To The Pacific and Beyond

The Josco Changzhou with a full cargo, 

slips smoothly by us-- headed west to the Pacific

and the Orient.  It's a fine looking ship.

Watching Ships...

...something I love to do!

Bringing Home Someone

For Lunch

The large bird of prey (an osprey) flies under the bridge with his catch...

Wild

Still Standing, Proud!

This old granary is at least 10 stories tall, sitting in a canyon in North-Central Oregon. 

Windy

Looking toward Astoria, Oregon, from The Washington side of the Columbia River, not far from where it meets the Pacific--

Colorful!



Laura 

And Her Mountain 

She's lining up a shot of Mt. St. Helens.

She calls me her "Sweet Hubby."

I call her my best friend.

Laura's photo blog

Taking Root...

...anywhere!

Beautiful blooms from plants growing in old pilings 

on the Columbia River

Eyes Right!

While we were visiting Coldwater Lake near Mt. St. Helens on Sunday, this Canada Goose family came in parade formation.  Mama is at the front, Dad is bringing up the rear, and all 13 (!) of the brood are wondering about the guy with the camera.

It's Time For Wildflowers!

Yesterday morning on Coldwater Ridge.  It couldn't have been any better than this.

Peaceful Pickets 

An Amazing 4th Of July Sky...

...and we didn't even have to wait till dark!

Happy Birthday America!

Moving Through Mountains...

A mile long, 100 car "unit" coal train, snakes from one tunnel to another on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge.

The Mural On The Winery Wall

With lots of good humor, the proprietors of this winery duplicated the vineyard on the winery wall--down to the geese that wander between the vines.

Why not...?

The Barn

Farm Gothic

Beautiful Farmland

The weather was perfect yesterday, bringing dappled sunlight to the field and the hills while birds of prey circled and a giant shower was coming down on the peak in the distance--  near Boistfort. 

Hunting

An osprey circles the wetlands hunting for 

goodies for the young one nearby 

in a treetop nest--

They're wonderful to watch!

Hello?

This wild rose appears to be looking

at us, around a corner...

Ancient Moorage

Old pilings at the mouth of Wreck Creek 

where it meets the Pacific 

in the Quinault Indian Nation

In Motion

Big Evening Sky

Looking across the Necanicum River,

towards the ocean in Seaside Oregon...

Under The Bridge

Northbound

A BNSF freight crossing the Cowlitz River

near the remains of what used to be a town called Olequa

High On A Hill...

Glowing In The Setting Sun

The end of a beautiful day in Astoria

Symbiotic Or Parasitic?

But certainly a bit weird looking...

This tree took root in the stump of an older tree,

 cut long ago,  and is thriving!

I Can't Help It!

Foxglove always show their best face!

Perfect!

Foxglove (Digitalis), the most lovely wildflower...

The Mainline

Contemplating His Bell

Out on the sun porch, my father sits in his high chair and contemplates the mysteries of a bell--101 years ago.

Happy Fathers Day to all.

Out On A Leaf...

...all by yourself

Mt. St. Helens

Always Catching Clouds 

School's Out

Rumbling Through 

This BNSF freight was doing about 80 as he rumbled past us in the Gorge.  See how the heat and exhaust distort the air.

Goodnoe Station

No one stops here anymore

Just Before The Wildflowers

Here's another view of Mt. St. Helens.  The stumps going down the hillside to the right are from trees blown over with the mountain blew up.  I think they look a bit like grave stones.  In another week or two the hillside will be full of wildflowers.

Mt. St. Helens

Catching Clouds

Orchard With Wind Machines

Full size fruit trees dwarfed by giant wind turbines, 
and an even bigger sky--on the Washington side,
high above the Columbia River east of the Cascades...

Waiting...

Native American fishing platforms

along Oregon's Deschutes River

at Sherars Bridge

Mt. Hood

A century and a half ago settlers traveled the Barlow Road around Oregon's Mt. Hood to get to the green and fertile Willamette Valley.  But the old farm equipment here is a reminder that some stayed on the dry east side of the mountains  to raise cattle and wheat.  

The Most Beautiful Mountain

No One Ever Sees...

Completely visible from only a handful of places,
 this is Mt. Adams in the Washington Cascades.
  The view is from Tygh Ridge, a high plateau in Oregon
 about 20 miles south of the Columbia River.

Lichen Glowing

in the historic graveyard