Barge traffic is surprisingly active on the Columbia River. Two of these four barges are for grain (wheat or barley). The one in the back on the far side is for petroleum products, and the other is loaded with containers. This array of four barges is being pushed by a tugboat with a high wheelhouse that allows the pilot to see over the barges. It's headed into the locks that will take the whole thing through The Dalles Dam.

 

The late-afternoon sunlight is perfect for just a few minutes at the wetlands-- peaceful beauty!

 

I think it's broken...

 

Late in the afternoon, a final beam of sunlight highlights a whisp of fog over Silver Lake, and highlights some Cormorants on a rock stretching their wings. I love to see them do that!

 

There's just something about trains at night, passing under lights...

 

The little house on the edge of the woods...

 

Sunshine up above, but cold temperatures and fog are keeping things a bit muted near the wetlands. But it's beautiful!

Here's a well-built, very sturdy little bridge on the dry side of the mountains, wide enough for one cow, and not more than five feet long. Nobody has used it for a decade or two, and nature has taken over. I think it's beautiful!

 

A gathering of the ladies... Elk ladies, that is.

 

Night train...

 

Amazing winter beauty right along the Westside Highway!

 

Even in the winter, there's still so much to love in the wetlands!

 

It's just a small farm in the Toledo Highlands.

 

Oh look! There's a bigger one coming in! Surfing the Northern Oregon coast in January? Year-round, it's the waves that matter.

 

Another ship-- this one headed to the Port of Longview, about 60 miles up the Columbia River. It will be loaded with logs for the Orient.

 

Out past the old wood pilings that are all that remain of Astoria's fish canneries, a ship is headed out to sea and faraway places with strange sounding names.

 

You keep going, and you hope that you will get to the other side.

 

When everything gets too crazy, too much to deal with, a walk on the beach usually makes things better.

 

Lots of rain for a couple of days has made the little roadside waterfalls sing!

 

It's like fire in the sky!

 

Marvin the Mallard found it easier to swim in the clouds rather than fly through them.

 

Wetlands magic!

 

I hope he finds his way home before it gets dark...

 

The mountain got a full coat of snow!

 

"'Tis the moon I see..."