All Sorts of Interesting This Autumn

Oregon actually got an Autumn this year! Apparently for the 2nd year in a row... But I do think this fall was more autumny than last year's. I got more hiking in for sure, though the theme of "hard to get to" continued. Here are all of the fall adventure pics. 

Summer Waterfall Adventures

This summer I had the goal of finding more waterways that I'd never been to before. And the thought occurred to me after I found the first one on my list, that I should be bringing my Native American flute on these journeys (so I could make musical videos at each waterfall). So here are those adventures, which include 2 flute videos. Don't worry, I'll find more this fall!

A Few Spring Adventures

Well as it goes spring was all over the place. I was able go get out early in February, but not in March or most of April. Ce la vie! Here are the photos of the places I was able to visit. Hopefully I can hike more this summer. 

Hiking In Autumn

Yay for autumn this year! Sadly it rained more than I would have liked on the weekends. But I did get a few hikes in before mid-November. Here are those photos.

Oh My Gosh I Can't Believe I'm Finally Hiking This Year!!

So 2024 started and somehow the rain decided to appear on all of my weekends in March, and most of April. Ugh. And when visiting places I'd never been before... Kind of have to be safe & not hike in rain. So I didn't really get into the great outdoors until late spring. But hey better late than never! Here are those photos.

End of Summer Adventures

Despite the smoke and heat we got (again) this August, I was able to see and do a few things - more towards the end of the month and in September, but it still counts. Here are the photos from those hikes, gatherings, and adventures. 

Hood River & Fish Adventures

Here are the pictures from Jeanette's and mine adventurous day-trip to Hood River, and the adventure of my aquarium fish getting a new home. Gotta love adventures.

Portland Audubon Trails & Coastal Adventures

Recently I discovered the woods behind the Portland Audubon Society in west Portland. With benches and boardwalks and curated areas, it was more like an overgrown garden. If the bench behind the great tree boardwalk wasn't already taken I would have sat there for hours. But sitting near one of the creeks wasn't bad either. However be warned, I got 7 bug bites on that trip because I forgot my Off! fan lol. Next time! Then after a random trip back to Depot Bay, I walked the park trails behind the bay a bit, & on the drive back towards Lincoln City I discovered the trails on the Siletz River Wildlife Refuge. I'm surprised I never stopped on that part of HWY 101 before, they were lovely. I always finish a coast trip with pics of the beach at sunset if possible. 

June/July Vacation

Here are the photos from the 2 day-trips I took on my week off the end of June/beginning of July. It was a good week, though some of the things I'd planned got pushed out to later this summer. But that just means more photos later right?

Spring Splashes

The rain has prevented me from doing a lot of hiking this spring. But I have managed to get a few in. Here are the photos from Mt. Tabor & the Portland Memory Garden which I hit before Easter, and the Rhododendron Garden & part of Marquam Nature Park that I hit the last couple of weekends. I took way too many photos at the Rhododendron garden, but hey I haven't been since I was a kid, & there was a lot to see. The trails at Marquam Nature Park were sloppy wet, & one of the trails had a missing chunk due to a fallen tree that had taken it with it, so I didn't see the whole area. But since it looks much the same as Forest park... No big deal lol. 

Winter Adventures

There were a few days this winter with sunshine... Saw a cute squirrel in my neighborhood early January. Visited Marshall Park (complete with ceramic art animals) with friends in February. And on a search for a specific skyline view, I recently visited a few spots in the west hills: Council Crest, with sequoias and a unique drinking fountain - and the viewpoint at Pittock Mansion, which is surrounded by the wildwood hiking trail in forest park.

Tyron Creek State Park & University Falls

Well this late in October it's hard to find a free day that isn't raining! Finally a friend of mine & I caught a break & went to Tyron Creek State Park. I didn't know it was a state park until we got there... Her dog Phoenix was not the only dog we rain into. And then the next day, Monday, I had off work. So I finally went back to HWY 6 to find those University Falls I'd seen signs for earlier in the summer. I had no idea I would be driving down a dirt/gravel logging road to get to the trailhead... But it was worth the time. I only wish I had more time to hike the trail that continued beyond the falls. 

Note: The car video watches much better on a phone (that most likely has newer video software) as otherwise the light reflecting off the glass gets in the way...

Gresham City Park & Its Hidden Japanese Garden

Nearby to family of mine, I often drive by Gresham's main city park, and wonder about it. Well the other day I learned it held a Japanese garden within its boundaries... So after visiting an aunt, I decided to stop by. I was surprised at how much was here. The park itself is fairly large, designed around a watershed so there are bridges everywhere. And it connects to a really cool part of the Springwater Corridor trail at its rear. I actually spent over 1.5 hours here, and still I hadn't seen everything. What a terrific find! Yes mom the tree at the end is for you lol :D

End Of Summer Adventures

I visited Tualatin Hills Nature Park this last week, and had one last beach trip of the summer with my mom. In Lincoln City, my mom and I not only saw Road's End Beach & depot bay, but we also hiked around Devil's lake for the first time. 

Oxbow Park & Sandy River

I was finally able to get to Oxbow Park after its recent restoration. I completely forgot that it's right near Sandy River too. Got some great photos of both! 

Escaping Smokey Air by Jumping-Ship to the Coast

After 2 days of unhealthy air (yellow, then orange) from wildfire smoke, I decided at the last minute to drive to the coast so I wouldn't get anymore sick than I already felt. (My body hates prolonged smoke exposure...) I knew the beaches would be crowded, so I headed for Tillamook Creamery & a hiking trail farther north that looked really interesting on Google Maps! It was nice to breath clean air as soon as I hit HWY 6, and for 6 hours after...

Horseback Riding in Pacific City

I had more time off after I got back from the Chalet so I decided to take a trip to Pacific City to do something I'd never done before: Horseback Ride on the beach. Was lots of fun.

Chalet Adventures

Jeanette and I took a little vacation to the Chalet Shalom. Good timing too, we were able to escape the last few days of the historic heat wave that swept the northwest. Here are some pics of our adventures.

Westmoreland Nature Park & The Oregon Garden

More outdoor places that somehow I've never been to... Both were smaller than I expected, but nice little adventures. The Oregon Garden pics start with the "Art in the Garden" sign. I actually didn't get to see all of the Oregon Garden because their oak grove area is closed for repairs, and somehow I didn't get to their northern forest (because I thought it was also closed haha). But those 2 areas combined happen to be 1/3 of the entire 80-acre area so I figure a 2nd visit early fall to see those spots (& the Frank Llyod Wright Gorden House which I also didn't know was open today) will be worth the admission price. The rest of the garden is a combination of 22 mini-gardens, & that took me an hour and 20 minutes to see so yeah. Neither of the two central-garden fountains were running since we're in a drought, but many areas had running water incorporated in that space even if you couldn't see it.

Portland Parks Adventures May 16-23

Explorations of parks around Portland, Oregon, including Kelly Butte, Mt. Tabor, Leach Botanical Gardens, & Errol Heights.