boolie

First Hike

I spent this lovely spring morning on my first hike of the Latourell Falls loop in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge. I wasn’t familiar with this waterfall even though it isn’t far from the others I visit as the trailhead is past where I normally turn off to go back to Portland. They featured the waterfall during an episode of Oregon Field Guide on Oregon Public Broadcasting and I was hooked when they showed the lichens and basalt of the main falls, so I had some fun photographing them this morning with my 100-400 lens. I then took the loop up to Upper Latourell Falls (shown here) before heading back down to the main falls. The return loop takes you down to the base of the falls where a group of photographers was huddled with their tripods around a small bridge. I didn’t stop for pictures and just admired the view instead, I’ll head there first on my next visit.

An absolutely lovely morning, I don’t know how I missed out on this hike having been in Oregon for 20 years now but I’ll be back soon. I’m always a little nervous about new hikes in the Gorge as some of them I can’t do because of my fear of heights, but this one was easy (I’d give it a 2 out of 10 on the Boolie Utter Panic Index). There is an optional loop that takes you onto a little outcropping above the main falls, which I would rate a 10 out of 10, but you don’t have to go anywhere near it if you don’t want to (and I didn’t).

Stained Glass Driveway

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21

The Singing Snipe

A Wilson’s snipe sings as the rain pours down at South Quigley Lake.

Why so eager to sing little one? Ah, you’re in love.

The Scientist

Boo tells me that if he sits real still in this spot he can detect gravity waves. I’m 90% sure he’s putting me on.

I Like Turtles

It’s been about 10 years since the viral “I Like Turtles” zombie kid video, a video I’ve thought about many times in the intervening years, so in tribute I’ll post this brick of turtles Ellie and I passed on our walk through the neighborhood.

Our cat Emma also liked turtles. For the record, so do I.

Public Service Announcement

Experts warn that as the weather warms, look before you reach into dark places like woodpiles or linen closets, as dangerous creatures may have crept in to sleep in the safety and comfort of these secluded areas.

Light in Darkness

The truth will out.

I Blame You, Boolie

This bald eagle seems to be looking accusingly at me as the rain pours down at Rest Lake in Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. It was a cool and wet spring morning after a cool and wet (and occasionally snowy) winter. Fair enough, I do love the rain and get a little cranky when it’s been sunny too many days in a row (such as today, as we enter another heat wave in May. May! It’s still spring!).

This is another picture where I took 4K video at the same time and the video gives a different feel to the photo and the moment it freezes in time. You can really see the rain hitting the water (and hear it hitting the car) in the video, as well as the current pushing the water past the eagle’s feet. And perhaps most importantly you can see that the eagle almost never looks in my direction, it was much more concerned about what was happening in the marsh, which is as it should be.

But in the photo, it’s gaze is fixed on me forever.

A Circle of Sam

Our snuggly Sam curls up in my lap as the afternoon sun streams in from my office window.

Me & the Pup

I was up earlier than normal for a Saturday so Ellie and I headed out for our walk in the beautiful light of a sunny spring morning. At Irving Park I took a self-portrait with her even if one of us is only represented in shadow. The dog park is on the other side of the tree, and when we leave it to head south into the neighborhood we head out to my left and her right, down one of four streets of her choosing. She gave me a nice long walk on this morning, a lovely start to the weekend.