Multnomah Falls May 2016

This past May my wife and I were able to enjoy a mini-reunion with a couple friends from Cornell in Vancouver, Washington. One of the highlights of our visit was a trip along the Columbia River Gorge. The scenery there is as spectacular as we had imagined. It is not only the expanse of the Columbia River and its history that holds your imagination but also the setting where rocky heights provide a magnificent overlook to see up and down the stream until it vanishes around a bend or into the mist.


One of the best known sights in the region is Multnomah Falls. This is a double waterfall which has a scenic pedestrian bridge between the upper and lower falls. While it is an easy walk from the parking lot to the bridge with its view to the upper falls, getting to the top of the waterfall is a much more difficult hike.


Walking past the bridge, the path weaves steeply upwards through the woods over numerous switchbacks. As you continue ever higher along the path you get even closer to the falls. Now rather than viewing the waterfall from the bottom, you begin to see the where the flow crests over the ridge and can then follow it with your eyes from the heights into the pool below. Fortunately, there are several rest stops along the pathway to the top where you can catch your breath while taking in a view from falls and across to the Columbia River. As the climb to the top of the falls can take over an hour I was only able to reach the halfway mark before my phone rang to remind me that the rest of the group was waiting at the base of the falls as it was time to move on to see other sights.




I guess my climb to the top of Multnomah Falls will just have to wait for our next trip to the Northwest.

Victoria British Columbia September 2008

Commuter Flight Arriving in Victoria

The Parliament 

The Empress Hotel

Dockside in Victoria Harbor

Leaving Victoria

California Vacation February 2008

San Francisco in February is brisk and misty. We walked all over the city to stay warm while we saw the sights. No matter how often we visit, however, we always find a new vista. From the top of Coit Tower we had this dramatic view of San Francisco's unmatched skyline.




At the Palace of the Legion of Honor the line to get in the museum snaked around the building. So we just wandered over the grounds and admired the outdoor sculpture.




From San Francisco we traveled to San Diego to visit some friends working at San Diego State University. They took us to nearby La Jolla where seals and their pups had taken over the beach. At this time of year, they're able to have the beach all to themselves.




In February, New York's Central Park is slippery with snow and slush. Balboa Park in San Diego, however, is still a garden in bloom. Orchids, palms and other exotic plants fill the Botanical Building.




Between the Botanical Building and the Museum of San Diego History is this lovely Lily Pond. On the day we were there, a film crew was setting up in a grassy area nearby to record an interview. We didn't stay, however, to see who the local celebrity would be.




On our way back to northern California we spent several days exploring the Central Coast around Paso Robles. The area is often overlooked in the rush of traffic traveling between LA and San Francisco. But for those who take the time to slow down and look, there is a landscape that inspires. During the Great Depression, while William Randolph Hearst ruled his world from a mountaintop castle, children in the nearby village of San Simeon learned their ABCs in this one room school house.




Some 20 miles south of San Simeon is the community of Moro Bay. This town has one of the safest anchorages in California with Moro Rock standing as sentinel to protect the harbor entrance.





While less well known than Napa and Sonoma, the Central Coast has become one of California's premier wine growing areas. Over 100 wineries can be found in the greater Paso Robles area. One of the best wineries for Pinot Noir is located in nearby Templeton—Wild Horse Vineyards. It was cold and cloudy the day we arrived but the winery staff's hospitality made our visit enjoyable. The conversation among the guests was friendly and the wine was wonderful. Just outside the tasting room I took this photo of the stormy sky.




We ended our California sojourn in the Sacramento River valley. While most states talk about renewable energy, in California the hillside windmills capture electricity for the future.

Scenes from New Mexico April 2007

Taos Door

Santa Fe's Trading Post

The Landscape near Acoma Pueblo

Burro Alley Santa Fe

 

Coyote Cafe Santa Fe

Santa Fe & Taos April 2007

We felt we had hardly explored the Albuquerque area before we had to move on to our next destinations: Taos and Santa Fe. From Albuquerque, we followed the Turquoise Trail north. The road wove its way through a host of small mountain communities, each with its own charm. In Chimayo, we visited the famous Sanctuary where pilgrims have come for nearly 200 years seeking miraculous cures and forgiveness of sins. The church itself is a weathered building of ancient boards and adobe walls with bell towers flanking the entry. A mass was in progress when we arrived. We stayed and listened to the sermon for a while before mid-day hunger led us to a nearby restaurant famous for its flavorful tamales. We were not disappointed. Dona Leona's tamales were worth a special trip to Chimayo on their own. Yet El Santuario and Leona's were not the only attractions in Chimayo. This village is also the home of Ortega's weaving shop. The Ortega family has been weaving in Chimayo since the early 1700s. Their distinctive garments are famous not just in New Mexico but around the world. While there were many beautiful items in the shop, particularly the rugs with detailed patterns and high prices, I could not resist getting my wife a warm wool vest, especially since it fit her so well.

Santa Fe awaited us at the end of the Turquoise Trail. We stayed at the Pueblo Bonito, a small B&B just a short walk from Santa Fe's Plaza. Each room at Pueblo Bonito was named after one of the state's many pueblos. Our room was Acoma, which was fitting as it was the only pueblo we visited during our trip. Decorated with native pottery and drums, our room kept us in a New Mexico frame of mind.

In Santa Fe, history is ever-present but it flavors rather than dominates the day. On the north side of the Plaza, under the awning of the Palace of the Governors, native Americans sell jewelry, pottery and other arts that represent centuries of tradition. While admiring their handicrafts you can learn much as each artisan describes what they have made and the meanings of the designs. It's hard to look over their work and not purchase at least a modest souvenir.

Not only is Santa Fe rich in history, it also has a wealth of museums. On our first day in Santa Fe we spent some time visiting the Georgia O'Keeffe museum. While the exhibition space in the museum is relatively small, the works on display by this renowned artist were breathtaking. Her paintings of flowers and landscapes used brilliant coloring and simplicity of form to create an emotional impact. Also on exhibition were some abstract paintings and sculpture by Sherrie Levine who drew inspiration from O'Keeffe. We loved O'Keeffe's works but were often puzzled by Levine's.

We took a walking tour of Santa Fe and learned more about its history and architecture. Our tour ended at the chapel with the miraculous staircase--truly a wonder of craftsmanship. Constructed in the early 1800s by an itinerant carpenter who took no payment for his work, the wooden stairway is built without a central support yet makes two complete 360-degree turns as it spirals from the chapel floor to the choir loft. Often studied but never duplicated, the faithful of Santa Fe consider the stairway a gift from God. 

After two days of shopping, museums and wonderful New Mexican food, we left Santa Fe and drove north to Taos. Known both as an artist colony and skier's paradise, Taos seemed a quiet place after the many galleries, shops and historical buildings that held our interest in Santa Fe. North of town, we took the road to the Taos Ski Valley. Winding ever higher, the road traced its way alongside a stream until eventually we arrived at the ski village. The village stood at 10,000 feet but the surrounding peaks were half a mile higher. In April, little snow remained on the slopes; the chair lifts were idle, swaying slightly in the breeze. We didn't stay very long but tried to imagine how the trails must look at the height of the season when skiers track through fresh powder.

From the heights of the Taos Ski Valley we drove to the Rio Grande gorge. Route 64 crosses over the Rio Grande northwest of town. We parked just before the bridge and walked to the middle of the span. Far below, the river shimmered from a chasm now in shadow as the late afternoon sun dropped lower in the sky. From the bridge to the river is more than 600 feet. I'm told that during the summer you can bungee jump into the gorge. Those who do must be braver or more foolhardy than me. Just looking over the bridge and bracing against the wind whistling down the gorge was sufficiently thrilling for both of us.

Albuquerque April 2007

This was our first visit to New Mexico. While we had talked many times about traveling to New Mexico, in the spring of 2007 we decided to act on an open invitation to visit from a high school classmate. Peter had moved to New Mexico nearly 20 years ago. He and his wife built a beautiful home in the shadow of Sandia Peak. "When we came, there were few other homes in the area," Peter noted. Now the area where Peter and his wife live is considered one of Albuquerque's best.

While spending two days in the Albuquerque area visiting with Peter and his wife we also caught up with a couple former colleagues. John came out to Albuquerque over 10 years ago as the regional head for an international charity. He later developed and came to lead a local non-profit for addressing children's needs. David, who also worked for the same charity, came to Albuquerque to take over the regional position that John had held earlier.

All three of our friends encouraged us to stay in New Mexico. Each in their own way told us how they loved living in the area not only for its beautiful landscape and picture perfect four-season climate but especially for its vibrant culture and international outlook. A few days around Albuquerque helped us understand their enthusiasm. Whether wandering through the colorful streets of Old Town Albuquerque or touring Acoma Pueblo, the oldest inhabited community in the United States, it quickly became apparent why New Mexico is the "Land of Enchantment."