Clear Lake Butte Fire Lookout

Mark and I spent the first night of Memorial Weekend at an active fire lookout in the Mt. Hood National Forest.  We have also stayed in one by John Day and Mark and his nephews have stayed at the one on Devil's Peak.  The lookouts are rentable through the recreation.gov website.  We paid a mere $30 for a day and night of great views and peace and quiet.

We were hoping (actually I think it was more me) that we could drive right up to the lookout.  The lookout is used in the summer so, most rentals are in the winter and people have to ski/snowshoe/snowmobile the 2 miles up to the lookout from the main road Forest Service Road 42.  This is the road to Timothy Lake off of Hwy 26.  We got to the spur road 240 and had to park because the road was closed with a gate.  The road was relatively snow free except for section higher up, so the hike up was easy. 

The weather was beautiful and warm.We arrived and made the climb up the several flights of stairs up to the Lookout.  I haven't been that freaked for a long time about heights.  The stairs were steep and did not have backs on them, so you looked right through to the sky!  Took me awhile to get up but I did finally.  The trip up and down got easier the more I did that, but I knew I would NOT go down those stairs in the middle of the night to use the outhouse... 

We arrived and spent the first hour just admiring the view from all angles.  To the north, Mt. Hood and Clear Lake

To the south Mt. Jefferson

To the west Timothy Lake and Little Crater Lake.

The facilities were definitely adequate.  A propane stove and solar powered refrigerator and light.  A nice woodstove with a great woodshed located down below on the ground. 

We saw a little wildlife while were there....blue jays, scrubjays, and we surprised a little rabbit when we used the outhouse after dark!  The Scrub Jays were our best friend during meal times...

We broke out the wine and cheese and enjoyed the sun on the deck and read a bit.  Dinner was simple soup and bread.  We watched the sun set and the lights from the campgrounds at the lakes twinkle.  Amazing.

We played TriOminoes (one of a few games at the lookout).  Had to break out our head lamps to see well.  The one lone solar powered light bulb wasn't cutting it!  We slept well on the bed in our sleeping bags and woke up with the sun.  The Lookout is all windows (no curtains) so we saw a beautiful sunrise as well.

We ate our instant oatmeal, packed up and walked the two miles back to the car.  We had a great time.  A great location for a girls weekend, romantic time for two, or family fun!

Chi-Town

I have fallen in love with Chicago...I think it helped that the weather was magnificent (albeit a little chilly in the shade) when we were there.

We travelled to the Windy City (I'll bet you don't really know why it has that name...) to attend nephew Jeff's graduation from Columbia College.  He graduated with a degree in Marketing and Communications on Sunday.  One of the most interesting graduation ceremonies I've attended.  I'll get to that later...

The experience we had in getting from O'Hare to our hotel on the CTA train showed us we will need to practice in reading signs before we get on the Amazing Race.  Number one, we put too much into the ticket machine expecting change when there was a big sign on the machine that said "no change given".  It's embarassing when the attendant has to point it out in front of your nose.  Mark's ticket was $2.25, mine was $10.  Oops.  Then we promptly turned from the machine and marched down the long tunnel until we realized we were following the wrong signs to the train.  Oops again.  The train entrance had been right next to the ticket machine.

We arrived in the evening and desperately tried to find a "great" Chicago restaurant within walking distance of the luxurious Travelodge we were staying in.  Two things here.  The Travelodge was located just one block off of famous Michigan avenue across from Grant Park.  I feel like we got a great deal on location for the $$.  And, I have this habit of having to have the "perfect" dining experience when we travel.  Don't want to "waste" a meal eating at something non-authentic or true to where we are.  For instance, I hate to eat at chains that I could eat at in Portland.  What's the point of travelling if not to experience the new and different?  Anyway, in that quest I think I often drive Mark crazy looking for the ultimate place.  On Friday when we arrived, it was about 8:30 p.m. and we had not eaten yet (we were very hungry), it was rainy and dark, and we were walking the streets in a neighborhood not known for its eateries.  I also like to go off recommendations of travel books or natives.  Sometimes I get a little too focused on that.  So, we finally had to give up on the quest for the perfect Chicago restaurant.  Too late, and too hungry.  The end result was we ended up eating at a very cheesy Thai restaurant in our hotel.  OK food, but food. 

What did we do when we were there?  We walked/ran along the Lake on Saturday morning.  I love our waterfront run here in Portland, but Chicago was a close 2nd.  We decided to take the Double Decker bus tour to see Chicago quickly and get some history.  We had a blast!  We hopped off the tour at the Chicago River to eat a great burger next to the river.  We hopped back on and rode to the Sears Tower.  Along the way we took in the great architecture of the city.  It is called the Second City because it is the second city that rose from the ashes of the great Chicago fire in the 1800's.  It's a big city but clean and beautiful.  Another fun fact...It's called the Windy City not because it is windy weather-wise, but because of all the political speeches given back in the day.  Hot air...wind.  Get it?  Back to the Sears Tower.  We rode up to the 99th Floor and got a spectacular 360 degree view of the city and the Lake.  Truly awe inspiring.  Sunday we visited the Field Museum for a view of Sue the T Rex and to get my fill of stuffed birds!  We first wanted to go to the Shedd Aquarium, but the Oceanarium was being remodeled, so we opted to go the the Field.  The aquarium and the museum are on what is called the Museum Complex which also houses a Planetarium and Soldier Field where Da Bears play.  One highlight was listening to a great piano player in a bar Saturday night and then a live irish band at a pub later on in the evening.  We were spontaneous and hired a cab to drive us around for a half an hour to see more of the city.  Turns out he is from Turkey and married an american girl.  We will try to hook up Amina and his wife to compare notes.

I fell in love with two fountains.  One in Millenium Park.  So cool.  The other in Grant Park, the Buckingham Fountain.

Jeff's graduation was interesting.  A very depressed Valedictorian and a long winded honorary degree recipient made for an entertaining afternoon.  From the dancer who was honored..."We used to go out to the park and gather up dry leaves then bring them back to the apartment and crumble them on the floor.  But I'll come back to that..."  No, please don't!  Got to meet Jeff's Mom, Gma and Aunt for the first time.  Lovely ladies.  Dinner at a Greek restaurant afterwards capped it all off.  

Our travels were made even more enjoyable by the complimentary passes we have this year for the airline lounges in the airports.  It's like entering another world when you pass through those frosted glass doors.  Not sure I can give it up when the year ends.  Free food and drink, soft chairs and smiling concierges to greet you.  In this day of delayed flights, extra costs for everything, and skimpy meals, it sure was fun to feel pampered if only for awhile.  How much does it cost to extend that year?  

Looking forward to going back and spending more time.  Next time the Aquarium, the Art Institute, a river architecture cruise, maybe Navy Pier, a professional sports game....lots to do.

Neighborhood Update

Lots going on outside the windows...My garden continues to grow.  I've used the rosemary several times in recipes, made mint tea for Mark the other night with my mint, and we've had several salads with our lettuce!  Off today to buy tomatoes and peppers to plant.  Mark and I have wandered down several times over the past week to the new South Waterfront Community Garden that is located just south of the Atwater, next to a gravel parking lot.  It has risen from nothing thanks to the hard work of some of our neighbors.  The plots are actually raised from the ground with wattles as borders.  It is so fun to see what people have planted.  Even garden art in some of the plots.  I am looking forward to seeing the progress as things grow.  It's amazing what people can accomplish with effort.

We are also keeping watch on the osprey nest.  Zidell Marine erected a pole to encourage the nesting pair to build their nest.  Apparently, after PGE put a discouraging structure on top of the power pole that they built their nest on two years ago, the ospreys kept trying to build their nest on a Zidell crane.  So, Zidell built the pole and the ospreys cooperated!  It has been fascinating for a fledgling birder like me to watch them build the nest and now sit on the eggs.  They are so beautiful as they soar above looking for fish in the river.

Right below the osprey nest is a vacant lot just north of our building.  Originally,  plans were to build a hotel on the property, but with the downturn in the economy, the lots sits vacant.  Which is just fine with us because it allows us to keep our great downtown view! 

 Over the past few months we have noticed that someone is tilling the dirt.  A tractor with disks has been parked for awhile.  This weekend we actually saw "The Dahlia Guy" on his tractor tilling up the soil.  Word is he is going to plant a commercial dahlia operation on the property.  Dahlias this summer where previously there has been only dirt and geese!  In Milwaukie, our neighbor behind us had gorgeous Dahlias planted all along the fence.  It will nice to see them again.

The Mirabella (assisted living residence) continues to go up outside our balcony.  They are currently working on the 9th floor (of 31). I wonder what the guy in the crane listens to all day?  What's on his ipod playlist?  Also noticing that the structure up on the OHSU hill is now rising out of the trees..

I continue to marvel at the breath taking sunrises, sunsets, rainbows and comings and goings of storms and clouds.  Always a great picture.

Thanks Jake, for helping your old Aunt Kelly with your blogger tips!

Kings Mountain Hike

We are in "training" for Mark's Mt. Hood climb the first week of June.  I'm not climbing, but tagging along on the hikes to get in shape.  A couple of weeks ago we hiked to Council Crest from our house on a beautiful sunny Saturday.  Yesterday, we headed to the coast on Highway 6 and hiked to the top of Kings Mountain.  It's located in the Tillamook State Forest at milepost 25 on Highway 6 (25 miles east of Tillamook).  I've never been quite sure on the from which direction they start...Our climbing partner was Guido, my boss from Priority Footwear.  Mark is taking Guido and my other boss Dave up Mt. Hood.  We got to the trailhead about 9 and headed up the 2.5 mile trail to the top.  It was about a 2,400 foot elevation gain in that 2.5 miles, so needless to say it was steep in parts.  The trail is well maintained by the Mazamas with great signage and good trail condition.  Not a lot of switchbacks which reminded Mark and I of our trek through the White Mountains on the Appalachian Trail back in the summer of 2001.  It was a hut to hut.  Every morning when we would leave the hut the first trail was straight up!!

The views were great on the way up.  We were a little early for the full wildflower bloom (but I noticed quite a few had opened up by the time we went down.)  We saw lots of trilliums and other assorted pink, purple and yellow flowers.  I wish I could tell you what they were!

As I said, it was steep, but that meant we got to one of the highest parts in the coast range and the views were magnificent.  We signed the climber's log at the top and had a bite to eat.

I've decided that I have an obsession with taking snag pictures....Love the art in their form I guess.

Notice the elevation marker above, 3,000 ft.

We had to pose by the cool carved sign at the summit.  Which is 3,243!

We headed down (which took a lot shorter time).  We had gorgeous weather so that we could see Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Hood and the Pacific Ocean.  My quads and calves are feeling it today!

These are a few of my favorite things...

Borrowing a phrase from a song in my favorite movie...I spent last weekend at the beach (a favorite thing) doing scrapbooking (another favorite thing) with two great girlfriends (yes, favorites)!  We drove to the Long Beach peninsula and stayed at Jonie's (my creative memories consultant) in-law's beach house.  It was about 15 minutes north of the town of Long Beach.  The weather was gorgeous on the drive up.  I've been to Long Beach before, but not north of the town.  The peninsula has little cute towns and is unique because on one side is the ocean and the other side is Willapa Bay.  For some reason I thought Willapa Bay was on the Puget Sound, so was thrilled to see it. 

My favorite little town on the Bay was Oysterville.  Aptly named for the big oyster operation there.  Every house in town seems to be historic and has a placard in front of it telling when it was built and by whom.  Fascinating.  The Bay side of the peninsula is nice because it doesn't get the wind that the ocean side does.  I want to go back to Oysterville!

 It is the featured location in the book series I am reading by Jane Kirkpatrick.  (She is another favorite thing).  Immigrants come west from Bethel in the East to settle and actually start an oyster operation in Willapa Bay and then part of the group settles south in Aurora, outside of Portland.  Kirkpatrick writes historical fiction stories that are set in the Northwest and always feature a real historical character who is a woman who seems to buck the system. I like that. The book I am reading is call "A Mending at the Edge".  It's the last in the Change and Cherish series. 

Back to the beach...We were headed to the beach to put in some serious scrapbooking time.  I have been taking pictures and putting them in albums since high school.  Scrapbooking, to me, is creating a history of our family.  And, I love photography.   

Jonie treated us to some fabulous meals...Pasta with smoked salmon and asparagus cream sauce for dinner, egg and artichoke heart casserole for breakfast, paninnis for lunch, lemon cheesecake bars for dessert.  We ate dinner one night at Jimellas, a market turned restaurant.  Quaint, but first class food.   I had a great stuffed chicken breast.

The weather was typical beach.  Warm and sunny when we arrived, but a big storm blew in on Saturday with heavy winds and sideways rain.  One of my favorite things about the beach is watching the weather.  The house had a cool barometer type thing on the wall that told you when high and low tide was.  I think I drove Jonie and JoAnne crazy watching that thing.  Take after my Dad I think with the weather obsession.

I did some beach combing and picked up some sand dollars for my collection!  Jonie and I walked the beach on Saturday and Sunday.  It rained on us Saturday, but Sunday was gorgeous.  We had a goal on Sunday to walk down to "the castle".  It's a house and lighthouse shaped building built by the inventor of Nu-Skin.  We found out the tower was supposed to be a water tower, that's how it got the green light.  But the owner built a tower full of guest rooms.  The locals aren't really happy with it.  The walk turned out to be an hour and a half long.  We left poor JoAnne waiting for us for breakfast!  We couldn't quit when it seemed so close! 

 Along the way we noticed a bird that I hadn't seen on the walk the day before.  The Snowy Plover.  It is endangered and the peninsula beaches are a nesting area.   They were so cute as they skittered across the sand...Did you know that a group of them is called a Congregation?

Got lots of pages done in Mark's 50th birthday album, the chronological album (I'm up to June of last year!) and journaling in the Loreto Mexico album.  

We went into town for coffee Sunday at a cute little coffee shop/bookstore.  Got the scoop from a local gal on the "lighthouse" and another house in Oysterville that Jonie liked.

  We packed up and headed home.  We drove down Cranberry Road and checked out the cranberry bogs on the peninsula.  I of course had to Google cranberries and found out that Washington is one of the top producers of cranberries!  I expected watery bogs, but they were dry.  70% of Washington's crop is "dry" harvested and sold as fresh.  Most of the "wet" harvested berries are sold for processing.  Had no idea.  One final stop in Astoria for lunch at the Wet Dog Brewery.  A great window seat to watch the big ships go by on the Columbia.  We all had great salads.  As we were leaving they were starting a big band performance on stage.  Who knew, Big Bands in a brewery?

One last favorite thing is birds.  We have an osprey nest outside the window by Zidell.  They have built their nest on top of a pole erected by Zidell and probably have eggs or a chick.  Hard to tell...will keep you posted.