I don't know anyone who likes wasps-- I certainly don't. But they sure do know how to decorate a birdhouse!

 

There's a hint of September...

 

And then when the fuchsias open...!

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The hummingbirds are circling-- waiting for these beautiful fuchsias to open up!

 

The forest is amazing sometimes...

 

In the glow of sunset, the little female Wood Duck stops to wonder where her mate is. The markings around her red eyes look a bit like she's wearing glasses.

 

Always the same...

Me, me, me!               NO! Me, me, me!

 

This is the spot. I'm sure of it! This is where they had their picnic that day when I went into the woods and had a big surprise...

 

The sun is spotlighting the path...

 

August will turn to September soon-- The leaves haven't started turning yet, but they're thinking about it.

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Peaceful...

 

And finally, revisiting some favorite places #50: Aside from the incredible views of Mt. St. Helens, what I've missed most about not being able to go to Johnston Ridge this year-- the wildflowers! They are nature's artwork at its finest.

 

Revisiting some favorite places #49: Wildflowers, and a wonderful view of the massive crater on Mt. St. Helens. There's a lot to see on Johnston Ridge!

 

Revisiting some favorite places #48: From Johnston Ridge, looking north across Coldwater Ridge--Minnie Peak looms under a magnificent sky.

 

Revisiting some favorite places #47: Chipper's wondering why there are no tourists giving him handouts this summer--- I really miss being able to go to Johnston Ridge. Those blown-downed trees from the blast 43 years ago make great perches for the natives.

 

Revisiting favorite places #46: I think this old blown-over tree on Johnston Ridge really loves his wildflowers!

 

Revisiting favorite places #45: Johnston Ridge is unreachable until next year due to the washed-out highway, but at least we have pictures-- lots of them! Looking northwest at the beautiful sky, the beautiful Indian Paintbrush wildflowers, and the remains of one of the thousands of trees blown down in the eruption of Mt. St. Helens over 40 years ago.

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Revisiting favorite places #44: The wildflowers on Johnston Ridge magically aglow in the golden hour light.

 

Revisiting some favorite places #44: Johnston Ridge took the first blast when the mountain blew, but even after more than 40 years, you can still find the fallen trees (left). Just to the right of the tree in the foreground you can see the Toutle River, nearly 4000 feet below. The wildflowers are Indian Paintbrush.

 

Revisiting favorite places #43: It will be next year before we can visit Johnston Ridge again due to the road being washed out in heavy Spring rains. This view from Johston Ridge is about 4000 feet above the Toutle River Valley below. It's a great place to see how the north face and much of the top of Mt. St. Helens blew out in 1980. It's almost impossible to get a sense of scale, but the little green specks are tall conifers.

 

Revisiting some favorite places #42: Wildflowers on Coldwater Ridge-- July is best.

 

Revisiting some favorite places #41: Looking across the lake from Coldwater Ridge, we can see Mt. Margaret and a cloud that looks suspiciously like a Muppet!

 

Revisiting some favorite places #40: Coldwater Lake on a beautiful summer morning.

 

Revisiting some favorite places #39: Coldwater Lake is as far as you can go up the Spirit Lake Highway till sometime next year. Heavy Spring rain severely damaged the road leading to the Johnston Ridge Observatory. But between the viewpoints, hiking trails, and the lake, it's worth the trip.

 

Revisiting favorite places #38: Back, closer to home with a view of Mt. Adams from the Spirit Lake Highway's Elk Rock Viewpoint.

 

Revisiting some favorite places #37: For my final revisiting of the Columbia River Gorge, what could be more appropriate than the magnificent Latourell Waterfall...

 

Revisiting some favorite places #36: Here's a dramatic view of the Columbia River Gorge at sunset-- from the dry east side to the cooler and wetter west side.

 

Revisiting some favorite places #35: When the hot, dry air from the east side of the Cascades meets the cooler air of the west side-- The result is wind! Windsurfers come from all over to the Columbia River Gorge to take advantage! The town of Hood River, Oregon, is just about the capital of the windsurfing world.

 

Revisiting some favorite places #34: The Columbia River Gorge cuts through the Cascade Mountain Range. The West side is the "wet" side with a milder climate and more rainfall. Going through the Gorge gives the traveler a wonderful view of the differences. Here, the pine and juniper trees start giving in to the fir, cedar, and hemlock. At 3,848' in elevation, Nesmith Point is the highest point along the cliffs lining the Columbia River Gorge on the Oregon side. It's named after a distant relative-- James Ellis Nesmith (1820-1885), a cousin of one of my great-great-grandfathers.

 

Revisiting some favorite places #33: You can follow just about any road in the high plains of North-Central Oregon and know that you will see something wonderful...

 

Revisiting some favorite places #32: Two lonely sights-- the Eight Mile Cemetary and the Eight Mile School--- on Japanese Hollow Road, near Dufur, Oregon.

 

Revisiting some favorite places #32: Across from the Eight Mile Cemetery in north central Oregon stands the abandoned Eight Mile School.

 

Revisiting some favorite places #31: It was near the Eight Mile Cemetary, a few miles south of the Columbia River, that we found these beautiful thistles and the biggest bumblebee I have ever seen. I wanted to pet him. But I didn't.

 

Revisiting some favorite places #30: The Church at Locust Grove, not far from Wasco. It has no windows and hasn't had a congregation for 100 years or so. But it still stands proudly.

 

Revisiting favorite spots #29: Here's one last look at the Goodnoe Station, from a different viewpoint, and on a different day. It's easy to think of crumbling buildings and ghost towns on the dry side of the Cascade Mountains. Why? The need for little towns within horse and wagon distances has disappeared, and many family farms have been replaced by corporate farming. But there's beauty in the land and the remaining pioneer structures. And there are still many people who love living there.

 

Revisiting some favorite places #28: The Dalles Dam on the Columbia River, over 65 years old, and the much older remains of a Shaker Indian Church and small homestead. Unfortunately, nobody is preserving these old buildings, and I expect that all traces of them will be gone before long.

 

Revisiting favorite places #27: From the little town of Dufur, Oregon's Mt. Hood is very dramatic!

 

Revisiting favorite places # 26: I'm sad to say that we can only revisit the Nelson House near Dufur, Oregon, in pictures. It had been one of the most photographed abandoned houses in the northwest before it burned to the ground in a wildfire in 2018. We were lucky to see it a few times on various trips before that.

 

Revisiting favorite places #25: Another place with a name, but no town anymore--- Friend, Oregon. WIth Mt. Hood looming majestically ahead, this is the road to Friend.

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Revisiting some of my favorite places #24: The wonderful old barn on Tygh Ridge...

 

Revisiting some favorite places #23: Inside Goodnoe Station, looking out... At least you don't have to wash the windows.

 

Revisiting some favorite places #22: Goodnoe Station-- Definitely a lot of cross-ventilation!

 

Revisiting some favorite places #21: This is my favorite place for train pictures, and this image is probably my favorite!

 

Revisiting some favorite places #20: The Drano Lake Tunnel--just one of the 15 railroad tunnels on the Washington side of the Columbia River. The larger tunnel, behind, is for highway traffic.

 

Revisiting favorite places #19: A Union Pacific freight, passing in the night...

 

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