On the road again!

With Carol at the Rose Test Garden

 Had a great time last week showing off Portland and the coast to my friend Carol who was visiting from California.

Here we are on coastal Highway 101 and yes that is the Pacific Ocean
beneath the fog.

So many beautiful roses

In the Pearl District. Always something funky in Portland

HOT, HOT, HOT Portland

What to do when the temp is 100? Well it is best to stay in but I still took a ride to Sauvie Island  where lots of folks go to pick fresh produce at the farms. Not many people doing that today but I did take a quick stroll and captured these sunflowers basking in the heat.

Leaving Tomorrow

Just took this photo of the Wind River with the badlands in the background. I used  a new Ipad camera belonging to my friend.  Sure makes me think about upgrading.

Wyoming back yard pets

They never seem to raise their heads - graze on

Here is a calf near Mom

This big boy was five feet from the car and no I did not get out of the car

It was a beautiful drive from Jackson to Dubois yesterday. Before we reached Togwotee Pass we drove by a good size herd of bison grazing next to Hwy 26.

Wandrin Star back in Wyoming

Here I am back in Dubois, WY, after a four year absence. I'm visiting friends at their beautiful home on the Wind River.  This is the first time I traveled here from west to east. I drove from Portland and spent a night in Boise, Idaho. Not a bad road trip, although much of eastern Oregon and western Idaho is pretty desolate - I see why those Oregon Trail settlers wanted to keep going and reach the fertile Willamette Valley.

Wind River, Sunday evening

Sunday evening,  Bandlands, Wind River, Dubois, WY

This morning, - lawn leading to Wind River

Looking toward Whiskey, Mountain, Dubois, WY

The road from Jackson Hole to Dubois is as spectacular as ever. Here are a few photos taken yesterday evening and this morning. Traveling back here reminds me why I no longer want to live in the crowded Northeast.

Catch UP

Erath Winery

Thee hills are covered in grape vines, Dundee, OR

Oregon wine country, the beaches, Alabama - I've been to all in June and have not posted a thing. Let's see if I can do a bit of catch up.

Pacific City, Oregon

Oregon Coast weekend

Cannon Beach 

Cannon Beach - Haystack Rock

Sunset Manzanita Beach

Spring in Portland

The rhododendrons are showing off.

Look at me I'm three

Garden in the rain

There is a very tranquil spot in downtown Portland - the Chinese garden.  I was there in October and revisited today to find that different flowers are blooming and it felt like a new experience. Also there is a tea room where you can gaze out at the garden and ponds and feel like you have escaped to another world.

Today we saw an osprey sitting in a tree eyeing the koi for a dinner repast.

Tea house behind this tree

Walkway

Watercolor on screen. Part of the current art exhibit

Camellias

Bright yellow

Japanese Maple

 This Japanese maple, to me, was very unusual with these dramatic  pink leaves.