Saturday, August 9, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
A New View
This is the view from our apartment in beautiful, beautiful Eugene...
and a picture from my walk to the Eugene Saturday Market!
and a picture from my walk to the Eugene Saturday Market!
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Portland: Part 3 - The Japanese Garden
Our last stop in town was to the Portland Japanese Garden...
The Zen style rock garden was my favorite part. A feeling of peace came over me while looking out at the vast court of sand and rock, like I was staring into the ocean. I overheard a tour guide explaining that technically it's not a Zen garden, because it hasn't been formally blessed by a Buddhist monk. It seems to work its magic nonetheless.
The Zen style rock garden was my favorite part. A feeling of peace came over me while looking out at the vast court of sand and rock, like I was staring into the ocean. I overheard a tour guide explaining that technically it's not a Zen garden, because it hasn't been formally blessed by a Buddhist monk. It seems to work its magic nonetheless.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Portland: Part 2 - A Vegan's Dream
Tired and hungry after our long waterfall hike, we made our way to the Terwilliger Vista Bed and Breakfast to drop off our things before heading into the city for dinner. We stayed in the "Gold Room" with garden view bay windows, a fancy Art Deco bathroom, and leopard print carpeting!
Our dinner at Nutshell was a treat I had long anticipated. The warehouse-turned-restaurant's walls are alive with murals of a giant green sasquatch. Fried rice fritters with avocado puree and chili sauce were delicious and the maple chocolate tart with cashew vanilla sauce was AMAZING. Another highlight was the fun salt and oil bar. They offer a nice selection of olive oils, gourmet salts, and warm breads for dipping.
The next morning we went to a vegan mini-mall. That's right...a vegan mini-mall! This plaza is home to Food Fight Grocery, Sweet Pea Bakery, and Herbivore Clothing. I love the Sweet Pea Bakery and wish they had a location in Eugene, because I would be there every morning! They have cases of hot vegan doughnuts, cheesecakes, cupcakes, muffins, cookies, scones, and plump bagels. The vanilla rice latte I ordered was perfection.
After spending too much time wandering around in complete vegan awe, we finally left for the Northwest Vegetarian Fest. We sampled delicious goodies like Coconut Bliss ice cream, a wonderful vegan cheese called Sheese, pumpkin cupcakes, homemade panang curry paste, Indian food, truffles, and raw vegan caramel!
We managed to save a little room for Portland's famous vegan Voodoo Doughnuts, but they were sold out by the time we arrived at the shop! Something to look forward to next time.
Our dinner at Nutshell was a treat I had long anticipated. The warehouse-turned-restaurant's walls are alive with murals of a giant green sasquatch. Fried rice fritters with avocado puree and chili sauce were delicious and the maple chocolate tart with cashew vanilla sauce was AMAZING. Another highlight was the fun salt and oil bar. They offer a nice selection of olive oils, gourmet salts, and warm breads for dipping.
The next morning we went to a vegan mini-mall. That's right...a vegan mini-mall! This plaza is home to Food Fight Grocery, Sweet Pea Bakery, and Herbivore Clothing. I love the Sweet Pea Bakery and wish they had a location in Eugene, because I would be there every morning! They have cases of hot vegan doughnuts, cheesecakes, cupcakes, muffins, cookies, scones, and plump bagels. The vanilla rice latte I ordered was perfection.
After spending too much time wandering around in complete vegan awe, we finally left for the Northwest Vegetarian Fest. We sampled delicious goodies like Coconut Bliss ice cream, a wonderful vegan cheese called Sheese, pumpkin cupcakes, homemade panang curry paste, Indian food, truffles, and raw vegan caramel!
We managed to save a little room for Portland's famous vegan Voodoo Doughnuts, but they were sold out by the time we arrived at the shop! Something to look forward to next time.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Portland: Part 1 - Multnomah Falls
Last weekend we ventured to the big city to attend the Northwest Vegetarian Festival! We managed to pack in quite a bit of site seeing during our two day stay.
Our first stop was Multnomah Falls...
Plummeting 620 feet from its origins on Larch Mountain, this is the second tallest year round waterfall in the country. We followed the 1.2 mile trail more than 600 feet to the top of the falls. There are amazing views of the the Columbia River Gorge along the way. Being at or below sea level for most of my life made this an energy zapping trek for me. I had to stop several times to catch my breath while pregnant women, small children, and grandparents raced past! Ha! It was definitely worth the pain (and mild humiliation) to look over the edge as the water rushed to the earth at gravity's will.
Seriously, did you see the bridge?
Fun video too...with chipmunks!
Our first stop was Multnomah Falls...
Plummeting 620 feet from its origins on Larch Mountain, this is the second tallest year round waterfall in the country. We followed the 1.2 mile trail more than 600 feet to the top of the falls. There are amazing views of the the Columbia River Gorge along the way. Being at or below sea level for most of my life made this an energy zapping trek for me. I had to stop several times to catch my breath while pregnant women, small children, and grandparents raced past! Ha! It was definitely worth the pain (and mild humiliation) to look over the edge as the water rushed to the earth at gravity's will.
Seriously, did you see the bridge?
Fun video too...with chipmunks!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Sea Lion Caves
These are pictures from our trip to the Sea Lion Caves on the Oregon coast and my first encounter with the great Pacific!
This was taken inside the world's largest sea cave. It's only accessible by an elevator which descends 200 feet to the mouth of the cavern. The dark cave boomed with a chorus of sea lion songs and reeked of fish. There were about 100 sea lions inside the cave and 200 basking and playing out on the rocks.
Lighthouse view...
Wow!
Cormorants too...
You can hear the Steller sea lions bark and moan in these videos...
This was taken inside the world's largest sea cave. It's only accessible by an elevator which descends 200 feet to the mouth of the cavern. The dark cave boomed with a chorus of sea lion songs and reeked of fish. There were about 100 sea lions inside the cave and 200 basking and playing out on the rocks.
Lighthouse view...
Wow!
Cormorants too...
You can hear the Steller sea lions bark and moan in these videos...
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Pictures!
I took over 400 hundred pictures on the trip and I promise to post some soon. I need to narrow them down and add captions first, but they will be here!
:)
:)
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Day 5: Oregon
We followed the Sierra Nevadas north on I-5 for several hours. Long stretches of farmland eventually lulled me to sleep as we flew toward the endless horizon. The lizard sunbathed timidly on my lap. He’s afraid of fast moving shadows.
We stopped for gas and snow dusted Mount Shasta peeked at us from above the city. One surprise this week was driving through the Shasta-Trinity National Forest! Up and down the mountains, we passed stunning jade colored lakes, towering evergreens, Castle Crag, and the Black Butte lava domes. It was too fantastic, like a wild paradise you dream up for a story. But it was real. And we were there.
The beauty of this land was an introduction to Oregon, whose border was less than an hour away. There's a rest stop near the state line perched on the Klamath River. We pulled over to take a closer look. The river’s course flows southwest from the Oregon Cascade Range into California before pouring into the Pacific. It is home to Coho salmon and rainbow trout.
Rolling green hills trimmed with glistening snow carried us across the border. Millions of trees made the undulating landscape dense with evergreen fur. We stopped again at the edge of some forestland to finally breath Oregon air. The woods were cool and damp. Sunlight dripped through the leaves and branches casting an emerald glow over everything. The size of the trees overwhelmed me. Salty tears fell from my smiling cheeks and seeped into the sodden earth. Tyler whispered that these are small compared to what we’d see in the old growth forests!
A few more hours of driving and we were home.
Blue skies and warm sunshine welcomed us to beautiful Eugene. Brilliant spring wildflowers, enormous blooming rosebushes, and fragrant rosemary ornament every house in town. The streets are busy with people walking their dogs, joggers, bicyclists, and children in hats and wagons playing carefree. Empty lots are alive with new blossoms and grass. No trash in sight. Restaurants, parks, health food stores, and small specialty shops compose the petite but vibrant city.
On our walk to a café in town, we passed a field of dandelion clocks, begging the wind to carry their seeds away to a distant place. I didn’t stop to make a wish.
I think we will like it here.
We stopped for gas and snow dusted Mount Shasta peeked at us from above the city. One surprise this week was driving through the Shasta-Trinity National Forest! Up and down the mountains, we passed stunning jade colored lakes, towering evergreens, Castle Crag, and the Black Butte lava domes. It was too fantastic, like a wild paradise you dream up for a story. But it was real. And we were there.
The beauty of this land was an introduction to Oregon, whose border was less than an hour away. There's a rest stop near the state line perched on the Klamath River. We pulled over to take a closer look. The river’s course flows southwest from the Oregon Cascade Range into California before pouring into the Pacific. It is home to Coho salmon and rainbow trout.
Rolling green hills trimmed with glistening snow carried us across the border. Millions of trees made the undulating landscape dense with evergreen fur. We stopped again at the edge of some forestland to finally breath Oregon air. The woods were cool and damp. Sunlight dripped through the leaves and branches casting an emerald glow over everything. The size of the trees overwhelmed me. Salty tears fell from my smiling cheeks and seeped into the sodden earth. Tyler whispered that these are small compared to what we’d see in the old growth forests!
A few more hours of driving and we were home.
Blue skies and warm sunshine welcomed us to beautiful Eugene. Brilliant spring wildflowers, enormous blooming rosebushes, and fragrant rosemary ornament every house in town. The streets are busy with people walking their dogs, joggers, bicyclists, and children in hats and wagons playing carefree. Empty lots are alive with new blossoms and grass. No trash in sight. Restaurants, parks, health food stores, and small specialty shops compose the petite but vibrant city.
On our walk to a café in town, we passed a field of dandelion clocks, begging the wind to carry their seeds away to a distant place. I didn’t stop to make a wish.
I think we will like it here.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Day 4: The Mirage
I woke up this morning and ran outside to explore the mountain. A small pile of snow greeted my feet as I gazed at the rocks and trees around the hotel. We had an amazing view of the peak, since Flagstaff is nestled snuggly in the range. Soon my hands were red with cold and my empty stomach craved a meal. We wanted to see more of the town before heading to California, so we stopped for breakfast at Macy’s European Bakery and Vegetarian Restaurant. It was warm and cozy, packed full with locals and college students. We ate hot vegan waffles topped with fresh fruit and pure maple syrup. I ordered a house roasted soy latte, which turned out to be the most amazing cup of coffee I’ve ever tasted. Smooth and silky like fine cocoa – no need for sugar. We bagged a vegan pecan cinnamon roll the size of my head and a blueberry tofu cream cheese danish for the road. For a moment, we considered ending our trip and calling Flagstaff home. Wonderful.
California was hilly and rainbowed with colorful cacti as we crossed the border. The rest of the day was pretty grueling though. We were on the road for a total of 13 or 14 hours. Half way to Sacramento, after hours and hours of driving through the Mojave Desert, we started to lose it a little. I guess seeing nothing but endless sand and spiky bushes for hundreds of miles can damage the psyche. Of course, just when we thought we couldn’t take it anymore (I hated hating California!) the ocean of sand transformed into giant hills clothed with short green grass. It was like a naturally occurring golf course spanning miles and miles in the distance. I think we were actually beamed to Scotland for an hour by magic, or aliens, or the power of our minds!
The sun set and we traveled through the night to our less than welcoming Sacramento hotel. But by the time we arrived, all we wanted was a bed to pass out on.
The next day, we would be driving home…to Oregon.
California was hilly and rainbowed with colorful cacti as we crossed the border. The rest of the day was pretty grueling though. We were on the road for a total of 13 or 14 hours. Half way to Sacramento, after hours and hours of driving through the Mojave Desert, we started to lose it a little. I guess seeing nothing but endless sand and spiky bushes for hundreds of miles can damage the psyche. Of course, just when we thought we couldn’t take it anymore (I hated hating California!) the ocean of sand transformed into giant hills clothed with short green grass. It was like a naturally occurring golf course spanning miles and miles in the distance. I think we were actually beamed to Scotland for an hour by magic, or aliens, or the power of our minds!
The sun set and we traveled through the night to our less than welcoming Sacramento hotel. But by the time we arrived, all we wanted was a bed to pass out on.
The next day, we would be driving home…to Oregon.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Day 3: Part 2 – Rocky Road and Snow Caps
Today, I fell in love…twice.
Traveling west on I-40 through New Mexico, the terrain turned dry and rocky. Hills turned into flat top mounds and short pebbled peaks. I have never been west of Tallahassee before today, so these tiny landforms were very exciting! (Um, mountains to me!) Little did I know…
As we entered the Sandia Wilderness of the Cibola National Forest, just outside Albuquerque, the stubby knolls became a green bush covered range! Mountains! The interstate pulled us through the rolling Sandias and I was in complete awe. We rose and dipped and curved with green speckled hills emerging and melting at every turn. It was beautiful and exhilarating.
We made a short stop in Albuquerque to stretch our legs and hunt for coffee. The mountains we had just sailed through crowned the fancy outdoor shopping center we found there. In the distance, I could see the faint silhouette of the southernmost Rockies.
Back on the road, the earth transformed again before we reached Arizona. This time to layered rocks painted deep orange and red. Railroad tracks paralleled the road and trains flowed along like beaded jewelry. I saw real cowboys roping and riding and wild horses running free in the noon sun.
Somehow after this amazing morning, my heart was stolen again. After a few hours of driving through red Arizona desert, a glittering white peak suddenly smiled on the horizon. Snow. Real snow. I took a few pictures of the too distant range and gazed with curiosity and longing. The summit towered among the clouds! I wanted to feel the kiss of icy mountain air on my cheeks. Then the San Francisco peaks slid out of sight and into memory as the road curved.
We went to a rest stop and I took the wheel. I raced against the setting sun, blinding me as we approached Flagstaff. As I drove up a steady incline, trees began to fill the landscape. Another turn and like a dream, the snowy zeniths swelled into view again. We were heading directly into them! It was magical. The air crisp and cool made my skin tingle. I imagined bears and mountain lions prowling among the trees. We arrived at the hotel - altitude 6,000ft on the mountainside - and the view was filled with forest skirted snowcapped peaks.
Flagstaff is crazy beautiful.
Traveling west on I-40 through New Mexico, the terrain turned dry and rocky. Hills turned into flat top mounds and short pebbled peaks. I have never been west of Tallahassee before today, so these tiny landforms were very exciting! (Um, mountains to me!) Little did I know…
As we entered the Sandia Wilderness of the Cibola National Forest, just outside Albuquerque, the stubby knolls became a green bush covered range! Mountains! The interstate pulled us through the rolling Sandias and I was in complete awe. We rose and dipped and curved with green speckled hills emerging and melting at every turn. It was beautiful and exhilarating.
We made a short stop in Albuquerque to stretch our legs and hunt for coffee. The mountains we had just sailed through crowned the fancy outdoor shopping center we found there. In the distance, I could see the faint silhouette of the southernmost Rockies.
Back on the road, the earth transformed again before we reached Arizona. This time to layered rocks painted deep orange and red. Railroad tracks paralleled the road and trains flowed along like beaded jewelry. I saw real cowboys roping and riding and wild horses running free in the noon sun.
Somehow after this amazing morning, my heart was stolen again. After a few hours of driving through red Arizona desert, a glittering white peak suddenly smiled on the horizon. Snow. Real snow. I took a few pictures of the too distant range and gazed with curiosity and longing. The summit towered among the clouds! I wanted to feel the kiss of icy mountain air on my cheeks. Then the San Francisco peaks slid out of sight and into memory as the road curved.
We went to a rest stop and I took the wheel. I raced against the setting sun, blinding me as we approached Flagstaff. As I drove up a steady incline, trees began to fill the landscape. Another turn and like a dream, the snowy zeniths swelled into view again. We were heading directly into them! It was magical. The air crisp and cool made my skin tingle. I imagined bears and mountain lions prowling among the trees. We arrived at the hotel - altitude 6,000ft on the mountainside - and the view was filled with forest skirted snowcapped peaks.
Flagstaff is crazy beautiful.
Day 3: Part 1 - Tumbleweeds, Turbines, and Tornadoes
I was shocked out of deep sleep this morning by the shriek of a tornado barreling through Oklahoma City. Its strange song filled the hotel room as I tried desperately to recall the tornado safety drills from childhood. The eerie whistling hum rattled my head like it wanted to erase my brain. We mustered the courage (or stupidity!) to sneak a glance through the window. It was a ghost storm. Within five minutes it was over. There was no damage to the hotel or our car, so we crept back into bed, half dazed and slept.
The alarm clock buzzed its awful buzz at 8 AM. We were ridiculously tired from the night’s scare, but packed and prepared for the long drive ahead – only to realize down the road that the storm had knocked out power and it was actually 6 AM, not 8.
We passed miles and miles of farmland. Mostly cattle. The wind pawed at us like a playful kitten. In the dark navy sky, huge glowing forms appeared one after another. Windmills swinging their massive white arms. Row after row in every direction. The lonely tumbleweeds raced along and welcomed us to the "Land of Enchantment", New Mexico.
Check it out:
Tornadoes skip across Oklahoma
The alarm clock buzzed its awful buzz at 8 AM. We were ridiculously tired from the night’s scare, but packed and prepared for the long drive ahead – only to realize down the road that the storm had knocked out power and it was actually 6 AM, not 8.
We passed miles and miles of farmland. Mostly cattle. The wind pawed at us like a playful kitten. In the dark navy sky, huge glowing forms appeared one after another. Windmills swinging their massive white arms. Row after row in every direction. The lonely tumbleweeds raced along and welcomed us to the "Land of Enchantment", New Mexico.
Check it out:
Tornadoes skip across Oklahoma
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Day 2: Rain and More Rain
Today we drove north through Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma. It rained almost the entire day. Louisiana started to curl into hills as we neared Texas. The squat mounds were purple with flowers and topped with fluffy shrubs every shade of green. They made me hungry for cupcakes. The highway system in Dallas towers and twists above the roads like a roller coaster. We passed into Oklahoma sometime in late afternoon. The sun peeked through the clouds and tiger striped the prairie. The rolling hills were blonde with dry grass. Next month, millions of flowers will color the sprawling land like splattered paint.
We made it to Oklahoma City!
We made it to Oklahoma City!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Day 1: Oh, is it Spring Break?
We are now in lovely (ahem) Walker, LA after 700 miles and 12 hours of driving. A caravan of returning Spring Break party animals caused us some delay this morning. It took 3 ½ hours to reach Gainesville! The rest of the drive was smooth sailing though.
Florida bade me farewell with glowing fuchsia flowers twinkling along the highway and cotton ball clouds bouncing against a turquoise sky.
Alabama was much like Florida with large stretches of swampland. Traveling west on a bridge through Mobile, the city turned smoky with a fog of rain. Commercial fishing vessels and massive battle ships loomed in the murky bog. It was almost unreal. Like driving through a dream. Suddenly, a bright yellow light broke the gloom as we passed through the George Wallace Tunnel. (see video below – skip to 1:30).
The bridge connecting Mississippi to Louisiana is steep enough to allow an amazing view of the Pearl River; a flooded jungle thick with trees for miles and miles and miles in every direction. Louisiana is soggy and lush. The grass is blanketed with tiny white blossoms, like frosty, glistening snow. Purple flowers drip from the fences and trees.
Okay. Time for sleep now. We drive to Oklahoma City in the morning!
Strangest thing we saw on the road:
One man holding a rope leash tied around the neck of another man, thumbs out, trying to hitch a ride. No joke. He was flailing his arms around (maybe dancing?) and the other dude was playing along. Very bizarre strategy. Aren’t people already leery of picking up hitchhikers? Should that make other people question their sanity less? Yikes!
Florida bade me farewell with glowing fuchsia flowers twinkling along the highway and cotton ball clouds bouncing against a turquoise sky.
Alabama was much like Florida with large stretches of swampland. Traveling west on a bridge through Mobile, the city turned smoky with a fog of rain. Commercial fishing vessels and massive battle ships loomed in the murky bog. It was almost unreal. Like driving through a dream. Suddenly, a bright yellow light broke the gloom as we passed through the George Wallace Tunnel. (see video below – skip to 1:30).
The bridge connecting Mississippi to Louisiana is steep enough to allow an amazing view of the Pearl River; a flooded jungle thick with trees for miles and miles and miles in every direction. Louisiana is soggy and lush. The grass is blanketed with tiny white blossoms, like frosty, glistening snow. Purple flowers drip from the fences and trees.
Okay. Time for sleep now. We drive to Oklahoma City in the morning!
Strangest thing we saw on the road:
One man holding a rope leash tied around the neck of another man, thumbs out, trying to hitch a ride. No joke. He was flailing his arms around (maybe dancing?) and the other dude was playing along. Very bizarre strategy. Aren’t people already leery of picking up hitchhikers? Should that make other people question their sanity less? Yikes!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
on the trail...
3/29 - Tampa to Baton Rouge
3/30 - Baton Rouge to Oklahoma City
3/31 - Oklahoma City to Flagstaff
4/01 - Flagstaff to Sacramento
4/02 - Sacramento to Eugene
Highs and Lows
Monthly Temperatures and Rain
Eugene, OR
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norm High °F | 46.5 | 50.7 | 55.9 | 60.6 | 66.8 | 73.3 | 81.5 | 81.9 | 76.6 | 64.6 | 52.1 | 45.7 |
| Norm Low °F | 33 | 34.9 | 36.7 | 38.9 | 42.7 | 47 | 50.8 | 50.8 | 46.7 | 40.5 | 37.2 | 33.3 |
| Precip (in) | 7.65 | 6.35 | 5.8 | 3.66 | 2.66 | 1.53 | 0.64 | 0.99 | 1.54 | 3.35 | 8.44 | 8.29 |
________________________________________________________
Tampa, FL
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high °F (°C) | 70 (21) | 72 (22) | 76 (24) | 82 (27) | 87 (30) | 90 (32) | 90 (32) | 90 (32) | 89 (31) | 84 (28) | 78 (25) | 72 (22) | 82 (27) |
| Avg low temperature °F (°C) | 50 (10) | 52 (11) | 56 (13) | 61 (16) | 67 (19) | 73 (22) | 74 (23) | 74 (23) | 73 (22) | 66 (18) | 57 (13) | 52 (11) | 63 (17) |
| Rainfall in. (cm) | 2.1 (5) | 2.9 (6) | 3.2 (8) | 2.0 (4) | 2.7 (7) | 6.6 (14) | 7.4 (18) | 7.9 (20) | 6.3 (16) | 2.3 (5) | 1.8 (4) | 2.0 (5) | 46.3 (128 |
I bought these super warm waterproof boots. They should keep me toasty and dry in the rain or snow.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
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