Unsettled weather over the wetlands...

Sharing today with Mersad's Through My Lens

Snow on Mt. St. Helens!

Still a pocket of leaves here and there....

Lots of moss, too!

At day's end...

Maybe it's just something I dreamed...

Loading logs for the Orient

Zooming in from the same location as yesterday--  Thousands of giant logs are ready to be shipped to the orient.  The ship has its own cranes to load the logs.  Sometimes as many as 8 ships will be anchored in the Columbia River waiting to take on cargo at the port.  Besides logs, it is one of the largest grain ports in the country, with the grain coming in on mile-long unit trains.

A great bridge...

The Lewis and Clark Bridge across the Columbia River connects Longview, Washington to Rainier, Oregon.  It was completed in 1930 and was the longest and highest cantilever bridge in the US at that time.  It was designed by Joseph Strauss, designer of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge.  The Port of Longview is 66 miles from the Pacific and is served by two major railroads, inland barge traffic, and the main North-South highway on the West Coast. In terms of travel time it is the closest port to the Orient from the US.

Sunlight through the trees...

Sharing today with Mersad's Through My Lens

Hush...

Just one fallen leaf...

By the lake...

Light and leaves...

You never know who's hiding in the woods on Halloween...

Mushroom riot...

The smell of dampness from last night's rain, with just a hint of wood smoke...

Sharing today with Mersad's Through My Lens

The hidden waterfall...

Still a surprise or two in the wetlands...

All dressed up for Autumn!

An explosion of color...

Beside the ferns and autumn leaves a delightful little waterfall...

Fall leaves and mushrooms in the light...

Or a walk in the park!

Sharing today with Mersad's Through My Lens

There is no better time for a walk in the woods...

Minnie Peak in the morning...

The color is popping out on Hoffstadt Mountain...

When water sounds like music...

Spanish Colonial in the Northwest...?

Winlock used to be a thriving town of lumberjacks, mill workers, and small farms.  The Church of the Sacred Heart is closed now due to dwindling congregation and a shortage of priests.  But its facade still speaks of better times.

A quiet walk...

Fall comes to Olequa Creek...

Sharing today with Mersad's Through My Lens

Rustling leaves and just a hint of wood smoke...

The late afternoon autumn light in the wetlands...

Still some berries for the birds...

Quiet time...

Perfect Autumn afternoon...

Southbound...

Things are good here. There is love here...

Sharing today with Mersad's Through My Lens

In the darkest parts of the forest, the trees grow moss AND ferns!

Into the woods...

Sunset from Johnston Ridge...

Let's just sit here and watch the leaves turn...

Mt. Rainier!

Mt. Rainier is visible from only a handful of places where we live.  It's always a nice surprise to see it looming in the distance.  From this spot it's more than 50 miles away.

Soon it's going to rain...

There's a fish right over there...

Sharing today with Mersad's Through My Lens

It's always good to be close to a good place to drink...

Leaves are falling...