Catching up - May trips

Seattle skyline from the Bainbridge ferry

Seattle from the Space Needle

Sitka Spruce on the Olympic peninsula

In May we went north twice.  Once to visit Seattle with my bother and sister-in-law's exchange student from Germany (needed to show him something other than Eugene!) and the other trip to the Olympic peninsula for the annual Bogachiel property work party.  Both trips provide quite a contrast to the southeastern Oregon desert canyon country.  The Olympics have too much rain and vegetation for my tastes and Seattle has too many people.  Still, both offer great geography and serve well to exhibit the diversity of landscape that defines the PNW. 

A week in Bend

View of Deschutes River while on a mountain bike ride

William went off to Quebec with his fifth grade class so Maria and I spent a week on our own in Bend.  A perfect beginning of summer.  Weather in the 80's, with one day at 90 and one morning of hard frost - classic high desert weather.  We spent the week biking and enjoying the clear skies and the scent of sage and juniper.  I could get used to that...

Antelope Canyon, Owyhee Canyonlands, SE Oregon

I'm finally taking a minute to add a blog entry, it has been too long.  I've been getting out and about in the PNW and that beats sitting down in front of the computer any day.  The following entry contains a record number if images, and for good reason.  I have found my new current favorite place in the northwest;  the Owyhee Canyonlands.



Entrance to Big Antelope Canyon



A very wet spring meant a lot of flow in Antelope Creek



A lot of flow meant our plans to hike along the creek had to be altered



So we hiked along the rim of the canyon



And dropped down the to bottom in places




This is a canyon I need to come back to with more time and better weather




A perfect afternoon




I'm coming back here!