Summer 17

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Pictures by Luke

All of these pictures were taken by 3 year old Luke!  NO help with the camera and NO photo editing applied.  He is using a Olympus TG-1 camera and were all taken during a hike along the Waterfall Trail between Sahalie and Koosha Falls. Pretty amazing if you ask me.

 

 

There is a photographer in the making here!!!

Well done Luke

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Tamolitch (Blue Pool) Waterfall

We are staying for the next month in a cabin at the McKenzie River Mountain Resort.  Its not really a resort but it is great for me.  Lots of grass around the cabin to play in, cool weather and the best part is we are only a little ways from a creek I can swim in.  Did I tell you how much I like water?

Tamolitch Falls (Blue Pool)

Mom, Dad and I hiked the 2 miles (4 miles round trip) to see the Blue Pool.    The 4 mile hike was tiring (I haven’t hiked that far in awhile) but so fun.  A couple of places I could play in the water and cool off.

 

Blue Pool and Tamolitch is really interesting

From http://visitmckenzieriver.com/oregon/item/tamolitch-falls-tamolitch-blue-pool/

Once a majestic waterfall, the McKenzie River has changed course and gone underground a few miles up stream.  The river only flows over the falls a few times a year, the rest if the time the water emerges from the rocks underwater in the basin of waterfall pool. This is a unique site.  While it is rare to see a large waterfall ledge completely dry, the color and composition of the pool is also unique. One of the first things you’ll notice is the color of the water.  The topaz blue color of the water is almost iridescent – like a blue anti-freeze.  The water is so clear that is seems to be only about 5 ft deep – yet closer inspection will reveal that in many spots its over 30 ft deep.  So pure in fact that you’d swear the water wasn’t  moving – yet at the end of this glass like pond –  a volume of water rushes out as the McKenzie River is reborn. The waterfall ledge is a favorite for jumping on a hot summer day.  (The water is cold and be very careful to check the area for safety first). You can hike over the waterfall ledge and find a trail that leads you down to the side of the pool. This unique place is part of Oregon’s famous McKenzie River Trail.  It is on the top half of the trail about 2 miles from the halfway point on the trail.  The trail goes right by this interesting feature and is a popular place for hikers and mountain bikers to stop and rest while taking in this unique site.

 

We were really lucky to go when we did.  This year the snow fall has been so high in Oregon that there is an actual waterfall.  Two waterfalls in fact.  Dad says we will go back before we leave and after the waterfall has gone back underground to see pool.

Upper Tamolitch Falls

Lower Tamolitch falls

Boy that tired me out.  Love taking an afternoon nap in the cool mountain air after a great hike.

 

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Proxy Falls and Three Sisters

The McKenzie River gorge is just one beautiful place after another.  We haven’t seen them all but are going to try over the next few weeks.

While mom was on a long hike Dad and I drove up the McKenzie Pass road toward Sisters.  Got to stop along the way and play in some very cold water. Brrr!

 

Dad got to take some pictures of what are called the Three Sisters. Really pretty and snow!

There is a trail called the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail that is 26 miles long.  It is one of the most famous mountain bike trails.  Mom’s goal while we are here is to hike each part of the trail.  Dad and I drop her off at a trail head and she hikes about 5 miles at at time on the trail.  Dad and go take shorter walks and play in the water and then pick her up at her ending point.

Places like Clear Lake

One morning early, Dad headed off and went to Proxy Falls.  Mom and I slept in.  He got to see some pretty great waterfalls.  Says he will go back and take me.

Proxy Falls

 

and look at some flowers

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Summer 17

Summer is here again and time to escape the 122 degree Phoenix and head to cool country.  Dad and I drove to Portland and mom flew up and met us there.

Several great stops and dog parks along the way.

 

Dad and I drove into Bryce Canyon National Park and Dad took some pictures along the way.  They have a lot of rules there about dogs!  Seemed like I could not go on the trails so we stayed along the road and stopped at viewpoints.

Bryce Canyon National Park

There was a forest fire not far away and I could sure smell the smoke.  I think it made it harder for Dad to take pictures too.

Three days of driving we finally got to Portland and I got to see one of my BFF’s Lola again in her new house!  They have a great little back yard with grass and a really nice house.

And of course I got to see and play with Luke.  He is so fun but I wish he did not keep bouncing his ball, it scares the heck out of me.

Before we left Portland for our summer digs Alex and Riley came by.  They met Mom and Dad at a restaurant and I did not get to see them this time but they are going to visit us later this month and Penny and Mowgli!

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Coffee Plantations and Rainforests

It was time to drive west to east to catch a ferry to Veiques Island.  We choose to drive through the mountains and see a coffee plantation.  We stopped at Tres Angles Plantation and had lunch and a cup of coffee.  The tours were over for the day but the area and the coffee bean trees were beautiful.

Spent a night in Ceiba to get up early the next morning an hike in El Yunque, the Puerto Rico rainforest.  If you every get the change to go, a tip: Go early.  Park opens at 7:30 and the visitors center at 9.  We arrived a bit before nine and had the opportunity to see La Coca falls before the crowds arrived.

We took a walk around the visitor’s center and then off to the La Mina Falls Hike.

A little over a mile both down and up to the base of the falls. When we arrived one other couple was just leaving and we had the falls to ourselves for a moment.

We swapped picture taking with the next couple to arrive.

and then literately, 5 minutes later, all heck broke loose.

Along the hike were some beautiful colors

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Puerto Rico – West coast

Staying for four night near Cabo Rojo.  Had the opportunity to drive up to Rincon.  Rincon is known as the Surf Capital of  Puerto Rico. After a surfing championships  in the 60″s a lot of the surfers stayed.  A lot of  American Ex-pats in the area.

On the way we  had a flat.  Good news is it is not my first tire  change and Thrifty had an  office at the airport in Mayagüez.  They switched cars.  Pretty easy event.

In Rincon Dianne took a Yoga class on the beach:

 

Here is where we are staying near Cabo Rojo. An Airbnb with the right price and a beach

 

 

Took a drive this morning to the Salina de Cobo (the salt flats). Ocean water  is trapped and allowed to evaporate.  The salt that is  left is used for non nutritional salt needs.  The red or pink color is from the top layer that forms a oily environment for Brine Shrimp to live and grow.  When they turn a bright pink the salt is ready to be mined.

And then to El Faro Los Morrillos, a working lighthouse and  the Playuela de Cabo Rojo, a beautiful beach.  Some great cliff views near the lighthouse.