I think it curious that my parents kept taking pictures of me holding or staring at fish! Anyway, here is another one a couple of years later at Detroit Lake, a newly opened campground in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon. The Santiam River was dammed, creating this large lake in 1953. I would guess we camped there for the first time in 1954 when it was still pretty undeveloped. In high school I water skied here with friends and eventually it was fully built out for RV’s. This past fall the whole area was destroyed by forest fires.
These trout certainly show the skill of my father fishing from the little boat in the far distance of the picture. He drove the boat very slowly dragging a line behind him, trawling for fish. I was less impressed by this method since it lacked the artistry of the fly cast I had come to admire.
As for me, I am in a red wool bathing suit with little golf ball buttons. All these years later I can recall how I hated this bathing suit. Not only did it itch, it also sagged. It is no wonder that even this good haul has failed to produce my smile.
Saved By Words 
Oh come now, you are cute as a button! My boyfriend’s family started the Oregon Forestry Department way back. The Elliot State Forest is named after his Great-great grandfather I believe. He has a ton of Oregon history and tales. I have never been but hope to get there some day.
LikeLike
Fascinating. The Eliots were an early prominent Oregon family. I hope he shares some of his tales on line some time. Let me know if he ever does or has.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will try to get some of them written down when we see his dad and brother. Frances Elliot was David’s mom’s grandfather.
LikeLike
David’s mother, Margaret Joan, was the daughter of Vivian and Jack Elliot.
LikeLike
Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I also had home-knitted wool swimming clothes as a youngster. Nothing worse than itchy, wet wool, soaked with seawater. Yet another reason why I never learned to swim.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLike
Who thought they were a great idea anyway?
LikeLiked by 1 person
The shore behind you looks like a disaster area…..speaking of which, did you know that the life of a fish is ova before it begins? 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great pun. The area behind me shows the logging that went on to transform a forest into a lake. It did provide a lot of firewood for the camp fire.
LikeLike
I’ve been to Detroit Lake, Elizabeth. Our son went to school near there at Willamette University in Salem. What self-respecting fisherman doesn’t take photos of people holding up fish?
LikeLike
My colleague taught at Willamette. In fact, Willamette just took over my old college, Pacific Northwest College of Art. As for the self-respecting fisherman, he always seemed to nominate me to hold the fish.
LikeLike
You made a really cute picture! I bet wool was itchy and sagged when wet. Amazing, some of the things we had to wear as kids.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Too right!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks.
LikeLike
Thanks. Yup. Really itchy and saggy–not a good feel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A wool knit bathing suit? How awful. Fishing must have been a big part of camping for your parents, thus all the fish photos. The first time I was in the Cascade mountains I felt like I was three years old. They’re majestic, far bigger than anything on the east coast.
LikeLike
I had to laugh when we moved here. Everyone kept saying we had to see the White Mountains. Imagine our shock to find foothills instead of mountains.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes!! That would have been a shock.
LikeLike
For real.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember well the wool trunks I wore as a child. If you stood up too quickly there was always a danger of them falling down with the weight of the water!
LikeLike
The only thing that saved me was the straps at the top. Mostly it always looked like my rear end was four times its length.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, the indignity we had to endure!
LikeLike
Ach, wool bathing suits! They were a saggy disaster, my mum kitted me and my sister in such things, and we HATED them!
LikeLike
I wonder who thought they were a good idea. They also made me smell like a cold wet sheep.
LikeLike
I love your pictures from childhood! You’re adorable in your bathing suit but wool? Yikes!
LikeLike
I was glad to see that several other bloggers suffered through the same suits.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad I missed out on having a wool bathing suit. 🙂
LikeLike
You surely didn’t miss a thing
LikeLike
My mother had one of these wool bathing suits too, Elizabeth. She also doesn’t have good memories of it. It looks like a lovely place to spend time.
LikeLike
It would have been in a cotton suit! My next suit was cotton and had little ruffles on the seat. I loved it.
LikeLike
Wool and swimsuit don’t seem to go together. I’ve heard of them many times. Change can be good. Enjoyed your piece and pic.
LikeLike
Thanks. Did they use wool for bathing suits in your neck of the woods too?
LikeLiked by 1 person
They did. I don’t know why since it’s so itchy and I thought it wasn’t great in water but what do I know.
LikeLike
It was abundant is the only reason I can think of.
LikeLike