Columbia Hills, WA, Tryon Creek, OR, and some Brioche Knitting

April 9, 2019 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

Crawford Oaks 4/4/2019

We had to drive 75 miles east to the Columbia Hills to find a dry hike this weekend. We started up the road to Eight Mile Falls, then continued on the Vista Loop. It was a bit late for grass widows and yellow bells, and a bit early for full balsamroot display, so we had a bit of each, on a windless day. A lovely hike, and pretty easy, compared to when we hiked here about a year ago and I was less than two months post surgery. Next spring, we will attempt this hike a few weeks later to get the full balsamroot experience.

Bird welcoming us to the trail.

The graphic showing the depth of the Missoula Floods here always impresses me.

Eight Mile Falls

Looking back west toward the river and Horsethief Butte.

One of the scattered early blooming balsamroots.

View to the west, toward The Dalles

View to the east toward Biggs

Looking north to the Columbia Hills

One swale of shooting stars – first of the season

A blue jay near the trailhead

Last look at Horsethief Butte

Hike #15, 5 miles/1000 feet

The wildflower suite:

Shooting stars

Gold and woodland stars

yellow bell

biscuitroot

slender phlox

big head clover in bud

salt and pepper

saxifrage

grass widow and woodland stars

miner’s lettuce

smooth stem parsley

balsamroot

ballhead waterleaf

filaree and pungent parsley

Sunday dash around Tryon Creek to see the Trillium

4/7/2019 A rainy weekend in Portland, a weather window, so we went:

Trillium in swathes in the woodlands, and individually along the trail.

After a weekend of rain, some flowers were becoming transparent

Other flowers included skunk cabbage in the bogs near the creek.

Lots of water dripping, but we mostly avoided actual rain.

cedar

violets

Oregon grape

(Hike#16, 2.2 miles, 200 feet)

Knitting

Progress on the Vintage Prim hat, with brioche:

I will just say that there has been frogging, and use of lifelines. I have even learned to fix one or two stitches, but a big fix is still beyond me with this technique. I do love how it looks!

Spring Break 2019 – Knitting and Cherry Blossoms

April 5, 2019April 5, 2019 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

Knitting – Frost Slippers

I crocheted the steeks,

and cut,

and cut again.

I have basted the edges, and blocked.

Frost Slippers – uppers and soles, blocked.

Next I will sew soles to uppers, then add cuffs. There is a lot of finishing work in these slippers, but so far I am intrigued enough by the process to keep going!

Lyle Cherry Orchard, WA 3/29/2019

A beautiful day to hike up the cliffs above the Columbia River with friends, and try the new trail switchbacks. There are a few old cherry trees along the uppermost cliff loop that were not in bloom today, but we saw many wildflowers, including some balsamroot. (Hike #14, 5.6 miles, 1500 feet)

We are headed to the top of the cliffs…

The second bench

River cruise below…

One of the vernal ponds along the upper trail

View to the east from the Cherry Orchard

And to the west

One of the new switchback legs – nowhere near as steep or cliffy as the former trail.

Plenty of new flowers along the way:

The first blooming balsamroot of spring!

Budding balsamroot

prairie star

miner’s lettuce

filaree

ballhead waterleaf

fading grass widows

manroot

Yellow bells

Columbia desert parsley

Oaks toothwort

buttercup

salt and pepper

slender phlox

glacier lily

Yellow parsley and gold stars

Neighborhood flowers…

Lots in bloom these days,

euphorbia

rhodies

cherries

tulips

windflowers and violets

including poetry:

Portland Cherry Blossoms – Sunday, March 31

The waterfront on a sunny day with cherry trees in bloom. Today is a day for embracing the crowds.

We decided to walk up onto the Steel Bridge to look down on the waterfront.

Views from the Bridge:

I love the railing shadows.

Wandering around amongst the trees and crowds:

A maple tree budding out, with bugs!

White Stag and Old Town Water Tower behind the trees.

View of the eastside of the Willamette River.

And a little Portland weirdness, because it is always here.

Group-peddled brew cycle.

Spring Flowers, Coyote Wall and Portland

March 25, 2019 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

Coyote Wall, WA, Thursday, March 21, 2019

Up the Little Maui trail, more up on the Old Ranch Road and Coyote Wall trails, then, down the Little Moab trail, with the early flower suite just opening…(Hike #13, 4 miles, 1100 feet)

Hiking up the waterfalls of the Little Maui trail:

Gold stars and Salt and Pepper (biscuit root) sprinkled across the landscape.

Long banked switchbacks to aid the cyclists

Lunch stop

Columbia Desert Parsley guiding the way

Looking up to our cliff-edge destination along Coyote Wall from Old Ranch Road:

Views from the cliff:

First look.

We go a little higher

Looking back toward Oregon; Mt Hood a faint wisp on the horizon.

Our highest viewpoint for the day.

Starting down – looking east toward the Columbia Hills and Tom McCall Point.

The flowers:

Grass widows

Gold and Prairie stars, Spring whitlow-grass

Spring whitlow-grass, my pinky for scale

Swales of gold stars and whitlow-grass

Yellow pungent desert parsley

Columbia desert parsley

Salt and pepper, and grass widows all the way down the slope.

Knitting

Learning the increases and decreases that make brioche knitting look so magical…with a lifeline!

Vintage Prim Hat, pattern by Andrea Mowry.

Garden – the first tulip! and Star Magnolias!

Better late….flowers are opening in the neighborhood:

Our first tulip

star magnolias

I don’t remember the name of these.

Late Early Flowers at Catherine Creek, WA, with Robins

March 21, 2019March 21, 2019 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

March 14, 2019 Bitterroot Trail to Rowland Wall

We hiked a Catherine Creek loop, up past the vernal ponds along the Bitterroot Trail, then down Rowland Wall. (Hike#12, 3 miles, 1000 feet)

Fairy ponds

View to the east from the Bitterroot Trail

The Arch

We saw the first wildflowers just beginning to bloom.

grass widow

saxifrage

salt and pepper

bitterroot foliage

gold star

yellow parsley

flowering outcrop

On the upper grassy slopes we noticed robins hopping in the grass all around us.

There are probably a dozen robins bobbing and hopping in this view, though they are hard to photograph as they don’t stay still for long.

Here is one…

And another one in the snow.

The snow level was about 1000 feet, and we could see extensive snow covered landscape in every direction, though it is melting out.

Still looks very snowy out in the high desert

The orchards of Mosier, and Mt Hood

Rowland Wall, Rowland Lake, Mt Hood beyond the Columbia River

Mere

Returning via the Bridge of the Gods in Cascade Locks. Burnt trees on the Oregon Gorge skyline.

Knitting

I finished the soles for the Frost Slippers, but haven’t yet crocheted the steeks.

I have started the brioche patterning on a Vintage Prim hat.

Garden and Neighborhood

The hyacinths finally bloomed out front,

and there was our annual neighborhood St Patrick’s Day parade down the street.

Klickitat Bald Eagles and the Labyrinth, WA

January 13, 2019January 13, 2019 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

1/10/2019 Balfour/Klickitat Bald Eagles

We met up with friends in Cascade Locks, then drove to the Balfour/Klickitat wildlife viewing area near Lyle, Washington. Early January is bald eagle nesting season there, and we saw many eagles in the trees across the pond.

Our first eagle sighting – white head in the oak trees.

Two eagles on this branch…

Actually, there are seven in this picture – four on the lower level and three higher up.

I watched these two eagles for a while – as they looked around.

For every white head in the trees, there were two or three brown juvenile eagles. They are as big as the mature eagles, but harder to spot because they don’t get their white feathers fully until they are four years old.

Three juvenile eagles in the tree, one flying nearby.

We witnessed a lone salmon struggling up the stream, and then watched as a juvenile bald eagle grabbed it with his talons, pulled it onto the adjacent mudflat, and ate it. Other eagles joined in after a while. It was the circle of life before our eyes – not pretty, but the way of nature.

The salmon

Juvenile eagle lands nearby

and pounces

Drags the salmon onto the mudflat

Joined by other eagles.

We also saw two great blue herons on the nearby cliffs.

Two great blue herons, circled in blue.

A closer view of the herons.

Shortly after this drama, a couple of dozen eagles flew in circles above the area for five minutes. My camera telephoto lens is not quite up to clear pictures of all these events, but I enjoyed watching and marveling at the beauty.

Labyrinth Trail

After a quick lunch we walked up the nearby Labyrinth trail to the tall Jefferson pine landmark tree. We saw Mt Hood, the Columbia Hills and eastern gorge with snow dusting, and a few early wildflowers on on this misty, cloudy day. A good day with friends. (5.8 miles/1000 feet/#2 for 2019)

The Old Highway waterfall

The upper waterfall

My favorite oak grove

Views of Mt Hood

Phlox

Phlox, eastern gorge dusted with snow

Salt and pepper

Oak trees in low light

Columnar basalts

View under the Bridge of the Gods in Cascade Locks, our meeting place.

Happy New Year 2019!

January 10, 2019 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

First Hike of the New Year: Ferry Springs Trail, Deschutes River State Park, Oregon – January 5, 2019

We did this same hike almost exactly one year ago – January 6th, 2018. It was a beautiful day with blue sky and long reaching views. Today, was a cloud covered day with no actual rain. We saw the effects of the July 2019 Substation Fire that burned both river banks for about 20 miles upstream from the park.

There was a bald eagle near the trailhead, but it flew off as I watched it.

Bald eagle near the trailhead.

Bald eagle – the white tail visible in the center of the photo, flying downstream.

Our trail started along the river, through riparian vegetation, but then we crossed the fire line and saw before us nearly completely denuded and blackened landscape through which grass in now emerging, a green/black palette. In some ways it reminded us of the highlands of Scotland.

From dry grass to burn zone, though the bench is intact, as were the other benches along the lower trail.

We passed below, then above the arch as the trail looped back north and uphill towards Ferry Springs.

Looking up at the arch.

Looking down through the arch.

I was looking forward to resting on the bench on the upper trail, but it was burned.

Lookback: Two views from the Upper Trail toward the mouth of the Deschutes River and Columbia River. In 2018 we were walking through dry grass. This year, the edge of the burn is well defined.

January 2018, pre-burn

January 2019, post fire

After crossing Ferry Springs, we headed back to the trailhead, looking down at the fire scars along the way.

This wooden gate survived, though the area around was scorched.

Looking back upriver.

The dry waterfall

More scorched earth, then back to dry grass.

This landscape is renewed by fire. I don’t think all the green grasses emerging are native grasses, but we did see new growth on some of the native plants. It will be interesting to return next year to see what happens. (5 miles, 560 feet, Hike #1 for 2019)

A yellow composite flower

New foliage on burned shrubs.

Crafting

Cross stitch of Jane Austen’s house – I just need to add the windowpanes and french knot flower centers.

I finished the second sock, now I have to find the place in the stripe sequence that will match the place where the knot was in the first sock.

Other Adventures

It has been a busy couple of weeks of the New Year, winding down from the holidays, and getting my daughter and her things sent back to college. I note that today is one year exactly since my surgery. I am adjusting to all my new medications, and am healthier for not having excess growth hormone secretly running around in my body and creating future problems. I am grateful for my recovery. My husband has just stepped down to half time work, with full retirement planned for a year from now. Thus we will likely have many more hikes and adventures in the years to come, including having just booked a hiking trip in New Zealand for a year from now! I am used to hiking at my own pace, but I will need to increase the difficulty of my hikes as the year goes on to prepare for the trip. A good goal, one of many, for 2019. (2019-1)

Exploring Exmoor, North Devon and Somerset, UK (18-57)

December 11, 2018 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

Day 13 May 8, 2018 Lynton, Lynmouth, Dunster, and Porlock

We began this day walking from our lodging down the steep poetry- and flower-lined path to Lynmouth.

Almost to the beach at the bottom of the cliff.

There we visited the Exmoor National Park Visitors Center and made plans to visit Dunster and Porlock, to the east of us. Lynmouth is the intersection of four trail systems in Exmoor, marked by this sculpture of a walker, and the trail signs.

Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railroad

As we walked down the path to Lynmouth, we had crossed the tracks of the Cliff Railroad several times.

The Cliff Railroad is a Victorian era funicular with two counterbalanced cars connected by cables and pulleys that simultaneously rise or fall as water is released from the water tank of the lower car. The cars each have 700 gallon water tanks. The tank is refilled from a stream at the top of the cliff, and released to the stream at the bottom of the cliff. The power is completely passive – just gravity imbalance created by the weight differential between the two cars. The railway has been in continuous operation since 1890.

We returned to Lynton via the Railroad, a much easier way to climb this 500 foot cliff than going back up the path.

Dunster

We walked through the medieval town of Dunster. Dunster Castle, on the hill overlooking the town, dates back to at least 1086, shortly after the Norman conquest in 1066.

Dunster Castle

We walked around some of the castle grounds.

Stables

Gardens

The Yarn Market, where trade in cloth was conducted, is about 400 years old.

Dunster Castle and the Dunster Yarn Market.

The Water Mill is about 200 years old. We looked at the machinery, but the mill wasn’t in operation today.

The water wheel

One of the flour mills.

Castle gardens near the mill

More Gunnera manicata, the giant Brazilian rhubarb, growing along the mill stream.

The 15th century Gallox Bridge crosses the River Avill.

Thatched roofs.

Porlock Marsh

We drove back west to Porlock, where the National Park Guide had recommended a wildlife walk across the marsh.

The path to the marsh.

Boardwalks across the marsh

Looking back toward town.

View out to the Bristol Channel from the top of the berm.

View to the east from the top of the shingled berm.

We did not see any wildlife, perhaps because the tide was out, just the shingled beach and the wide views, but it was good to stretch our legs.

My quilter’s eye noticed geometric patterns in the architecture in Porlock.

We stopped at an overlook for the wide view of Porlock. From here, we headed back to Lynton for the dinner.

Our Victorian Lodgings in Lynton:

My husband had selected this lodging, so I hadn’t realized before arriving that we would be staying in a converted Victorian manor house, built by a London mogul for his wife in 1870. The home was built on a ledge blasted from the cliff.

A large ammonite embedded near the entryway.

The decor is Victorian, and most of the rooms are situated around a large communal open staircase and balcony, invoking the setting of an Agatha Christie novel.

Our living room.

Central stairway

There were few other guests during this off season visit, but I would guess the patio tea service would be popular with walkers going to the Valley of Rocks from the Cliff Railway in the summer.

Our balcony and stairs leading down to the patio where tea is served with an amazing view.

Our self-catering apartment had updated plumbing and kitchen, with a private, very tiny balcony and spiral staircase, and a tremendous view across the bay to Countisbury Hill and Lynmouth Bay. We enjoyed the location and historical ambiance.

Valley of Rocks and Woodlands Walk, Lynton, Devon, UK (18-55)

December 7, 2018December 7, 2018 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

Day 12, May 7, 2018

Today we walked a loop trail along the Southwest Coast Path through the Valley of Rocks, then circled back on the hills above the town of Lynton.

Valley of Rocks: The sun position was better today as we retraced our steps into the Valley of Rocks. We climbed up one of the promontories

Looking back to the east.

Castle Rock and westward view.

Steep cliffs here.

Quartzite and Slate of the Devonian Lynton Formation

Gorse

Beyond the rocks, the path continues on the road past Lee Abbey.

Lee Abbey

Gardens

Sheep

Fog wafting by

Old door

View down to Lee Bay

More sheep

View back to the Abbey

A house along the road

Lee Bay again

Horses riding up the road near Lee Abbey.

Our trail descended to circle around Crock Point, with the fog settling in on us.

Steep steps down the primrose path.

Foggy meadow on Crock Point,

and foggy views beyond the hedgerows.

Plenty of flowers,

And then the fog lifted.

Next our trail wound through Croscombe and Bonhill Woods where we crossed The Lee on Bonhill Bridge.

Our path was lined with bluebells in Croscombe Wood.

Bluebells and Campion

A twisted tree, ferns and bluebells – so very green in here!

Another steep staircase in Bonhill Woods down to the stream.

Bonhill Bridge across The Lee.

The Lee

As we entered the Six Acre Wood we could see back to the Valley of Rocks.

A small check dam along the way seemed like water sprite habitat.

Our trial emerged onto the slopes of South Cleave, from which we could look down upon the Valley of Rocks and our earlier path.

Trail up South Cleave.

Looking down on Lee Abbey.

Looking down on Lee Bay.

Valley of Rocks below.

Another view west from South Cleave.

Our path led us down hill and through Lynton before circling back to our lodgings.

Downtown Lynton.

View over the rooftops to Lynmouth Bay.

Sign showing the paths and the Cliff Railway down to Lynmouth – on tomorrow’s agenda.

Southwest Coast Path Website Map for our Walk. We walked about 7.5 miles, 700 feet elevation.

Evening view of Countisbury Hill and Lynmouth Bay from our little balcony:

Return to Angel’s Rest (18-53)

November 29, 2018December 2, 2018 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

Angel’s Rest Trail, Oregon November 24, 2018

A few trails in the Columbia River Gorge that have been closed since the September 2017 Eagle Creek Fire were reopened for the first time this past weekend. We went to Angel’s Rest on Saturday morning, along with hundreds of other local hikers. It was with care, scrutiny, appreciation, and gratitude that we made our way up 1500 feet to the iconic views over the gorge. The trail was in great shape, thanks to the many trail keepers who have worked on recovery.

Into the woods

Views of Cape Horn, the Columbia River and Phoca Rock emerge on the lower trail.

Coopey Falls

Angel’s Rest – our destination.

The trail begins to switchback up the front of Angel’s Rest.

Burned tree trunks and open views line the trail.

First view west toward the trailhead.

Well repaired trail surface next to blackened trees.

Blackened stump.

Nearing the top, the views unfold:

To the west, from near the top.

The Hilary Step of Angel’s Rest – leads to the ridge crest. Sometimes there is a line of hikers waiting to go up or down.

From the top, looking toward the overlook where many rest.

Open view west – toward Portland, Cape Horn in Washington and Phoca Rock.

Open view east – toward Hamilton Mountain in Washington.

We wandered around on top for a while, admiring the view from various perspectives, and found a place to eat lunch.

Closer view of Cape Horn in Washington.

The bench is still there.

We saw a single blooming white yarrow near our lunch stop.

Yarrow

We headed down, stopping for a few more views along the way.

Looking back toward the top, where the first views are seen.

My shadow in the low November light.

My favorite sculpted shoreline of the Columbia River.

View through the rock piles.

Seasonal berries

Trees that are burned, dying, no longer evergreen.

Looking back as we hiked down:

Where we were – and much more visible with all the undergrowth burned away.

White berries lined this part of the trail – not sure what they are – possible snowberries, or the dreaded poison oak.

Golden Hike of the year, #62, 5.2 miles, 1500 feet.

Look back:

I found a couple of comparison photos from previous hikes – this one in January of 2013:

January 2013 – the white tree trunks are left from a fire in 1991.

November 2018 – the white trunks are blackened, and the green trees are now dying.

A closer view:

January 2013

November 2018

An image taken in 2017 from Cape Horn looking over to today’s hike to Angel’s Rest.

Angel’s Rest, October 2017, From Cape Horn, WA.

Pumpkin Pie

A lovely Thanksgiving dinner with a small gathering of family and friends.

Knitting

Another round cloth. Some new sock and hat yarn acquired from my LYS on Black Friday.

Jane Austen House Cross Stitch

I have been rather obsessively cross stitching in the evenings.

Neighborhood

Leaves fully gone from the flame ash tree.

Other Adventures

It has been about a year since I was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor. I had another trip through the MRI this week to evaluate the tumor surgery site, accompanied by a Joni Mitchell soundtrack in my head this time. Fortunately, all appears well. And I could see all three mountains from the OHSU tram view patio.

Mt St Helens on the left; the top of Mt Adams just right of center on the horizon. Tillikum Bridge over the Willamette River on the right.

Tillikum Bridge on the left; Mt Hood on the horizon – looking east from the OHSU tram patio.

Zennor and Lizard; Finding Cornwall (18-52)

November 22, 2018November 28, 2018 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

Day 10, Saturday, May 5, 2018

Part 1, Zennor

We drove from Fowey to the north coast of Cornwall again, to the village of Zennor, west of St Ives. We walked along the Southwest Coast Path, down one canyon, across the stream, and up the next bluff. The great views were limited by cloud cover, though we enjoyed seeing the flowers and a waterfall.

Foggy views

Crossing the stream

Pendour Cove

Foggy lunch spot

Flowers on the path back to Zennor.

Giant Gunnera manicata – a Brazilian plant brought to the UK in the 1860s.

Red campion and scilla

Rock stile

Primroses

St Senara’s Church, Zennor

Our walk

We were disappointed about the cloud clover, as this is supposed to be a particularly spectacular coastline.

Part 2, Lizard

On a tip from other hikers we cut our Zennor hike short and drove to Lizard on the south coast and found Cornwall! Sunny blue skies, craggy cliffs, wildflowers, sparkling seas. Lizard is the southernmost point of the mainland of Great Britain, and is a popular tourist location, with cafes, small shops, and a lighthouse. We enjoyed the sun and the views as we walked along the cliffside paths.

We walked cliffside paths to the west, then east of Lizard Point.

Cornwall! First view of the flowering cliffs west of Lizard Point.

Flowering hedgerows and cows just above the cliffs

The old life boat station at Lizard Point

Steep flowered cliffs

Cliffs and ocean views

Garden path through Pistil Meadow

Shingled cove

Cliffs to the west

Looking toward Pentreath and Kynance

Holsear Cove

Lizard Lighthouse in the middle distance

After walking along the cliffs to the west, we returned to Lizard Point and looked at the old life boat station in Polpeor Cove.

Polpeor Cove with lifeboat station; Lizard Lighthouse in the distance

We continued walking east toward the lighthouse above Poltream Cove

Lizard Lighthouse

Looking back at Lizard Point.

The trail turned north to take in views to the east across Housel Bay.

Across the bay is a house where Marconi set up one of the first wireless telegraph (radio) stations in 1900, transmitting signals to the Isle of Wight, 180 miles away.

Red campion

I found a bench here and just sat for a while, admiring all the colors of the ocean water: purple – indigo – turquoise – teal – marine – navy – chartreuse.

This is a place I hope to return to someday.