Remembering Dad

How has it been eight years?

Eryn and I played hooky Thursday and went on an adventure to remember Dad.

Eryn picked a route from her Portland Stair Walks book:

It was a doozy!! Dad would have complained the whole time 😉

We stopped at Goose Hollow Inn for a refuel:

It was nice enough to sit on the patio!

Then it was back up, up, up to the car. We complained, too!

But then we met Mom and Brad for ice cream, because that would have made have made Dad happy. It made us happy!

Miss you, Dad. I'd give the world to have you back with us.

Thanks for giving us a reason to skip work and go play and eat fun food 💗

Year of Hiking 2023: 48 - 50

October brought a few adventures, including a short backpacking trip to Mount Adams. The views were spectacular, and we had the whole place to ourselves!

No. 48 - Foggy Flat, Oct. 7:

We explored the trails above Moulton Falls and then watch salmon jumping at nearby Lucia Falls! 

No. 49 - Moulton Falls, Oct. 15:

And a short, foggy hike near Lewis and Clark College.

No. 50 - Riverview Natural Area, Oct. 19:

Two months to go and I've almost hit my 52-hike goal :)

Adventure Thursday: Cooper Mountain Nature Park

This summer, Dad and I had the idea to explore all the Metro parks. We started with Mount Talbert but never did any more... until this week! 

We went yesterday to Cooper Mountain Nature Park in Beaverton.

 

I'd been there just once before, several years ago with Brad, and it was Dad's first visit. He enjoyed the kiddie section near the parking lot:

We explored the area, hiking almost 3 miles through several different landscapes. They recently did a controlled burn in the meadow, so much of the area was scorched. I'm interested in returning next year to see how nature repairs itself after the fire. As for wildlife, we spotted a few birds and a snake!

The weather was perfect for hiking - coolish and a bit drippy with high overcast - my favorite :)

Such a fun, beautiful Adventure Thursday close to home!

:)

Angel's Rest (7/16/16)

Two weeks ago, Dad and I went to the Columbia River Gorge for a hike. We didn't have time for a mid-week adventure, so we went Saturday morning to Angel's Rest. Big mistake! It was like a freeway out there!

We know better, but we didn't really think it would be THAT bad. It was.

There were dozens of people at the top, but it was still a great view!

High clouds kept the temps down and we still had a view up and down the gorge.

This is a short, steep hike close to town. It's great for a quick trip - just not on a July Saturday :)

Adventure Thursday: Mount Talbert Nature Park

A few weeks ago, Dad and I explored a new (to us) park for Adventure Thursday.

On the advice of our Metro newsletter, we checked out the Mount Talbert Nature Park in the Clackamas area.

Armed with a map, we hiked most of the park's trails. And we spotted this guy: 

It was a beautiful, peaceful nature area with great trails! I want to go back with my running shoes :)

:)

Adventure Thursday: Tualatin walk

Dad and I walked to Tualatin for Adventure Thursday:

The day's forecast called for showers, but none had materialized by the time Dad left home to meet me for my lunch break. He was about halfway to THS (on foot) when the skies opened up and the rain arrived. Dad arrived in my classroom a bit damp :)

I wrapped up some very important duties (we graduated FOUR CE2 students Thursday!), and we left for the park. We bundled up in rain gear, but it didn't rain again while we were out.

We walked across the bridge to Tualatin (you can barely see the river in the upper, right corner ^^^) and then returned to the school so I could finish my work day and Dad could get back to his chores at home.

This next week is the monthly Discovery Run, so I guess our adventure is already picked for us :)

Adventure Thursday: Discovery Run!

Last week's Adventure Thursday was an easy choice: Discovery Run!

It was the first scavenger hunt run of the season.

We ran and walked all over Tualatin, collecting tickets along the way. Surprisingly, none of us won a prize this time! We didn't have as many tickets because we never received the map in our e-mail. We had to just sorta wing it :)

Already registered for the next run on May 26! Join us :)

Adventure Thursday is back!

Adventure Thursday is back (along with Adventure Friday!)

Dad and I fell off the wagon in the fall. I've missed our adventures and have been trying to get things going again.

He walked over last week for a lunchtime walk in Cook Park. Then he returned Friday for a bonus round:  

Here's to many adventures ahead! :)

Adventure Thursday: Cook Park, Christmas and Tofurkey

From last week's Adventure Thursday:

Dad came over to THS to join me in a lunchtime walk in Cook Park. 

It was a bit chilly and very fall-like!

In the evening, the fam went to Al's Garden Center for the annual Evening of Lights Christmas preview:

We sampled yummies, bought a few things on sale and got into the holiday mood with all the fun displays.

Oh, and Santa!!

After, headed to Whole Foods for a school fund raiser. $5 for a mini Thanksgiving meal. Eryn and I got to sample the Tofurkey:

It sure was good! And now we're all ready for the holidays :) :)

Adventure Thursday: Guess who won again?

It was me!

Thursday was the final Discovery Run of the season. Each month, we do these super-fun running scavenger hunts sponsored by the Tualatin Road Runner store. Someone in our group wins most times, and this month was no different!

I won a Mizuno string bag with a Mizuno key chain, phone armband and foam roller inside!

Can't wait until they start up again in April :)

Purple all day, and Adventure Thursday

It's Spirit Day, and I'm wearing purple all day to show support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth!

I started off my day with an early tempo run on the treadmill:

Then off to work with my purple kicks - Eryn and Mom also sported their purple in support:

In the evening, Dad, Mom and I hit Tryon for some Adventure Thursday fun. We ran and walked about 2.7 miles on the trails:

Now I'm all showered and wearing my purple half-zip with my PJ pants :)

So what's the point? Bullying is a major problem, especially among LGBT youth. Check out these facts about bullying (source): 

Food for thought... 

Discovery Run shakeout

This month's Discovery Run was the night before Hood to Coast. But we needed a shakeout, so we decided to go anyway and just take it nice and easy.

The spots were mostly concentrated in two areas, so we were able to hit all but one location - 4 miles in 1 hour.

Hot, sweaty evening!

No winners in this group:

Bummer! Still, a good way to spend an evening :)