Ada Ride

Jane and I did the ride from Ada Grange to Ada today, first time for Jane.

I love the part where we ride through the old growth trees.

It's nice along Siltcoos Lake too. It was perfect weather, clouds and sun, not too hot. When we got home it rained!

Three Mile Lake Hike

Three Mile Lake on a sunny windy summer day.

Mary W. and I hiked out to Three Mile Lake yesterday. Looking towards the ocean from the lake.

Mystery plant on the return. I think it might be a fruiting Gnome Plant.

Mountain hiking/birding

North and Middle Sisters from the PCT near McKenzie Pass

Indian Ford Meadows, a 63 acre preserve with great mountain views and lots of birds. The only place I saw Black-billed Magpies. There must have been a dozen or so, very vocal.

5 Pine vacation with Randy

Great place

Great company

Great times

Hobbit/Valley/China Creek Loop

We hiked up the Washburne Beach to the Hobbit Trail, crossed 101 to the Valley Trail, lunched at the beaver pond (beavers seem to be long gone). Took the China Creek Loop and kept a sharp eye out for the Gnome Plant.

Low and behold there it was, I think right where I found it before. Look at that moss with all the rain we've had!

Hat Hunters

Art and Sally realize they are not in the desert anymore.
.

Ripening clusters of Silk Tassel fruit.

Dune Vista

Ponderosa Pine camping

We took our 2nd home over to the Pondo country. How delicious to smell the warm piney air.

Love walking among those giants. I spent most of my time birding. Great birds over there, so different than the coast.

Rhody Hiking

More Rhododendrons, can you stand it?

Monica came over to hike the Rhody trails with me.

The blossoms are still exquisite.

What a fine time...walking through a forest of  Rhododendrons.

Rhody time again

Rhododendron macrophyllum, our native rhododendron in Oregon.

Growing in select areas on the Oregon Coast and at certain elevations in the Cascades.

Every plant grows from seed so flowers are widely varied.

I walked on the Sutton trails a couple times this week, once in the rain, once in the sun.

Both days created a memorable experience.

Puffin release at Haystack Rock

SEA Seminar, Coos Bay

Lisa, Shelley, Phyllis and I took in the Shoreline Education for Awareness Seminar in Coos Bay today. Culture meets Geology was the topic. We are squeezing in a little birding at Shore Acres at lunch.

Cool rocks by the tennis court at Shore Acres.

View of Refuge Island at Sunset Bay and Chief's Island beyond with Cape Arago Lighthouse. The lighthouse was decommissioned a few years ago and the island is in the process of being returned to the tribes. To learn more about SEA click here.

Gray Whales with Carrie Newell

Monica's Birthday

Mike and Monica at Phyllis' en-route to Carrie Newell's presentation on summer resident Gray Whales in Newport.

Phyllis, Monica, Mike and I after a delicious lunch at Local Ocean.

Back at Phyllis' for BD cake. Any questions about why they call her Mighty Mo?

Highlights 2011

click on the photo then click on the arrow to start slideshow

Coho Salmon Spawning

The salmon are still thick in the creeks, a very good return this year it seems.

New Years Day Salmon

The torrential rains we had last week finally allowed salmon to move up to their spawning creeks.

Sutton Birthday Hike

Monica and Mike came over to help me celebrate my birthday

We did the Sutton Creek loop and didn't get rained on

Cape Perpetua Hike

Hiking Gwynn Creek trail with my old friends Karen and Pete

Karen and I went to Quaker high school together

Is Pete really trapped in the tree?

Coral fungus along the trail

They live in Eastern Oregon so it's a real treat to them to hike in the ferny, mossy forest of the Oregon coast

Ridin my bike

I've been getting out on my bike almost every day. Can't believe it's the end of October!

Kayak Siltcoos Outlet

The second 70 degree day we had to get on the water

It was warm and windless even at the mouth

It doesn't get any better

But I'm afraid it's the last kayak of the season