Welches, Oregon: Mirror Lake Trail

Early morning 8 mile round trip hike that climbed 1400' to Tom Dick Harry Mountain past Mirror Lake.

The lake reflects Mt Hood and is a peaceful idyll.

Even more spectacular though is cresting the rocky summit of Tom Dick Harry at 5066', to have the 360 degree view of the Cascade Range and 5 volcanic peaks - Mt Jefferson, Mt Hood, Mt Adams, Mt St Helens and Mt Rainier.

What a big bang for your buck hike, we all loved it.

missing Harry?

What a backyard we have at this timeshare in Welches, Oregon.

Mt Hood: Alpine Glow

An impromptu decision to take an evening drive along the Lolo Pass to Lost Lake to watch a sunset over  Mt Hood, saw us standing at the well known reflection vantage point with the view over the lake to the imposing volcanic peak.

As the sun sets the 'alpine glow' show starts, the warm yellow glow of the snow transitions to shades of pink and purple. Quite beautiful, worth the single track drive along the pass and getting back to our unit at midnight.

Mt Hood sunset over Lost Lake, Oregon 

Portland, Oregon: Beervana

More than 50 breweries make Portland a mecca for all sorts of beers, ales and ciders.

We hopped off the Big Pink and found a trendy spot in the Pearl District, where industrial buildings have been renovated into retail space, breweries and cool restaurants.

The orders of giant Cobb Salads and delicious beers made for four happy travelers.

Portland, Oregon: City of Roses

A hop on and hop off on the Big Pink to experience some of Portland.And particularly a wander around the renowned Rose Garden, a visual treat.

Foodie interlude: Keep Portland Weird.

I say!

Especially the Darth Vader, playing bagpipes on a motorized wheel….












All this while queuing for half an hour to buy donuts from a tiny downtown shop that is a must visit in Portland, called Voodoo Donuts.

So we sugar overdosed on oreo, chocolate with peanut butter, Portland cream, chocolate coconut donuts….when in Portland do donuts.

Carbon Footprint

So John wryly asked Fred about whether he was concerned about the carbon footprint of our epic 3 months in the US. And Fred replied as only he can'... more worried whether the tires are going to last'.

Well, they were down to canvas and we spent some time in Portland replacing all 4 tires. So ready for the next 3 weeks of travel.

Welches, Oregon: on a trail

Great way to spend a Sunday, find a trail and walk with family.

The Old Salmon River Trail is through a spectacular old growth forest, along the river and we did a 5 mile piece.

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Tillamook County: finding barns and wooden quilt blocks

 The collector in me was delighted to read about the wooden quilt blocks that are 8' by 8' hanging on barns and buildings in Tillamook, Oregon.

Had to go and find some, loved the barns and I 'made' a quilt.

Foodie interlude: pancakes

Shawni and Craig have arrived from Nassau and no better way to celebrate than Fred making his legendary pancakes. Wimbledon mens final in the background. Fabulous plump blueberry's and yoghurt all the way from the Tillamook Cheese Factory.

All good and a lovely way to celebrate the 4th of July weekend.

Quilting interlude: a peep back into the 19th C

Museum in the old school building!

Tillamook, Oregon and exploring the charming quilt museum. 

The centerpiece of the current exhibition is a quilt called Crown of Thorns made in 1883 by a 16 year old quilter - the quilting is so fine, about 12 stitches per inch. It is a vibrant beauty and perfectly preserved, must have been a showpiece quilt and hardly ever used.

I browsed through the textile files, looking at the bits and pieces of silks, brocades and cottons and thinking would love to work with these little gems.

A fragile delicate quilt and the quilting is amazin

My favorite, tiny little 1 inch squares and such funky colors from fading over the decades.

Our trip in numbers...

 We have been on the road for 9 weeks in the USA:

•   travelled 7274 miles, (11706 km)

•   been in 4 US states – California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon

•   explored 9 National Parks - Joshua Tree, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Yosemite, Golden Gate Alcatraz, Lassen Volcanic, Redwoods. Lava Beds, Crater Lake

•   visited 7 State Parks - Big Sur, Salton Sea, San Jacinto Mountain, Hearst Castle, Red Rock, Red Rock Canyon, Humboldt Redwoods

•   National Forests; 5 Sequoia, Sierra, Tahoe, Lassen, Fremont Winema

•   slept in 19 beds; 6 hotels/inns, 5 motels and 7 timeshare units, 1 private home (make it 25 with Bahamas)

•   ate Ben & Jerry ice-cream, 8, Cherry Garcia, Chunky Monkey, Triple Caramel Chunk, New York Super Fudge Chunk, Americone Dream, Cheesecake Brownie, Everything but the…., Coffee. Coffee Buzz Buzz!

•   added 51 birds to my US bird list which is now 215 and my world list is 1498, top bird Roadrunner

•   popped into 4 museums, Palm Springs Art, Cable Car (SF), De Young (SF), Maritime Museum (Lake Tahoe)

•   farmers markets, 2; Oakhurst, Ferry Building (SF)

•   decaprio 3 movie catch-up, Aviator, Gatsby and Departed

•   Oscar 5 movie catch-up, Dallas Buyers Club, Nebraska, August: Osage County, Zero Dark Thirty, Charlie Wilson’s War

•   relished organic extra virgin olive oil, 3 farms 

•   walked 169 miles; beaches, mountain trails, coastal meadow, high altitude lake, golf courses, climbing red rocks, canyon rim, valley trail, desert paths, Las Vegas Strip, mountain hikes, many city blocks

•   walking well ahead of schedule, 24 miles credit, (for each 50 miles driven we want to walk 1 mile)

•   longest hike 10 miles on Four Mile Trail with 3200’ climb on steep switchbacks

•   took a bike, cycled along the Truckee River for 16 miles, (26 km)

•   canoed 9 miles along the Upper Klamath Canoe Trail

•   watched 7 episodes of Game of Thrones, season 4

•   lowest driving elevation, 214’ below sea-level at Furnace Creek Golf Course, Death Valley

•   highest driving elevation, 9945’ Tioga Pass, Tioga Road, Yosemite

•   got cold at the lowest temperature below 40 degrees F in Tehachapi (3 degrees C)

•   was hot at the highest temperature of 115 degrees F while walking in Death Valley (46 degrees C). Car registered 125 degrees F at one point – over 50 degrees C

•   wine tasting, 2 at Tablas Winery, Paso Robles and Souza Family Vineyard

•   modes of transport, 9, helicopter over the Grand Canyon, ferry to Alcatraz, cable car, bus, metro, streetcar, bicycle, paddle boat on Tahoe, canoe

•   shows/events, 5, in Las Vegas, O Cirque du Soleil; in San Francisco, Beach Blanket Babylon, SF Giants baseball in San Francisco; in Reno Extreme Bull Riding, in Reno, Rodeo

The evolving footprint of our trip.

Fred is watching the FIFA World Cup quarter finals and I am packing as we move today to the Portland leg of our trip.

Playing with maps, its the geographer in me and the navigator.

Oregon: Canoeing along the Upper Klamath

The Upper Klamath Canoe Trail is a quiet space; marsh, open lake and forest with miles of open water all to ourselves.

Such a treat to be out early in the morning, fresh air, calm waters, as Fred paddled, I was parallel with Canada Geese, Pied-billed Grebes, loads of LBJ's calling vigorously from the willow and cottonwood trees, the large-leaved yellow pond lily in bloom, a coot with her young and so much more to see and hear.

A few Bald Eagles remain here in the Basin during summer and we saw a circling eagle and picked up a nest in an old Ponderosa Pine. Even a few lifers for the trip - a sky-pointing American Bittern and flying Black Terns.

We canoe'd for the morning, covering nearly 9 miles of the trails. And yes I did paddle and according to Fred, even helped just a little! So cool.

Watching the reflections as we paddled along the creek.

World to ourself.