Irrelevance Glorified

Back in May I visited Portland for what may be the last time in a long time. You see, when I’ve gone to Portland it’s been for the express written purpose of visiting Bruce and Tina (and Nile). Soon, Bruce will be moving to Walla Walla, so Portland probably isn’t much in my future.

This trip was great because Jesse and his wife Anne were able to come out on Memorial Day weekend as well. We did a bit of hiking, a bit of lying around doing nothing, and a bit of wine tasting. The pictures and videos below are what I took during the trip. Sadly, Tina is under-represented because her pregnancy made it hard to join in on the wine-tasting and hiking. But she was with us in spirit.

As always, hit the Flickr set for pictures and video, hit the slide show below if you’re lazy, or hit the jump to see everything at once.

 

Here’s a hazy shot of the Columbia River Gorge from the Chanticleer Vista Point.

 

Left to right, here are Nile, Bruce, Sandeep and Jesse, standing in front of Wahkeena Falls. Now, I feel kinda proud on this picture, because I couldn’t remember exactly where this was taken. I mean, it’s front of a waterfall, but we saw a bunch of waterfalls on this hike so I wasn’t sure if this was something intermediate or if it was in fact Wahkeena, and this is an odd angle so originally I didn’t think it was Wahkeena. So I started doing image searches on Google looking for that distinctive log, which in fact was in closeups of middle Wahkeena Falls. Anyways, for about 5 seconds I felt all CSI. And then just stupid.

 

During the course of this hike we passed over and by so many waterfalls and streams that it was hard for me to make sense of what creeks were the same and what were completely different. But anyways, I like bridges, even simple ones. Or maybe I just hate having wet feet. I suppose it’s all the same.

 

I took this picture because I thought it interesting that the flowing water had scoured this log so completely. It had even (perhaps) hollowed it out, since water is rushing through the middle and flowing out of that knot.

 

All waters here flow to the Columbia River. Some of these streams were basically cascades down a steep cliff. Here are two cascades right before they converge.

 

Nile didn’t really like any of us, because we were not Mom or Dad. But every once in a while he allowed himself to be picked up by Jesse. I think he figured that Jesse would be the most likely to throw him in the water, which he would absolutely love (for about 5 seconds).

 

Because I can’t explain for crap, this is a video of the place I’m talking about in the previous picture.

 

This is Fairy Falls, so called because the nature of the rocks makes the waterfall come down in light, delicate sheets. If you have a really nice camera (which I don’t) or solid photography skills (again…no) you can get some spectacular pictures.

 

Yes, it does indeed look more magical in motion than it does in a still frame, at least with my skills.

 

This "bridge" was basically a log with some anti-slip matting on it. It’s amazing how all that Fairy Falls water makes for a small creek.

 

Those photographers in the previous picture had the right idea! This picture is much more artistic looking.

 

We found a pretty good spot to snack, near a spring and a convenient log.

 

Nile worked up an appetite being carried around all day.

 

Nile loves water. He would make a good sea otter.

 

Despite my suggestions, Bruce did not dip Nile up to his ankle to see if this stream would turn him into Achilles. I’m pretty sure Nile would be up for it. Whenever we walked near flowing water, he wanted to dip his hands or feet into it.

 

Nile was pretty alert for the first part, but he did take a few naps during the hike. I love how rag dolly he is when he’s zonked out like this.

 

I get points if you get motion sick watching this.

 

This waterfall came up out of nowhere. This was the best picture I could get at the top.

 

Since the previous picture isn’t quite the best, I thought I’d take a movie of the waterfall as well.

 

This might be the waterfall from the previous picture, but I’m pretty sure it’s one a couple hundred yards further down (seriously, this place was filthy with waterfalls). The fact that there is one creek with multiple waterfalls of such impressive height is somewhat terrifying. This place must have had some serious earthquakes in the past to create such dramatic changes in elevation.

 

Originally, I was going to photoshop me sitting on that log, thus showcasing my coordination and successful risktaking tendencies. In actuality, if I tried to walk out onto that log, there would be an 100% chance of me getting wet. But doing this would require me talking another picture of me in the correct position, inserting it, and then adjusting for the lighting and then blending it in. Just use your imagination.

 

This loop hike, which started out at Wahkeena Falls, took us back out to Multnomah Falls, which is always a treat.

 

This vista point attracts a lot of people. For the view, I guess. In the lower right, you can see Bruce trying to raise the roof. Or give Nile a high five or something. In the lower left, you can see pictures for a wedding.

 

The next day, we did some wine tasting. Here were are at David Hill Winery in Forest Grove. This was perhaps the best value I’ve ever had at a wine tasting. $5 got me a glass and tastings up to 7 or so whites, 7 or so reds, and two or three ports. It was insane. This was also a pretty good place to stop and have a snack with a glass of wine, so here’s (left to right) Sandeep, Jenn, Bruce, Anne, Jesse and Me (conveniently off frame).

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