural lands.

We were on the western fringe of the refuge; an area where approximately 25 bull elk spend their time together. Brian noted that this group is referred to as the “Bachelor herd.” Some of the bulls in the Jewell herd are massive animals that tip the scales at more than 800 pounds – with antler spans of five or even six feet.

On this particular day, there was another sound on board the feeding wagon – as Dean Crouser’s camera made the tell-tale ‘click-click-click” of auto mode as he snapped shots with his digital camera that had a 200mm zoom lens attached to it.  Crouser is a wildlife artist who searches for Oregon wildlife in “everyday moments” – the times that many of us take for granted.

This day marked his first wintertime trip to Jewell Wildlife Area and he was a bit like a kid in a candy store – so many photo opportunities were presented in front of him from the cozy confines of the feeding wagon – because the elk were feeding just 20 yards away.

Crouser travels across Oregon – often corner to corner – and his work reflects the adventure and inspiration and wild moments that he has seen.

Editor’s Note: Grant’s Getaways is a production of Travel Oregon brought to you in association with Oregon State Parks, Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife and Oregon State Marine Board. Episodes air Fridays and Saturdays on KGW Newschannel 8 and Saturdays on Northwest Cable News Network.