USS Blueback was the last non-nuclear powered submarine built by the U.S. Navy, and the last to be decommissioned after serving her country for 31 years. Blueback and her sister ships of the Barbel class utilized radical new concepts in post World War II submarine design, the most important being the teardrop hull and a single propeller. Blueback was decommissioned on 1 October 1990 and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet in Bremerton, Washington. The USS Blueback was acquired by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland, Oregon, in February 1994. This submarine appeared in the 1990 film The Hunt for Red October before being towed to its present location, a pier right outside the museum. It was opened to the public on May 15, 1994.

credit: aaronx

One of the most scenic areas of Central Oregon surely has to be along the Lower Crooked River. Chimney Rock overlooks a bunchgrass landscape that has been etched by the beautiful cliff-rimmed canyon of the Crooked River. A hiking trail begins on the canyon floor and winds it’s way up to the rock formation providing several great opportunities to photograph the unique rock formation and the wild and scenic river below. The trail, like all of the Lower Crooked Wild & Scenic River area, is managed by BLM and it starts directly across the road from the Chimney Rock Campground.

credit: BLMOregon

A dragon boat team consists of 20 paddlers sitting two abreast, plus a Cox who steers the dragon boat from the rear and a drummer who sits at the front. The team of paddlers work in unison to propel the boat forwards from a standing start, the aim being to reach the finish line in the fastest time. Generally a race consists of between 4 and 6 boats. They usually have brightly decorated designs that range anywhere from 40 to 100 feet in length, with the front end shaped like open-mouthed dragons, and the back end with a scaly tail. Boat were traditionally made in the Pearl River Delta region of China\’s southern Guangdong Province out of teak wood to various designs and sizes.

credit: Peter Uchytil