nature
I went to my first hot springs yesterday about 3 hours from Portland.
The whole day was grey and drizzly but it doesn't matter so much when you're in a pool of warm water. Also I prefer the grey daze.
The rain made the trees and moss pop beautifully.
It was a much needed reconnect to the elements that keep me the most grounded.
The first picture is driving through the countryside on the way out to Mt Hood National Forest.
The campsite is named Indian Henry.
The second picture is the in the Indian Henry campground.
I spread some of my brother Dalton's ashes a year ago.
The last picture is the view from under the tree on top of the rock in the second picture.
Follow?
There's magic in those parts, friends. If you get the opportunity climb up to that tree.
Feel the breeze sing and listen to the tree.
I'll spare the ramblings for another entry, but go visit Indian Henry.
The forest grounds are covered with great fallen trees and pillows of moss.
I couldn't capture all the magic in photography.
I went on a journey.
The climates have shifted.
I could keep rambling, but I end it with this:
Protect the Cascadian forest and rivers
at all cost.
Sabrina and I went to Indian Beach last Friday. It was a very magical day with a very magical lady.
It's been a little while but here is the newest installment of A.B. TV, A Wandering We Will Go. I've tried to take time to capture some of the everyday magic all around me and hope it inspires you to go for walks and pay attention to the little things.
>> Yesterday I went out to Triple Falls in the Columbia River Gorge with my friend Jackie Jones.
<< I've been really in my head lately. Unable to speak, not sure how to convey all I've felt. A silent darkness caught in my throat.
>> The hike was a lot more intense than I had expected. Lots of steep uphill action. The kind that makes you focus on breathing. The good stuff.
<< There is so much magic right outside our doorway, Portland.
>> I like this town a lot, but when you don't have a car it's easy to forget how close to wild you can be.
<< You can get keep as close as you want or you can disappear for weeks.
>> Yesterday I went out to Triple Falls with my friend Jackie Jones.
<< I could sit here and type out all my fears or I can tell you there is magic in those hills.
>> I choose the latter and they really ain't that far away.
<< Take time to breathe, wander mountains, run down hills, splash in the water, smell the fresh air, breathe deep, breathe again and get lost in every happening.
>> There's a magic in the forest that can't be forgotten. There's a reminder of a simpler time. Before the fox became man...
Last Saturday I went out to Silver Falls with Jackie and Sabrina.
Holy magic there were so many waterfalls, waterwalls, and just pure awesomeness as far as my eyes could see.
There's nothing quite as mesmerizing as standing in the presence of such great nature.
The plants and moss just looked so alive. How could they not be?
I was only able to get two pictures that I felt did the adventure justice.
Sometimes you just gotta be, and not let the photography be secondary. Such is life a lot lately.
Today I went wandering around one of my favorite places in Portland: Mt Tabor.
Incase you didn't Mt Tabor is an extinct volcano! Just whoa!
I walked where once upon a time there there was probably nothing more than lava.
Now there are trees so tall you can't help but think you've walked into a cathedral.
It's days like this made me lust for the Pacific Northwest.
This is Cascadia.
The misty rain against my face.
The smell of the Great Sequoia trees blowing through the air.
The sound of mud being stomped below.
Baby mushrooms covering the forest floor.
The purple and gold leaves of dying plants look like something straight from Alice's wonderland.
The tree limbs look like fingers of skeletons.
The skies were grey but full of light. The clouds moved quickly.
Never once did I feel soaked.
Today was a great adventure.
Thank you Mt Tabor for making me feel at home.
Doomsday isn't coming; I fear she's been in free fall for several hundred years. You can sit around and sing her sorrows or live life as only an earthling can.
Get outside.
Hike some mountains, swim the lakes, sit in the shadows of great trees and listen to the birds sing, drink some coffee.
Live in a moment. Walk with the wind. Listen to your heart. Don't trip over dead men.
Today I went out to the Columbia River Gorge with my friend Jackie Jones.
We took the old highway and rode under the big trees and admired the falling leaves.
It felt good to just wander around the greater nature for a little while.
These 4 trees are my favorite trees in all of Portland. I watch them change season to season.
They line the sidewalk by the parking lot beside my place of work. I often sit outside for at least a portion of my breaks and admire them or just from the cash register on those extra rainy days.
From green to red, until all the leaves fall off, and they start over again. First really thin and green then full blown greenery again. It's really quite fascinating.
And right now they are the most beautiful fall colors. It's so hard to capture how amazing they really are, but I think this is my best attempt.
Yesterday...
I don't know exactly all that happened ; there was a river and a trail, some beautiful trees, and a snail shell. I took pictures of the snail shell, but I seem to have lost my phone. If you try to call it you probably won't get me. The sunset was quite majestic. The hike was nice. The hills were taller than I expected. It was those yellow leaves.
Fall! Fall is coming!!! I can smell it in the air right now.
I'm at work now; I will find phone later.
None of that matters right now. Listen to mewithoutyou!
I miss making music. I need a keyboard, a tambourine, and a microphone.
"If you're still looking for a blanket; Sweetie, I'm sorry, I'm no sort of fabric but if you need a tailor then take your torn shirt, and stumble up my stairs and mumble your pitiful prayers. And in your tangled night's sleep, our midnight needles go to work. Until all comfort and fear flows in one river, down on the shelf by the mirror where you see yourself whole and it makes you shiver..."
I know it's true; If I could just quit observing and act on my yearnings then I could be easily satisfied but it's all to fascinating to my mind.
Watching humanoids on a dance floor mimic is as primal as watching gather around a waterhole. There are predators and prey. Lions, spiders, and birds of prey. I watched a girl move like nothing I'd ever seen; hypnotizing man after man then leaving them longing for more. I think she's a black widow.
I watched sleazy guys pick up sleazy gals.
I watched lovers awkwardly make out in the back booths unaware of any bystanders.
I was suppose to wake and go to Seattle, but when I woke up I couldn't move.
I woke up to a kitchen and bathroom light still on and back door open.
There was a beautiful cool breeze and Smoggie Catt had found her way in.
I was lying sideways in the bed; belt unbuckled and pants unzipped.
I probably planned to take those off. You sleep better without jeans; that's a fact.
Unless you're out in the cold of course. But I made it home.
Not before leaving the club... more like basement at 2:30 and running into Voodoo Doughnuts. Somehow after all that beer and whiskey I ate not one, but 2 Voodoos.
But I don't remember laying down.
I met some wonderful folk last night, but the observations were even better.
I don't know where I'm going with this but I think I'm waking up really early to go to Mt. Hood tomorrow. Actually I'm really sure. This has to happen because I missed Seattle today. I need to go away for a little while.
I have a lot of head thoughts, and trying to write them all out.
Mostly I just blog a lot, but the grey is returning and all these head thoughts are going into an even greater book.
I can feel it, but right now these feelings just gotta simmer a little more.
More than anything I'm ready to play some rock n' roll; that's the only reason I left the forest anyhow.
This sums up last night. It felt so good. It felt so right. Thanks for the invite Jackie.
If there's a place beyond the city lights; where the car's hum can't be heard
No airplanes above, only the songs being sung by birds
I want to go there.
That's where I need to be. To see what life was like before humanity.
I don't hate man; sometimes there's just too much noise.
I love rock n' roll but you don't know music until you've stood face to face with a giant waterfall.
I just want to escape for a little while to know it can be done.
Just for a little while then I'll return.
They say " you just want to die". Nothing is further from the truth.
It's this search for freedom that makes me feel alive.
I need to feel scared; to know something greater still wanders out there.
Beyond the concrete forest and the man made caves.
I know I'm not the only one who wonders.
I just need to escape the machines.
To run with the wild if only for a while.
If there's truly a place beyond the city lights; where the car's hum can't be heard that's where I want to go.
Quit trying to stop me; this fox isn't dumb.
...And then I found the Spring Water Corridor (40 mile bike loop) and Sellwood but only had an hour until the sun went down.
I went 5 miles deep and saw a wildlife refuge, a cute little creek, all kinds of beautiful flowers, a small amusement park, nature preserve, and all kinds of potential exploration spots without names.
It's a little industrial on one side but the trail follows the Willamette River and there's some pretty greenery in the distance if you look past the gravel of construction.
Also Sellwood if I ever make enough money as an artist and don't have to get up super early to make the coffee for America you shall be my home spot.
I love you Portland, Oregon. I love you so much. I keep finding new adventure spots. I can't wait to see this trail in the Fall!
No pictures this go round, but I know where I will spending my down time when I want to escape the city noise.
Amongst the adventuring of floating down rivers and camping over the weekend I found this little faerie house in the woods. The roof was caving in but Jackie Jones and I did some quick construction.
I specifically enjoy the walkway up to the house. We didn't see any faeries though. I think it was too early in the day.
We went in search of somewhere. We found somewhere else. We wandered into Smallville USA in Southern Washington. I don't recall the name of the town. The water was colder than I expected; but after a waddling around it felt decent.
The rocks were slippery and slimy, the little fish and tadpoles didn't fear a thing, and the kids were "hunting" out crawfish. There was the most gorgeous view of Mt Hood; but all I could muster was this mediocre photograph.
All just a blink from Portland on this sunny, summer day.
I don't have any photos, but I'm living so hard and it feels so good.
I am in love where I am and what I know. Stuff is happening.
Life is right; It don't always makes sense, but that's what makes it fun.
