In between rain drops skater Boomer used one of his T-shirts and a towel to dry the bowl of the Mingus Skate Park.

Following the same line over and over on the rain slick surface, he practiced the same moves over and over to perfection.

With full helmet, knee pads and elbow pads, he stood on the lip with board poised, then over the edge and around the side to the top and around to the other side, up and down finally sticking it like a gymnast on the top from his starting point.

No amateur here, Boomer showed skill and athletic ability as he savored the design and quality of the Mingus Skate Park.

Boomer would know skate parks. This was number five or six since he left Canada to skate parks in Washington, Oregon and California.

Boomer was not one of the frequent visitors enjoying the park on this blustery fall day. In fact, this 42-year-old adult has seen a couple of births and deaths of the skate-boarding craze. He is on a quest to skate all the premier parks in the U.S.

Fully equipped, this balding near middle age athlete is traveling through Canada down the coast and back home stopping at skate parks he has heard about.

Where is home? Notasulga, Ala. Boomer is traveling thousands of miles to enjoy the current crop of skate parks.

In talking with him, he reminded me he spends money wherever he goes. Camps in our parks and eats in our restaurants. New money brought in from outside. And his destination — Coos Bay and the Mingus Skate Park.

Stephen Pickering

Coos Bay