Some birthdays are passed in celebration, some with dread, and some like this last one, with just a nod and a shrug, acknowledging the passage of time. And another hike around Ridgefield Nature Preserve.
wildlife
A Swamp, A Refuge
The first time I visited Fernhill Wetlands was in late December of 2016, during the presidential transition period. A thick mist shrouded the ponds and streams, and in hindsight, I should have known that the opaque fog was a portent to the darkly bizarre and disorienting year ahead. The cold seeped in around my insulating layers, … Continue reading A Swamp, A Refuge
Bottom’s Up
Here's the thing about retirement. I look at the weather forecast, I look at the calendar, see that that nothing can't be postponed, and look for a new place to explore. If it's hot I look for a shady hike, and if it's cold I look for one in the open. If it's been pouring … Continue reading Bottom’s Up
City Girl Country Girl
Our house is perched on the outermost edge of the southwest corner of southwest Portland. That is to say, as far from the center as you can get. Having lived in too many suburban type towns all my life, I vowed to keep my activities directed into Portland itself, away from the outskirts, immersing myself … Continue reading City Girl Country Girl
Steigerwald Lake, North of the Columbia
I hiked along the Columbia River on the Washington side for a northern perspective, and new (to me) viewpoint. It always feels good to flip your view in some way. It was in fact quite different than my Oregon hikes along the Columbia Gorge, where the trails take you along steep, dramatic, thickly forested trails … Continue reading Steigerwald Lake, North of the Columbia
Rivers and Roads PDX 