Location: Just outside Central Point of Southern Oregon.

Distance: 1.25 miles up, and 1.25 miles down. I only walked around a portion of the perimeter once I got to the top, but I could have easily walked for miles at the 2091-foot elevation.

Foot Traffic

Because the unique wildflowers that just started blooming, and because it is Oregon’s last Friday of spring break, Upper Table Rock was bustling with visitors today. While the parking lot usually isn’t completely filled up like it was today, this, along with neighboring Lower Table Rock, is one of the most popular hiking spots in Southern Oregon.

While I passed a few people on the strenuous hike up, most people liked to linger on the flat top. I decided to walk along the ledge until I came to a few trees. I pulled my hammock out of my Lewis N Clark convertipack and set it up between two branches of an octopus madrone. Although there was solid ground on either side, behind the tree was a cliff! The dropoff provided a beautiful view. Using my two-person hammock by myself allowed me some relaxation and solitude. Yet I could still hear the conversations of those who passed by. Every group, family, and couple commented on my hammock! If I decided to pop my head, they would compliment my creativity in making Table Rock an even better experience. One person even asked if she could take a picture.

Foot Feelings

While the highlight of this walk was actually the part where I was relaxing instead of walking, the best item I brought up there wasn’t the hammock, but rather the bag I carried it in.

I got the Lewis N Clark anti-theft convertipack specifically for travel and walks, but since I got it a week ago, I have used it every day for every occasion. It replaced my purse, and now I feel more secure with security features like RFID blocking card holders. It matches both work and casual outfits. I took it to the movies. I took it to the gym, and was surprised to find this little bag could hold not only my purse essentials and luxuries, but also my water bottle and a change of workout clothes. I was even more surprised at what it held today… the entire hammock plus my packed lunch! All I needed to carry by hand was a water bottle. The tear-resistant straps can alter to me a cross-body or over-the-shoulder handbag, but my favorite variation is wearing it as a backpack.

The views of the Rogue Valley atop the Table Rocks are absolutely enchanting. It’s worth the steep trail to get there.

Trail Tips

-Table Rock is enjoyed by thousands year-round, but the most popular time is wildflower season from March to May. I try to avoid it during rain since the trail becomes thick with mud. The lack of shade in summer can cause sunburn and heat-related issues as well.

-Because this is a natural area, no water spigots are available, and the only toilet is at the parking lot. Plan accordingly.

-Realize you could fall 800 feet of you’re careless, but enjoy creeping close to the edge.

-Lots of children hike here. But because it can be a long and strenuous journey,  I’d only recommend bringing the whole family if you regularly hike… unless you’re willing to carry them most of the way!

–Lewis N Clark provided the anti-theft convertipack for me to review and give my honest opinion. No other compensation was made- I even had to pay for my own gas to get out to Upper Table Rock!

-Lewis N Clark also provided a packing tube and hanging toiletry kit for me to use in my travels. Although they didn’t come into play today, stay tuned because they will be featured soon!

 

When I was sixteen years old, bed bugs weren’t the common travel fear that they are today. In fact, I considered them as mythical as unicorns and leprechauns, nothing more than a placeholder in the rhyme “good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite”.

But I did let the bed bugs bite. My bed in Peru appeared to be bug-free. Then my friend and her roommates asked me to spend the night in their room. I woke up that morning with hundreds of marks all over my legs. (The bugs left my friend alone- not fair!) The weeks that followed included itching, scratching, bleeding, and dozens of people concerned that the scabs on my legs meant that I contracted some sort of infection.

I returned to that same Peruvian hotel two years later and managed to remain bed bug-free. In fact, in all the cities and all the countries I’ve visited, I only have that one bed bug story to tell. Here’s my advice for preventing- and dealing with- bed bugs.

 

1. Know that bed bugs aren’t classist. I’ve heard a few stories from people getting bed bugs at hostels. But I’ve heard more from people who stayed in nice hotels. My friends who told me stories purposely avoided cheap motels because they were concerned about the cleanliness. In reality, I’ve heard more of a response from the hostel industry regarding cleanliness standards to avoid infestations. The price tag on your room is no indication of likelihood for bed bugs, but there are a few other factors to look at before booking.
2. Don’t BYOB (bring your own bedding). At first this seems counterintuitive. Providing your own bedding means you’re sure the linens are clean, right? True, but you don’t know how clean the bedding was with the person who slept on that bed before you, or the person before that, or the person before that. When I’m looking at hostels or AirBnBs, I eliminate any that allow me to bring my own bedding, no matter how nice the rest of the lodging may seem. Accommodations that enforce a “no outside bedding” rule have taken great strides in reducing bed bugs. I think it’s worth it to support these lodging options. Even if I’m staying at someone’s home, I only bring my own blankets if they ask me to. The only place I bring my own bedding is camping cabins. These backwoods locations often don’t have adequate laundry facilities to provide linen service, but I do make sure that their mattresses have a bug-resistant cover. And just for peace of mind, hostels and other accommodations have to adhere to their location’s government requirements of cleaning between guests, so you can expect clean sheets.
3. Keep luggage away from furniture. Why do so many people set their suitcase on their hotel bed? Metal furniture can still harbor bed bugs, but it’s not as likely as mattresses, couches, or other surfaces with lots of hiding places, so set your luggage there to prevent tiny hitchhikers. Also make sure to keep your luggage away from anyone else’s luggage. If a hostel offers personal storage lockers, that’s usually a good way to avoid cross-contamination.
4. Do an inspection. There are a few techniques to scan a room for bed bugs. It’s not foolproof, but if you find anything suspicious when you first enter a room, you can leave immediately and save tons of trouble. First, lift the sheets off the corner of the bed and inspect the mattress for any small dots (which could be feces, blood, or bug carcasses). While you’re at the bed, tear the comforter off and toss it in a corner. Those are hardly ever washed and have no business being on the same surface where you’ll sleep. If the bed has a box spring, move the mattress slightly so you can inspect one corner of the box spring for the same signs you were looking for on the mattress. Next, grab a flashlight and turn out all the room lights. Shine your flashlight in power outlets, furniture screws, and other small, dark openings. You’re looking for any movement inside these.
5. Notify the accommodation staff of any concerns. A good hospitality business should be more concerned about bed bugs than you are. If you find any sign indicating bed bugs, notify staff so they can change your room (to another building if necessary) and thoroughly clean your former one. If you get bitten overnight, you may be entitled to some sort of compensation.
6. Be wary of bed bugs outside of your room. Looking back to my bed bug experience, I feel bad for doing some activities after I was bitten. (Back then, I didn’t realize how easily they could spread.) The furniture I sat on, the bus I rode, the wool stores I shopped at, and the airplane I flew home on all unknowingly increased their risk of bed bugs with my presence. Because I haven’t heard of industries outside of lodging hospitality doing anything to prevent bed bugs, I try to be extra careful. Now, on days that I fly, I always wear long pants. I also wrap my hair in a scarf if I’m going to sleep on a plane or bus. There may not be much that I can do in these situations, but a barrier of fabric can sometimes deter bedbugs. I also carry all my own luggage so that it stays separate from other traveler’s bags.
7. Keep your travel gear outside your home. Whether I was gone for one night or one year, my suitcase stays on the porch for my first night back home. If you think you caught bed bugs, take off the clothes you’re wearing before you even step inside. (But don’t scare the neighbors; strip in your garage or backyard.) The next day, everything that can be washed goes straight to the washing machine. Everything else gets wiped down and inspected before being stored. Getting bed bugs while traveling is bad enough; you don’t want to invite them into your home!

I teamed up with Travel Fashion Girl to provide a packing list of things to take with you to help avoid bed bugs. Check it out here!

 

Location: Wimer, Oregon (Can’t find it on a map? It’s a small unincorporated community 8 miles north of Rogue River in Southern Oregon, off the I-5.)

Length:  85 feet. Virtually everyone can do this!

Foot Traffic

I was surprised at how many people were milling around the Wimer Covered Bridge. They all seemed to be locals though, more interested in congregating at the nearby market than looking at this bridge they see every day. Several people drove through the Covered Bridge while I was taking pictures, but as it is part of a normal road, it just might have been on their way home from work.

The child in the backseat of my car fell asleep during our calming country rise there and refused to wake up, so I had to say within a line of sight from my car. We also took this little adventure just to kill an hour, so we wouldn’t have had time to walk nearby paths even if he was awake. But there were plenty of nature stops on our way there and back that sure looked interesting!

Foot Feelings

The Wimer Covered Bridge isn’t the actual Wimer Covered Bridge. While it may look like an old fashioned structure, it’s actually less than a decade old! This bridge is a stronger replica of the one that collapsed in 2003. That one had been around since the early 1900s.

While it’s no longer on the National Register of Historic Places, the Wimer Covered Bridge is interesting in the fact that the community felt the need to rebuild. It’s also pretty exhilarating to cross. Traffic  comes from both directions, yet the bridge is only wide enough for one car!

Travel Tips

-This is really just a side stop for people traveling the I-5 area of Southern Oregon. To fill the rest of the day, check out things to do in Grants Pass, Rogue River, Gold Hill, or Medford.

-There are three other covered bridges in Jackson County . I’ve been to McKee and Antelope Creek. I guess that means I only have one left to go!