Surrounded by Amazing Beauty

Last Tuesday Charlie and I, accompanied by my brother Tom, decided to spend some time hiking in the Columbia River Gorge. We spent some time in the Gorge the week before but I had neglected to take my camera and missed some beautiful shots. So Tuesday I made sure I had the camera along.

We drove first to the Tanner Creek Trailhead which is at Milepost 40 heading east on I-84; it is the Bonneville Dam exit but you turn south off the freeway instead of north. After parking and paying the $5 day use fee, we walked along Tanner Creek -- there is an access road so it's wide and level -- and then took the trail up past East Fork Falls, which are right next to the trail, and on up to Wahclella Falls. This trail is a nice loop that is just over a mile long, I think.

After stopping often and taking lots of photos, we headed back West along the Old Highway. We stopped at Oneonta Gorge and decided to walk -- maybe a quarter mile -- back to Horesetail Falls. We decided to follow that trail which went up past Pony Tail Falls across Oneonta Gorge and on Oneonta Falls. Beautiful scenery -- on both hikes. I'm not sure of our total mileage (I HAVE to remember to wear a pedometer!!) but it seemed like several with all the hills and switchbacks.

There was plenty of poison oak on these trails as well as the trail we followed the week before up to Elowah and Upper McCord Creek falls.

At some point, whether on the hikes this date or later, Charlie managed to break the nail on his dew-claw and I took him to the vet when I noticed it on Thursday. They quoted me a possible $375 so I was little relieved when it was just less than $200. But that's still a lot of money to come up with when you aren't expecting it.

So I am finding little ways to give my life some pizazz, something to keep me getting out of bed in the mornings, but some days it is admittedly challenging. I went to dinner and a movie with a girlfriend last night (we saw The Soloist) and we had a great time. I got home around midnight but this morning I just couldn't get myself motivated; I laid there and wondered what to do with my day. I ended up mowing the lawn and taking Charlie for a walk. But I also went on-line and looked for a job. I applied for a part-time position in the development department of one of the local law schools; I think I'm well qualified but we'll see if I even hear back. I had applied for a position with Oregon City, part-time clerical for which I am horribly over-qualified, but I never even heard back from them. Sheesh!

I'm not looking for anything to get rich on or high-powered and impressive (and stressful). I just want something meaningful to do with my days. I think I would be more focused on my writing if I didn't have so much time on my hands. It's too easy to put things off when you've got all day and all week and all month to do it.

So we'll see. In the meantime, I continue to look at volunteer opportunities and ways for me to make a different in the world as well as my own life. And find beautiful places to visit and photograph so I can be inspired and thankful for all the blessing I DO have.