This grand old barn sits just off the road between Triangle Lake and Deadwood.

The Deadwood covered bridge, one of 20 covered bridges in Lane County, is located on a small gravel road surrounded by trees covered with moss and ferns. (yes, ferns sprout all over the tree trunks.) The community of Deadwood has a population of about 500.

My friend Mary stands at the edge of the Deadwood covered bridge.

We reach civilization again at Mapleton (population 1,034 according to the latest data I could find) along the Siuslaw River.  About 15 miles farther west you reach the Pacific Ocean.  Mapleton is a river-centric town.  Homes that line the water nearly all have docks, and fishing is very popular with the locals.

Fisherman in a typical drift boat on the Siuslaw near the Mapleton dock (above.) From Mapleton, you can catch Highway 126 and zip back to Eugene in less than an hour.