Let's Go Hiking to the Coast - Wordless Wednesday

Tomorrow's Thanksgiving. So let's work up an appetite for our turkey dinner by hiking to the Oregon Coast in Florence. We did this trek in September starting at one of the many parks just south of Florence. I hope it motivates you to get out and get moving tomorrow in preparation for the big feast.

After a picnic lunch, we started down the trail at the top of the bluff.

A significant portion of our hike was in soft sand. Can you spell "workout"? Fortunately the trail through the wooded area was fairly firm so we had a bit of a break.

Then we went through a grassland area. Notice the sand. It's fairly soft.

Up and over a small bluff and we were at the beach and the Pacific Ocean.

We arrived the day after the nesting period for the Snowy Plover had ended. Apparently there were restrictions on where you could walk during designated nesting times.

Even though it was sunny, there was a haze along the coast which made for some interesting pictures.

You never know what will appear. In this case it was the park rangers patrolling the beach.

On the way back, Husband decided to take the short cut up the bluff and through the very deep sand. You can see him starting out in the photo below. Did I mention the sand was very deep and it was uphill? Hehehe.

Me? I took the scenic and shaded route the way we had come down. Did I mention this trail was firm?

I had a lovely, leisurely time snapping pictures on the way back up to the car. Husband not so much. He was found waiting at the car pretty much whupped. Did I mention the sand was deep?

All in all it was a very enjoyable day trip to a location I had been wanting to visit for years decades. We did come through the area in the 1990s but the wind was blowing, it was raining and there were two little kids asleep in the car. No, we did not stop and get out.

I hope you enjoyed this photo essay and find yourself motivated to get out either work up an appetite for your turkey dinner or work off your Thanksgiving Dinner (or whatever dinner you might be enjoying if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving).


© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

College Football Fun - Go Ducks - Wordless Wednesday

The University of Oregon Ducks have quite the pre-game ceremony which includes their mascot leading the football team into the stadium on a motorcycle. Fun!

Source:

University of Oregon Duck. Digital Photograph. 29 October 2011; original taken by and privately held by Michelle Goodrum, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE]. 2011.

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Crabapples - Wordless Wednesday

Do you ever run across something during the course of your day that causes old memories to come flooding back? That's what happened yesterday while buying apples at the grocery store.

Crabapples, those sour little apples, used to fill our front yard every fall. It meant three things for our family: a visit from Grandma for a crabapple jelly making session, picking up crabapples, and a tummy ache from eating too many (I'm not sure why we ate them because they really make you pucker!). Lots of fun. Well, mostly fun.

The crabapple tree is still producing plenty of fruit. Here I am picking an imaginary crabapple just before The Family Home sold this past summer.

Michelle & the crabapple tree in front of The Family Home. June 2011.

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Flowers & Butterflies on Wordless Wednesday

On our recent visit to the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster Colorado, not only was there a wide variety of butterflies but also exotic flowers to feed the butterflies.

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Butterflies Everywhere - Wordless Wednesday

This past weekend, while visiting the Denver area, we stopped into the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster. It was our second visit and we had just as much fun as the first time. It's a great place to spend a couple of hours whether you are a little kid or a big kid.

The butterflies were posing for us this time so we had lots of fun snapping the shutter.

In addition to the butterflies and beautiful flowers, there is also a room that I will call the bug and spider room. There are bugs and spiders of every imaginable shape and size from all over the world. I didn't take many pictures in that room. Ick.

In this picture on the right there are 3 butterflies. Can you see all three? The large one, bottom center, is an Atlas butterfly.


This was one of my favorites because of all the different colors.

I love their little faces. This is a close up of another Atlas that one of the volunteers was carrying around on a stick for visitors to see close up. I have no idea how they got this butterfly to stay on that stick!

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

I'm Telling You... on Wordless Wednesday

...stay away from...

...my mud puddle!

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

US Open of Surfing - Wordless Wednesday

While in Huntington Beach, California this summer for a softball tournament, we had the pleasure of spending time down by the pier while the US Open of surfing was going on. There were lots of people and interesting things to watch.

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Mt Rainier - Wordless Wednesday

These photos fit in nicely with recent posts (Summer & Vacations and Water)that are part of Amy Coffin's 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & Family History.

Mt. Rainier and downtown Seattle from about 25-30 miles away.

Next summer, I would like to be at this spot on a clear day as the cruise ships are sailing by on their way to Alaska!

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Dust Storm - Wordless Wednesday

The other day we had a pretty big dust storm blow through. This time someone (Husband) was paying attention and sent me out to grab some pictures. I stayed out as long as I dared to.

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

My Addiction-Wordless Wednesday

This week's theme on the Digital Photography School blog is My Addiction. I just couldn't resist this one!

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

An Aerial View of the Cascades - Mt. Hood - Wordless Wednesday

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Out For a Walk - Wordless Wednesday

I ran into this group while out for a walk in Eugene, Oregon. They were pretty excited to see me.

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

An Aerial Tour of the Cascades - Mt. St. Helens on Wordless Wednesday

Continuing with our tour of the peaks of the Cascade Mountain range, this week I present Mt. St. Helens. These two pictures were taken as we flew into Seattle on the morning of June 14th to wrap up things with the Family Home.

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

An Aerial Tour of the Cascade Peaks - Wordless Wednesday

The past several months I have made numerous trips to the family home to finalize the downsizing efforts. I finally figured out that if I keep my camera handy, I can get some incredible pictures of the mountain peaks of the Cascades as we approach Seattle (weather permitting that is).

This week I present Mt. Rainier. If you look closely at the first picture you can see Mt. Hood in the background.

Taken on the morning of June 14 flying into Seattle from Eastern Washington.

Also taken the morning of June 14th.

Taken the evening of June 20th from the west as we departed Seattle.

 © 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Grand Canyon -Part 2 on Wordless Wednesday

While we were visiting the Grand Canyon last month, we took a little hike down Bright Angel Trail. There's this little spot called the Mile and A Half Rest House that looked doable.

The scenery on the way down was stunning.

After a nice picnic lunch, we headed back up for the mile and a half return hike. Did I mention it was uphill? One thing I failed to notice on the way down was how steep this one section was. You can bet your bottom dollar that I noticed how steep it was on the way up!

Happy and proud to have taken this little excursion!

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Grand Canyon - Part 1 on Wordless Wednesday

Last month we had company which made for the perfect excuse for a road trip to the Grand Canyon. The first glimpse of the canyon always leaves me speechless and in awe. Words cannot adequately describe the Canyon and pictures don't do it justice, although we try.

I would love to hike down to the river someday. It's a lot farther than it looks though.

On our second day at the Canyon, we went for a little hike down Bright Angel Trail. Check back next week for a couple of pictures.
© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Saguaro Blossoms - Wordless Wednesday

Every spring, in the southwest, the saguaro cactus blooms for a short period each day. The flowers typically will open up each morning and close as the afternoon wears on. Since the saguaro is so tall, it's difficult to get close enough to get a photo of this  annual event. However, we have one growing right next to our house that is how old enough to have some blooms. I was able to convince Husband to climb up on the roof for some pictures.

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum