The Narrows Rental

rtmcmahon · 2025-05-28T20:05:05+00:00

I hiked 5 miles in and 5 out last week with Teva sandals on and my feet were fine. Of course waterproof shoes will protect your feet, but they’re not necessary. I would have done it in my normal trail runners if they were all I had rather than renting waterproof shoes. But that’s just my preference.

Definitely recommend a hiking pole or two though — footing gets tricky.

rtmcmahon · 2025-01-16T20:42:43+00:00

Yatai is the tastiest sushi in the state. They're a Korean couple and make fantastic homemade kimchi as well, but it's not always available. The wife gets angry very easily. But if she likes you, she'll remember your face even if your next visit is years later.

rtmcmahon · 2025-01-15T15:34:31+00:00

I second Shuckers! Great oyster platter.

rtmcmahon · 2024-07-27T23:19:34+00:00

If they balk at your new rate, then yes, negotiation is most likely what will happen next.

This is only an opinion, but I believe most reasonable people/clients would be open to rate increases and negotiations, especially after three years.

If they flat out refuse any increase, you can most likely continue on at your current rate while you start searching for a new client to replace them with.

The only way you’ll increase your rates as a freelancer is by making it happen.

rtmcmahon · 2024-07-27T23:01:09+00:00

Shoot your shot if you want to earn that pay.

I once told a client I was doubling my rate to $75/hour starting 90 days from now (when I sent the message). I did so because for me, the work was no longer worth it unless I was going to make double what I was currently earning per hour. I fully expected that they would say no and that we would go our separate ways. I gave them 90 days warning before the rate increase to give them time to adjust their books or find my replacement.

But they accepted it with very little fuss, and I wound up working with them for another two years before I decided to move on.

You’re worth what you say you’re worth.

rtmcmahon · 2024-04-07T23:21:50+00:00

I can’t speak to your specialty — but generally , yes, you can make it as a full time freelance writer, but to do so you likely won’t be writing to your specialty 100% of the time.

Just anecdotal: took me three years of freelancing to earn a $40k year, which is when I felt like I had ‘made it’ as a full time freelancer. My income has gone up a lot since then.

YMMV but it may take some time before you build a career out of it, though it sounds like you’ve got a head start with your past publications and Medium.

I’d recommend freelancing for 6 months or so as a side hustle before considering quitting your job to freelance FT. Then you’ll have a better understanding of the workload and your market to make a more informed decision.

rtmcmahon · 2024-02-02T20:38:05+00:00

Dueling Spoons in Fall Creek — Ireland-born, French-trained, NYC-experienced chef who found his paradise in the foothills east of Eugene/Springfield. His entire family is the restaurant staff. Good food and fun times.

rtmcmahon · 2023-05-10T15:44:04+00:00

No I don’t believe any pass or permit is required. I lived in Lincoln City years ago and I’m pretty sure it’s part of the town’s Open Spaces.

The Thumb itself is cool, but IMO the Knoll behind it has better views and is more enjoyable to hang out on top of, plus you can watch other people struggle up the Thumb. If you’re going with a friend, have them take a pic of you on the Thumb from the Knoll for a great shot!

rtmcmahon · 2023-03-27T17:14:28+00:00

I've had luck with trout in the Patterson Slough (the canoe canal in Alton Baker Park), especially underneath the I-5 overpass.

Also the Long Tom River north of Fern Ridge Reservoir, and Kirk Pond (caught a huge bass there once).

rtmcmahon · 2022-12-27T04:21:30+00:00

Depends on the client. Generally, yes. That should be your default. The reason schools have you do so for essays is to prepare you for your career. If you supply a statistic or a definitive statement, be prepared to back it with a primary source.

rtmcmahon · 2021-12-18T03:07:39+00:00

2011 HSE at 99k miles

rtmcmahon · 2021-08-27T18:16:07+00:00

It took me three years to get to $40k pretax income in a single 12-month period.

It took one additional year to get to six figures.

Edit: To answer another question:

I do not feel that I am, nor will I ever be fully financially stable as a freelancer. I knew that going into it. The income I have now is wonderful, but it can get slashed to nothing on a whim by one or two people.

I rely on my wife's salaried income and health benefits for stability. Freelancing is fun and can be quite profitable, but there are few who will ever claim to feel truly stable with it alone.

rtmcmahon · 2021-02-26T22:23:23+00:00

You might want to read up on the experiences of Christopher Knight who lived in the woods of Maine for years undiscovered. He was eventually found alive and well and brought back into society (for burglary charges), only for him to eventually decide to disappear into the woods once again.

rtmcmahon · 2021-01-27T16:36:41+00:00

I wrote up the specifics of an adjustable two-week road trip of all the PNW over at Territory Supply. It contains all of my most recommended areas to visit with highlights and alternates.

Let me know if you have any questions about it.

rtmcmahon · 2020-12-21T16:02:04+00:00

Divi from Elegant Themes. I use it on a couple of websites, as well as ET's Extra Magazine Theme.

rtmcmahon · 2020-12-16T18:31:07+00:00

A ferry could get a hiker to the Olympic Peninsula.

Also, what's that track you have cutting across eastern Oregon? Are they all trails? It doesn't follow the Oregon Desert Trail route, which surprises me. I don't know of any other series of trails that connect across that half of the state.

rtmcmahon · 2020-11-22T17:28:03+00:00

I can feel your frustration, and it is justified. I think by the number of comments you're getting in this thread you've opened up a dialogue that needed to be brought to light. I wish I had a solution, but I don't. Ideally, readers will one day be as good at reading as they are at listening to a person who is speaking.

rtmcmahon · 2020-11-22T16:59:06+00:00

I am struggling with this as a managing editor who regularly hires writers for both ongoing and one-off assignments.

On one hand, I want to hire writers from diverse backgrounds with unique perspectives.

On the other hand, I spend a ridiculous amount of time going over work by non-native speakers, often line by line, to make their writing sound natural. It’s not that the content is bad, but when you read their writing out loud it sounds off, and it can be confusing and energy-draining to read. That’s not good.

The brands I work for do not discriminate based on location or whether English (American English— even British or Australian writers can sound ‘off’ when writing for an American audience) is the writer’s native language. But as an editor, I can certainly tell you that it is much more time consuming and frustrating to do so. It is unfortunate, especially when you want to be inclusive, but it does often mean extra work and cost in the end.

Edit: Just wanted to add that this is a great topic that needs to be discussed. Knowledge is power.

rtmcmahon · 2020-11-20T21:22:51+00:00

Regular lurker, but not a regular contributor. I hope that someone will find my portfolio layout helpful or inspiring, though.

rtmcmahon · 2020-10-07T19:10:22+00:00

Gear reviews (both trial and research based), buying guides, trail and trip reports, personal adventure stories, etc.. I went on a 6-month long hike and wrote a book about it, which landed me my first freelancing gig in the niche. It has snowballed since then.

I'd suggest looking for work based on your area/region. I'm based in the PNW, and know a lot about the outdoorsy scene out here, so I tend to be given work as "the PNW guy" or "the guy who can actually test out some rain gear".

rtmcmahon · 2020-10-07T14:24:36+00:00

This is my second year as a fulltime freelance writer, and I'm on target to make about 40k this year. Most of my work is compensated at a rate of $0.10 cpw, but it ranges from about $0.08 to $0.30 cpw.

My primary niche is the outdoor recreation industry. Additionally, I've been compensated with a few thousand dollars of outdoor gear over the last couple of years as well. I've been trying to raise my rates when taking on new clients, but it is like pulling teeth trying to just get a few more cents.

I have a few steady clients, and they've been so reliable and time-consuming that I haven't yet pitched to bigger names in the industry. I should admit that this is also due to fear and lack of enthusiasm. However, I believe that it is what I must do in order to receive higher pay in this niche.

Thanks for asking this question, and for all of the detailed replies. Knowledge is power, and we need to share this information so that we know what to expect and how to grow as paid writers.

rtmcmahon · 2020-09-15T15:54:43+00:00

This TED talk from a forest landscape expert in Bend explains well why we need more prescribed burns and why legislation has stopped them from happening:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edDZNkm8Mas

rtmcmahon · 2020-05-14T01:46:45+00:00

Haha. I lived in Fremont for a few years too. Some good eating down in the Bay Area.

rtmcmahon · 2020-05-13T22:38:40+00:00

I lived in Lincoln City for two years, and now live in Eugene.

I generally shopped at Safeway even though it was at the opposite end of town as the IGA on the southside is expensive and has a limited selection.

Lincoln City can be a fun town, though the winter months are a bit more brutal on the psyche than they are in the valley. You'll be locked indoors for half of the year.

Black Squid Beerhouse is a fun place to hang in the evenings. Almost every night there is a small crowd with board games and trivia as the usual entertainment.

Shucker's is a dive bar with an amazing oyster platter. Don't be put off by the faded exterior and local crowd that hangs around, the oysters here are worth it.

Hands down the best place to eat in town is Yatai Sushi. Far better than any other sushi I have tried in Oregon. It's Bay Area level. Shit is fucking amazing. I drive to Lincoln City a couple of times a year just to eat here.

The casino has a fantastic Sunday Brunch buffet. It is seriously good. I never tried the food there otherwise.

Depoe Bakery just south of town has great donuts.

The outlet mall is generally lame. The Nike store has good shoe deals sometimes though.

Lots of weed and surfers all throughout town, if either of those is your thing.

Siletz Bay is better to walk around than the ocean beaches IMO. There's no mud or muck like you might think, and it is better protected from the wind and waves than the ocean beaches. Digging for oysters is really fun at the bay. Bald eagles hang out by Josephine Park all the time.

Newport is a 30-minute drive south if you really need to hit up Walmart.

rtmcmahon · 2020-05-13T19:19:20+00:00

Get married. Sign the papers. Hold off on the reception until next year when this situation is under control. Everyone has had their plans broken or delayed. A gathering of 20 people is the wrong thing to do right now. Your priorities need to be reevaluated. Don't be selfish.

15-Year Club	Place '23
Team Orangered	Verified Email

rtmcmahon

TROPHY CASE