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"I just 'Blackberried' him a happy birthday message and turned it off," she said. "We're out of touch now. He's probably mountain biking on the ranch."
Bush, Jane Ann Fontenot of Berkeley, Calif.; Marge Petty of Topeka, Kan.; and Regan Gammon and Peggy Weiss of Austin, Texas, call themselves the "Midland Five."
"We travel together all the time. We love national parks, and we like to do rivers too," Bush said. "We've been adventurous all our lives."
She listed Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, Denali, Zion and Death Valley among their scenic destinations. They plan to see Crater Lake after their raft trip. Gammon is on the National Park Foundation Board.
The Midland Five were joined by five guides from Rogue Wilderness Adventures, based in Merlin, and 10 Secret Service agents, said Bob Rafalovich, leader of the trip. Rafalovich and his wife, Myrna, picked up some oysters and crab on the coast a couple of days earlier, and guide Mike Springer supplied a fresh-caught salmon for Monday night's meal at Black Bar Lodge, 12 miles down the river. Tuesday and Wednesday will be spent at Paradise Lodge not far below Blossom Bar rapids.
Myrna Rafalovich provided a picture of George Bush Sr. taken on his salmon fishing trip in 1988 on the Rogue, a few months before he was elected president, to give to Laura Bush. Myrna, who was on the kayak scout team for that trip, and her son Howard Stevens are in the photo.
She and her friend Breda Barragan chatted with Mrs. Bush at company headquarters in Merlin, and had their photo taken with her.
"I'm a fan of hers and she met all of my expectations," Barragan said. "She was so nice and down to earth. She didn't put on any airs. Just what I expected."
"It was an honor and privilege to meet someone of her stature," said Myrna Rafalovich, who owned Rogue Wilderness with her husband before they sold it to Brad Niva a few years back.
Niva said the company kept the trip quiet for a few months for Bush's sake. But they did photocopy a check from George W. for $989 as a keepsake.
"You don't get to see his personal check too often," Niva said.
On the boat ramp Monday, guide Drew DeChenne gave out some instructions before Bush and two of her friends got in the magenta-colored Myrna May raft, named after Myrna, and rowed by Bob. It was old hat for Bob, who has taken former governors Neil Goldschmidt and John Kitzhaber, former senator Mark Hatfield and Las Vegas hotel magnate Steve Wynn down the river.
"I'm pretty excited," added Aaron Fox, 39, one of the Rogue Wilderness Guides, who said he once rowed a boat with Martha Stewart down the river.
Soon they were bouncing down the Rogue, through Almeda and Argo rapids, headed for Grave Creek and the Rogue's Wild Section.
"We're just thrilled to be here," Laura Bush said.
This is one of the great rafting trips, three days through
the wilderness and stopping at some great river resorts.
I sure miss her. :(
An okie drifter behind a hook with a little red yarn, on a 5ft. leader. A few cold PBR’s in the water near the bank. Our most decent, charming first lady in decades floating by...
We'll be passing through there tomorrow, perhaps staying the night at Grants Pass.
I miss having a real lady as first lady.
Done this trip myself. I bet she walks around some of the hairier rapids though. Didn’t stay at Paradise Lodge, went across the river to Half Moon, both are pretty nice, and secluded. Blossom bar is a bad a$$ set of rapids. That poor woman who drowned there last year and then got caught in the rapids for several weeks was awful.
She and her friend Breda Barragan chatted with Mrs. Bush at company headquarters in Merlin, and had their photo taken with her."I'm a fan of hers and she met all of my expectations," Barragan said. "She was so nice and down to earth. She didn't put on any airs. Just what I expected."
Some of the most beautiful and scenic wilderness rivers on the planet. Great fishing and hunting too. Welcome to Oregon First Lady, we are proud to have you in our fair state.
Pray for America
I just think it’s so cool that she’s remained friends with these women from Midland, through all the changes in her life. I’m sure that’s how she’s remained so grounded. Hard to put on airs with old friends. ;o)
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I’ve gone Galt in Jacksonville, OR, 17 minutes from a nice steelhead run on the Rogue.
Special guest on the Rogue River...
I go mountain biking there all the time!
I was up there last Sunday riding on an old abandoned logging road, and this forest service guy came driving along in a law enforcement rig.
I asked him about some road closures and he was NOT very friendly...I wonder if he was checking things out before laura came to the Rogue?
Thanks, Oregon Rancher!
Ed
This is near where I grew up. It’s nice to see it visited by such first class individuals.
I’ve been to the Rogue. Brrrr... The water is cold. Brings back good memories. I hope she enjoyed her trip.