Devouring life, one bite at a time
My dad found this interesting lichen specimen when we stopped at the visitor center before hiking the mysterious Hoh Rainforest. Thought I’d share. There are few words for such an extraordinary place, but there are lots of pictures! Enjoy.
After leaving Hurricane Ridge, we continued west on our drive around Olympic National Park until we reached our next stop at Lake Crescent. A hike nearby gave us a preview of the rainforest ecosystem we’d be seeing when we went on to Hoh Rainforest, and …
I didn’t mind at all that our view was obstructed. When you are at your final destination on a trip, one that you’ve dreamed of seeing for ages, you’re just happy to be there. I’m sure these guys felt the same.
We did see a glacier up close and personal. That counts, right? Because it’s October and the ice is still there? Anyone?
This was our view, which didn’t showcase the Olympic Mountains at their peak, but I still found it to be pretty spectacular.
It started to clear up as we headed down the mountain.
And just beyond that ridge … Canada!
We drove around Lake Crescent towards the other side of the park and the other natural treasures in store.
Autumn is behind in California but just beginning in Washington. It’s the evergreen state, for sure, but dramatic splashes of color are showing up. Along with the mighty Mount Rainier, which I’m seeing out my window for the first time. Outside Olympic National Park, the …
A day trip to the old cowboy town of Toppenish gave me a chance to catch up on local art. The town is covered in murals, one commissioned each year to honor the community’s history and culture. No surprise they call it the “city of …
This week we found ourselves in the Yakima area of Washington, and went for a drive to explore it more and search for wildlife. (Picture a stopped car with four people squinting up into the hills through binoculars and you have my family.)
We admired the craggy cliffs of basalt jutting out of the canyon. The big-horn sheep climb up with their lambs to protect them from predators in the spring. Can you believe the safest place for them is at the edge of these cliffs?
What wildlife have you spotted recently?
Before we left our brief introductory visit to Portland, there was something I had to do. See Bob’s Red Mill. Aka a baking pilgrimage of sorts. A paradise of organic bulked goods and health food products for bakers and gluten intolerants. My one bit …
When we woke up near Coos Bay this morning, we needed to get some more miles under our wheels and were quick to get back on the road. Of course, we did make a few stops on the way. How can anyone turn down the …
I’m on the road exploring the Pacific Northwest with my dad for the next week or so. Road trip! Adventure! I look forward to all this fall has to bring.
My first photographic specimen is of Roosevelt elk as we entered Redwood National Park. Around this time of year, a bull will gather with his own personal harem of a dozen or more lady elks. Here they gathered right off the roadside and didn’t seem particularly camera shy.
But they are quick. Or my camera is slow. I just barely got the tips of this bull’s antlers as he ducked behind the brush.
And this one got his head chopped off completely. I guess I’m not ready for National Geographic just yet.
At Redwood National Park, not to be confused with Humboldt Redwood State Park, trees grow under the most unusual conditions (or should I say, around?).
A short stroll left us feeling dwarfed- and we’re not easy to impress with redwoods. Even with visits to Avenue of the Giants and Sequoia National Park, and Muir and Armstrong Woods in my backyard, this is easily the highest concentration of huge trees altogether.
Big Tree didn’t seem that much bigger than all the other ones we passed.
Redwoods love sharing the same roots- this one base has grown three different trees.
We continued heading north and came to this funny tourist trap, “Trees of Mystery” just before we hit Oregon. My dad remembered seeing it as a kid, so I voted we pull over.
Hey, I thought this guy was from Wisconsin.
By evening, we arrived safely in Oregon and had a lovely seafood dinner at Gold Coast. Tomorrow, Portland and beyond!
Last weekend gave me the amazing opportunity to go salmon fishing on my buddy’s boat. That’s been a major one on my list! Here’s the lovely vessel, Overtime, fitting because its owner has spent 500 hours on her in the last year. He can load …