hiking – The Long West Coast Summer Trip.

Visiting Cayman in Portland.

Visiting son Cayman in Portland, new apartment, new car, new job, daytime ,which is great. Right on the border with Washington State. Divided by the mighty beautiful Columbia River , Oregon is truly a beautiful state , lovely hills south of Portland with vineyards as far as the eye can see. Volcanoes with their snowy peaks , alpine meadows and bare riverbeds define the landscape east of Portland. Haven’t even mentioned the great vistas of the Columbia River Gorge. WOW! The appropriatly named “Vista House ‘sits perched on top of a mighty rock outcropping and gives me a perfect view of the Gorge , Skies constantly changing , river used by barges and pleasure craft. What a great area to live.

And then there are the waterfalls , Dripping hundreds of feet from the cliffs surrounding the gorge. Easy to get to and easy to revel in their natural beauty from a bench with a cup of great coffee and a berry muffin. The famous Multnomah Falls drops 542 feet from the top into a small lake , followed by a 56 feet drop to the creek flowing into the Columbia river. An iconic bridge gives me a close up view and great foreground for my 45649 pictures of the same thing . Never learn !

nice life !!

A River’s Song

Mighty Columbia, flowing strong and wide,
Separates the states with graceful pride.
Oregon’s hills and Washington’s green,
In harmony, this river is seen.

The Gorge it carves, a sight to behold,
With waterfalls and stories untold.
Vistas change beneath the open sky,
Cascading beauty from cliffs so high.

Bridging the gap with nature’s embrace,
Connecting two lands with effortless grace.
The Columbia River, a wonder to explore,
Binding two states, forevermore.

Pike Place Market.

If anything is more iconic for Seattle then the Space Needle ,it’s the birthplace of Starbucks Coffee. But it’s so much more. We took a guided behind the scenes tour of Pike Place market with our superb guide , Forgot his name, thats how good he was. We ate many different home cooked goodies , like maple bacon mini donuts ( my teeth still hurt) Coffee, Taco’s , pastries , Coffee, Cake, Cheese( I think , can’t keep track, and oh yeah , coffee!

Seattle as advertised is the coffee drinking capitol of the states . People are hyper, more coffee please! Pike place market is it’s own little community . Very well regulated , has shied away from commercializing the place, and is the pride of the people who live there. They take care of their homeless, workless and mentally challenged . It feels like a great place to have around the corner for your shopping , and of course COFFEE!

Famous sign .

Special mention of the gum wall. Thats all I’m gonna say .

Uncovering the History of Garnet: Montana’s Well-Preserved Ghost Town

Ghost Butterfly on a ghost distle !

Ghost Moss

Garnet is a well-preserved ghost town located in the Garnet Range of the Rocky Mountains in Montana, USA. The town was established in the 1860s, following the discovery of gold in the area. At its peak, Garnet was home to over 1,000 people and boasted a post office, general stores, saloons, and a school. However, as the gold reserves dwindled, the town began to decline, and by the early 20th century, it was largely abandoned.

Today, Garnet is maintained as a state park and is a popular tourist destination, offering visitors a fascinating glimpse into the past. Many of the original buildings still stand, providing a haunting yet captivating insight into the daily lives of the town’s former residents. Visitors can explore the abandoned structures, including homes, businesses, and the remains of the once-thriving community. Guided tours and interpretive signs offer historical context and enrich the experience of walking through this historic site.

In addition to tourism, Garnet serves as a site for historical and archaeological research, shedding light on the pioneering days of the American West. The town stands as a testament to the resilience and fortitude of the early settlers who sought their fortunes in the rugged Montana wilderness. With its fascinating history and well-preserved structures, Garnet continues to captivate and educate visitors from around the world.

Garnet, Montana

We visited Missoula to see our Daughter Sasha and her mountain man Tim. Deidre and sasha had a great long weekend in Glacier National Park. Tim and I did the manly thing and visited a ghost town. Because we can and because we’re fearless . Great day with Tim , Thanks !

Last day of spectacular Yellowstone Landscapes !

Can’t wait to go back to my favorite park next year. what an amazing and wild place . Saw a bear , coyote, elk, deer, o yeah Bison and so much more . This park has to go on everyone’s bucketlist, just to get an understanding what our planet is about under the surface. How amazing nature can be and how to have a healthy respect for the forces that control our planet ans thus our excistence . Yellowstone!

Yellowstone National Park holds a special place in my heart, a sanctuary where I have been blessed to witness the wonders of nature firsthand. From encountering bears and elk to marveling at the mysterious forces shaping the land, each visit has been a unique and humbling experience. As I eagerly anticipate my return, I find solace in the memories of its awe-inspiring landscapes and the diverse wildlife that calls it home. Goodbye Yellowstone, until we meet again, I will cherish every moment spent in your remarkable embrace.

THE …. Arch !

So this is THE Arch you see in all magazines , advertising ,etc. It is the Arch to end All Arches . Its called ….. The Greatest Arch.? The Monster Arch ?, The magnificent Arch ? , The Optimus Prime of Arches ? , The Empire Arch? wouldn’t you think !!!

Nope , it’s called : 🌻The Landscape Arch🌼, if I was that Arch , the biggest natural stone span in the world, the image seen by Billions of People, The pride of UTAH,…..I’d be ashamed and hide to never be seen again.

I AM ARCH.

seriuos , its a short walk from the carpark through amazing terrain, first it seems kind of weird , all pictures I’ve seen have blue sky behind it . Our first look at the “Arch of Doom “had more similar colored rockface behind it. Nice but eh. Walking a little more and the sky opened up behind the “Arch of superbness” . The end of the path gave us the picture book image of the greatest Arch in the world. Yowser and a feeding Fawn and mama to boot . There you go , the image I thought about, but kind of knew I could never get . Not just the awesomness Arch but a Deer in the foreground . Never seen Before ( prove me wrong !!!). Unfortunately , the deer scooted off and my million dollar image dream disappeared. Stayed around for a 15 or so minutes . Soaked up the dreamscape and tried sharing with Mam in Holland . Our Everest of Arches failed to deliver decent internet. Ah well , gotta send some pictures , she loves Deer and Nature. Walking back on the path my friend “Bambi mama” was snacking on a sagebrush , not only pretty but delisciuos ( The brush that is) Hmmmm, Could I get to the other side of her and get my shot ?????

Blending gracefully , Not the best shot but it’ll do for a first time visit .

Left home at 5:40am back at 9am whole day still ahead and beautiful cool memories in the bag. Tomorrow Dead Horses ?????!!!!!!!

Next up ….Artsy Fartsy stuff , sue me!!

Hello MOAB !

Heard a lot about ye….. Touristy… check, busy …. not so much, ….centrally located for all things rugged, dusty , muddy ,red clayish …Check. So close to some of the most breathtaking scenery ever. No seriuos ….Ever! We’re parked 2 miles from Arches National Park, which has a different personality every hour, with the sun illuminating dusty red massive rock faces, bathing them in soft light , stormy clouds hiding the sun and changing the landscape to a threatening dark moonscape. Vultures cruise above, chipmunks eat berries and scurry in their holes. At night the stars rule , scorpions look for a tasty meal and rattlers dance the tarantula. What a place . Being so lucky to enter the park early morning and late at night I get to see it in all its shapes and forms . Sure I take too many pictures , but who cares . Tonight sunset at the Arches ….. enjoy !

Global warming has begun to impact Arches National Park, posing a threat to its unique ecosystem. Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns have the potential to disturb the delicate balance of the park’s flora and fauna. Increased heat and drought could lead to the decline of certain plant species, while disrupting the habitat and behavior of wildlife. Additionally, the accelerated rate of erosion caused by extreme weather events can further accelerate the natural processes that shape the iconic sandstone arches and rock formations. It is crucial to prioritize sustainable practices and climate action to mitigate these detrimental effects and preserve the natural splendor of Arches National Park for future generations.

Someone is excited to go to Arches.

Wide awake at 4:30 AM, in the car 10 minutes later , even Beau didn’t wake for a pee or a bone! 4:45 enter Arches National Park, not the first one ???? 5 other early risers shone their headlights on a steep uphill road. No ranger was up this early and it was clear roads ahead into the park. What to expect, I like to be surprised and not study the areas we go to, in depth. Yes I might miss some things , but for me to be surprised is half the fun. Of course I’ve seen the classic pictures of the wide Arch spanning it seems , many hundreds of feet ,with an eternal sunrise or sunset shining through it . What a shot that would be. Better to go into it fresh without ideas of shots already taken. Hard enough to get a few originals, most shots have been taken thousands of times in one way or another . I can’t wait what Arches will show me .

Very disappointed that this park again was made up of a bunch of Hollywood backdrops. This just can’t be real , moonlight illuminating the towering red rocks , don’t think so. Vista’s right out of Rawhide , great painting !! Is that John Wayne on his horse infront of a stove pipe rock , looking mellow but dangerous

I DON’T THINK SO ……?

All joking aside , it was so much better then I had ever imagined , wouldn’t it be nice to share this with Mother , Brother and friends. Well ….. modern tecnology to the rescue . Quick facetime call with Holland and mama and brother joined the rising sun at Arches . What a treat !!

Arches National Park is located in eastern Utah, USA. It is known for its stunning natural arches, spires, fins, and balanced rocks. The park covers an area of over 76,000 acres and includes over 2,000 natural sandstone arches.

The park owes its unique landscape to geological processes that started around 300 million years ago. The region was once covered by an ancient sea, and over time, layers of salt deposited in the area. As the sea evaporated, the salt deposits were buried under layers of sediment.

Around 65 million years ago, the uplift of the Rocky Mountains and the tectonic activity in the region caused the overlying rock layers to buckle and shift. This movement, combined with erosion from water and wind, carved out the landscape that we see today, creating the spectacular arches and rock formations.

Arches National Park was designated a national monument in 1929 and then established as a national park in 1971. The park’s unique geological features and natural beauty attract visitors from around the world, making it a popular destination for hiking, photography, and nature appreciation.

95 Degrees never felt so cool!!

“What happens in Vegas , is sooo HOT !

115 degrees hot !!!”

-“There is no global warming “

Just outside Zion.

Zion National Park is located in the southwestern United States, in the state of Utah. This breathtaking natural wonder is famed for its stunning red cliffs, narrow slot canyons, and lush hanging gardens. The park’s origins can be traced back to the late 19th century when it was first settled by Mormon pioneers. Originally named Mukuntuweap, it became a national monument in 1909 and was later designated as Zion National Park in 1919. With its rich history and unparalleled geological formations, Zion continues to captivate visitors from around the world.

Got a whole new appreciation for 65Degrees early mornings. what a delight. Fed Beau , quick walk with him and found a nice drive to golob reservoir. 24 miles uphill , different landscapes, steep red cliffs , green meadows , horse, cows and a beautiful translucent blue bird . Back at ten prepared for tonight Barbeque and nice glass of wine . Starts to feellike a real vacation.