1/1/2018    Oaks to Wetlands Wildlife Trail, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA    (Hike #1 for 2018)

2018 begins with a 2 mile walk at Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge. Cold, quiet, it felt good to stretch our legs in the sun, see swans and geese in the distant ponds, and an egret flying down the swale.

1/6/2018      Deschutes River Trail       (Hike #2)

Blue sky, crisp air, deep blue water, golden grasslands, great escape from the clouds in Portland. Solid boots on the trail, maybe the last time for a while…

We begin by walking along the river:

The trail heads up hill across Ferry Springs Canyon:

Lookback:

We have been here twice before – we saw spring wildflowers in April of 2013

and fall colors in November of 2016.

Meanwhile

I knit away on Emily’s green shawl try to think of all the things to do before the surgery.  I am organized and scattered at the same time.  I try to anticipate all the needs and soon the time will be used up and I will see what happens on the other side. Hard to set goals for the New Year as I don’t know what to expect for the recovery so I just knit on…