Oregon Country Fair (OCF) [Archive]

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Integral

Jul7-08, 12:32 AM

Oregon country fair (http://www.oregoncountryfair.org/quick_visitor_guide.php)

I noticed in the "Tsu down Hard" thread Tsu mentioned going (or not going :grumpy:( ) as the case may be to the Oregon Country Fair. I thought I would post a link just so others could see what she is missing. (This year, we WILL do it next year!)

I first went to the fair in ~1978, it was pretty wild. This is a huge gathering of hippies, so Russ you may not enjoy it. That's ok 'cus even square nerds are allowed in. Basically it is a long figure 8 shaped path lined with craft and food booths. There is (or was) no electricity for anything, so iced drinks are hard to come up with, things like Coke and Pepsi are simply NOT sold. Music is everywhere, the cross roads (figure 8 remember!) was the home of the drums, they play continuously, there were drums of every size and shape this really sets the mood of the whole fair. There is every sort of entertainment, folk, rock and roll, belly dancing you name it you can find it.

I see now the site claims to be drug free, it has always been alcohol free, but drugs? The first years I was there green cookies and brownies were being openly sold from baskets along the path. I recall seeing someone buy a green brownie from a push cart, evidently the transaction was also witnessed by a little old man. He approached the cart looking for a brownie, the vendor denied any knowledge of brownies, knowing that this old fellow would not appreciate the extra ingredients. Unfortunately, people got pretty carried away with it. That sort of thing went on for about 2 years that I know of then the authorities got wind of it and closed down the open sales.

Partial nudity was also common in the early days, not sure what all has changed in the last 20yrs. I was there last about 15yrs ago and am looking forward to seeing how it has changed.

humanino

Jul7-08, 12:38 AM

I'd sure go if only it were not that far. Let's have a PF gathering there next year then. I'm sure Astro would perfectly fit in there.

binzing

Jul7-08, 12:40 AM

Find the Ocf thread that Tsu had started before she broke her hip. There were some pictures showing proof of the continuation of at least the nudity part.

Will I see you at da Vinci Days Integral?

lisab

Jul7-08, 12:41 AM

We are absolutely going to OCF next year!! My hubby and I have wanted to go for years. Sounds like our cup of tea (think we'll pass on the brownies, though :wink: )!

Integral

Jul7-08, 01:03 AM

Find the Ocf thread that Tsu had started before she broke her hip. There were some pictures showing proof of the continuation of at least the nudity part.

Will I see you at da Vinci Days Integral?

I think we are going to try to bring our robot, from the FIRST competition, so yeah I should be around.

lisab

Jul7-08, 01:04 AM

Does anyone know the dates for next year?

Integral

Jul7-08, 01:19 AM

It is on the 2nd weekend in July. (of course as soon as I make a unqualified statement, something will change!)

binzing

Jul7-08, 03:17 PM

Cool man. If you go to the river portion of the Kinetic Scupture Race, look for me in my orange Pyranha kayak. I WISH we had a flag for PF, I'd put in on my boat.

OmCheeto

Jul8-08, 12:26 AM

Cool man. If you go to the river portion of the Kinetic Scupture Race, look for me in my orange Pyranha kayak. I WISH we had a flag for PF, I'd put in on my boat.

I was going to create a "Physforophile", 60's inspired, far out and groovy t-shirt for the team. Until all the broken hips and such........ :cry:

How will I recognize you in the boat? How many people in the boat? Wait a minute.... I'm confusing this with the milk jug and/or dragon boat races..... It's a kayak. Just look for the piranha.... AHHHHHH!

sorry....

I'm gettin in the stupid stinkin hippie mode....

4 days!

:rofl::rofl:

binzing

Jul8-08, 12:34 AM

I'll find a pic of the boat real fast. It'll just be me in it, but my dad will be on a boat with two pontoons of about 10 inches in diameter about 2 feet apart.

If Ivan and Tsu make it, I'll be on the look out for a walker.

binzing

Jul8-08, 12:40 AM

http://www.paddlerzone.co.nz/image/white_water_kayak/pyranha_s6x.jpg
Thats my boat.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_GIRSIDxQkmU/RqrHhj2jURI/AAAAAAAAAA4/gAJE4R2nJLM/37780007.jpg
Those are what my dad's boat looks like.

OmCheeto

Jul8-08, 12:51 AM

I'll find a pic of the boat real fast. It'll just be me in it, but my dad will be on a boat with two pontoons of about 10 inches in diameter about 2 feet apart.

Is there more than one piranha kayak?

If Ivan and Tsu make it, I'll be on the look out for a walker.

Now that might be harder to spot. The fair has been going on since 1969, and all those original hippies probably have souped up, Tsu inspired walkers by now.:cool:

Integral

Jul8-08, 05:00 AM

binzing

Jul8-08, 09:48 AM

Ha Ha, I'm not...

I think my link screwed up, if I can find a working link to a picture of my dad's boat, I'll repost. (And there's only one orange boat, that was just the best picture I could find.

binzing

Jul8-08, 09:58 AM

http://www.jpwinc.com/index.php?page=products&item_no=4386
That's the bigger version of what my dad will be in, except his is baby blue.

OmCheeto

Jul8-08, 10:14 AM

Thats my boat.

Oh. I thought it was going to be a kayak shaped like a piranha.
I've never seen one of those before.

Those are what my dad's boat looks like.
That looks almost exactly like a design I've been floating around in my head for the last 6 months. I thought I was going to have to build one.

What day is the boat race?
I've never been to da Vinci days.

Have you added wheels and things to your pyranha?
http://www.davinci-days.org/kinetic_challenge.php

binzing

Jul8-08, 10:21 AM

OmCheeto

Jul9-08, 11:31 AM

Nah man, we're not competing, we just float the river with the Sculptures for the fun of it.

Check out http://www.jpwinc.com, they make these boats, which are called Pack Cats, along with Catarafts and some other stuff. They're based out of Aztec, NM right near me.

For the life of me, I can't figure out the schedule:

http://www.davinci-days.org/kinetic_challenge_schedule.php
Friday, July 18
Shady Stage
Art & Pageantry Judging: 5-7pm

Saturday, July 19
14th/15th & Campus Way
Leo's Kinetic Parade: 12-1pm

OSU Lower Campus
LeMans Start: 2pm

Benton County Fairgrounds
Sand Dune: 2:15-4pm

Sunday, July 20
Crystal Lake Sports Complex
Mud Bog: 10 am-12 pm
River Entry: 12:15-12:45pm

Riverfront
River Run: 12:15-1:15 pm

1st & Tyler Streets
River Exit: 12:45-1:15pm

Shady Stage
Awards Ceremony: 5-6pm

Are all of those listings races?

I really want to get a look at your dad's boat.
No offense, but I didn't see any room on your pyranha for a 40qt cooler. :wink:

Oops! Off topic.....

48.5 hours till the OCF gates open. Get's your tickets now. They do not sell tickets at the gate!

http://home.europa.com/%7Egarry/pfOCF07AcReAr.jpg

binzing

Jul9-08, 12:20 PM

OmCheeto

Jul17-08, 04:00 PM

Here's the way it works.

On the 18th is the Art and Pageantry judging, which is basically the first public introduction to the sculptures and the teams. You can walk around and get these "trading cards" from each team

On the 19th the road race starts at the Lower Campus. It ends at the Benton county fairgrounds where the do the sand dune.

On the 20th, they do the mud bog, and later, the river.

Then I should look for you in the river race at noon on Sunday? My friends and I have never been and would like to drive down for the day.

Did you make it to the OCF? I only went Friday and Saturday.
My friends(~) didn't make me walk back to camp so I must have been good. o:)

Let me know if you want any fudge. I got 3 1/2 pounds! 7 flavors. Last year I only brought home 1 pound and it took me 11 months to eat it. You can't have any of my hippie soap though. It's mine, all mine......... :devil:

http://home.europa.com/%7Egarry/pfocf2008nekithippy.jpg

Yup. They're still running around nekit and eatin peaches at the fair!

Tsu

Jul21-08, 03:33 PM

I'll have some of that fudge! And you'd better have saved ME a bar of that hippie soap. :biggrin: We'll get together at my next Dr. appt in Sept. OK? I'll PM you when it gets closer.

OmCheeto

Jul22-08, 09:40 AM

I'll have some of that fudge! And you'd better have saved ME a bar of that hippie soap. :biggrin: We'll get together at my next Dr. appt in Sept. OK? I'll PM you when it gets closer.

I foolishly agreed to carpool again this year with a couple of my lady friends. On the 20 minute trip back from the fair, they collectively ate a pound of their own fudge. Needless to say, I didn't bring mine out to share until I was ready to go home. :devil:

Soap? You dare request my precious soap! I've got 7 flavors: Oatmeal Spice, French Lavender, Green Clay & Tea Tree, Mountain Mint, Aloe Vera with Kelp, Cocoa Butter, and Orange Spice.

The Clay soap is new this year so you can't have that one.

The ATM's were all broken when I got to the fair, so I was out of cash after the first 4 hours. I'll have to remember that for next year. BRING CASH!

It was probably for the best though. I had my hands on all sorts of useless expensive hippie trinkets. Fortunately, most of the vendors wouldn't take my debit card.

http://home.europa.com/%7Egarry/lingerie.jpg

Let me know if you'd like a cd or flash drive filled with all the pictures I took.
There are about 150 of them.

OmCheeto

Jul7-09, 08:41 PM

Ok. I'm Officially on vacation now. Do not expect anything from me until next Monday.

http://home.europa.com/~garry/pf_Ocountryfair08.jpg

smooches everyone. :smile:

Tsu

Jul7-09, 09:31 PM

Happy vacation OmCheeto!! I guess you're going to the faire, ya? Have a wonderful time. Is anyone else going this year? lisab! You said you and your hubby were going this year. Is that still in the plan or will next year be your year? :biggrin: I've been spending my recent weekends studying for an advanced certification exam so I don't think I'll make to OCF this year. Bummer, I know, butt... Poop occurs. :biggrin:

Moonbear

Jul7-09, 09:54 PM

Tsu

Jul8-09, 01:00 AM

I wish I lived closer to all of you to join you for this. It sounds like a fun fair! Maybe one summer when I'm not planning on leaving the country, I can take a vacation out to Oregon the week of the fair. I've always wanted to visit Seattle, WA too, so I could spend a few days in OR, and a few in WA maybe (or maybe my boyfriend will end up working in Seattle and I can visit there often).

Good luck on your exam, Tsu. I'll think of you while enjoying my Kindle (it arrived this weekend and I've already read 2 1/2 books on it!)

Thanks, Moonbear. I wish you lived closer, too. OK. NEXT YEAR. FOR SURE!!! Everyone has to make it to the OCF. Lisab - i want to see your face down here next summer!! O'Tay?? :smile:

I'll be thinking of YOU sitting in Mozambique reading your Kindle when I'm sitting there taking a lousy 4 hour exam!!! :grumpy:

Ivan Seeking

Jul8-09, 03:46 AM

Have a great time, Moonbear. And watch out for those brain-eating amoebae. :biggrin:

Moonbear

Jul8-09, 09:06 PM

Have a great time, Moonbear. And watch out for those brain-eating amoebae. :biggrin:

I think they'd starve to death if they attacked today. :rolleyes:

OmCheeto

Jul8-09, 10:31 PM

Bummer, I know, butt... Poop occurs. :biggrin:

My vacation may be cut unreasonably short. My backup at work was due to have her baby on July 21st. I received a phone call this morning that they have induced labor.

I subsequently flushed my cell phone down the toilet and have disconnected my land line.

I refuse to miss the fair except in the event of my death, or the end of the world, whichever comes first.

http://home.europa.com/~garry/ocf_tall.jpg

Ivan Seeking

Jul8-09, 10:53 PM

except in the event of my death, or the end of the world, whichever comes first.

From your point of view there is no distinction.

Moonbear

Jul9-09, 11:03 AM

My vacation may be cut unreasonably short. My backup at work was due to have her baby on July 21st. I received a phone call this morning that they have induced labor.
Y'know, it's one thing to naturally go into labor early, but to actually be INDUCED early, at the inconvenience of one's coworkers...pfft! That's just wrong.

I subsequently flushed my cell phone down the toilet and have disconnected my land line.
Sounds like the best approach. You don't need cell phones to enjoy hanging with the hippie-dippies.

OmCheeto

Jul9-09, 12:29 PM

Y'know, it's one thing to naturally go into labor early, but to actually be INDUCED early, at the inconvenience of one's coworkers...pfft! That's just wrong.

Well, you know what Tsu said:

Poop occurs. :biggrin:

But the garbage man has been by, so it's time to load the tent and mandolin into the truck and get:

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Integral

Jul10-09, 03:03 PM

We will be leaving for the fair within the hour... I hope not much longer then that!

hypatia

Jul10-09, 05:40 PM

I can almost hear Integral's cries of "Are we there yet"?

Integral

Jul11-09, 12:25 PM

http://s220.photobucket.com/albums/dd24/Integral50/OREGON%20COUNTRY%20FAIR%2009/th_countryfair099.jpg (http://s220.photobucket.com/albums/dd24/Integral50/OREGON%20COUNTRY%20FAIR%2009/?action=view&current=23ffe521.pbw)

click on the image to get a photobucket Slideshow of some of my ocf pics

lisab

Jul11-09, 12:37 PM

Oh that looks like so much fun...a crowd of hippy-dippy folks with properly aligned chakras, all smelling of ylang-ylang and patchouli. Next year, I hope!

But I think I'll skip the vegetarian hot dogs :yuck:.

binzing

Jul11-09, 01:37 PM

I'm making it for Sunday. Our hippy friend Breezy got my dad and I tickets, I assume because her son is playing on Sunday, she was able to get them for free or discount or something.

hypatia

Jul11-09, 02:11 PM

Such a colorful event, and a great collection of people. The country fairs here seem to involve more pigs and apple pies.

Integral

Jul11-09, 02:59 PM

Such a colorful event, and a great collection of people. The country fairs here seem to involve more pigs and apple pies.

That is at the County fairs, along with the carnival and hawkers, the Oregon Country Fair is just different, perhaps it could be described as a mixture of a Renaissance fair and Mardi Gr as. I was last there about 20yrs ago, I felt that there had been some shift in the atmosphere. Now there is a bit of sexuality in the costumes, nudity is not necessarily sexual, but artful covering is.

Some of the pics I did not get are telling, there was a pair of fat 50+ ladies wearing only paint and nipple rings above the waist. like a train wreck, you didn't want to watch, but it was hard not to.

Moonbear

Jul11-09, 05:19 PM

But I think I'll skip the vegetarian hot dogs :yuck:.

I had similar thoughts about organic vegan ice cream bars. :uhh: If they called them ice pops or some such, I might not have given it a second thought, but how do you make ice cream without cream? Vegans are such strange creatures; I think they need more meat to get their brains working better when they try to name foods.

Integral

Jul11-09, 06:29 PM

Yeah, those vegi hot dogs did not appeal to me for anything other then a pic. The worst part was that they had all the toppings, sauerkraut, chili etc just like you would find on a real hot dog cart... All they were missing was the hot dogs!

OmCheeto

Jul13-09, 02:31 AM

Drats! I missed everyone again.

Integral, you took nearly all the same pictures I did.

Though I was surprised I didn't see the Kurtzman statues in your gallery:

http://home.europa.com/~garry/ocf_2009_www.todjikurtzman.com.jpg (http://www.todjikurtzman.com/indexf.php)
Photographs really can't capture their magic.

I bought my third kaleidoscope. I keep giving them away as presents:

http://home.europa.com/~garry/ocf_2009_kaleidoscope.jpg

If you zoom into the image and look carefully, you will see people. It's kind of a telescope-kaleidoscope-thingy. I would love to see someone write a screen saver based on the optics of these things.

I only bought 4 lbs of fudge, so if anyone wants any.... I know I promised Tsu some last year, but it was all dried up and crusty by September. Right now it's the consistency of butter, and down to about 3 lbs.

I found tons of goats milk soap and bought 3 flavors. I also got 7 flavors of olive oil soap. I've never tried it before.

Oh. And apparently owner of this viola case still doesn't like Bush:

http://home.europa.com/~garry/ocf_2009_bush_still_sucks.jpg

And I'll leave it to you to figure out what the first two words are on the sticker above that one. :blushing:

binzing

Jul13-09, 03:49 PM

binzing

Jul13-09, 04:01 PM

all smelling of ylang-ylang and patchouli.

And pot.

OmCheeto

Jul13-09, 05:15 PM

Damn was it rainy or what yesterday?

Did you check out the Ruins of Ooah, Om? They were this sweet band, had a drummer, harmonica player, and a didgeridoo player who ran his through effects, it was pretty cool.

Didn't go yesterday. No one posted that they were going until after I'd gone. There's no internet nor cell phone service where we camp. But yes, it was quite tricky taking down the tent in a monsoon rain storm.

I don't know if I heard the Ruins of Ooah. I mostly ate and shopped and ate and shopped and listened to random bands around the fair. Did you listen to the solo guy with the convex steel drum thing that sounded like a dulcimer? He played it with his hands. Like the rest of the crowd, I could not believe the quality of the sound and music coming from the device.

That is at the County fairs, along with the carnival and hawkers, the Oregon Country Fair is just different, perhaps it could be described as a mixture of a Renaissance fair and Mardi Gr as. I was last there about 20yrs ago, I felt that there had been some shift in the atmosphere. Now there is a bit of sexuality in the costumes, nudity is not necessarily sexual, but artful covering is.

I have to agree. I first went 20 years ago, but unlike you, I've gone every year since. The gang that first dragged me to the fair that first year were all dancing and having a great time at the main stage, when all of a sudden, as if on some cosmic cue, they all shed all of their clothes. I was like, "Ewe. Who wants to see a bunch of 50 year olds with their clothes off." But no one around seemed to bat an eye, so I did the same, and danced the day away.

Some of the pics I did not get are telling, there was a pair of fat 50+ ladies wearing only paint and nipple rings above the waist. like a train wreck, you didn't want to watch, but it was hard not to.

My friend asked me if I'd seen the bearded young lady. I told her I had. She said she was embarrassed that she had stared at her. I had also stared at her, and gave my analysis as to why we do that. Our minds seem to look for clues as to what something should be. And this young lady was so ambiguous as to be totally indeterminate. Is it a dude with boobs? Is it a lady with a beard? I think we decided that until we work up the nerve to ask her, we'll never know.

And pot.

Um. That's what they cook the artichokes in, um, a pot. A smelly pot. Yah, that's it. It was a stinky old pot full of artichokes that you smelled... :rolleyes:

binzing

Jul13-09, 07:55 PM

Did you listen to the solo guy with the convex steel drum thing that sounded like a dulcimer? He played it with his hands. Like the rest of the crowd, I could not believe the quality of the sound and music coming from the device.

I only went yesterday, so no, but that sounds like a hang drum. Was it one of these?

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OmCheeto

Jul13-09, 09:11 PM

I only went yesterday, so no, but that sounds like a hang drum. Was it one of these?

Yup. But it sounded more like this one:

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binzing

Jul14-09, 07:13 PM

Yup. But it sounded more like this one:

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Those are so cool, but way expensive and hard to get.