One Less on The Short List

That list: possible places to settle down. Portland has been removed. The top ranked places remaining: Fort Collins (Colorado), Tucson, and San Diego.

My recent six weeks stay in Portland was very pleasurable and I had a good time exploring the area. There was lots of natural exploring, country drives, photo ops, downtown walks, dining, etc. There was lots more to do. I experienced just a small part of what there was to do -- and I didn't go hiking. Walked lots of places, but didn't hike on an "official" hiking trail.

However, my mood and ambition are fueled by blue skies and gets me outside. Fortunately, I was in Portland at the time of year when there are frequent blue skies. It is those other months with the gray skies that would have me cloistered in a cell staring into a computer -- or other indoor activities like eating too much.

Nomadic exploring after ten years isn't as attractive as it once was. Time for a change. The current thoughts are for extended stays in Colorado, Arizona and southern California and migrate with the changes in weather. Guess that would be a snowbird. :)

Seems I'm going through one of those periods when I imagine "I'll be happier when..." However, I know I am fooling myself. Regardless. That is the plan.

The photos: Salmon at Bonneville Hatchery in viewing tank. Duck tracks turn to weasel tracks. Enjoying the scene at Oregon Gardens. Osprey hovers over fish ladders.

Purse Purchase

For several months, I've been looking for a replacement for the large day pack with too many pockets. That pack carried the iPad, the camera, the water bottle, the pencil and note paper, etc. Finally found the replacement in the woman's section at REI as a mini sling bag. I had found shoulder packs in other stores, but they were as large as the pack that I was trying to replace.

Fortunately this (woman's) bag was in basic black and it has become my version of a "man purse".

The unpaid model in this photo demonstrates how the bag may be carried. It may also be slung over the head on the other shoulder.

Another view of the purse.

Great bag. This one will be with me for a long time.

Note: On the REI website, the mini sling bag shown is essentially the same bag. It has the same product code, but the layout of zippers and pockets is a bit different.

Haystack Rock

When in Cannon Beach, do what all the other tourists do. Take a photo of Haystack Rock.

It was on the most recent visit (with Krista and TJ) to Cannon Beach when I (finally) captured a scenic photo that looks like every other photo of the rock outcropping. Walking downtown Cannon Beach art galleries and gift stores, the rock is the feature of every knickknack and art gallery item.

Here's my version:

With some Photoshop distortion...

How about black and white....

Just because I can do something doesn't mean I should.

Osprey Hopes

At the Bonneville Dam, the salmon were leaping and swimming the ladders in their mono minded approach up the Columbia River to reproduce. Most likely, the osprey was looking for a meal. It may have been tempting for the osprey to sink his talons in one of those salmon. However, the osprey would be out-weighed by the salmon and would get a dunking for the effort.

Migration South

Son TJ and DIL Krista were not able to see Mount Hood during their visit to the Portland area. However, as we toured the area, I was able to lead them to very few of the many places to explore in the area. Today, they head back to Denver.

For me, that ends my stay in the Portland area. Late this morning, Silver Slug will be hitched to Wandrin Wagon and the migration south begins. Exploring along the way, arrival in Palm Springs will be about six weeks from now.

The first leg of the journey will be 100 miles down the I-5 freeway to Eugene, Oregon. After a few days of exploring, the migration south will continue.

Bee Breakfast

From Swan Island Dahlias....

Considering September's cooler days and nights, no doubt collecting nourishment for the winter ahead is the goal of this nectar collector.

An Economics Lesson

The lesson occurred about 60 years ago. Less than a half mile from the farm home was Dodge's Tavern -- an eight stool bar with the facilities out back. On rare occasions, Dad would stop in for a beer and buy a Royal Crown cola** for me.

I may have asked why we stopped here rather than at the nearby farming village tavern. Regardless of the question, it was an opportunity for a simple economics lesson.

When Dad bought a beer, this allowed Dodge (bachelor proprietor always drove Dodge cars) to purchase groceries at the nearby country general store. His purchases allowed the Falck family (owners of the Morrison general store) to make purchases. The use of money to purchase services or products continued from purchaser to seller.

It was a simple lesson -- in simpler times.

** Invert the words and today's beverage of choice is Crown Royal Whiskey.

The Camera Club

With frequent sundown visits to the Tualatin Wildlife Preserve for sunset and bird photos, I wasn't alone in the attempt for another great photo. With mega lenses and high end cameras and tripods, my photo taking by comparison was entry level.

Conversations with fellow amateur photographers informed me of a local camera club's monthly meeting in a room at the Preserve visitor center. Attendees were asked to bring a photo (on a USB drive) for critiquing. Not knowing what was the competition, I declined that opportunity.

There were three judges -- two supporting themselves with photography and workshops. After brief intros about their background and how they look at photos for judging, the critique began. The photos were projected from a PC. The projected photos were not equal to what was visible on the monitor. Considering this, the judges ignored color and sharpness and limited their comments to the form, focus, subject and overall composition.

Surprising to me was the frequent suggestion to use Photoshop to improve the photo through cropping, cloning out distractions or blur annoying backgrounds. Along with a good camera, Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom are part of the photographers tools to create a magazine cover, nature book photo or wall art.

In retrospect, I realized I should have brought a photo. However, selecting one from my hundreds of bests would have been difficult. Perhaps creating a file "a best ten" from those hundreds would be a good idea. That would make the selection a little easier.

Note: Photo was taken at Tualatin Wildlife Preserve. The sunset cast the great colors on the scenery with the great blue heron. Photoshop was used to crop and add the frame.

Work and Play

Americans vs Vacation was an article I came across. The article describes the American work/play time that I was trying to attempt to balance when I was still employed a decade ago. It appears there has been no change in the past ten years.

Then I wonder why all those socialized countries have more vacation time and other social benefits and yet the unemployment rate is no different than that in the US. In some cases it is less.


It's a stretch, but with lots of thoughts in this cynical mind I find that to be a segue to a recently spotted sign posted in anticipation of elections in November.

Not sure what those words on the sign mean. Today is no different from the past 100 years regardless of the governmental party makeup. The serf works for the corporation and that corporation decides the laws the government enacts regardless of the party in power. (More cynicism)

---

For your reading enjoyment: Building a Nation of Know Nothings by Timothy Egan

With the upcoming elections resulting in another stand off in legislation, the fictional result may be How Caesarism Came to America. Don't forget that sometimes science fiction became reality.

Last Day For Rich

Cool days and cool nights for the past week. High yesterday was 67 degrees. For Rich's last day in town, it was a driving tour of nearby agricultural lands. A stop was made at the Swan Island Dahlias. Lots of photo ops with a multitude of varieties and colors.

One of many closeups...

Among other claims to fame, the town of Silverton has the distinction of straddling the 45th parallel.

Looks like a good place for a bar called "The Half Way House".

Three balanced meals each day required more ethnic dining. So we headed to Mt Angel for a German themed lunch at the Mt. Angel Sausage Company. Potato pancakes, sausage and beer took care of lunch.

For meal three and for Rich's last meal in town, we headed to Dar Essalam -- a Moroccan restaurant. Excellently spiced four course dinner of lamb shank was a great way to celebrate a great week of dining and exploring.

Never did go hiking. Maybe next time.