We received a LifeStraw® Go to share on our blog this week. Our only trouble – is that we’ve been told, by the Water District, that the toxins in the lake are not able to be filtered, and the company has said it does not filter salt water. Most of our rivers are brackish (salt and fresh water mixed) as far as  5-6 miles up stream.

Today I needed to run up Highway 18 to Grand Ronde. Our favorite little river spot is up that way. I loaded up 3 teen boys and a few snacks and our LifeStraw® Go. The boys were excited to have an empty water bottle to carry, since we didn’t need to fill it at home.  The hike into the spot is about a half mile.

Their first reaction to the product was that it would light to carry!

Although the water looks beautiful, we are actually in an elevated bend. There are pools that stay stagnant until the rains come. As the river rises, more water spills in to create waterfalls out of stagnant pools.

See this area? This is just a few feet away from the waterfall Jon used to fill the LifeStraw® Go. The surface of this water is – well – blech.

After ‘the rains’ come, you are no longer able to stand on these rocks.

With LifeStraw® Go – we were able to sample the water. The boys said it was the best tasting water they’ve ever had. And they were not kidding.

This product is a water bottle. You fill the water bottle with water, and then drink from a straw connected to a powerful filter. More detailed information can be found below, and on  the LifeStraw® website.

Have I mentioned that the life of a blogger is tough tough work?

So here’s where things get weird.
I walk up to the bridge and the boys are talking to two fisherman.

They go to Uganda and sponsor children there. They are looking to get LifeStraw 2.0’s for the Kayunga, . It was an amazing encouraging conversation. A chance meeting several miles up a river in the middle of nowhere  – between the Ocean and I-5. They are having a hard time getting the LifeStraws for their group.

I am going to be working on trying to get them some LifeStraws to take on their next journey. While researching, I learned about the  ‘Follow the Liters’ campaign. Each purchase ofa LifeStraw Water filter provides funds to give one child in Africa safe drinking water for an entire year.

How crazy is it to meet two people trying to get LifeStraws in the hands of their sponsored children on their next visit to Uganda while taking photos of a LifeStraw on the Oregon Coast?

We immediately handed over the one that we received. Although these are meant for adventure, camping, salmon fishing, and long forest hikes – how lucky are we to be able to carry fresh water bottles from home? Feeling blessed for the opportunity to review, and for the opportunity to live in this amazing part of the country, and the opportunity to put our LifeStraw® Go into the hands of a sponsored child.

From the Company:

LifeStraw Go: