Janet Brien's photos

(+8 insets!) Steve and I spent a long, full week at LaPine State Park and it was just awesome! The only thing that could have improved our stay was a few more days there! The forest, the river, the trails, the proximity to endless natural beauty…we had such a super time! One day we went to Paulina Lake, which nestles within the 54,000 acres of Newberry Volcanic National Monument. The lake itself, along with its close neighbor, East Lake, are in the caldera of Newberry Volcano, an active volcanic area that formed about 600,000 years ago. We spent a lovely day hiking the perimeter of the lake, accompanied by Pumpkin, who enjoyed the beautiful lake as much as wee did. The trail meandered near the shore most of the way but also ventured into the conifer forest, climbing up at times to afford high glimpses over the lake. The most remarkable sight was the obsidian that covered the ground in some areas, littering the trail with gleaming shards of volcanic glass. There were hillsides of obsidian boulders and rocks that created an incredible sight, and Steve and I marveled at the sight of so much obsidian in one place. The walk was almost perfect the whole way. The temperature was warm and sunny without being hot. The only part that wasn't great was a stretch about half a mile long where we encountered clouds of gnats. They were completely out of control! They were in swarms so thick that you could hear them buzzing in your ears and it was necessary to flap a hand in front of my face to see the way. Bugs drive Steve crazy, so he was a very unhappy camper, worried they would be an issue for the entire hike. I told him they would probably abate once we got away from the algae-covered lake edge where they were breeding. Thankfully my guess was right and the rest of the hike was bug-free and fabulous! Today's Pictures Yes, I know…my main picture probably ought to have been a view of the lake. However, I just couldn't resist the image I got of an upended duck as it was rummaging for vegetation below! Really, can you blame me?! :D (By the way, Dduring our hike, I managed to get enough nice pictures that I'll be posting two sets to share our adventure, so here's set 1!) Insets Include… …a lovely view of Paulina Lake complete with a beautiful mountain in the background …a pair of Lodgepole Pines leaning out over the water and the trail meandering past …a lichen-covered tree stump at the edge of the water …a fishing boat buzzing by after a hopefully successful morning …one of the gleaming obsidian boulders next to the trail, irresistible to touch and admire …gleaming chunks of obsidian on the ground to stare at …one of the hillsides covered with obsidian rocks which tumbled down to the trail and invited us to explore its amazing bounty …The Squidgy Gang (Bun, George and Stormy) at Deschute River, LaPine State Park, 2020! :D I hope everyone is having a safe and pleasant week! Thank you so much for your visits and comments, I appreciate all of you! Explored on 8/20/20; highest placement #12.

(+2 insets!) Covid Trip #2: We're Having a Great Time at LaPine State Park! Hello everyone! It's been six days since we arrived at our first state park stay and everything is just fabulous! :D Last year we stayed here for just three days because it was totally booked-up, but this year we were able to reserve eight days, hooray! We've really been enjoying ourselves! There are lots of lovely trails for walking and bike riding which go along the Deschutes River, opportunities for fishing, boating and even metal detecting! We've taking Pumpkin on walks around the three campground loops here and yesterday she joined us for a 7.5-mile hike, our longest of the year (Covid trail/park closures and injuries kept us immobile)! It's been awesome! My Foot's Healed Enough for Hiking!!! I will admit that I've been very worried about my sore foot. It stopped hurting after I'd rested it for a week after we got back from our last trip, but there is now a lump under the ball of my foot. It doesn't hurt and it's slowly getting smaller I think, but I was concerned that I would have issues if I tried to walk. Still, I needed to try it out, so when we arrived at LaPine, I tried walking around a single campground loop and to my delight, I had no issue. The next day I went around two loops and then later, Steve, Pumpkin and I went around both loops together. No problem! The next day we walked all three loops and went on a short hike. Again, no soreness! Since then I've been careful of my foot and though I feel a lump under my foot, it's not hurting me so I'm crossing my fingers that in time that lump will diminish and go away. Here's hoping!! Today's Pictures A couple of days ago we drove 30 minutes to Newberry Volcanic National Monument and walked up to the top of Lava Butte, where there is a fire-lookout tower to go along with the amazing view. (There have been four different fire look-outs built there since 1931.l What a sight to see so far in all directions. I also have an inset of the brick-colored road that spiraled up to the top of the cinder cone. Although it used to be open to vehicular traffic, it's been closed since Covid and that suited us just fine! We did marvel at the crazy cyclists who huffed and puffed up the hill and then whizzed past us at a million miles an hour as a reward! One guy actually went up and down twice! My Other Inset: Bun, George and Stormy Relaxing in my Hammock! My dear ipernity friend, Jenny McIntyre , made me a trio of plush animals some months ago and I simply adore them with all my heart. I cuddle with them every night and every day they keep an eye on my bedroom from their place on my bureau. When Steve and I went on our first Covid trip, I had the trio ready to go with us and still managed to forget to bring them! This trip I made sure to pack them and I'm so happy that they are here with us! The picture I'm sharing shows them hanging out in my hammock outside our trailer! They look pretty happy to be here, don't you think?! THANK YOU FOR MY SQUIDGY GANG, JENNY!!! I LOVE THEM!! :) Here's hoping that everyone is safe and sound--keep away from cootie monsters and have a fabulous weekend! :) Explored on 8/15/20; highest placement #1.

(+9 insets!) (please view large, it's worth the time! :D) Revisiting Bullard's Beach Last year, Steve and I got to visit this state park for only a single night. We'd seen rave reviews and hoped to spend time appreciating the park but our timing couldn't have been worse. It was the Fourth of July weekend--the busiest vacation weekend of the summer--so we got what we could, which turned out to be the Eve of Fourth of July. I still remember the festive mood that pervaded the whole campground. Once we arrived and set up, we popped onto our bikes and rode around the loops. People had put up flags and 4th of July decorations, and we loved seeing folks wearing red, white and blue clothing adorned with patriotic stars and stripes. So many smiles! What a great weekend to be camping at this pretty campsite. Even though Steve and I could only enjoy the park for a few hours, we had a great time! We rode our bikes down to the beach and I got pictures to share too (see insets, second row). Fast forward to this trip…how's SEVEN NIGHTS for a perfect number?! What a wonderful, relaxing stay we had this time around! We got the time to kick back, explore and do whatever we wanted. And of course that meant that I was able to go out with my macro lens and creep around to see what I could see! My macros are the feature of today's presentation! Today's Pictures Do you know what Scotchbroom is? This bush features very lovely yellow flowers that bloom in massive clusters and can really take your breath away. However, this invasive species comes from Europe and considered to be a noxious weed because it takes over and displaces native species. Needless to say, the flowers are gorgeous and so are the seed pods, which I'm sharing as my main image today! (I'm also including a flower in an inset which I took at William Tugman State Park.) Also, if you'd like to see another nice picture of Scotchbroom, Ron Hanko has a really pretty image as well! Insets include… …a wonderful Plantain or Fleawort in bloom …a pretty grouping of Cat's Ear flowers in a sea of ferns (non-macro) …the buds and floral close-up of the stunning Douglas Spirea ...fuzzy, beautiful wild grass that's either Bottle Brush or Rabbit's Foot (I think) …a group of colorful, dying Madrone leaves soon to fall ….the lovely blossoms from the invasive Scotchbroom (I've also included couple of pictures from our first trip to Bullard's Beach) I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful day and coming week ahead! :) Thanks so much for your visits, comments and stars. You guys make me so happy!!! *big virtual hugs all around* Explored on 8/9/20; highest placement #6.

(+5 insets!) (view large to see the pretty details!) We are busy getting ready for our trip so I will have to make this short and sweet! I'd planned on sharing some pictures which showed many of the things Steve's done to upgrade the trailer and truck but I am too busy running around so I'll post them at another point. Instead, let's get right to the show! Cliff Swallows Under the Bridge! One of the wonderful features of Humbug Mountain State Park is its proximity to the ocean--the park actually has their own beautiful beach! The way to get there is by walking down a short 5-minute trail which takes you under Oregon Coast Highway 101's bridge and out to the ocean and sprawling shoreline beyond. The first time I walked to the beach, there were three things I noticed. The first thing was the incredible wind tunnel! Humbug sits in a canyon and the wind is simply amazing at its narrowest point--and yet, out at the beach the wind dies down significantly depending where you are. The second thing I noticed was the bridge you must walk under to get to the beach. I couldn't help admiring the handsomely designed architecture and paused at many points to appreciate its lines from various angles. The third thing I noticed filled me with great delight! Underneath the bridge there were dozens of mud-based nests built by Cliff Swallows! At the time I had my Canon and 100mm macro lens, and though I couldn't resist taking pictures, I knew those fabulous nests would be best-captured with my marvelous Sony camera. Today's Pictures The main picture today shows the bridge from the beach with Brush Creek flowing by to the sea. Next is a picture of the bridge from the trail down to the beach--you can see that the bridge is not flat and is going down a hill! The following insets show the wonderful nests that lined the underside of the bridge. As I took pictures, I watched the birds as they swooped in and out to their nests. Some were feeding chicks, others were working on their nests. The last image shows these birds working industriously on the construction of their nests which I thought was really interesting. These birds (Barn Swallows too) are considered to be a nuisance in many places because of the mess they create and many people do not appreciate having mud nests built under their home's eaves. Of course, it that were me, I'd be happy to invite an entire colony to build homes! Perhaps that might be a bit much though, as large groups can number 2,000 or more! If you would like to know more about these wonderful, clever birds, Wiki has a very nice page on them here: American Cliff Swallow . (By the way, if you'd like to see another wonderful picture of Cliff Swallow nests built into cliffs, Ron Hanko took this marvelous image when he and his wife were exploring Big Bend National Park back in February: Cliff Swallow Nests by Ron Hanko ) Finally, I hope you all have a fantastic and safe weekend! **virtual* HUGS!* Explored on 8/7/20; highest placement #2.

(+8 insets!) Preparations are Afoot For Covid Trip Part 2! Steve and I are gearing up for our next trip and everything is falling into place! We Got Our House Sitter Again! We were worried about getting someone to watch our house while we were away because we didn't think the fellow who usually stays here could do it. This trip doesn't have a firm "end date" so we expected that to be a really big problem. However, it turns out that since Covid's turned the world upside-down, our friend's company has changed to allow the majority of its employees to work from home. So, instead of working in town, he can stay in our house and work full time! All of us are so happy! Projects Are Nearly Complete! When we got home, Steve had a list of important projects that he needed to get done…and one by one he's been finishing them and ticking them off the list! Pictures of My Morning Walk Around Humbug Mountain State Park I'd mentioned in an earlier post that I love to immerse myself in a state park's campground by strolling around its loops every morning. The show is a highlight of each day! However, I don't take my camera because I'm out for exercise and it gets in the way of my movement. So instead, I go on my walk again later with camera in hand and slowly cruise along, snapping away at everything that caught my eye earlier. So many pretty things to see!! My main picture shows the very last flowers of the season for the Western Azalea. How lucky I felt to get pictures before they'd petered away! When I discovered this one remaining bush that had flowers, I crossed my fingers for at least one blossom that was still in good condition--imagine my joy when I found a number of them to take pictures of! I loved the pair of flowers hanging down like pendants to create a wonderful natural floral bouquet. Insets Include… …a trio of perfect Western Azalea blossoms …three pictures which show the electric-pink blossoms of the Redclaws shrub (Escallonia rubra) and also called Red Escallonia,...I initially thought these were Red Currant flowers but Ron Hanko pointed out that they couldn't be because of the blooming time and looking closer, the blossoms are all wrong. After hours of searching between us, we began to wonder if the plant wasn't native. I came up with a plant I thought might be close but Ron was the one who figured out the answer to this vexing puzzle! YAYYYYYY!!! ALL HAIL HORTICULTURIST HANKO!! :D By the way, this plant is native to Chile and Argentina and has been naturalized in many other countries. It is now considered to be invasive. …a Himalayan Blackberry blossom and leaf …a pair of pictures showing Cow Parsley flowers and buds..they are so delicately beautiful up close, aren't they? …an artistic study of leading lines and texture that stars a dried blackberry cane with a blade of grass falling into bokeh and another cane in the background which softly leads the eye back to the dried cane! Thank You and Stay Safe! All of your visits and comments are so deeply appreciated! I hope everyone is doing well in these virus-filled days and keep your guard up! Have a lovely rest of your week and enjoy your photography if you can! <3 Explored on 8/6/20; highest placement #22.

(+7 inset!) (please view large!) Injuries on the Road I mentioned that just before our trip, Steve hurt his knee and ankle and was forced to rest his leg. It took a lot longer for his injuries to heal because he needed to be up and around to tend to various trailer/truck jobs, but once he finally became a "potato", his body responded rapidly and within a week he was much better, and by the end of the trip he was able to resume most of his mobility. Wisely, we took it very slowly and it paid off. He still has a bit of soreness and stiffness from time to time but for the most part he's completely healed. As for me…about a week from the end of our trip I noticed that my right foot was a little sore on the top and also a bit on the bottom. It felt like one of those times your foot hurts oddly and then it goes away inexplicably. Only, this time it didn't go away. Since I thought it was just that routine soreness that happens once in a while, I ignored it. After a few days I couldn't deny that a) it wasn't going away and b) it was getting worse, to the point of actual pain. I couldn't imagine what I'd done to hurt my foot--no hard impacts, trips, falls, or obvious accidents. Nothing landed on it and I didn't twist it. That's why I'd initially ignored the slowly-increased ache. But it became obvious when I couldn't walk without a limp that I'd certainly done something to my foot and I'd better start focusing on healing. A Very Slow Recovery Unlike Steve's injuries, however, my foot didn't respond as well. I admit that I did use it more than I should have *shame-face*…I limped my way on a slow 3-mile macro photo walk the day before we came home and it was very annoyed with me by the time I got back to the trailer. Thus, I barely felt any improvement by the time we'd gotten home. Then I spent umpteen hours back and forth from the trailer to the house unpacking, etc., and that certainly didn't help whatsoever. It was only when I'd finished my necessary trailer-house activities that I finally began to feel some improvement. I've been a proper (couch) potato whenever possible, keeping my foot elevated and being very careful to stay off my foot unless necessary. Now, in the week before we leave, the soreness has mostly abated and I'd say I'm at about 80-85% healed. So what the heck happened? I did some reading and it turns out I most likely have an "overuse injury," along with a minor fracture somewhere in my foot and with some pulled ligaments caused by compensation. This injury is not all that uncommon in high-impact sports or dancing such as ballet. The strange thing is that I haven't been all that active during our trip. I purposely haven't gone overboard but apparently my foot felt otherwise. Anyway, I'll continue to take it easy and hopefully by the time we're off on our next trip I'll be back to normal, though I will certainly be very careful to baby my foot for a while. Just because it doesn't hurt does not mean it's 100%. So cross your fingers that I am successful at achieving completely healed foot! Today's Pictures: Another Set From Humbug Mountain State Park Beach! What a lovely, serene experience it was to visit this wonderful beach. Who doesn't love a secluded beach experience without hordes of people?! The wind was pretty fierce later in the day but when I visited earlier in the day it was just blissful! :) The main picture is a view of the jagged rocks tumbling into the sea from the left side of the beach. I shared a similar picture in my last set of pictures but this one is a panorama and shows a flock of seagulls who were relaxing there. I stood and watched them for a bit as they cleaned their feathers, pecked at the seaweed and walked around. It was nice to share this scene with them on such a lovely morning. Insets include… 1) With focused determination, a little girl marches with intent to the edge of the water… 2) A super-wide panorama shows the lovely coast from the other direction shows a darling little girl running to join her sister who is digging in the wet sand… 3) The pair of girls crouch together as a nestled pair with the magnificent coastline in the background. They would soon stand up and return to the sand castles and moat they were working on and I got to watch surreptitiously through my Sony's wonderful zoom lens. 4) A still life starring a lovely bull kelp with its characteristic gas-filled bulb (this is called a pneumatocyst) and large, flat blades; this is an edible seaweed which can grow as large as 120 feet long!! On the right is a different kind of seaweed in lustrous green. 5) Another natural still-life with a strongly-textured rock and an open mussel shell that looks like angel wings 6) Monkey Flowers grow lushly alongside the magnificent driftwood in Brush Creek, which empties into the ocean near the left side of Humbug Mountain State Park beach. 7) The driftwood and Monkey Flowers were so beautiful, adorning Brush Creek as it flowed out to the sea. Thanks to all of you for your visits, comments and stars! I hope that you all have a safe and wonderful week! Explored on 8/4/20; highest placement #6.

(+8 insets!) (Please view large! It's a wonderful zen view! :D) (Please scroll down to Today's Pictures for image details!) Fewer Locations with Longer Stays = Happy Campers! Part one of our wonderful Covid Trip lasted 26 days and yet we only stayed in four locations: Humbug Mountain State Park (7 nights), Bullard's Beach State Park (7 nights), William Tugman State Park (two 4-night stays), and Hecata (pronounced Huh-see-tuh) Beach RV Park (4 nights). We learned our lesson last season that short stays = cranky campers! Truthfully, this trip DID have 3 shorter stays of four days each but they were close to each other and that made them reasonable enough. The juggling of short stays allowed us to meet up with Steve's sister and two sons for our first RV trip with them and it was wonderful! Humbug Mountain State Park Nestled at its base, this park is a lovely gem with several picturesque trails and a gorgeous beach just five minutes from the lower campground. The mountain was originally named Me-tus by the indigenous Tututni people, though first known by Sugarloaf Mountain by American settlers. It was renamed Tichenor's Humbug --eventually shortened to Humbug Mountain --by the founder of nearby Port Orford, Captain William V. Tichenor. The name served as a permanent reminder of the exploring blunder when the party sent by Techinor got lost and headed north of the port instead of south. (The mountain has also been called Mount Franklin .) Our stay was a relaxing one in which we settled into the happy reality of our new fabulous trailer and discovered what it was like to stay put for more than a few days. What a joy! The only bummer was the fact that Steve had badly hurt his knee and sprained his ankle just before we left for our trip. This forced him to stay in the trailer and off his feet as much as possible, something that he really didn't want to do, of course. We both felt very depressed and worried about his leg and the future, and all of this weighed on our mood. However, once he got serious about resting his leg, it began to heal and we felt better in turn as the days passed. I got out for walks every day and had many photo adventures. The trails, the beach, the trek around the lower and upper campground loops--even though melancholy often colored my creative energy, the time we got to spend at this park was enough that I was able to photograph my experience there really well! Ultimately, we hope to come back and stay for another week so that Steve and I can hike all of the trails together, go beach-combing, and allow him to experience the park's grandeur too! A Lovely Morning on Humbug Mountain State Park Beach I went out to the beach many times and got to wander around, soaking up the beauty of the place. The wind was pretty fierce and maybe that's why there weren't many people on the beach most of the time, though families could be seen here and there each day. The scenery was magnificent and I enjoyed taking pictures of the craggy coast as well as macros of the things I found washed up on the shore. Today's Pictures You have to count your lucky stars when you see such a perfect scene for a picture. Arriving at the beach one day, I immediately noticed the pair in my main picture, seated on a log and enjoying the incredible view. I got lots of shots from many angles but I liked this one the best, creating a panorama from the image to give a sense of what they were experiencing. A slice of heaven. :) Insets include… A pile of prayer stones with a soft-focus boulder off in the distance… A magnificent craggy coast line where rocks of all sizes met the crashing waves next to the beach… Layers of sand with a granite rock jutting up for a focal point… A seagull flying overhead, just one of the many that often wheeled about overhead or gathered on the shore… A colorful crab carapace on the sand, glistening from the water that washed over it… A close-up of the shell to see the gorgeous texture… Kelp that lay in a Rastafarian jumble with a shallow dof so the end faded to artistic softness… And finally, a natural still life with a feather stuck to a bit of seaweed. That feather was very stubborn and though the wind tore at it, the feather merely waved around and would not be swept away! :) Here's hoping all of you are safe and healthy and having a wonderful day! :) Thanks so much for your visits, comments, stars, and for your never-ending encouragement and interest in my photography and our adventures! :) You're the best. <3 Explored on 8/1/20; highest placement #2.

(+3 insets!) We're Back From our Covid Trip! Best. Trip. Evar! Steve and I got home a few days ago and we're delighted to report that it was the very best trip we've been on since we began our RV camping trips last year! Despite the scary concepts of virus everywhere, we travelled from one place to the next and had a safe and wonderful series of adventures. Our rig is all we could have hoped for--the trailer is just incredible and the truck is handling the load perfectly! We have learned how to slow down, relax, and chill out. I've had time to enjoy hammocks (Steve's a master!), macro photography, reading, writing--even playing video games if the mood suits me. Steve's gotten to chat with folks and make new friends, go fishing, play video games, fiddle around with trailer and truck enhancements, etc. We've been hiking and bike riding, shared weenie-roasts and time with Steve's family. Most importantly, it's a fact that travelling has always been hard on our relationship in one way or another, but not this time!! That's the best part of all and we couldn't be happier about the whole kit and caboodle! Finally, we've even figured out how to bring our whole family with us--frogs, our snake, and of course our parrot and grand supervisor, Pumpkin--and this totally completes us! In the time since we left for our first adventure, the weather turned from warm to blasting inferno--over 100 degrees most days, ugh! This has been a bit of a shock to our systems every time step outside but we're slowly getting used to it. Also, since we now view our trailer more as our home than our actual home, readjusting is a bit odd. The one thing we really don't like about where we live is the incredible summer heat, blah! The moment we got back, Steve's been buzzing around with laser focus towards his list of projects. There are lots of things to modify and add to the trailer, fix and resupply. It's astonishing to see everything he's done in this short time already! Besides shopping for essentials, he's gotten materials for a bunch of things he's working on. Currently he's installing a super-cool attachment that will store and secure our fold-up Porta-Bote to the side of our RV, so we'll have it with us on our next trip! I have been running around the house, updating lists, organizing and preparing for our next trip in a couple of weeks. There's a lot of coordination involved and Steve and I have quite the partnership down. I've also been processing images from the trip but I haven't had time to post them because I have to focus on preparation. However, I'm finally at a point where I can begin putting images up again, so here we go! :) Today's Pictures Our first seven days was spent at a truly lovely campground called Humbug Mountain State Park. I was so happy that I finally had time to relax and take pictures of all types--most especially macro--but I also had time to watch critters and wait for opportunities for good pictures. Walking to the beach one day with my marvelous Sony camera presented just that chance! My main picture shows an American Robin that stopped in mid-run to listen and look for bugs. You will notice that it's wet! Apparently it had just had a bath and wasn't dry yet, what fun! My first inset shows a portrait which turned out nicely too! Insets also include a picture of a colorful chalk-drawn star that was right outside our trailer, and on the trailer door itself, I found this adorable caterpillar! (I captured this cutie with my macro lens) I hope everyone is doing well! Stay safe and comfortable!! Explored on 7/29/20; highest placement #1.

(+10 insets!) (This is very long but hopefully entertaining! Enjoy! Photo descriptions are below under "Today's Pictures" :D) It's So Windy!! Everyone knows that coastlines tend to be windy. Growing up in San Francisco, the torrential winds and thick fog sweeping in from Ocean Beach still held a lot of bite three miles away at our family home seated at the base of the centrally-located Mount Davidson. It's easy to understand why cold wind is one of my least favorite weather conditions. As much as I adore rugged coastlines and picturesque beaches, I am not a fan of the bone-chilling, finger-freezing weather that often accompanies the breathtaking views. Up until now, our stays along the coast have included plenty of wind but it's been tolerable and no big deal, especially when we dress for a walk on the beach. However, our stay at Heceta Beach RV Park has been in a different class all-together. The winds begin at the crack of dawn with a telling 5mph breeze that rustle the bushes. By 11:00am those poor bushes are whipping around like gremlins are sitting underneath, maniacally shaking the branches with wild abandon, their howls of mirth adding to the wailing wind. All afternoon until the early evening, the wind whips through the trees, gusting to 25-30mph, shaking the trailer in vain attempts to pick it up and fling it miles away. We want to go agate hunting, confound it all! We want to wander around the area's well-known dunes and take pictures of the pristine mountains of sand there. We had a plan! A Romantic Walk on the Beach…Errr….Maybe Not Steve and I drove forty-five minutes south through Florence and down the coast to visit the Oregon Dunes National Recreational Area. Fanciful ideas of how our adventure would go filled our heads… We would walk along the beach together, hand in hand. Here and there we would bend to pick up amazing agates to add to our collection of rocks to tumble when we got home. As we made our way along the beach, I would pause now and again to take pictures of the windswept dunes, and together we would ooh and ahh at the sight. We should have known better. I'd seen the forecast. Prominently positioned at the top of the page was a stern warning: "!! SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY !! Gusty winds of up to 40mph+ and steep seas could capsize or damage smaller vessels." But surely that didn't apply to us, right?! Visiting the Oregon Dunes National Recreational Area Stretching nearly 40 miles down the coast, Oregon Dunes National Recreational Area is one of the world's longest temperate coastal sand dunes in the world. It is hugely popular with the off-road vehicle crowd, but there's plenty of space for nature lovers too. It's also an important nesting ground for the darling and endangered shore bird, the Western Snowy Plover . All of the dry, sandy areas of the dunes where grass grow are important breeding grounds, and all of it is strictly off-limits to people. Excellent! Arriving at the northern-most park entrance at Sitcoos Beach, we pulled over to pay the self-service parking fee. Carrying on, we passed many windswept mounds of grass-covered sand, stunted bushes and bedraggled trees and soon pulled into a space at the parking lot. We weren't alone. Lots of trucks with trailers were there too. Some had motorcycles, ATVs and other off-road vehicles in place, but most were empty, their occupants off on adventures in the dunes. The wind roared. Sand drifted across the parking lot in diagonal streaks and the grass at the tops of the dunes rippled beautifully in golden waves. We put our windbreakers over our long-sleeved shirts and sweaters and hopped out. Time for our romantic adventure! Staggering drunkenly towards a trail that went up and over a dune leading to the beach, we noticed a pair of bundled-up people standing at the trailhead. We figured they might be rangers but when we got close, they asked us if we'd been here before and if we knew about the Western Snowy Plovers. We told them we did and looking past them, we could also see there were roped-off areas to keep people off the grass-covered dunes, as this was a breeding habitat. The volunteers let us know what areas to avoid, though happily, they were plain to see. We thanked them for standing out there in the whipping, cold wind and really appreciated what they were doing for these birds. It's because of efforts like these that the population has risen from 30 to 400 over the past 15-20 years. We climbed slowly up the deep, sandy trail that led over the dune, sliding back half a foot for every foot we made forward. Persistence wins, so a few minutes later we got to the top and looked out to the beach below. We didn't like seeing the deep, soft sand that led down quite a ways before firming up much closer to the sea. More than that, the wind hit us full-force in the face, unobstructed by dunes or distance from the ocean. Grains of sand stung our cheeks and my eyes teared at the velocity. Steve burst out laughing, "This is insane! I've been in plenty of windy places but this has to be the windiest place ever!" I laughed in agreement as we carefully headed down the sandy slope, trying to balance against the crazy gusts of wind. I teetered and tottered, nearly losing my balance several times. Finally we got out to firmer sand and Steve turned to look at me, cackling at the ridiculousness of it all. "Your HAIR!! It's everywhere!" "What?! I can't hear you over the wind" I cried. He came closer and repeated himself. I looked at him and guffawed in return, "The wind filling your windbreaker makes you look like a Pillsbury Dough Boy!!" "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!!!" Steve couldn't stop laughing and came over…not only was his windbreaker full of air, it was madly flapping in the gale-force winds. Scanning the beach, we noticed broken shells from crabs and mollusks and a smattering of rocks here and there, but it was obvious that we were in the wrong place today. Looking up at the dune that trailed off down the beach, I saw that it wasn't the pristine sand mounds I'd dreamed of and agreed: this was not the place for our happy rock-hunting walk. The wind blew me off my footing if I wasn't leaning into the wind or standing carefully at a 45-degree angle. This was no place to be! So, before we turned and hobbled back to the truck, we took funny pictures of each other to laugh at in the future. Then we made our way slowly up and over the sandy hill, stopping once so Steve could pour the beach out of his shoes. At the truck I did the same thing, pulling off my shoes and socks and smacking them against a railing to remove the sand. I even had sand between my toes, the poor dears! :) Even though we didn't have the long, romantic adventure we'd planned on, our short visit was hilarious and great fun in the end. We'll be back--and in fact, when September rolls around, we are planning to stay at a state park within the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area called Honeyman Memorial State Park , we'll have ample opportunity to appreciate the dunes then. Today's Pictures If you read this epic War & Peace-length post, you'll know that our visit to the Oregon Dunes didn't turn out quite as we'd hoped, but it was a super visit anyway. In fact, the main picture here--along with the other sand dune pictures I'm sharing--are not from the park at all! You'll laugh when you read the truth! Steve and I went grocery shopping one day and as we pulled into the parking lot, we both shrieked, "LOOK AT THE SAND DUNES!!" Just behind the store rose a magnificent wall of sand that looked like a transplant from the Sahara Desert! After we were done shopping we drove over and I took some pictures. I had no idea they would turn out so well! You can even see the sand flying off the tops! I'm so happy! The other insets show our misadventure at the Dunes: a picture of the beach and two images showing the roped off Plover nesting grounds, which stretch miles down the beach. I also included a picture of Steve impersonating the Pillsbury Dough Boy and a couple of me trying to hold my ground in the torrential wind! What fun we had! And if you've read all the way to the end here, I SALUTE YOU! :D Here's hoping you have a lovely rest of your week! :) Explored on 7/22/20; highest placement #8.

(+5 insets!) (full-size is dreamy!) :) I haven't had much time to write so here's another entry from my trip file! Oh, the Joy of a Window-Filled Trailer! As I type, I'm glancing out at the campsite next to us. I am lounging on my perfect little bed, custom-made to fit the twin-sized space in my perfect little room. (My bed sits on a custom-made bed frame, complete with three huge drawers for storage, made beautifully by Steve!) This bed sits in a nook that is entirely filled with windows! Two tall, narrow ones on either end and a bisected, full size window on the long side! Every window in our coach is darkened so that in the daytime, people can't see in but we have a marvelous view outside. I am seated about five feet off the ground so it's like an eagle's nest! The floor of the entire coach is much higher than our old Grey Wolf trailer and we can't get over the awesomeness of the great views we have. To be honest, one of the (many) selling points of this trailer were all of the windows! The entire dining and kitchen area are completely filled with windows, with exception for the back wall where the stove/oven, coffee counter and refrigerator reside. The hallway leading up the three stairs to the master bedroom has a tall narrow window and there's also a window in the outer door. The master bedroom has a large one on one wall and the head of the bed there are a pair of tall narrow windows on each side. Even the bathroom has light streaming in through the skylight! The overall effect of this beautifully lit coach is cheery and inviting, an expansive space that's totally comfortable and homey. What an opposite to the Grey Wolf. No matter how many lights we added to that tin can cave, there was no way to make it feel homey and truly nice. It really was a "weekender" trailer and when we finally admitted defeat, one of the things on our "Won't Sacrifice" list was Lots of Windows! Our Avalanche is a dream come true! Yeah, But What About All That Light in the Morning?! You might wonder how we get any sleep when the light begins to tinge the sky at o-dark-hundred every day. Well, every window also has its own black-out blind and they work perfectly! Paired with tinted windows, it could be high noon out in the desert and still dark as a tomb inside! To be honest, some light does come in but it's totally negligible. The litmus test is our little parrot, Pumpkin. If it's getting light and she awakens, she begins a non-stop series of darling little peeps to say good morning, letting us know it's time to start the day. However, with these blackout blinds, the coach is dark until we say so…hurray! Today's Pictures I got lots of really neat pictures when we were at Humbug Mountain State Park, and my main picture is a favorite! These flowers are about 4" in diameter and simply glow in the morning light so I was delighted when I was able to get a worthy capture. I am also including an inset that shows a pair of these pretty flowers, as well as a meadow filled with Cat Ear flowers, and a Hedge Blindweed vine (an invasive flower in the morning glory family but not a true Morning Glory, which is in the ipomena genus ) wrapped around a blackberry cane. Finally, the opening bud of a Queen Anne's Lace couldn't be passed up--they are just magnificent--and last but not least, a Cat Ear plant with webs all over it! :) (I found an interesting, short, and picture-filled page about this plant and similar ones here: Invasive Vine Weeds for those who are curious!) This morning is lovely and sunny and we are hoping to drive down to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and then go agate rock hunting on the beach! Wish us luck! Sending my *virtual* hugs and love your way! Explored on 7/19/20; highest placement #4.

Lovely Little Morning Hikes! Steve and I spent several days at a wonderful place called William Tugman State Park, a spot we immediately fell in love with! Unfortunately, we couldn't be there more than three days but we are booked for four more in a week's time, so all is not lost! :D This park rates really high for me because there are hikes that leave from the campsite itself, and that means that my daily morning walk gets to be a lovely hike to start my day! How awesome is that?! Walk With Me! A fun stroll around this small campground's combined A, B, and C Loops lead me out the main road and past the pullout to the tidy garbage and RV dump area. A bit further is a beautiful, mowed and tree-studded meadow with a meandering cement walk that leads past a cute little playground, a handsome gazebo and picnic tables placed here and there in the meadow. Twinkling views of the nicely-sized Eel Lake take over and we arrive at a perfect dock for fishing, with a boat launch beside it. The water is cobalt-blue and sparkling with sunshine catching every ripple. The breeze is fragrant and just the right temperature...it's so nice. If it's early enough, walking out on the dock will reveal a host of salamanders swimming around in the water just below the surface! Incredible! Past the boat launch is a short, yet absolutely idyllic walking trail that leads about half a mile around the left side of the lake (1.1 mile total), and that is my morning walk for the three days we are here! Just before the trail disappears into the fern and fir-studded forest, we pass by an outbuilding of some sort. It is surrounded by cyclone fencing, and in front of the fence are beautiful masses of clover flowers in full bloom. Perfect for today's picture, no?! :) I'll write more about this pretty trail at my next opportunity! I got lots of wonderful pictures with my beloved macro lens when I took my favorite camera with me on one of my walks! I hope everyone is doing GREAT! Stay safe! Explored on 7/18/20; highest placement #1.

(+6 insets!) Serenity Amidst Virus Insanity…Aren't We Lucky! The news continues to boggle our minds but we are keeping our fingers crossed that we're able to camp as we wish! This is our third week out now and we're enjoying every precious moment! I've changed the way I do my posts…now I am just writing whatever and whenever I like, and when it's time to post a picture, I'll grab a topic I wrote and add it to my post! This makes my uploads less of a time-intensive task and more in keeping with relaxing and not being too serious about everything. It's nice! So, here you go! My Morning Walk When I'm at home, I like to start my morning (after my shower, coffee, cider drink + vitamins, of course) with a 30+ minute tromp up and down our driveway. The grade is steep enough to promise good exercise and it's wonderful to listen to the birds and perhaps get the chance to watch our resident turkeys and deer wandering by. When we're out camping though, I get the marvelous opportunity to go on a walk around the entire campground! Every one is different in appearance, size and number of areas to visit. It's such a great way to begin the day! Walking around each loop, I get to see everyone's RV (recreational vehicle) and see how they set up their individual campsite. There are plenty of traditional tent campers too and every single arrangement is interesting and fun to look at as I stroll by. Another nice thing about visiting the whole campground is the added sense of community I get. As I make my way around, I say good morning to everyone I pass by or to whomever notices me. The cheerful exchange is so bright and happy--what's better than exchanging big smiles with others in this natural place?! Steve and I don't have kids so, it's very interesting to see the variety of families and how they experience a vacation away from home. Sitting at picnic tables and eating meals, parents chat and cook, clean and relax. Kids play with their dogs, ride bikes around the loops and play games together. The situations are endless and such fun to take a peek at. It is so enjoyable to have these small glimpses into family life out on the road! A couple of days ago I saw such a sweet exchange. A man was couched down in front of his beautiful liver-and-white spotted Springer Spaniel. The dog, who appeared to be glowing with health and happiness, was laying on its chest with feet out in front. The man gently hand-fed kibble from a gleaming metal bowl with such a tender look on his face, his dog taking each mouthful with great satisfaction. Unnoticed, I stood and watched with a beaming smile on my face, my hands clasped behind my back. I didn't want to disturb their dear story so after about 30 seconds I walked on, sighing happily that I got to see this love shared between two best friends. Today's Pictures With time to relax, I'm doing macro photography like crazy and getting so many satisfying images. I've gotten some insect pictures too, including today's bumble bee and hoverfly pictures! I'm also including a pair of pictures that show a mama spider with her babies clinging to the hairs on her back! What a marvelous surprise that was! I'd gone on a walk down to the beach at Humbug Mountain State Park when I noticed a spider racing across the sand. I couldn't resist taking pictures when it stopped nearby, but I had no idea how special these photos would be. When I transferred my pictures over and took a closer look, I almost fell over! Why, she had babies all over her back, all clinging to her hairs like little troopers! Aren't they cute?! I must admit my great luck with these rare sights…my last inset is a picture I took last year when we were camping at Diamond Lake. I found a mama spider carrying her egg sac with her as she ran along! Thank You All!! You've all been so wonderful with your lavish comments, stars, and warm messages…talk about making a person feel great! *hugs all around* Here's hoping everyone is doing well and having a nice time too! Explored on 7/16/20; highest placement #2.

(+2 insets!) (Bigger is even better!) :) I want to make sure I have time to post this so I'm just posting a quick note to go with my pictures today! We are about to leave our wonderful campground, Bullard's Beach State Park and we had a wonderful stay! We will be heading about an hour north for a three day-stay at our next campsite. Unfortunately, that was the longest we could get for the time slot, but after another four days at a different place, we'll be back for another four days. Heh, I know that's not the same thing as seven uninterrupted days but sometimes you don't have a choice in these things! Today's Pictures I had a very nice time creeping around with my macro lens and got bunches of really neat pictures. Along the way I found these marvelous bushes covered with red-cloaked, round black berries. I thought it was very interesting that the berries grew in pairs…and so when I discovered the name of this plant was Twinberry, I had to laugh! Perfect! While I took photos, I couldn't help focusing on my favorite part--the beautifully shaped, red bracts surrounding the berries. Upon investigating online, I learned they are called involucre , and is part of the botany name of Black Twinberry, "Lonicera involucrata" . (These plants also have a red version, naturally called Red Twinberry ) I was also fascinated to learn that these berries are a kind of honeysuckle! The plant grows like a bush, which threw me off because I thought all honeysuckles are vines. However, when I learned it was in the honeysuckle family it all made sense do me. The honeysuckle that grows on our property has the very same berries, except that they are red. The leaves are the same too, and looking at pictures of the flowers, they are also quite similar. It's so fascinating to see the various species of a plant group, isn't it? So, as I took pictures, I took turns concentrating on the berries and then the lovely red bracts. Then I saw a lovely red flash…and gasped in surprise! Would you just look at that? Bracts that appeared to be a lovely red butterfly with perfectly shaped berries to represent a thorax and head! Seriously, what are the odds?! :D This picture just HAD to be my main image today! I'm also including some other views of these pretty berries--a pair to admire and a folded-over bract that looks like a red bat! :) I hope you like them! I wanted to give everyone hugs for all of the attention you've been giving my pictures, and for the lovely comments and stars. I appreciate you all so much. I was able to visit some of you finally and it was great to see what you've been sharing with us here on ipernity! Here's hoping everyone stays safe and healthy in these crazy days! Here's more information about these berries that I found very interesting: Twinberry, also called bearberry honeysuckle, is in the honeysuckle family. Twinberries are very common in the Cape Lookout State Park at the base of Netarts Spit. Unlike their cousins, the climbing and pink honeysuckles which are twining vines and can occur in our area, the twinberry is an erect shrub that may grow to more than twelve feet high. Its paired yellow flowers each have a five-lobed, tubular corolla. The flowers are subtended by a pair of large, green bracts that turn red as the fruits mature into pairs of shiny black berries. These berries are bitter and considered inedible, but their juice has been used as a dye. Its leaves are opposite, they have petioles, and they are rather shiny on top. They drop off in the winter. There are two varieties of twinberries, the coastal Lonicera var. ledebourii, occurring in coastal Oregon and California, and the mountain Lonicera var. involucrata, found in all western and the lake states. From Netarts Bay Today Explored on 7/14/20; highest placement #1.

Twinberry, also called bearberry honeysuckle, is in the honeysuckle family. Twinberries are very common in the Cape Lookout State Park at the base of Netarts Spit. Unlike their cousins, the climbing and pink honeysuckles which are twining vines and can occur in our area, the twinberry is an erect shrub that may grow to more than twelve feet high. Its paired yellow flowers each have a five-lobed, tubular corolla. The flowers are subtended by a pair of large, green bracts that turn red as the fruits mature into pairs of shiny black berries. These berries are bitter and considered inedible, but their juice has been used as a dye. Its leaves are opposite, they have petioles, and they are rather shiny on top. They drop off in the winter. There are two varieties of twinberries, the coastal Lonicera var. ledebourii, occurring in coastal Oregon and California, and the mountain Lonicera var. involucrata, found in all western and the lake states. From www.netartsbaytoday.org/Yellowish_Flowers.html

(+2 insets) This is the Life! We are nearly through our second full-week of camping now and life is great! Everything we'd hoped this trailer would be for us has been realized. It's spacious, well-made (ok, within reason…heh…trailers = shoddy builds), totally comfortable and has more storage that we need so we aren't having to repack everything when we are getting an item we're after. Happy Animal Family! Our animal family is doing great! Pumpkin, our darling parrot, is as happy as a clam with mom and dad usually close by whenever we're in the trailer. One way to tell that she's at ease is the amount of food she eats. Perhaps she needs a piggy tail as she's chowing like a 700-pound porker, yay! :) Meanwhile, our near-20-yr old frogs are content enough that they are hooting at one another and eating crickets with wild abandon. We are joyfully amused that they take turns soaking in the little pool we have for them, it's such a cute sight! And last but not least, Snakey McSnakerton started the trip in pre-shed condition with a gray sheen and opaqued eyes. We offered him a mouse a few days ago but as we expected, he didn't eat it--he rarely eats just before he sheds but we wanted to give him the opportunity. Yesterday Steve turned Snakey's light on and found a bunched-up shed up against the glass--for the next while he stood cooing beautiful, gleaming sentiments at our lovely boy. Snakey really is extra pretty just after he sheds! At lunchtime I got a mouse ready for him (they are frozen so I thaw and warm one for him before offering) and after dancing it around in front of him and placing it nearby, I was happy to find him swallowing the last of it when I checked in a bit later. So it's official--all of our animals think the RV lifestyle is fantastic, just like we do! :) Steve's Injured Leg is Nearly 100% Better! I didn't mention that just before we left on our trip, Steve seriously hurt himself. A ladder he was on shifted and fell in the gravel driveway and he sustained a terrible sprained ankle and badly-twisted knee. For the entire week at Humbug Mountain State Park, Steve was barely able to walk around without being in a lot of pain. Unfortunately, there were a lot of things he needed to do which kept him from resting his leg, all of which prolonged the injuries. However, as he was able to rest and elevate his leg, it very slowly began to get better. In the past few days the rate of recovery has really sped up. In fact, for the first time this trip, we went on a bike ride a couple of days ago! It was such a gentle trip around the three campground loops that Steve added another mile down one of the bike paths! And last night he was able to walk up and down the three stairs inside our coach without using the handrail or going down one step at a time. We lit up the coach with our beaming smiles of relief and happiness, isn't it just wonderful?! Time to Relax and Enjoy our Stay We learned last year that short stays at a campground are a bummer. Just when you've really relaxed and begun to feel at home, it's time to pack up and leave for the next spot. These 2-4-day stays made us feel hurried, unhappy and stressed-out. We decided that the perfect length of stay would be a full week if possible, with five days being a preferred minimum. So, for this trip, we've aimed at 7-day stays at our chosen campgrounds and the result has been fantastic! We have time to do what we want to without feeling like we must plan our days carefully to fit everything in. We just enjoy ourselves and whatever happens, happens! Time to be lazy and take naps, swing in the hammock or sit in our lounge chairs just watching folks walk or ride by. Time to read, do crosswords or cruise the 'net (if it's available). Time to go on my daily morning walk, or go out later with my macro lens and creep around for cool shots. Time to listen to the birds singing or maybe even watch them doing their thing. Time to cuddle Chicken (Pumpkin) and look at our frogs and snake. Time to go on bike rides or go on hikes. There's even time to play video games if we want! Finally, Steve and I can stay in these beautiful places and really relax and soak up all they have to offer. We are at peace. Today's Pictures I've got piles of processed pictures building up but today I've decided to share the blue jay pictures I captured last week. One day when we were at Humbug Mountain State Park, Steve saw a flash of blue and looked out to see that a Steller's Jay had landed next to the trailer. He called to me so I could see and then exclaimed, "Oh wow! It's sunning itself!" I looked out and we stood watching the beautiful bird warming its wings, a second bird landing nearby a moment later. I didn't think I'd be able to get pictures before the birds flew away but Steve reminded me that it's worth a try. I'm so glad I got my Sony because I was able to get a whole bunch of pictures before finally the pair flew away. I'm sharing two insets as well--one shows a nice side view and the other is a feather close-up! ENJOY! I hope everyone is doing well!! I'll be posting again in the next few days with some really neat finds! *BIG HUGS ALL AROUND* Explored on 7/12/20; highest placement #1.

(+5 insets!) We're Camping and Having a Blast! Life is just wonderful! Hello everyone! Steve and I are into our second week of our trip and having a great time! Our trailer is absolutely magnificent. My little bedroom is simply perfect and so my bed! Steve's is just as comfortable--we are so happy! Our coach is sumptuous and spacious and allows us to move around without bumping into each other whenever we do something. Especially nice is the fact that our kitchen has an island with access to the sink from either side! Our family is doing just as well as we are…Snakey McSnakerton has a smaller habitat that's large enough for him to cruise around but not too big either. Our two frogs are set up in a smaller terrarium too and enjoying their little pool along with daily cricket installments! :) Pumpkin is having a super time--she adores travelling and every day is full of happy adventures for her--whether that means going on a walk around the park in her little backpack cage or sitting in her cage with a carrot in a foot to nibble on while looking out of all the windows of our marvelous coach! Amidst the Pandemic, Camping with Others is Fine! It's been no problem staying at State Parks! Everyone has been super-respectful of social distancing and everyone is cheerful and happy. If I didn't know there was a world-wide virus to be careful about, you certainly wouldn't know by looking around. Families are acting normally and when I pass by people, we just keep our distance. How nice is that?! :) Humbug Mountain State Park and the Gorgeous Oregon Coast How very lucky we are! Last year when we did our coastal trip in our first RV (recreational vehicle), we passed by this state park and wondered if we'd ever be able to get a spot. To our amazement, when Steve looked into reservations, he was able to get us 7 nights there--the only spot that was available in fact! What are the odds, right?! Delighted doesn't express our joy! The campground has two loops to accommodate both RVs and traditional tent campers. The lower of the two loops has a sandy trail that leads along a the babbling Brush Creek to the ocean beach beyond. Situated in a canyon, there is an almost constant wind, though here and there are areas that are protected from the wind and are lovely and warm to walk through. There are hiking trails that make their way up and around the beautifully forested park and even a trail to the top of Humbug Mountain. It is a slice of paradise. Today's Pictures I have lots to chatter about but don't want to run out of time before posting my pictures so here we go! Today I'm featuring pictures of Humbug Mountain State Park beach and the creek that runs into the ocean at the beach. Included are several views of each and a panorama too! I hope everyone is doing well, I am so happy to be back to my bright-eyed and bushy-tailed self! Explored on 7/8/20; highest placement #1.

(+1 inset!) Just a quick hello today! I saw this picture in my finished images for Spring in Medford and couldn't resist posting it today! I remember seeing this pretty flower up against its backyard fence and wondered if I could turn it into something pretty. The result is much nicer than I imagined, hooray! :) I've also included an inset of pretty pink tree blossoms against a Formosa bush in full bloom! Steve and I are busy bees, getting ready for our trip! We were delighted to learn that our house-sitting friend, who stays at our place when we are away on trips, was totally bouncing up and down when we asked if he was available. Heh...stir-crazy doesn't cut it and I think he'd come over and help push us out the door if possible! LOL! It is nice to have someone here though--any of you folks have caretakers when you're out of town for a while? It's a nice trade we think! Anyway, I've got lots to do so off I go! Take care all and thanks so much for the visits and comments! You're the best! Explored on 6/26/20; highest placement #1.