Birthday exploring: Oregon City

We explored Oregon City for Mom's birthday this year.

She debated big city vs. small town and decided to check out the historic part of Oregon City. Though we've lived here all our lives, we'd never checked out this town so close to home.

We found free parking and then walked to the elevator - a first for all of us! Sidewalk markings pointed the way to sights around town.

We didn't have a real plan and just looked to see what was around. A hidden waterfall along the path:

We all had mixed feelings about this part of our history - the colonization of a place already inhabited by Native people!

Speaking of... Willamette Falls, Tumwata to the tribes who already lived here, has been returned to the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde (read more). They are demolishing the old paper mill, and I'm so excited to see what they do with this important Native site.

Dinner was at Corner 14 Foodcarts - lots of options for everyone, and we each had a different dish from a different cart. It was a bit crowded, and we worked hard to keep away from other people and avoid sharing COVID germs. Unfortunately, I was preoccupied and didn't snap any pics.

Everything was really yummy. We'll go back for sure! 

We walked south and then north along the waterfront.

It was a gorgeous late November evening, and we walked across the Arch Bridge to catch the sunset:

Then Mom wanted ice cream from Lake Oswego Ice Creamery, which we ate outside despite the cold!

The birthday girl:

Then we warmed up with gifts back home. And the birthday hat:

Thankfully we were boostered and could have some birthday celebrating indoors after the sun went down :)

Holiday Half virtual, 12/11/21

I ran a grand total of ONE race in 2021.

I started running in 2004ish and ran my first race in 2006. I'm up to 153 in all! (all my races)

Marathon: 6
Half Marathon: 37
Quarter Marathon: 3

25K: 1
15K: 7
12K: 3
10K: 28
8K: 1
4 miler: 1
5K: 57
Relay: 4
Other: 5

 

Needless to say, I love to run and race. But COVID stopped all racing for a while, and I'm not yet comfortable doing in person races. So my count has slowed significantly, and I trained for and completed just one race this past year: The Portland Holiday Half Virtual Race.

The official virtual race window opened Dec. 12, but I wanted to do my 13.1 on Saturday. BUT then a nasty storm was predicted for Saturday, so I decided to do my run Friday.

I already had the day off for Christmas prep, so I laced up early in the morning and hit the road.

I did a big loop that goes through Tigard, King City, Tualatin, and Durham, pushing a bit harder than in training but not coming close to redlining.

My pace was steady except for the two times I decided to walk up from the river instead of run up the hills.

The morning was great for running, and I felt strong and proud of my performance. I was well prepared and had dressed well for the weather. A good running day!

Santa Mickey greeted me when I finished 🎅

After, I celebrated with a hot chocolate from Primo Espresso to drink while I did my Christmas errands:

I stopped by Foot Traffic to pick up my race packet - for the race I'd already run! I thought that was funny :)

Always cute goodies! (Though the medals were stuck in transit somewhere - probably on one of those freighters off the coast of California!)

Update: Finally picked up my medal on Feb. 5!

When my tummy settled, I refilled with a Beyond Burger, fries, and a Dr Pepper. 

By then the storm had arrived, and I watched the rain while listening to Christmas tunes and eating yumminess in my car:

Hit the spot!

It was a such a great day full of hard exercise and Christmas fun. I definitely made the right choice to "race" early Friday.

Hopefully next year will be in person :)

No-TV Tuesday is back!

No-TV Tuesday used to be a thing for us. It was a way for us to be intentional about our evening and choose things that weren't mindless TV watching.

The new year seemed like a good time to give it another try. 

We started with COVID PRC tests after possible exposure last week. (results pending). Then it was a short snoozie for me while Brad finished working.

Monthly union meeting:

I cleaned under our bed. Yikes - way overdue! We also reorganized our bins - one of my very favorite things! 

After all that under-bed vacuuming, it was time to clean and sanitize the vacuums:

After all this excitement, I did a short guitar lesson and then tucked into bed early and finished my book:

:)

Year of Hiking 2021: 74 - 79

I again took the 52-Hike Challenge and made my goal in July! Click HERE to see them all.

With no races to train for this year, I focused on getting out and exploring new-to-me trails. I had a blast - and Winter Break allowed me to get a few more before the end of the year.

No. 74 - Cannon Beach Nature Trail, Dec. 21:

No. 75 - Four County Point Trail, Dec. 21:

Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook, and Washington counties in one spot!

And a giant tree recently fell right on the plaque:

No. 76 - Cooper Mountain, Dec. 22:

No. 77 - Fernhill Wetlands, Dec. 29:

No. 78 - Lightopia, Dec. 29:

No. 79 - Old Maid Flat, Dec. 31:

What a great year in the outdoors! Can't wait for more exploring in 2022 :)