March 9-13, 2026, Yachats, OR

May 29, 2026May 30, 2026 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

We went to the coast for a few days, to make up for the cancelled (due to illness) trip last month. We were not lucky with the weather, but we enjoyed the change of pace. We have been to these places before, so we knew where to go to make the most of the decent weather intervals. We spent the worst weather day at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

March 9 and 10 – Cape Perpetua

The evening we arrived, clouds were high and the tide was ebbing. We went to the Thor’s Well Viewpoint at Cape Perpetua to watch the action.

Looking down towards Thor’s Well from above.

This hole in the volcanic ledge fills with water as the waves wash in,

Sometimes there are big spouting splashes.

To the left, another rocky feature sends up puffs of spray when the swash level is just right. It is called The Spouting Horn…

Looking back up toward the highway bridge and Spouting Horn.

We hit the tide level just right, and saw plenty of spouting action…

Looking out toward the sea, with another spout on display.

We stayed long enough to see this gorgeous sunset from Cape Perpetua.

The next morning, the sky was overcast, a bit misty. We went back to Cape Perpetua to do as much as we could before the predicted rain arrived.

We had hiked up to the Overlook Viewpoint before, but this time, we drove to the upper parking area, and walked a short way to the stone viewing shelter, looking down on the coastline as we went.

From the overlook trail we could see the Thor’s Well area, where we had been last night, and the Devil’s Churn area, where we would go after this.

Zooming in – there is the highway bridge, the trail, and the rock benches we were walking on last night.

Thor’s Well and Spouting Horn, not spouting now.

Trail to the shelter, through the forest.

And a view out the other side of the stone shelter. This trail continues all the way to Yachats, but not for us today.

We drove down to the Devil’s Churn area, and took a short hike along the cliffs and beaches there.

Trail of the Restless Waters/Devil’s Churn area

Circling around through the forest, we saw a few flowers, including this coltsfoot.

View south from the small beach on the south end of our hiking loop.

One could continue south along the beach here, but we were starting to feel the raindrops and the wind, so we hiked back to our car and called it a morning. Luckily, our lodging has a lovely indoor soaking pool with a view to the beach, so we enjoyed that while watching the storm come in.

March 11 – Oregon Coast Aquarium

This day looked to be completely rainy and windy. We drove a half hour north to Newport to visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium. We had been a few times before, when we had children in the house. But not for many years. We enjoyed the day!

The first thing I saw in the entry area was the large tank of moon jellyfish, fluttering and floating in a mesmerizing way. Perfect meditation objects…

Moon jellies – shimmering and floating up and down.

Moon jellies – we watched them for a while.

Next, we wandered through the various rooms, looking at sea creatures we don’t usually see up close…

Lots of bright, colorful anemones, urchins, and other creatures in the touch pools.

Sea stars, anemones, and coral in the touch pools.

Rockfish, urchins, and anemones in one of the tanks.

We watched the resident octopus swim laps around the tank. Also mesmerizing…

We walked through a few other galleries…

We rushed past the outdoor viewing areas in the rain, stopping just long enough to notice these hunkered down puffins.

We went to the Passages of the Deep, walking through large glass tubes in a giant tank that is now populated with the sea creatures that live in the various habitats off the Oregon coast. We brought our kids here to see the orca Keiko, all those years ago, before he was freed (Free Willy).

One of the viewing galleries in this exhibit.

Fish swimming around pier posts and kelp.

More fish – it’s difficult to get good photos through the very thick tank walls.

We returned back through the main galleries, taking time to look at the moon jellies once more.

Then we drove back to Yachats, through the wind and rain, over the Art Deco Yaquina Bay Bridge…

March 12 – 804 Trail, Yachats

This looked to be another rainy day. The 804 Trail passes in front of our hotel, and all along the waterfront of Yachats. We walked in alternating drizzle and mist about 3 miles north and south along the trail.

Walking south on the 804 trail – there are benches for better weather days.

Sea thrift blooming along the shore; our hotel in the mist.

Beach at the northern end of the 804 Trail

That afternoon, it was back to the soaking tub and spa, and I had more time to knit with a view…

March 13 – Homeward

On Friday we drove home, refreshed from our time at the coast, despite the stormy weather. I appreciated all the coastal-themed art work in our hotel, including a seabird chess set.

Lobby with fireplace and comfortable seating.

March 2026 Hiking

May 20, 2026May 28, 2026 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

Four hikes in the eastern Columbia River Gorge, with wildflowers and fire recovery notes; and two urban walks.

3/3 – Crawford Oaks, WA

On a calm day, we walked the Vista Loop from Crawford Oaks (5 miles, 750 feet). We saw the earliest spring flowers, and the Columbia River reflecting the landscape like a mirror.

Grass widows and salt and pepper parsley blooming at our lunch stop, looking toward The Dalles.

Dalles Mountain Ranch. We saw a few yellow bells blooming in the dry grass.

Eastward view up the Columbia River toward Celilo.

3/17 – The Labyrinth, WA

I finally made it all the way up to the guide Ponderosa pine, for the first time since the Burdoin Fire last summer. There was evidence of fire damage along the way, and extremely lush meadows full of flowers. (4 miles, 900 feet)

Starting up, green meadows with blooming popcorn flowers and filaree.

Gold stars and grass widows near Hidden Falls.

Lots of water in the creek, with buttercups.

Grass widows, and the orchards of Mosier across the Columbia River.

More fields of glowing grass widows as we approach the lunch ledge,

And a view of Mt Hood with lenticular cloud.

Continuing upward toward the ‘guide’ ponderosa at the turnaround/viewpoint,

On closer view, I can see the burn damage, but there is still a lot of green. I’m hoping it will survive.

Saying goodbye to the trail guardian oak on the way down – also still here, and undamaged.

3/21 – Portland Waterfront Cherry Blossoms

We took quick walk, along with thousands of others, to see the blooming cherry trees along the Portland waterfront, on a sunny day. Given all the usual protest vibes we live with, this day was a refreshing break. We were all enjoying the sunshine and the blossoms!

Looking down on the Willamette River waterfront from the Steel Bridge.

Cherry blossoms, Convention Center tower beyond

3/25 – Mosier Plateau, OR

We hiked with friends on this windy day, out to the Mosier Plateau, where we could see the first balsam root flowers blooming, and great views across the Columbia River. (3.2 miles, 650 feet)

Walking uphill along Mosier Creek, past Mosier Falls.

A few switchbacks and stairs, still protected from the wind; with Columbia desert parsley.

Now walking north toward the exposed plateau, balsamroot blooming along the trail.

Windy view across the Columbia River, with balsam root

Northward view, directly toward Coyote Wall; Labyrinth to the right. All burned by last summer’s Burdoin Fire, and now all green.

Upriver view, toward the Catherine Creek area.

3/30 – Catherine Creek, WA

Our first time doing this eastern loop since the Burdoin Fire. The meadows were full of blooming flowers. There were many remnants of burned trees, and I learned about bonfire moss, a neon green variety that marks the fire areas. I didn’t see my ‘ent’, a snag that I greet every time we hike here. It seems to have vanished in the fire…though if it were a true ent, it would have moved away from the fire. (3 miles, 500 feet)

Meadow full of death camas at the trailhead.

View back to Mt Hood across the Columbia River.

Walking uphill along the eastern trail. I don’t see my ent, but it should be somewhere in this view…

I did see many remnants of burned trees – blackened logs, surrounded by bonfire moss.

We passed many burned logs, each with their bonfire moss halo.

View from the cliff edge across Catherine Creek, as we return down the trail. The yellow patches are monkey flowers.

RIP to my old ent… perhaps he is wandering out there somewhere. Photo from 2024.

3/31 – Fort Vancouver Land Bridge, WA

We took a brisk two mile walk over the Confluence Land Bridge near downtown Vancouver, Washington. The bridge and trail trail connect historic Fort Vancouver to the Columbia Riverfront, over the freeway. Art and signage explain historical and natural history. Although it was very noisy near the freeway, and on this day, the view of the river was blocked by a parked train, the bridge does provides a creative and protected way to cross the freeway and the train tracks, and we saw many bikes and people making use of it.

Sign explaining the Confluence Project and this Land Bridge.

Historic placards and native plants along the way.

A lovely view of Hwy. 14 to the east, and that train blocking the river view.

Going down the north side – more artwork. Note the towers of the Interstate Bridge and the freeway interchange in the distance.

We walked near these reproduction cabins at the Fort Vancouver site,

It was quieter here. We had another appointment to get to, so didn’t have time to explore.

We attended living history demonstrations here with our kids many years ago, but haven’t been for a long time. Despite being so close to freeways, the interstate bridge, train tracks and a lot of traffic, we appreciated having a green place to walk between appointments on this busy day.

September, 2025

October 17, 2025 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

In September we visited an art festival, and went on two hikes in the mountains, and one at the beach. I took my usual neighborhood walks, read a few books, and made very little notable progress on my ongoing knitting projects. At the end of the month, we flew to the east coast to visit family there (next post).

9/1 – Art in the Pearl

Some of my favorite artwork in this year’s show:

9/2 – Crescent and Cannon Beaches, OR

A hot day in Portland. We drove to the coast for a short hike to Crescent Beach in Ecola State Park, then went to Cannon Beach to walk near Haystack Rock at low tide.

View to Crescent Beach and Cannon Beach from Ecola Point.

Trail through the forest, about 3 miles round trip.

Descending to Crescent Beach, looking south.

We walked down the beach and found a spot to eat lunch.

Zooming in on Ecola Point, where we began our hike. We hiked back up after lunch.

After an ice cream break in Cannon Beach, we walked toward Haystack Rock. It wasn’t a particularly low low tide today. My husband took a much longer walk, while I found a good perch right in front of the Needles, and watched several pods of pelicans fly north along the breaker zone.

Zooming in on The Needles, with pelican.

9/10 – June Lake, Mt St Helens, WA

Another hot day. Another relatively easy hike, first to June Lake, then up onto some of the lava flows (Worm Flows) on the south side of the mountain (4 miles, 800 feet).

Some of the late wildflowers along the way:

June lake is calm, reflecting the waterfall coming out of the lava flow above.

Then we went up a fairly steep trail, and onto the Loowit Trail, and the lava flows:

A glimpse of the top of Mt St Helens beyond the clouds.

We went just high enough to get the full mountain view.

Zooming in on a glacier near the summit ridge.

The trail not taken ahead – our knees and balance had enough for the day.

We descended, with another stop at the beautifully reflective June Lake…

9/16 – Little Crater Lake, Mt Hood, OR

And yet another hot day! Another easy hike, first to Little Crater Lake, then to the eastern edge of Timothy Lake along the Pacific Crest Trail (3.5 miles, 50 feet).

This small artesian spring-fed lake is always a treat, with its deep turquoise color, reflections and transparency. An indulgent photo stop.

We walked to the eastern edge of Timothy Lake, then retraced our steps.

Pacific Crest Trail – nice and shady on a hot day.

We were told we could see Mt Hood from the Timothy Lake Dam, so we drove around the lake to see the view – it was just a glimpse over a ridge.

Neighborhood walks

Flowers and landscape elements I noticed in September:

I haven’t done much quilting lately, so I composed a concrete quilt from some of my favorite sidewalk cracks.

September books

I finished six books in September. The most inspiring was the biography of Robert Louis and Fanny Stevenson – A Wilder Shore, by Camille Peri. They were a very unusual couple for their time. He chose writing instead of the family business of lighthouse engineering. She grew up in rural Indiana, spent time with her first husband in the mining camps of Nevada, then in bohemian San Francisco, before going to France with her children to study art. They traveled all over the world, by horse carriage, train and ship, eventually settling in Samoa. It seems amazing to me that they were so widely travelled, and that she lived her own style, ignoring much of the expected behavior of a proper Victorian lady. I was inspired to reread my childhood copy of his poem, The Land of Counterpane, from A Child’s Garden of Verses, with illustration by Garth Williams – this is one of the definitive visual memories from my childhood – the quilt, and the imaginary play it inspired.

Also in Portland…

Things started to heat up. Deliberate misinformation reported a ‘war zone’ throughout the city. The only actual activity is near the Federal ICE facility in southwest Portland, where the true spirit of Portland is on display in peaceful protests that defend free speech and due process. I am writing this in October, when things have gotten crazier but in September, we were just getting ready for threatened invasion! I’m sure I will be adding something about the frogs next month.

Bandon, Oregon, August 3-7, 2025

September 22, 2025September 22, 2025 / margaretquilts / 1 Comment

We had planned a trip to Mt Rainier for my birthday week. Then my wonky hip started acting up, and my breathing felt really challenged on my last couple of mountain hikes. When my doctor decided I needed a full cardiac work up, we realized that expecting to enjoy hiking the steep trails at Mt Rainier was unrealistic. Luckily, the place we stayed in Bandon last January had a room available, so we pivoted. At the worst, I could sit on the balcony overlooking the beach and stare at the horizon and the wave trains. I could go for some flat walks on the beach, and find a rock to sit on while my husband walked farther. It turned out to be a very good week for us. We had beautiful weather, some lovely beach walks, and so far, all my medical work ups have not turned up anything other than a likely bad reaction to a new medicine I was trying, and being out of shape because of not doing as much hiking as usual while I was in Utah (too hot), and while my husband was recuperating from his neck surgery in the spring. And maybe, just the entropy of being one year older…

8/3 – Bandon Beach South

Our first evening, we took a walk to the south of our hotel…

8/4 – Face Rock North

We were expecting low tide in the afternoon, so a perfect day for walking north from Face Rock, enjoying the beautiful beach and the marine wildlife.

View north from the Face Rock overlook, our destination for the day.

We spent a fair amount of time watching a flock of whimbrels.

I wasn’t the only one beach combing for agates in the swash zone as the tide went out.

Pebbles of many colors. I looked for the smallest one I could find of each color.

Around lunch time, we saw a pod of seals napping on a nearby islet.

Walking back south, we encountered a bit more marine life…

Back at the hotel, we were treated to another lovely sunset.

8/5 – Shore Acres and Cape Arago State Parks

We drove north to Shore Acres and Cape Arago State Parks. This road was closed by a landslide when we were here in January. We visited several beach overlooks and a beautiful cove, and then walked in the historic Shore Acres Garden.

Location Map of Shore Acres and Cape Arago State Parks.

Our first stop was the Shore Acres cliff viewpoints, where we could see dipping sandstone beds and their oddly eroded concretions. It reminded me of the shoreline at Point Lobos, in California. The one other time I was here, it was windy and there were huge waves. Today, it was very calm.

Tide pools in the dipping sandstone beds.

Looking south from some of the viewpoints:

Viewing Gazebo, on the far left – a protected viewpoint for windy days, built on the site of the historic Simpson Mansion.

Another view of the dipping sandstones and eroding concretions.

We drove farther south in the park, to the Simpson Reef Overlook.

View to Simpson Reef, with seals and sea lions. It was very noisy, with the sound of the marine mammals barking!

Seals piled up on the beach, and on the rocks.

Farther south along this dead end road is Cape Arago. We walked the short trail to the North Cove overlook.

Looking north from the northern tip of Cape Arago…

And then we walked the short trail down to the South Cove.

Next, we walked through the Shore Acres Gardens.

We drove back to Bandon, and had a delicious fish and chips dinner at the harbor.

8/6 – Port Orford and Cape Blanco

Another beautiful, calm day on the Oregon Coast. We drove south to Port Orford, where we had been once before, in 2007, to see the views and the beaches. We walked the trails at Port Orford Head, to the viewpoints, then had lunch at nearby Battlerock State Beach.

Port Orford Head is the site of an historic Coast Guard Museum.

The trails go through the woods, and emerge onto cliff edge viewpoints

View to the north. Cape Blanco, in the distance, where we would end our day.

Zoom in on Cape Blanco light house through the mist.

Lunch stop at Battlerock Beach:

My husband took a walk down Battlerock Beach, while I sat on a rock and admired the views.

View to the north, toward Port Orford Head, where we hiked earlier today, and Port Orford harbor.

A large outcrop of serpentinite in the beach cliff.

Artwork in the nearby Visitor Center, made of upcycled marine debris.

On to Cape Blanco, remembering our lovely walk here in January.

Once again I mostly stayed put while my husband took a much longer walk.

I could sit all day, watching the waves as the tide receded.

By the time we returned to our hotel, mist had rolled in all along the coast, so there was no sunset view.

8/7 – Home again, home again, jiggity jig

The next day, we drove home, passing over one of the beautiful Art Deco bridges on the Oregon Coast.

It had been a lovely week, despite my hiking limitations. I brought home some agates, postcards, and a few small birthday gifts, along with my memories.

July 2025 – A day at the Oregon coast

August 24, 2025August 24, 2025 / margaretquilts / 1 Comment

A hot day inland- a good day to go west to the Oregon Coast and walk on one of our favorite beaches, deliciously foggy at first, then sunny.

7/17 – Hug Point

We first walked over the old road at Hug Point – our timing was such that tide would be coming back in soon…

Then we walked all the way south to Arch Cape, passing our favorite landmarks…

The cave – with an addition – a giant stump stranded on the rock ledge –

with a few sea stars among the barnacles and mussels.

Walking south toward Arch Cape, fog starting to disperse. Photo credit to my husband.

Lunch view near Arch Cape, with a flock of sea gulls.

And the walk north – about five miles round trip today.

The seagull flock accompanied us most of the way.

Bandon, Oregon January 5-9, 2025

February 13, 2025 / margaretquilts / 2 Comments

We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary with a trip to the southern Oregon Coast. We stayed just south of Bandon, in a room with a view.

We had easy access to the wide sand beach south of Face Rock, and took several long walks north and south over the next few days. We also drove south to Cape Blanco, and north to Cape Arago. Other than a bit of rain the day we arrived, we had fabulous weather – sunny and calm.

Locations of hikes and beach walks on the southern Oregon Coast near Bandon.

1/6 – Bandon Beach and Cape Blanco

We walked north to Face Rock in the morning.

Looking south from the Face Rock overlook

Looking north from the Face Rock overlook

After lunch, we drove south to Cape Blanco. We walked down to the beach, then along the strand line to the north, at approximately low tide.

Looking west toward the Cape Blanco Lighthouse,

and northward from the bluff above the beach.

And another view of the beach on the north side of Cape Blanco.

Later that evening I watched the sun set from our room…

1/7 – Beaches to the north – Sunset Bay, Yoakam Point, Blastendorff Beach, Seven Devils Beach

We drove north to Cape Arago, but a recent washout closed the road, so we could only go as far as Sunset Bay. We started with a short walk there, then explored a few locations to the north.

We walked about a mile around Yoakam Point, looking at the view from various cliff overlooks:

We ate lunch and then took a walk at Blastendorff Beach.

Blastendorff Beach, and jetty to the Coos Bay inlet

Driving back south, we took a side trip to the Seven Devils Wayside, and walked on the beach there. We even saw someone panning for gold.

Back in Brandon, we took a walk along the pier. It was mostly deserted, with most shops closed. I was fascinated by the mosaic installation on the boardwalk.

So many great little details – I looked at it for a long time!

Later, we walked out onto Coquille Point again, to watch the sunset. We met a large puffin sculpture there.

1/8 – Low tide near Bandon – Face Rock and Coquille Point

With low tide in the afternoon, this was a perfect day to walk north toward Face Rock and then beyond Coquille Point and look at tide pools, water, sky, and all the reflected permutations.

Looking south – reflections – water – sky

Later, we enjoyed another sunset from the Coquille Point Overlook…

The flotsam Puffin glowing in the sunset.

We enjoyed our few days of calm weather and beach walks, a break from the ‘real’ world, and what was to come next in January.

Looking back:

August 2024 Hiking

September 7, 2024 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

I went on four hiking adventures in August – two to the coast on very hot days, and two to the slopes of Mt Hood.

August 5 – Ecola State Park and Hug Point, Oregon Coast

I like to spend my birthday in nature. It was too hot for hiking inland, so we headed to the coast for the day. We started at Ecola State Park, had a picnic lunch with a view, and took a 3 mile hike down to Crescent Beach and back.

View south from Ecola Point

Looking north from Crescent Beach toward Ecola Point

High tide was in the middle of the afternoon, so we wandered around Cannon Beach for a bit. I treated myself to a few quilting fabrics at Center Diamond, then we had an early dinner in town.

Birthday fabric, including puffins that remind me of Iceland.

Next, we went to one of our favorite beaches – Hug Point. First we walked south, looking at all the landmarks from the summers we spent entire weeks here with our kids.

View south from Hug Point

I was pleased to see pods of pelicans flying along the surf line.

The Cave

Big Barnacle Rock and Castle Rock

The little blue cottage on the bluff where we spent many a happy summer week

Farther south, more pelicans on a sand bar

Pelicans!

Then we walked north, up over Hug Point.

Walking toward Hug Point,

as the tide is going out.

View north from Hug Point

and looking toward the beach just on the other side

Oyster catcher among the mussels, barnacles and anemones on the Hug Point road bed

The Waterfall

Goodbye for now…

It was a beautiful evening – not too crowded, hot, or windy. As we drove home, I was completely satisfied with my birthday adventure.

August 8 – Sitka Sedge State Park, Oregon Coast

Another hot day inland, we decided to investigate this relatively new State Park near Pacific City, a little farther down the coast from our usual spots.

Our trail through Sitka Sedge Natural Area, about 4 miles.

The entry trail along a dike separates the Sand Lake Estuary from a wetland to the south. Then the trail goes through a vegetated dune that runs parallel to the coast. We walked through the forest for a bit, and ate lunch looking back toward the estuary wetlands.

Sand Lake Estuary

Sandy trail over the dunes

Heron and gulls from our lunch stop

After lunch we emerged onto the foggy beach, and walked south for a ways, before circling back up and over the dune, completing the loop to the entry trail.

Emerging onto the beach

Looking north, beach off limits for now, as it is sand plover nesting season.

Looking south – lots of jellyfish in the flotsam

And back over the dunes…

It was a good place for a walk on a hot day – we saw a few birds and a hang glider, but not many other people.

Wetland south of the dike, with sand pipers

Sand pipers

Yellow legs

Cedar waxwing

August 14 – Umbrella Falls, Mt Hood

Another hot day, and an easier trail on Mt Hood. I still feel like I am getting my hiking legs back. I had never been to Umbrella Falls, always opting for the harder hikes in the area that go up higher on Mt Hood. Also, one can practically drive to Umbrella Falls from the Mt Hood Meadows parking area, but we wanted to hike. This trail offered a fair amount of shade, some wildflower meadows, a peek at the mountain and two waterfalls.

Mt Hood, from Hwy 35

Shady trail junction from the Elk Meadows Trail

Views across the ski runs of Mt Hood Meadows

We could see the top of the mountain from our shady lunch spot

Mt Hood, Sitka Mountain Ash berries

Umbrella Falls

Umbrella Falls

Fireweed

Meadows of pearly everlasting

Pearly everlasting

This tree spoke to me on the way down

Trail junction

It turns out that the trail viewpoint of Sahalie Falls requires scrambling down a steep cliff, but I could see from the map that we could drive to a better view point along the frontage road.

Sahalie Falls, from the old road

Trail Map – 4.3 miles, 700 feet elevation gain.

August 20 – Cloud Cap Shelter and TImberline Trail High Point, Mt Hood

One of my favorite spaces on the edge of the sky…requiring a long drive up a deteriorating road to the trailhead at the Cloud Cap Campground (elev. 5800 feet). Then up the rocky and sandy East Eliot Moraine trail, a few close ups of the Eliot Glacier during our lunch stop, a visit to the Cloud Cap Shelter, then a gradually rising track across the alpine slopes to the 7300 foot high point on the Timberline Trail. The mountain was mostly under the cloud cap today, but I still and always enjoy the elevation and the views!

Looking northeast from the East Eliot Moraine – Mt Adams peeking through the clouds, and our starting point from the Cloud Cap Campground. The Cloud Cap Inn/Crag Rats Headquarters has a new roof!

Zooming in on Mt Adams

Looking along our trail up the moraine toward the Eliot Glacier

The Cloud Cap Shelter on the skyline

Zoom view

The mountain is trying to come out!

Eliot Glacier close ups…

Elliot Glacier

Eliot Glacier

Sun break

Crossing south to the Cloud Cap Shelter

No one else here, though we did pass a few groups of backpackers today.

Lupine and buckwheat

Southbound along the cairn-posted Timberline Trail

And looking back northeast – the Hood River Valley beyond.

Asters

Partridge foot

A few short snow crossings

Approaching the high point of the Timberline Trail

My husband took this photo of me walking along the high point ridge to our usual rest stop.

The other side of the ridge – Mt Jefferson on the horizon. The Timberline Trail continues down to Gnarl Ridge.

Mini lupine

Heading back to the Timberline Trail high point saddle – We can see Cooper Spur, but the top of Mt Hood is still hiding under the cloud.

We walk back along the edge of the sky.

We take the main Timberline Trail below East Eliot Moraine on the way down, and I look for the giant boulder that has been teetering on the edge the last few times we have hiked here.

It is still here!

Monkey flowers and lupine in Tilly Jane Creek

And this little ground squirrel, wishing us farewell until next time…

Later in the month, my husband had a surgery on his hand, so we will be curtailing our hikes for a few weeks. But there will be more adventures soon!

California Road Trip, part 3, Northbound – April 2024

May 15, 2024 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

We drove home to Portland through the redwoods of Northern California and past the beaches of southern Oregon.

Tuesday, April 16 – Returning North – We left Oakland via the Richmond Bridge, heading north on 101. We passed the exit to my college, but did not stop until we reached the redwoods.

Crossing the Bay Bridge – Mt Tamalpais to the west.

The hills in Sonoma County were green!

Waving at Sonoma State University as we drive past…

Our first stop in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, was at the Gould Grove.

Stretching our legs at the Gould Grove Nature Trail, a short loop.

Into the forest…

Just breathtakingly beautiful!

and large!

Red wood

We drove a little farther along The Avenue of the Giants…

Avenue of the Giants

And then stopped for another walk, in the Founders Grove.

Founders tree

Looking up…

Oxalis on the forest floor

Horizontal nurse log

Foliage

Scale…

Shattered tree

Looking up again.

We stayed that night with a friend in Arcata, and went to dinner in a fabulous old building in the town square – The Plaza Grill.

Wednesday, April 17th – Continuing northward…we stopped in the morning for a short hike on the Trillium Falls Trail in Redwoods National Park –

Trail guide

Redwoods

Red wood

Trillium Falls

Trillium

We continued driving north on 101, into Oregon. We were planning to stop at some of the beautiful beaches in the Boardman Corridor, but the wind was howling, so beach walking not a good option. We stayed in Bandon, our destination for the evening, hoping for a calmer day tomorrow.

Welcome back to Oregon!

Beach views at Arch Rock in southern Oregon

Arch Rock

Crossing one of the many Art Deco bridges on the Oregon Coast – over the Rogue River in Gold Beach.

Looking North from the Face Rock viewpoint in Bandon – the wind it is howling!

View toward Bandon Beach from our hotel.

Thursday, April 18th – The wind had calmed! We had time for a long walk on Bandon Beach in the morning, before heading north again towards home.

Crossing the beach dunes…

Looking north toward Face Rock

But first we walked south, to the rock formations on the beach

Reflections in the sand…

And shadows

Serpentinite

with veins

Time to walk north, toward Face Rock

Sea stacks, with oyster catcher

Oyster catcher

Sea stacks

Face Rock viewpoint, where we nearly blew away last night

Flying geese

Face Rock

Goodbye to the beach for now – though I would love to return to Bandon for a longer stay. We drove north on 101, with a short detour to the Darlingtonia Wayside near Florence, to eat lunch and take a quick look at the carnivorous plants.

Another Art Deco bridge, this time over Coos Bay.

Darlingtonia Wayside

Carnivorous plants

From there, it was about 3-4 hours driving to our home. I loved seeing the California landscapes again, and I hope to return and see many more places we have yet to visit.

Location Map, California Road Trip, April 2024

A walk on the beach – Nehalem Bay, Oregon

August 13, 2021August 13, 2021 / margaretquilts / 1 Comment

Nehalem Bay State Park, Oregon, August 3, 2021

Too hot for hiking inland, we decided to drive out to the coast and walk the loop around Nehalem Bay spit.

The green line is our track – about 5 miles round trip.

Crossing the spit to the ocean beach.

View north to Neahkanie Mountain.

We are walking south, wind at our back, to the Nehalem Jetty.

Equestrians on the tidal bars.

Most of the birds we saw were near the jetty.

Nehalem Jetty

The rock jetty was also a catch for sand and drift wood.

Nehalem River north jetty

Looking across to the south jetty and shore.

We found a lunch spot on the jetty with a wind shelter. After lunch, we crossed to the inland shore of the spit, and walked north along the Nehalem River/Bay, with different views and shore features, and the added advantage of being less windy.

Mussels in the low tide zone.

Looking back seaward

Walking north along Nehalem Bay

Some of the marine life washed up in the low tide zone:

sea star

purple varnish clams

jelly fish

Continuing north along Nehalem Bay:

Looking for clams.

We enjoyed our day at the beach – fresh air, mountain and ocean views, a few birds.

On our return drive, we stopped at the highway overlook in Oswald West State Park, to look back at Nehalem Bay and the jetty. And to once again thank former Oregon governor, Oswald West, for claiming the beaches in Oregon as public land, in 1911.

Looking south from Oswald West overlook

Nehalem River Jetty

Six Hikes in June, 2021

July 11, 2021 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

We had six hiking days in June, all repeat hikes, so I am showing just a few highlight photos, and linking past posts for trail details.

June 3 – Hamilton Mountain, WA, hike – I love this hike, however challenging (8 miles, 2200 feet), and always feel accomplished to have made the trek again, especially when I get to see the lovely Lewisia flowers on the upper switchbacks.

Trailhead

Waterfall area

Little Hamilton Mtn death camus meadows, Mt Hood

Bonneville Dam from Little Hamilton Mtn

Table Mtn and Mt Adams from the summit

Clarkia

Lewisia

Looking back at the summit from the saddle/plateau

Respite in Hamilton Creek

Where we have been…

2. June 10 – Grassy Knoll, WA, hike – Another well loved hike. A bit rainy today, and on the early side for flowers blooming, but so green and lush along the trail!

Beargrass in the forest

Cliff penstemon; Mt Adams behind the clouds today.

Onion and phlox on the mossy rocks

View to the summit

Switchback up the meadows

View from the summit

East to Indian Heaven

Paintbrush and lupine

Back to the trailhead, lower meadows in bloom

3. June 17 – Saddle Mountain, OR, hike – We were here last month before the full bloom of the upper meadows, so hiked again on our way to an overnight at the Oregon Coast.

Saddle and summit

monkey flowers, nodding onions

irises

lewisia, saxifrage

checkermallow, chickweed

fleabane

prairie smoke

blue-eyed grass

cutleaf anemone

Pacific Ocean from the summit

Washington peaks from the summit

4. June 18 – Oregon north coast beaches – We stayed overnight in the Tolvana area of Cannon Beach, with a lovely view of Haystack Rock beyond the parking lots.

The next day we walked from Arcadia Beach and around Hug Point at low tide, to Big Barnacle Rock. We visited all our favorite landmarks from 30 years of visiting this stretch of beach nearly every summer, often staying for a week when our kids were young. So beautiful!

The sphinx of Arcadia Beach guards the northern beaches,

but we are heading south, along these open sands as the tide recedes.

We saw some birds and tide pool creatures:

sea anemone

Caspian terns – we’ve never seen these before.

Caspian terns

A pod of pelicans flying north along the wave crests

Pelicans

Next we crossed over the old road carved out of Hug Point, passable at low tide.

Hug Point

South view from the Hug Point road

The Waterfall

The Cave

Big Barnacle Rock and Castle Rock from The Cave

Looking south toward Arch Cape from Big Barnacle Rock – our turnaround point.

North view, crossing back over Hug Point.

Walking into the wind, sand rivers pelting our legs.

5. June 22 – Three Corner Rock – Another repeat hike. We were the only ones on the trail today. It was just shady enough in the forest to be comfortable.

Our big surprise was the profuse bear grass bloom in the upper meadows below the rock. And almost no wind.

Three Corner Rock

Views from near the summit (we didn’t scramble to the upper platform):

Looking south – Mt Hood and the cell tower, and so much bear grass!

St Helens, Rainier, Goat Rocks and Adams

Mt Adams

Mt St Helens

And a few more flowery views before heading down:

6. June 30 – Thomas Lake to Rock Lake Mosquito chase – Indian Heaven Wilderness, WA – Why we thought we could out-smart the famous mosquitos of summer in Indian Heaven I do not know, except sometimes you have to find out for your self. Which we did.

There was plenty of water (mosquito breeding grounds) in Indian Heaven.

Thomas Lake

Dee Lake

Shooting stars, Heather Lake

Vernal Lake in one of the meadows.

The highest trail section had snow patches, with marsh marigolds and avalanche lilies blooming nearby.

avalanche lilies

marsh marigolds

snow

We made it to Rock Lakes, and sat long enough to devour our lunch as quickly as possible, while the mosquitos devoured us through our DEET sprayed clothing.

Rock Lake – no rock bridge today.

heather

huckleberries

We had reached our tolerance point, so rushed back down the trail, stopping just long enough to notice Mt St Helens through the trees.

We learned our lesson! There is not enough DEET in the world to make this a comfortable time in Indian Heaven. We will return in late summer or fall when the mosquitos are gone.