Year of Hiking 2025: Nos. 56 - 61

I zoomed past my 52-hike goal last month, but no way was I stopping there!

No. 56 - Birch → Wildwood → Cleator → Leif → Holman → Wildwood → Birch, Oct. 4:

No. 57 - Leif Erikson, north end, Oct. 4:

No. 58 - Tualatin High School Trail, Oct. 10:

No. 59 - Little Woodrose Nature Park & Shaniko Greenway, Oct. 11:

No. 60 - Reed College, Oct. 15:

No. 61 - Wildwood - 53rd to Germantown, Oct. 25:

:)

2025: Nos. 75 - 83

October reading roundup...

No. 75 - The Girl In The White Van by April Henry:

No. 76 - The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden:

No. 77 - Beer and Loathing by Ellie Alexander:

No. 78 - Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney:

No. 79 - The Last One At The Wedding by Jason Rekulak:

No. 80 - An Honest Lie by Tarryn Fisher:

No. 81 - Awake by Jen Hatmaker:

No. 82 - The Body In The Bookstore by Ellie Alexander:

No. 83 - The Housemaid Is Watching by Freida McFadden:

:)

VOCES8

When I learned that the British vocal group VOCES8 was coming to Portland, I had to get tickets!

They warned that parking would be tricky, so we arrived nice and early and walked around the gorgeous Reed College campus before the evening concert in Kaul Auditorium. We lamented how different our college experience would have been if we'd gone to a school like Reed instead of George Fox.

Ready to hear some music!

They encouraged us to snap pics and record video toward the end of the concert! 

The music was fabulous! The set was varied, with classical, jazz, and pop - very entertaining! I was disappointed to learn that they had recently replaced their soprano. I didn't think the new gal was as tight, but maybe she'll settle in after she's been with the ensemble for a bit. 

I was also so hoping they would sing Sibelius - my favorite of their performances. I guess I'll have to go next time they tour in the U.S.!

:)

Year of Hiking 2025: Nos. 52 - 55

The challenge is 52 hikes - averaging one per week. I completed mine on Sept. 7 with a trail run in Forest Park! 

No. 52 - Wildwood ➡️ Dogwood ➡️ Leif ➡️ Holman ➡️ Wildwood, Sept. 7:

Brad set out to complete another section of the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington. I hiked in with him for a couple miles before leaving him to his weeklong, solo adventure.

No. 53 - PCT at Rainy Pass, Sept. 14:

Before I picked him up at the other end, I did my long run on two great paths near my hotel in Bothell.

No. 54 - North Creek Trail ➡️ Sammamish River Trail, Sept. 20:

Even though he'd just hiked 130ish miles on the PCT, Brad was itching to get back out there! So we did a quick overnight in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. 

No. 55 - Siouxon Creek, Sept. 27:

Three more months! :)

2025: Nos. 67 - 74

September reading roundup...

No. 67 - Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski:

No. 68 - Fondue Or Die by Korina Moss:

No. 69 - Don't Open Your Eyes by Liv Constantine:

No. 70 - The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen:

No. 71 - Like Hacks For A Little Alien by Alice Franklin:

No. 72 - The Last Invitation by Darby Kane:

No. 73 - Lost Coast Literary by Ellie Alexander:

No. 74 - The Housemaid by Freida McFadden:

:)