• Weather and Travel
  • Events
  • Hikes And Sights
    • The Beautiful Columbia River Gorge
      • Angel’s Rest_ Wahkeena Falls
    • The Sandy River
    • Larch Mountain
    • Sandy River Delta / Thousand Acres
    • Mt. Hood
  • Eat And Drink
    • Restaurants
      • Ristorante de Pompello
      • The Riverview
      • The Troutdale General Store
      • Tippy Canoe
    • Beer and Other Refreshing Beverages
      • McMenamin’s Edgefield
      • The Historic Springdale Pub
    • The Liquor Store
  • Art and Shopping
    • Art
  • Where To Find What

Columbia Gorge Gateway

~ News And Views In And Around Troutdale, Oregon and the West Columbia Gorge

Columbia Gorge Gateway

Tag Archives: moon

Snapshot 8

07 Tuesday Jan 2014

Posted by loreeharrell in Beauty Be Us, Snapshots

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Bridge Of The Gods, Cascade Locks, hike, moon, night walk, Sandy River, snapshot

Cascade Locks from the Port;  Loree Harrell, 2012

The dogs and I hiked to the river tonight.   In truth, I wouldn’t have gone if the dogs weren’t promised a daily run down the trail – it was a long day and my head was tired, my body was junk, and all I wanted truly was to curl up in a warm bed and sleep.  But as soon as we started the hike down, I was glad I was there walking in the cold in the dark in a circle of light .

And then, two miles later, we walked out of the forest onto the beach by the river, and it was one of those moments when delight and peace are real things that you can feel in every cell of body and heart.  The mists of the morning had left tiny sparkling jewels all over the sand and the rocks and the bare branches and the brown leaves, the crescent moon was low over the river and dancing the water in light, and the stars were brilliant in a sky that endlessly black velvet blue that only a crystal night sky can be.

We sat by the river for a long time, and, once,  I wished for a camera and the skills to show you.  And then was glad of not having them.  Sometimes it’s enough for something to exist just for one person.

We stayed for a long time,
and then walked back up a hill through a winter forest with star-laden branches,
and went to sleep.

LLH;  01.05.14;  7:00p
Sandy River
Corbett, Oregon

Image: Bridge Of The Gods from the Cascade Locks Port;  Loree Harrell, 2013
Image related to the words only by virtue of a sparkle on the water, but it seemed the Snapshot series should have a snapshot.

Share this:

  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Print
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Well that’ll put a rose in those cheeks!

22 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by loreeharrell in And Around, Day Trips, Other Side Of The Inside Of The Box

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

beautiful, cold, columbia gorge, Corbett, moon, Sandy River, Troutdale, walk, wind

It has been one wicked windy few days.  Utterly beautiful blue skies, frosts in the mornings, and an all around visual delight.

But bundle on up before you go out there, it has been one wicked windy few days.

You would think that those of us who have lived here our entire lives would be used to it.  However, I have come to the personal conclusion that there are things you never get used to and will push against to your last breath.  For me, the wind is one of those.  I’m good with cold, I’m okay with hot (yes, we do get hot.  Think back.), but when you add those 52 mph gusts to a 32 degree temp, I’m out.  Could I please have the 14.1 degrees straight in calm air?  [Want to know where I got that number?  Here’s a cool toy for those of us who live in the wind.  Wind chill / temp conversion tool.  You can thank me later.]

However, I would like to point out a couple bright spots in the midst…
1)  You look very healthy when you come indoors (once you get the hair back off of the wrong side of your head and other humans can see your face) with a flattering rosy glow.
2)  If you’re having trouble waking up in the morning and getting into your day, save the five bucks for the coffee and just step outside.
3)  When you take your dogs up to that stretch between Corbett and Aims for the run down to the river,  that calm clear cold under a clear-star-sky moon will absolutely redeem any lingering annoyance with the environment.

Larch Mountain blocks the east wind completely where the dogs and I take our nightly hike to the Sandy River.  Completely.  We pile into the van in the chaos and drive up the hill, and we step out into pure peace.

"Hey, what do you want from a cell phone in the dark?"

“Hey, what do you want from a cell phone in the dark?”

It is such a gift.  The waxing moon has lit the trail almost to no-flashlight level, the river is sparkling under the occasional mist, the rocks are beautifully frosted, it’s the perfect temperature for the long hike back up the hill, and everyone else is huddled at home around the woodstove, leaving the trail, and the forest, and the river,
to just us.

It is a good thing.

Share this:

  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Print
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Recent Posts

  • Fall In The Gorge
  • Larch Mountain Gate Opens 05.27.14!
  • Snapshot 8
  • And A…
  • We Wish You…

Archives

  • November 2016
  • May 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012

Categories

  • And Around
  • Beauty Be Us
  • Community
  • Day Trips
  • Events
  • News In
  • Other Side Of The Inside Of The Box
  • Ramblings
  • Snapshots
  • Uncategorized
  • What I Learned From My Dogs Today

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Columbia Gorge Gateway
    • Join 144 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Columbia Gorge Gateway
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: