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Oregon Beach

I was without a computer for four weeks so I got a little behind with this blog. So bear with me as I add a few posts.

This is from the trip to Oregon five weeks ago. I was able to get some quality time on the beach near Florence. I was particularly fascinated by the action of the water and sand as the waves washed over a sand dollar.

Really? All to myself? Wow!
It wasn’t very warm and the Pacific is a cold ocean
Jellyfish
Sky thinks her stick is more interesting than a jelly fish
razor clam shell
Dune
Dune

Sweet Creek Falls

I had a chance to explore a little bit of western Oregon last week following a wedding near Eugene. You can see photos from the wedding here.

Afterwards, I visited my cousin at her place in Florence and of course, the girls (dogs) and I spent time at the beach, but the highlight may have been a hike with my cousin and her husband to Sweet Creek Falls. It’s a Forest Service trail near Mapleton and you can learn more about it here.

The falls are really worth the trip. It seemed that around every corner, there was another cascade of flowing water. I was glad I had packed a tripod and polarizing filter. They made all the difference in the world. Even though we were there in the mid-afternoon, the water was often shaded by the tall Douglas fir and maple trees that dominate western Oregon’s forests. Sweet wildflowers were sprinkled in with the thick ferns and other undergrowth.

Anniversary Hike

Yesterday was our sixth wedding anniversary! To celebrate, we hiked to our wedding spot and then on to Aspen Lake. It was a gloriously warm morning – we are finally getting nice weather. The wildflowers are at the peak of their bloom. Yes, it really was that vibrant. Bird song filled the air.

That’s the spot where we stood.
And here we are again.
Lots of blue larkspur
All of this burned in 2015 but except for dead shrubs, you can’t tell.
Sky celebrated with many jumps in the lake.
This yellow flower is arnica
This yellow flower is a lomatium
Most of these yellow flowers are balsamroot

Jump Splash Shake

Do it again. And again. And again.

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Evenings on the Beach

The best place for sunsets.