Oregon photo wrap-up
Portland is nice and all--look at this city park. But we wanted to get away from this hustle and bustle and out to the country. A few more pictures from Forest Park, and then our trip out of Portland.
Here's a volunteer from the Portland Audubon Society, with a spotted owl. First one I've ever seen!
Down at the pond we saw this exceptionally red dragonfly. Believe it or not, I didn't notice the exuvia at the bottom of the stick until just now as I post this picture.
In the pond we saw several newts swimming around!
Back down in the neighborhoods we found these giant artichoke-like flowers.
In Chinatown I found a monument to Mulberry (notice the silkworms all over the leaves) and the Jewish business community. We couldn't find the Jewish museum, which is somewhere in Chinatown.
Enough of this concrete jungle hellhole! Through the tunnel to the countryside!
Much of the area just west of Portland looks like this.
We stopped to walk around a little river. I found some rocks that weren't balanced yet and fixed them.
In the town of Tillamook, we found a farmers market. From left to right: blueberries, huckleberries, mulberries, and blackberries. I bought some blueberries. They were the best I've ever eaten. Alexis bought a peach which she proclaimed to be the best she'd ever eaten.
A visit to Tillamook just isn't complete until you visit the cheese factory.
Then we got to the beach, which has an eerie beauty.
On another day, we went a short distance east, to Multnomah Falls.
It was popular that day. I don't remember why Alexis had this look on her face.
omphalina , who is a lichenologist, took us there.
She explained that the local lichen species are stressed by poor air quality from the nearby highway and the city (only 20 miles away). The species that we did observe were the pollution tolerant ones.
Down the road a bit, this surprisingly large jumping spider (3/4 inch?) kept vigil on a guard rail post.
Thanks Oregon! I've got a feeling we'll be seeing much more of you fairly soon.