my weekend

2007-11-14T14:05:00.000-08:00

This poor blog has been woefully neglected. As many of you know I have a flickr site where I post my photos with little captions. I've been feeling for awhile now that my flickr site had made this blog sort of redundant with the real story being told with my photos and captions anyway. If I'm doing something interesting I'm usually taking a picture of it.

So if you want to know what I'm doing with my weekends (and during the week sometimes even) please go to my flickr site.

I've posted a mass of photos here from the last several months (weekends and weekdays alike). I feel like I blinked and summer vanished, fall flew and winter is creeping in. I hope all is well and you will stay in touch. Hey...why don't YOU get a flickr page too so I can see all your photos?! That's a great idea!

urban alpenglow

2007-11-14T14:02:00.003-08:00

urban alpenglow, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

from Portland I watch the mountain turn pink and say goodnight.

view of Mt Hood from Mt Tabor Park

pacific stormy

2007-11-14T14:02:00.001-08:00

pacific stormy, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

I woke up at 4 am thinking the windows were going to blow in at the beach house I was staying at in Newport. The storm had finally rolled ashore with some fierce winds (gusts of 92 mph at Cape Meares!). By the afternoon it was calming down enough for me to make the drive back to Portland.

I stopped in Depoe Bay where the waves were smacking into the sea wall and splashing up onto Hwy 101 and high high high in the air. I also stopped at Boiler Bay which has a nice a high viewpoint above the water. I was out of my car for only a minute with the rain stinging me as the wind whipped it onshore. I tried to take some pictures of the huge waves crashing onto the rocks but the weather was just too horrible. Lastly I stopped here, the calm waters of protected Siletz Bay. The seagulls here were hovering in place in the sky, amazing in the strong winds.

A stormy end to my wonderful long weekend on the Oregon coast.

This is a color photograph of a very gray day.

bayside cocktails

2007-11-14T14:01:00.003-08:00

bayside cocktails, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Gina and the Yaquina Bay Bridge. Drinks at the upstairs lounge at the Port Dock Restaurant before going down the street for dinner and more beers at the Rogue Public House.

Newport, Oregon

bayside girls

2007-11-14T14:01:00.001-08:00

bayside girls, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Melissa, Gina and Elaine on the beach between Yaquina Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

lovely lovely

15 seconds in the middle of the night

2007-11-14T14:00:00.005-08:00

15 seconds in the middle of the night, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

long exposure at the rainy, windy beach. Melissa and I (shadow, heads together) going back to the house after running around on the rainy beach and yelling into the wind.

late late in Newport

good stuff at the goodfoot

2007-11-14T14:00:00.003-08:00

good stuff at the goodfoot, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

My friends Lincoln & Jimmy (Robb/Crockett) played at the Goodfoot Saturday night. They opened up for Green Sky Bluegrass, winners of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. The place was jammed and I had a great time with my friends.

my alpine lake tour continues

2007-11-14T14:00:00.001-08:00

my alpine lake tour continues, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

I left Mirror Lake and stopped next at Trillium Lake with view of the south side of Mt Hood and another perfect reflection. It was a perfect sunny Saturday, warm even up here on the mountain. I hope you were outside.

up the stairs (again and again and again)

2007-11-14T13:59:00.005-08:00

up the stairs (again and again and again), originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

At Kevin's parents' house for the reception following his dad's funeral. This house has long been the gathering place for all my Waukesha friends. Heather grew up playing in this big sprawling house and now her daughter does the same. They don't have stairs in their house so Nessa was obsessed with going up and down the stairs, endlessly.

mom's grilled ham and cheese

2007-11-14T13:59:00.003-08:00

mom's grilled ham and cheese, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

is the best! She makes me lunch before I leave to go to Kevin's dad's funeral. My unexpected journey home was sad and wonderful. I missed my parents terribly. Two years away has made me very nostalgic for all things Wisconsin. My mom's cooking is just one of many comforts I savored while in Waukesha for a few days. I'll be back for Christmas.

pops and his pond

2007-11-14T13:59:00.001-08:00

pops and his pond, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Dad cleans out the muck from the pond hoping to avoid the poison gases that get trapped under the ice from the decomposing leaves and kill the fish. The pond gets ready to go to sleep for the winter. I missed my parents and their crazy backyard terribly.

Waukesha, Wisconsin

back in the sha

2007-11-14T13:58:00.003-08:00

back in the sha, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

I've spent many, many nights on this porch but it's been two years since I've been here. I came back for Kevin's dad's funeral. We wore his hats to ward off the chilly night air. I've been friends with these boys since I was 15. I'm sure I'll be friends with them always.

Kevin, Brendan & me in Waukesha

photo by Becky

swim, spawn and die

2007-11-14T13:58:00.001-08:00

swim, spawn and die, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

The salmon are spawning in Multnomah Creek. They've swum from the Pacific Ocean, against the current in the mighty Columbia River to come back here, lay their eggs and die. There were already a few dead white fish, spent from their efforts and done with their life cycle.

I came here not to look at the largest waterfall in the state (behind me) but to see the annual spawn. Both chinook (king) salmon and coho salmon spawn in these waters. It's pretty amazing to see.

people in love

2007-11-14T13:57:00.005-08:00

people in love, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Sarah & Jason in a pile of maple leaves. They are a great couple. truly

Trout Lake, Washington

I give up

2007-11-14T13:57:00.003-08:00

I give up, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

I had to call it about 13 miles up Forest Road 23. I was attempting to get to Big Springs Falls but was surprised by the snow. The road is deceptive, slowly gaining elevation until there was just one set of tire tracks in the narrow road and snow piling up higher and higher. I was without chains, a shovel and cell service and I'm forever mindful of NOT being that girl on the news ("A search team looked for the missing Portland woman blah blah blah"). I drove back down the road and returned to fall in Trout Lake. This is why everyone that lives here has a truck with four wheel drive.

fall flows through us

2007-11-14T13:57:00.001-08:00

fall flows through us, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

leaving Starvation Creek, back in the car, up the Gorge, over the river and up to Mt Adams. Trout Lake goodness awaits

the water is impossibly colored

2007-11-14T13:56:00.003-08:00

the water is impossibly colored, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Opal Pool in the Opal Creek Wilderness. This is a jewel in the forest. The colors are unreal!

but they're real

gina and the green green green

2007-11-14T13:56:00.001-08:00

gina and the green green green, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Yes, the water is really that color. The Little North Santiam River is a wonder.

Opal Creek Wilderness

the sky looks suspect

2007-11-14T13:55:00.003-08:00

the sky looks suspect, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

It threatened to rain on us but thankfully did not. Elaine and I had lunch and beers on the outside patio of the Lompoc in NW Portland. Saturday afternoon beers are lovely

the moss fell in love with the trees

2007-11-14T13:55:00.001-08:00

the moss fell in love with the trees, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Mist in the mossy trees along the trail to Falls Creek Falls. Sometimes it's all much too beautiful and my green mossy heart beats harder.

the green spills down the hill

2007-11-14T13:54:00.003-08:00

the green spills down the hill, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

where the stream of mossy rocks flows downstream. hiking to Falls Creek Falls

the ball of fire breaks the horizon

2007-11-14T13:54:00.001-08:00

the ball of fire breaks the horizon, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Sunrise as seen from Mt Tabor Park with Mt Hood and some morning clouds.

Portland, Oregon

lucky me and the lips!

2007-11-14T13:53:00.003-08:00

lucky me and the lips!, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

A ticket for the Flaming Lips fell into my lap the day before the long sold out show. The last time I saw them was at the Gorge Ampitheatre (capacity of 20,000) so it was amazing to see them at the Roseland (capacity around 1000). They got plenty of showmanship!

sand fascination

2007-11-14T13:53:00.001-08:00

sand fascination, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Chiron was totally diggin the sandy beach. This was his first beach trip with many more to come I'm sure.

Newport, Oregon

big jacks for the babe

2007-11-14T13:52:00.005-08:00

big jacks for the babe, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Chiron playing with his huge jacks, on the giant wrap around sofa at the beach house in Newport. The beach house was like Shangri La after two days in the dirt with a baby.

beach babe

2007-11-14T13:52:00.003-08:00

beach babe, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Chiron wakes up and sees the ocean for the first time.

Short Sands Beach at Oswald West State Park. Cape Falcon in the background

Oregon is a fantasy painting

2007-11-14T13:52:00.001-08:00

Oregon is a fantasy painting, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

before I moved to Oregon 6 years ago a friend gave me a Oregon Coast guidebook. On the cover was a photograph taken from this exact spot off Hwy 101. My roommate at the time said it looked more like a fantasy painting than a photograph of any real place. Indeed this place is real (Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach) and it was the very first Oregon beach I visited. I'll never grow tired of this view.

monday night dive in

2007-11-14T13:51:00.005-08:00

monday night dive in, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

at one of my local dive bars, Sassy Jacks, to see my friends play music. The bar has actually gotten a lot nicer in the years that I've lived in the neighborhood. Dave, Eric & Steve on stage while Old Blue Eyes looks on. The washtub bass will be played later in the evening.

the mossy gush

2007-11-14T13:51:00.003-08:00

the mossy gush, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Buck Creek was far too pretty for me to stop taking pictures of it. A lovely little Monday hike in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest

sarah and her chicks

2007-11-14T13:51:00.001-08:00

sarah and her chicks, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Sarah showed me her and Jason's chickens. Trout Lake life is good.

the pika by lake wapiki

2007-11-14T13:50:00.003-08:00

the pika by lake wapiki, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

On one of these viewpoints overlooking Lake Wapiki I startled a little pika, scurrying around on the rocks. The pika was scurrying, not me.

packing on the pounds

2007-11-14T13:50:00.001-08:00

packing on the pounds, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

photo by Alicia, Chiron's mama.

Chiron was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis a few weeks ago. After the initial shock wore off everyone is doing very well. He's gained lots of weight (after losing a frightening amount) and is healthy, happy and as inquisitive as ever. He gets enzymes prior to each meal that allow him to properly digest his food and get the nutrition he needs. With parents like Alicia and Lincoln I have no doubt that he will lead a full and joyful life. He is a wonder!

On this day we had fun sticking out our tongues and making funny noises with our mouths. Chiron has recently discovered his tongue and is enjoying every moment. We also danced and sang along while his dad, Lincoln, played his mandolin for us.

Happy Hour at Imbibe in SE Portland

the boomers bust through

2007-11-14T13:49:00.005-08:00

the boomers bust through, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

It's definitely mushroom season in the forest. The night before I'd been to a potluck where I had deep fried, beer battered wild mushrooms. The chanterelles were especially delicious!

I should really carry my little mushroom identification book in my backpack at this time of year. Anyone know what kind of mushroom this big guy is?

my hand for scale of course...

deep lake swallows the clouds

2007-11-14T13:49:00.003-08:00

deep lake swallows the clouds, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

the destination of my hike in the Indian Heaven Wilderness. Deep Lake was beautiful and waiting just for me. I ate my lunch on the shore, the only person around.

Mt Adams peeks his head above the trees.

exit from the earth

2007-11-14T13:49:00.001-08:00

exit from the earth, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

I'm the last one out of the cave. It was a great one for exploring with good air flow and not too small to move around.

the big fish jump and hide

2007-11-14T13:48:00.001-08:00

the big fish jump and hide, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

a lovely evening on Steamboat Lake canoeing and fishing with Damon and Amanda. Damon had a few bites but didn't catch any. The lake is stocked with Brook Trout and the occasional Cutthroat.

the color of the water makes my heart beat differently

2007-11-14T13:47:00.001-08:00

the color of the water makes my heart beat differently, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

The White Salmon River is freaky beautiful. I walked along the trail from the BZ Corner launch completely amazed and happy.

one of the many ways to keep portland weird

2007-11-14T13:46:00.003-08:00

one of the many ways to keep portland weird, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

The annual soap box derby at Mt Tabor Park is definitely a part of the Keep Portland Weird movement. I love my silly city.

This is either a semi final or a final race. It's a blur to me.

entering the worm flows

2007-11-14T13:46:00.001-08:00

entering the worm flows, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Kelly had been in this area a few years before when she was working for Americorps on a trail crew. She described being lost in this lava field in the rain while they carried all their tools over the wet rocks. A sunny day and a marked route made for a much better experience.

Small bits of steam being released from the crater.

music for an august evening

2007-11-14T13:45:00.001-08:00

music for an august evening, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Wilco put on an AMAZING show at the Edgefield. a fantastic night with lots of friends and music that would not quit

wild turkeys are slowin me down

2007-08-28T11:45:00.005-07:00

wild turkeys are slowin me down, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

I stopped to let a family of wild turkeys cross the road, on Hwy 141-Alt between Trout Lake and BZ Corner.

These were the last two stragglers after 5 or 6, including little ones, had already crossed.

a fine hostess

2007-08-28T11:45:00.003-07:00

a fine hostess, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Jenny relaxing in her driveway. Her property was home to the Frizbee Minors golf course. Good times in Trout Lake

a willful suspension of disbelief

2007-08-28T11:45:00.001-07:00

a willful suspension of disbelief, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

the ball hovers as Kelly and Gina look on. Paddle ball in the big field.

I've been listening to that Modest Mouse album lately (everywhere and his nasty parlour tricks). It's my favorite of their many.

my rain is your snow

2007-08-28T11:44:00.005-07:00

my rain is your snow, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

It was drizzling when I went to bed. I woke up in the middle of the night to a downpour on my tent (thank goodness for a good rainfly). I awoke in the morning to the surprise of lots of fresh snow on the mountain. August snow? wowza!

goat in the barn

2007-08-28T11:44:00.003-07:00

goat in the barn, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

JIm the Bad Goat get ready to play some music at the Saturday night barn party for the Frizbee Minors

you never know what will happen

2007-08-28T11:44:00.001-07:00

you never know what will happen, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

I didn't know until Lincoln showed up just before their set whether or not he was playing. They sounded wonderful and Lincoln had a whole receiving line of hugs. Trout Lake love

barn dancing

2007-08-28T11:43:00.005-07:00

barn dancing, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Camille and Wampler dance while Alexa, Steve and Kelly play music. Saturday at the barn party for the Frizbee Minors in Trout Lake

a stage full of friends

2007-08-28T11:43:00.003-07:00

a stage full of friends, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Alexa Wiley played first and was joined by Steve on flute and Kelly on saxophone. Steve's son, Skylar, plays on the stage edge. a great night of music at the barn for the Frizbee Minors

pretty clothes for the girls

2007-08-28T11:43:00.001-07:00

pretty clothes for the girls, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

I'm responsible for the both the pink polka dot shirt and the hilarious muumuu. I bought them at Goodwill and contributed them to the Dave Clarke ugly clothes bin which is used heavily at the Frizbee Masters and now at the Frizbee Minors.

Jenny, in the center, is the proud owner of this beautiful chunk of land.

tequila sunrise for lunch

2007-08-28T11:42:00.007-07:00

tequila sunrise for lunch, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

I'm hanging out at the tequila table, a good place to sit and watch the crowds roll through since everyone stops here. Kelly mixes herself a drink.

1st annual Frizbee Minors

I don't play frisbee golf anymore

the frizbee masters baby at the frizbee minors!

2007-08-28T11:42:00.005-07:00

the frizbee masters baby at the frizbee minors!, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Oren gets a diaper change in the field. He's famous for being born at the Frizbee Masters. Well actually Amberly left the Masters in the middle of the night and gave birth at a midwife's house in Salem.

lazy dog days

2007-08-28T11:42:00.003-07:00

lazy dog days, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

two of Josh & Lindsay's puppies. Their mama is a pitbull, their papa a Rhodesian Ridgeback. whoa

life is good

2007-08-28T11:42:00.001-07:00

life is good, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Ben on his rattly bike with his dog in tow, riding through the big field. What more could you want?

big dum drives in the big field

2007-08-28T11:41:00.007-07:00

big dum drives in the big field, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

John practices his drive while Rowan collects grasshoppers. There were approximately 7 billion in the field.

Trout Lake

sarah by lamplight

2007-08-28T11:41:00.005-07:00

sarah by lamplight, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Sarah is beautiful and kind. A bunch of us hung out at Abe and Jenny's house listening to friends play music. We're waiting for the cops to come (we called them) after some underage kids were asked to leave and then tried to start a fire on their way out. Starting fires in very dry fields (underneath the truck of the guy that asked you to leave) is not only stupid, it's criminal. The sheriff was nominally helpful. I heard the culprit's name was Butters. ha!

Sara saw them start the fire and was the one to put it out. Her boyfriend, Jason, is gone working on fire right now. Forest Service in summer is a fire-filled job. She works as a river guide on the White Salmon River. fire and water...

the horses exit the scene

2007-08-28T11:41:00.003-07:00

the horses exit the scene, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

The horses eventually headed to the other end of the vast field and then were moved to an entirely different field.

My chair and my beer are waiting for me. a lovely place for a friday evening lounge

pasta salad is not for horses

2007-08-28T11:41:00.001-07:00

pasta salad is not for horses, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

The horses were all over us, especially when the food came out.

Soon their owners would move them to their own field as more campers arrived for the Frizbee Minors

Trout Lake, Washington

we shall both wear black

2007-08-28T11:40:00.003-07:00

we shall both wear black, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

me and a horse (and a can of pringles).

hanging out in a field with Matt and Gina (photo by Gina)

a fine field for camping

2007-08-28T11:40:00.001-07:00

a fine field for camping, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

my tent in the foreground, Mt Adams in the background and three curious horses in the middle. We were some of the first campers to arrive and the horses had not yet been moved from the field. We got to hang out with them for a while (they were quite inquisitive) but later in the evening their owners moved them to their own field.

They tried to eat our chairs and one of them pooped two feet from my tent door (thank goodness for shovels) but they were gentle and had soft muzzles. Matt and Gina and I enjoyed petting them.

camping in Bill and Mary's fabulous field in Trout Lake for the Frizbee Minors

green for the golfers

2007-08-28T11:39:00.001-07:00

green for the golfers, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

someone came up with a bunch of shiny satin green jackets for players to wear on the fribee golf course. in Abe and Jenny's pole barn

1st annual Frizbee Minors Tournament in Trout Lake, Washington.

Not to be confused with the Frizbee Masters

the Frizbee Minors brings us horses and fresh snow!

2007-08-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!I had a wonderful weekend in Trout Lake. It had been a month since I’d been there so I was definitely craving some time there. Gina and I drove up Friday afternoon. We stopped at Wampler’s house and then hung out at Abe and Jenny’s house for a bit before driving down the final bit of gravel road to the huge field where we’d be camping. When we arrived there was only Matt and 3 horses in the field. We all set up our tents and pulled out our chairs to enjoy the sunshine and the incredible view of Mt Adams. Eventually the horses wandered over by us and all got acquainted. They were huge and gentle with soft muzzles that we all loved to touch. The tried to munch on our camping chairs, took a poop 2 feet from my tent door (thank goodness for shovels!) and got really interested when Matt ate a salad. After a while the horses had grown bored with us and wandered over to far end of the field. As more campers arrived the owners moved the horses to their own field. Later in the evening we walked over to Abe and Jenny’s property. A bunch of friends were gathered there, hanging out and listening to music. Some young kids showed up drinking and were asked to leave. On their way out they started a small fire in the long grass beneath Nate’s truck (Nate being the one to ask them to leave). Sarah saw them start the fire and put it out. Abe and Jenny called the cops who eventually showed up and took a report on the kids. Starting fires in extremely dry fields is not only stupid, it’s criminal. I went back to my tent before the cops showed up and don’t know if the kids were ever caught.

The next morning we made coffee and enjoyed the warm sunshine. A bunch of us sat around in the field watching people throw Frisbees and footballs while the huge mountain loomed in the distance. Rowan, Ken’s son, was fascinated by the crazy amounts of grasshoppers in the field and set to work trying to catch some. The guys motivated to head over to the Frisbee golf course while I stayed behind to hang out in the field more. Ben cooked up a big skillet of breakfast yummies (eggs, potatoes, veggies, sausage) in his little trailer. It was delicious! I read my book for awhile (the final Harry Potter) before finally walking over to check out the Frisbee golf tournament. I headed for the tequila table which was a good place to hang out and watch the groups roll through. At the make your own quesadilla both (salsa provided by me) I made a cheesy spicy quesadilla and hung out talking with friends. Amberly was there with little Oren, the baby made famous for being born at the Frizbee Masters. Actually Amberly left the Masters in the middle of the night and gave birth at a midwife’s house in Salem. He’s a cute little babe and it was great to see Amberly again.

I walked back over to my tent and read my book and napped for a bit before heading over with Gina to Wampler’s house so we could each take a shower. Jay had driven up from Portland and met us there. We all headed back over to the field where we hung out, tossing Frisbees and watching the clouds thicken over the mountain. We walked back over to the barn where the bbq was and where the music would be for the night. We got our burgers and ate on the steps going up to the stage. Alexa played first. It was great to see Steve and Kelly on stage accompanying her. During the end of her set Lincoln arrived. There was some question as to whether or not he would come up to Trout Lake though he and Jimmy were scheduled to play. Earlier in the week Lincoln’s son, Chiron, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. I spoke with Alicia while they were staying in the hospital and heard her transform from frustrated and scared to calm and accepting. Once they had a diagnosis they at least knew what they were dealing with and how to go forward. The word had traveled fast around Trout Lake so Lincoln was greeted with a receiving line of friends giving him hugs. He and Jimmy played their set, the beautiful mandolin and their great voices. I hung out with Lincoln for a little bit after their set but he then headed back to Portland to be home with his family after their stressful week.

Abe’s band, Maggie’s Choice played next with lots of dancers on the floor and Abe still wearing a green suit from the golf course. Jim the Bad Goat played last. Those boys take forever to set up but put on a great show once they start playing. We walked back to our campsite in the field with drizzle falling in the dark. In the middle of the night I woke up to rain falling hard on my tent. Thank goodness for a good rainfly!

Sunday morning I woke up and looked out my tent to see Mt Adams with a thick layer of fresh snow, all the way down to timberline. I couldn’t believe there was snow falling on the mountain in August! I read my book in my tent for a long time and finally got up to make myself some coffee. We all threw the Frisbee for a while. Jay is an ultimate Frisbee player, not a disc golfer so he had a disc you could actually catch. Disc golf Frisbees are painful to try to catch! Ben made breakfast again, eggs and cheese over toast, and again it was delicious. After hanging out for a while I went back to my tent and read more Harry Potter. I packed up all my stuff and drove over to Abe and Jenny’s house where people were gathered. I talked with friends for a while, ate a hot dog from the grill before heading back to Portland finishing Harry Potter (before anyone could spoil it!). So that was my weekend. Please let me know how you are and what you’ve been up to!
Xoxo,
carolyn

give good hugs

2007-08-23T11:24:00.003-07:00

give good hugs, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

both my sister and Grandpa Al give good hugs. We stopped to see my grandparents and my Aunt Liz on our way back across the border.

Blaine, WA

gloaming at the grandparents

2007-08-23T11:24:00.001-07:00

gloaming at the grandparents, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

the light's fading away as we arrive at our grandparents house in Blaine. I liked this rusty old truck parked in the grass.

drayton harbor goes to bed

2007-08-23T11:23:00.007-07:00

drayton harbor goes to bed, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

We've just crossed the US-Canada border and are back in Washington. We're moments from my grandparents' house in the border town of Blaine

back under the bridge

2007-08-23T11:23:00.005-07:00

back under the bridge, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

passing under the Alex Fraser Bridge our way back to the marina after our weekend of sailing in the Canadian Gulf Islands

mmmmsalmon

2007-08-23T11:23:00.003-07:00

mmmmsalmon, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

we got to experience some nature in it's gory glory on our return trip up the Fraser River. The salmon are running and the seals were out hunting and feasting. Here a seal skins a salmon and eats him up. The seagulls descend and hope to get some scraps.

It's a terrible photo but it's the best I could manage.

morning hang ten

2007-08-23T11:23:00.001-07:00

morning hang ten, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Sara at the wheel while Jeremy deals with the sails.

sails away

2007-08-23T11:22:00.005-07:00

sails away, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

the sailboat never fails to impress me.

in the Canadian Gulf Islands

below deck bedroom

2007-08-23T11:22:00.003-07:00

below deck bedroom, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

the bed in my cabin on Jeremy's sailboat. It's tight quarters on a sailboat but there was room for me to stand, my own door to the head, two windows and my own bed. I did have to sleep with the door open as I'm mildly claustrophobic. I slept like a champ.

Anchored in North Cove on Thetis Island in the Gulf Islands of Canada

discriminating palates

2007-08-23T11:22:00.001-07:00

discriminating palates, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Dinner wasn't one meal on a plate but a series of different snacks ranging wildly in low brow/high brow qualities. First we had some hummus and naan followed by halibut cheeks wrapped bacon with instant noodles on the side (classy non?). To drink...New Glarus Cherry Beer driven from Wisconsin to Oregon than over the border to Canada. I go to great lengths for my New Glarus. It was the perfect tart to cut the bacon grease. Bacon on the boat is sublime, akin to bacon in the forest. Yummmmo!

subtle sunset

2007-08-23T11:21:00.009-07:00

subtle sunset, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

It can't always be flaming orange. Sometimes we get the quiet sunsets. Still lovely, especially when seen from the deck of a sailboat. Yes I'm very lucky.

North Cove of Thetis Island in the Canadian Gulf Island

sea shanty

2007-08-23T11:21:00.007-07:00

sea shanty, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

in Lighthouse Bay on Galiano Island not yet through Porlier Pass. There were several of these old houses, slowly rotting into the salty sea.

Porlier Pass was a crazy bit of ocean with wacky currents, whirlpools and churning water. We had to time our passing through here with the tides as it rips through at 9 knots, faster than the boat can go at full speed. Don't fight the tides.

navigators on board

2007-08-23T11:21:00.005-07:00

navigators on board, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Sara and Jeremy checking out the maps as we decide where we want to explore as possibilities for dropping anchor for the night.

about to go through Porlier Pass in the Canadian Gulf Islands

sea mammals and a mountain

2007-08-23T11:21:00.003-07:00

sea mammals and a mountain, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

I'd never seen Dall's Porpoises before, they are similar to Orcas but smaller. As we crossed the Strait of Georgia we came upon tons of them. They surrounded the boat and swam all around us. We stopped the boat to hang out and watch them. It was fantastic to watch them jump out of the water and listen to them sucking in air through their blowholes. Wow!

Mt Baker in the distance

a sailing life for me

2007-08-23T11:21:00.001-07:00

a sailing life for me, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

sitting on the bow of the boat, Ma Provence. Jeremy in the background leads us across the Strait of Georgia to the Gulf Islands.

sailing in Canada

eagle on watch

2007-08-23T11:20:00.005-07:00

eagle on watch, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

The second bald eagle we saw. We're moving again! With a boat full of fuel we motor out past Sand Heads and into the Strait of Georgia again. Nothing's stopping us this time.

sailing in Canada

harborside morning

2007-08-23T11:20:00.003-07:00

harborside morning, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Sara and I sit around the boat while Jeremy goes to a local marine supply shop with Pat (a friend who came up from Blaine, WA to help work on the boat) to buy a new fuel filter. They would replace the fuel filter only to discover that wasn't the problem (though a new fuel filter is never a bad idea). The reason the boat won't go...it's out of fuel! Sheesh! The fuel gauge is broken and the previous owner had said it used 1/2 gallon an hour. However when Jeremy moved the boat from the States up to Canada they motored hard and it burned the fuel far more quickly than going at a lower rpm. We filled up the 25 gallon tank, Jeremy apologized again and again and then we were off. On his long list of winter boat projects...fix the damn fuel gauge. Gauges are good.

steveston sundown

2007-08-23T11:20:00.001-07:00

steveston sundown, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

in Steveston, the last town along the Fraser River where the river pours into the ocean. We got a tow back here and docked at the government harbor (thank you Canada) for the night and next morning until the boat could be fixed. damn

the boat won't go

2007-08-23T11:19:00.009-07:00

the boat won't go, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

the boat suddenly died in the middle of the Strait of Georgia. Yikes! We were towed out of the shipping channel by another sailboat and then had to wait for a boat heading in to ask for another tow back to land. I know almost nothing about motors and even less about boats so I wasn't much help. Jeremy checks out the engine trying to determine what the hell is going on.

sunshine on deck

2007-08-23T11:19:00.007-07:00

sunshine on deck, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Sara and Jeremy talk as we motor down the Fraser River towards the ocean

underwater living room

2007-08-23T11:19:00.005-07:00

underwater living room, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

the cabin space in Jeremy's new sailboat is idefinitely bigger and better than his last sailboat. The boat, named Ma Provence is 36 feet and built to sail fast.

I was lucky enough to get my own cabin for sleeping.

front row seat

2007-08-23T11:19:00.003-07:00

front row seat, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

I sat up on the bow of the boat, sunny and warm and with a great view, for our passing under the huge Alex P. Fraser Bridge.

getting closer to the ocean

the bridge swings wide for us

2007-08-23T11:19:00.001-07:00

the bridge swings wide for us, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Finally the gate is repaired so traffic can be stopped, the bridge can swing open and we can sail away.

on the Fraser River, south of Vancouver BC

sails away in Canada!

2007-08-23T11:16:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone

My weekend started with a Thursday night drive back up I-5 to Bellingham. I was happy to get out of the car and relax at Sara’s house for a little bit before loading up her car and continuing across the border into Canada. We drove to the marina where Jeremy keeps his boat on the Fraser River just south of Vancouver. We loaded all our stuff up onto the boat and Sara found little cubbies to put everything away. We had beers and hung out before going to bed, hoping for an early start in the morning.

In the morning we would find out that a drunk driver had thwarted our attempts to leave early. Just a few minutes up the river is a bridge that has to be opened in order for the sailboat to get through. Thursday night a drunk driver had plowed into the gate that closes the bridge to traffic when the bridge is open. They wouldn’t be opening the bridge for us until the gate was replaced. Awwww nuts! We ate some breakfast and then I left with Jeremy to run some errands. First up we stopped at the bridge to talk to the guys working on the repairs. They were hoping to be done in the afternoon sometime. We thanked them and drove to the store. It became a wild goose chase to get propane, water and ice. Eventually we got all our supplies and went back to hang out on the boat and wait. Finally around 3 pm we were able to leave, motoring past the open bridge and continuing onward on the Fraser River towards the ocean.
The Fraser River is a working river full of tugboats, huge tankers and giant flotillas of logs on their way to the mill. We passed under the Alex Fraser Bridge, an impressive span with huge cables. As the river flowed out into the ocean we saw bald eagles along the water’s edge and seals swimming. The sun was shining and all was good. We passed Sand Heads and could see the Gulf Islands in the distance. We were motoring across the Strait of Georgia when suddenly the boat lost power. Jeremy tried to start it again to no avail. We were in the middle of a shipping channel with no power and no wind to sail with, not the best place to be bobbing around. A sailboat on its way out to the islands towed us out of the channel but had to catch the tidal push and the last of the sunset to make it to their destination. We waited for a boat headed inland and ended up getting a tow from a sturdy fishing boat going to Steveston. We were pulled into the government docks just as the sun was setting. We spent the night hanging out on the boat and I went to bed early.

In the morning, Pat, their mechanic friend came up to help Jeremy figure out what was wrong. They went to a marine supply store and bought two new fuel filters. It’s great to have a new fuel filter but they discovered that was not the problem. The boat was out of fuel! The fuel gauge was broken and Jeremy had been told that the boat used ½ gallon per hour. The problem is the guy that owned the boat before used it as a cocktail boat and never motored hard. When Sara & Jeremy moved the boat from the States to Canada they had to motor hard for 9 hours. It turns out that the fuel is consumed at a much greater rate at higher rpms. After apologizing again and again Jeremy gassed up the boat and we were finally on our way. As we approached the islands we started seeing Dall’s porpoises. They are similar to orcas but much smaller. We stopped the boat to watch them swimming all around us. It was fantastic to listen to them sucking in air through their blowholes and splashing in the water as they leapt into the air. We were all mesmerized by them. The salmon are running so they were surely all eating like crazy. Mmmmm salmon!
We approached Galiano Island and checked out the maps for good places to drop anchor for the night. We went through Porlier Pass, a gnarly stretch of water with whirlpools and crazy tide rips. We poked around in Lighthouse Bay where there were some old houses rotting into the water’s edge. We approached Clam Bay but decided there were too many boats there and went around to the north side of Thetis Island. We found a great place to stay called North Cove. After dropping anchor we had some snacks and enjoyed the lovely pastel sunset. Sara made halibut cheeks wrapped in bacon which were unbelievably good. A bottle of the New Glarus cherry beer was also cracked open for the occasion. It was the perfect combination. Once it was dark we splashed around in the water with the grab pole. Jeremy wrote my name in the water using the pole, the bioluminescence lighting it all up. We hung out, drinking beers and listening to music (David Bowie on the boat!) until finally sleepiness overtook me.

Sunday morning we awoke to sunshine trying to burn through the clouds. We had our coffee and then began heading back towards Porlier Pass. Our trips through here had to be timed to work with the tides as the current rips through at 9 knots, faster than the boat can go at full speed. From there we sailed for a while across the Strait of Georgia, enjoying the sunshine while the surrounding islands had rainclouds hovering over them. As we re-entered the Fraser River we saw lots of seals hunting for salmon. It was incredible to see them eating the salmon while flocks of seagulls descended upon them, hoping for some scraps.

Around 7:30 we reached the marina and Sara and I unloaded our stuff off the boat and into her car. We headed south and then waited in line to cross the border. Once over the border in Blaine we called our Aunt Liz to let her know we were close and headed towards our grandparents’ house on Drayton Harbor. It was great to see my grandparents and aunt, even if we couldn’t stay long as I had a long ways to drive still. We talked in the living room for a while before hugging and saying goodbye. At Sara’s house in Bellingham I loaded my stuff into my car and began the long drive south. It was uneventful except for the occasional meteor streaking through the sky. That’s right, while driving down the freeway I got to enjoy some of the Perseids meteor shower. Such a treat!

So that was my weekend! Please let me know how you are and what you’ve been up to!

Xoxo,
carolyn

fools beware

2007-08-16T09:45:00.005-07:00

fools beware, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

There were signs here warning people to stay behind the fence. As an added warning there was a list of people that had died here. One that struck me...Carolyn Bliss, age 19, who died here in August 1977.

It's impossible to get a photo of the entire waterfall here. Nooksack Falls is a gusher.

tuesday morning finds me in the mountain mist

2007-08-16T09:45:00.003-07:00

tuesday morning finds me in the mountain mist, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

mid week camping is a rare treat for me. I woke up to rain on the tent and pulled my sleeping bag over my head hoping it would end if I went back to sleep. The drizzle continued and we had to pack up wet gear before making the long drive back south to Portland. I had to pull out the tent to dry in basement. No one wants a mildewy tent.

you'll flow blue long after I'm gone

2007-08-16T09:45:00.001-07:00

you'll flow blue long after I'm gone, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

my last morning on the North Fork of the Nooksack River. The river was shallow on our side and deeper and amazingly blue on the far side. A beautiful cold river on the side of Mt Baker. It really is that color.

august in the alpineland

2007-08-16T09:44:00.009-07:00

august in the alpineland, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

One of the Bagley Lakes in the Heather Meadows area of Mt Baker, a beautiful area for hiking

the water flows impossibly clear

2007-08-16T09:44:00.007-07:00

the water flows impossibly clear, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

the small stream that flows betwen Bagley Lakes was beautiful and crystal clear.

the red backpack brigade

2007-08-16T09:44:00.005-07:00

the red backpack brigade, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Jess and my sister, Sara, walking down the steps at the Heather Meadows Visitor Center down to our trail for the afternoon. There's a smooth lava flow here so they put in steps, made with chunks of columnar basalt which was lying around everywhere.

The beginning of our hike around Bagley Lakes

minerals make you pretty

2007-08-16T09:44:00.003-07:00

minerals make you pretty, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Beautiful Bagley Lake from above, as seen from the Mt Baker Hwy

temple of the nooksack

2007-08-16T09:44:00.001-07:00

temple of the nooksack, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

the beach along the North Fork of the Nooksack River was full of stacked river rock.

camping on Mt Baker

rise above the dirty snow

2007-08-16T09:43:00.001-07:00

rise above the dirty snow, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

finishing our hike and heading back to Artist Point between Mt Baker & Mt Shuksan.

Tom and Barley

artist point leads us to wilderness

2007-08-16T09:42:00.007-07:00

artist point leads us to wilderness, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Tom and I (with his dog Barley) hiked for a bit in the Mt Baker Wilderness from a trail that began at Artist Point. Mt Shuksan in the not too far distance.

alpine black and blue and white

2007-08-16T09:42:00.005-07:00

alpine black and blue and white, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

snowfields and scree before the summit of Mt Baker. Hiking in the Mt Baker Wilderness from Artist Point

snowball eater

2007-08-16T09:42:00.003-07:00

snowball eater, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Tom throwing snowballs for his dog Barley to chase and eat. This dog loves the snow! Hiking in the Mt Baker Wilderness

the august sun battles the year-round snow

2007-08-16T09:42:00.001-07:00

the august sun battles the year-round snow, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

at over 5400 feet the snow at Artist Point lingers long into summer. Hiking in the Mt Baker Wilderness

picture perfect lake

2007-08-16T09:39:00.003-07:00

picture perfect lake, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

my sister works as a framer at an art gallery in Northwest Washington and has framed 4 billion and one photos of Mt Shuksan reflected in Picture Lake. Who could resist this?

looking into North Cascades National Park at Mt Shuksan in all its glory. amazing!

a date with the sun and harry potter

2007-08-16T09:39:00.001-07:00

a date with the sun and harry potter, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Jess elected to stay riverside soaking up the sun and reading the last Harry Potter book while Tom and I drove up to the end of the Mt Baker Highway for some exploring.

camping on Mt Baker

boundary bay evening

2007-08-16T09:38:00.005-07:00

boundary bay evening, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Sara, Jeremy, Tom, Jess (out of frame) and myself enjoyed a round of beers (Sara had barleywine) at Boundary Bay Brewery in Bellingham