How many hills have I crested? How many trails have I trod and what have I learned on the journey? Many hills have beckoned me in my lifetime and I find each one to be an invitation to discover more of life.
Last week I was part of a group of supporters that was ferried across Willapa Bay to hike trails on Long Island. A fundraiser sponsored by the Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, I jumped at the chance to explore an area I couldn’t get to on my own.
On arriving at Long Island, the tide was not quite right for the flat-bottom ferry to land. We had options, take off our shoes and splash to shore or wait. Many of us opted to wade the few feet that remained! Soon after I had my socks and shoes back on, I started up the trail on my own. There were Forest Rangers and other volunteers to help guide the group – I just wanted to explore independently and take photos!
I had hoped to photograph birds on this hike, however being right at the height of fall migration, there wasn’t much new to see in that regard. The trail lead through old growth Douglas Fir forests to a grove of ancient Cedars – which were quite stunning.
It was a lovely day, the hike was just the right length for me, and being on my own, yet in an organized group was perfect. Another hill climbed, with a deep sense of fulfillment and some pretty good shots at the end of the day.
Thanks to Donna Holland of Wind Kisses for this challenge. It is an honor to be asked to host, and also a big responsibility to look at and respond to the many posts we followers send in! Your challenge was such a nice wide-open topic, and fit right into what was important to me this past week.
Whatever hills you climb, please honor our earth, be kind and stay safe.🐾
When I noticed Cee’s fun foto challenge for this week, I began to see curves and circles all around me! Here are some, all but the mushroom, from my walks this week.
Whether you’re going in circles or simply on a winding path, please honor our earth, be kind and stay safe.
This week Tina gives us carte blanche on what we feature, so long as our images portray opposites, not in the sense of opposing, more along the lines of contrasting. To open, I chose to feature a duckling and a drake. Both are Mallard ducks, however they are “opposites” in age and maturity.
My next pair of photos features the same subject – Lilac blossoms. The first one is of a bloom on a seasonally warm spring day while the second shows emerging buds covered in unseasonably cold snow!
A few years ago I “adopted” the benches along the two trails leading from the Breakers Condominium structures to the beach. Most were functioning and just needed a fresh coat of paint, except this one. Since all the parts were still there, I bought some zinc wood-screws, brought out my power screwdriver and put it back together. Now all the benches get a fresh coat of paint before I leave for the summer!
Meadow to marsh, marsh to meadow; the acreage between the buildings and the ocean berm is owned by the Breakers Condominium Association Long Beach. From early summer to early winter the land is a thriving meadow inhabited by songbirds and frequented by mule deer. As rainfall increases in autumn, the meadow transforms to a marsh that hosts many aquatic birds, like the Mallards in my first images.
Another contrast in the two images above is the light of bright afternoon sunshine, compared to the dark of early evening fog.
Max and Daisy have been part of our family for seven months now. They have become wonderful companions and serve to remind us of important life lessons. First; it is important (imperative!) to get out there and engage with life – get some exercise! Bark and enjoy! Second; it’s equally valuable to kick back, unwind and relax.
Wherever you find interesting subjects to compare and contrast, please honor our earth, be kind and stay safe.🐾
If we go by the definition that a town is “an urban area that has a name, defined boundaries, and local government”, my choice for this week’s challenge, Oysterville, once was an urban environment. In it’s heyday it was a prosperous fishing community. Now a tourist destination with a thriving Oyster fishery, Oysterville is on the National Registry of Historic Districts in the USA.
“For generations before the pioneer settlers arrived, Chinook Indians gathered oysters in this part of Willapa Bay and camped in the area that is now Oysterville. The first white settlers here were Robert Hamilton Espy and Isaac Alonzo Clark. Chief Klickeas showed them reef upon reef of tiny native oysters that grew on the shallow bay bottom. Espy and Clark marketed the bivalves in gold-rich, oyster-hungry San Francisco. In no time, Oysterville became a rowdy, lusty boomtown. By 1855 its population and importance were such that it became the seat of Pacific County, Washington Territory. The town had many firsts – a school, college, newspaper, and finally, in 1872, a church – First Methodist.” (Oysterville Restoration Foundation/ORF)
“The Oysterville Church (above) was construction in 1892. Hundreds of visitors from all over the world sign the guest book every year and the “poor box”, located in the church vestibule, has long been a reliable source of revenue, helping to pay for the historic structure’s ongoing maintenance.” (ORF)
Robert Hamilton Espy, co-founder of Oysterville, built his house (above) in 1871. Constructed of California redwood, the “Red House” has remained in the Espy family for six generations. (ORF)
Built in 1865 by Captain J.W. Munson, until 1875 the structure (above) was the site of Oysterville’s first Pacific County Courthouse. As you can see, when I visited 9/15/2022, the gardens were glorious!
The John Crellin House (above), built of redwood in 1867, was the site of the Heckes Inn from 1920 until WWII, which was listed in the Duncan Hines Travel Guides as an outstanding eating place. (ORF)
Top Left: The Oysterville Schoolhouse (1907) was the third and last school in Oysterville. Top Right: The Oysterville Post Office has operated in Oysterville since 1858 and is the oldest continuously run Post Office (under the same name) in the state of Washington, and has been located in the Oysterville Store since 1919. Bottom: The Northern Oyster Company, originally a cannery, is now the home of Oysterville Sea Farms, where the oysters are as fresh as they get. The Cannery building (1940) is the only structure remaining in Oysterville that gives testimony to the town’s original reason for being! (ORF)
A mound of oyster shells slowly being assimilated into the landscape.
Though a bit of a side step from the theme, I hope you enjoy this little journey through a small charming town in the wilds of Washington State, USA. Thanks to Sofia Alves of photographias for this weeks challenge!
Wherever you explore, in big cities or small towns, please honor our earth, be kind and stay safe.🐾
Though John doesn’t mention boats in the title of this challenge, many of the places I go have boats as the centerpiece, so I’ll start with a few boat shots. Below my sister and brother-in-law’s new lake-fishing boat. It’s a beauty and very comfortable.
Full speed ahead on Odell Lake in central Oregon, at the summit of Willamette Pass, 5000 ft (1524 m) up. I have so much fun fishing with Diana and Les When we’re not fishing we often go on hikes or visit other high Cascade lakes in the vicinity. Below a canoe on the shores of Miller Lake .
It’s been a while since Creighton and I have visited Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands, yet I have fond memories of all those years cycling the various islands, and then sitting on the deck at Beach Haven cabin #1, watching the sunset. Below a sailboat at rest in the bay, followed by a snap of cars ready to board the Ferry from Orcas, to Anacortes, WA.
Speaking of ferry’s, when Diana and I visited our cousin at his north Idaho summer condominium, he treated us to a ferry ride around Coeur d’Alene Lake. At the landing a seaplane was taking visitors up for aerial views!
My last image is a photo of our dear friend from days at the University of Washington, Al Young. A champion racer (twice winner of every major Championship E.T. Drag Race National event in the Pacific Northwest from 1976 to 1996, Hall of Fame – National Hot Rod Association – Northwest Division, 2018, and many more honors), when Al was at a show in Portland, I went to visit him. Below is a photo of Al in front of his Plymouth Roadrunner muscle-car.*
I wish I could say I’ve been around the world like Al has, however I’m pretty much a local traveler, which is part of the charm of seeing my blogging friends’ posts of your world journeys. Thanks to John for hosting this week!
Whether you travel by plane, train, auto or boat, please honor our earth, be kind and stay safe.🐾
This week Anne-Christine invites us to look about our world (or dip into our archives) for photos of unusual and interesting things, surprises that captured our imagination. My first image is of a piece of blown glass art depicting a treble clef, a gift years ago from me to my musical hubby.
As I walk the beach I see all kinds of natural wonders and also human designs which I put into the category “found art.” I take the picture and wonder “when will I ever use this in a challenge?” Well today is the day, and this is the time to feature two beach creations, long ago washed over in sand and out to sea.
The bunny bench, below made me laugh out loud when I saw it. Very clever, and certainly fitting to a part of the country where rabbits abound!
Rye-grass dunes leading to the beach catch my eye when there is still a bit of morning mist glittering in the sun. Many times I’ve tried to capture the impression, often with less than satisfactory results. Here are three that come close, with the added pleasure of an immature Bald Eagle and a glimpse of dear Jello.
My archives are loaded with photos of birds – various types, in all kinds of weather, alone and in flocks. So I’ll end this post with a quirky snap of a Red-necked Phalarope, head in the water with its lovely little tail reflected in the blue pond.
Wherever you find fun and interesting surprises, please honor our earth, be kind and stay safe.🐾
Thank you Anne-Christine for providing a reason to show some of my off-beat photos! This has been fun.
Walking With Eagles is a collection of original poems and photographs by Lindy Low Le Coq. A lifelong naturalist, amateur photographer and bird enthusiast, Lindy’s verse, composition and photographs open a window into the essence of her subjects. Her poems and photography reflect the rich natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest.
Bald Eagles mature over the course of five years. Walking With Eagles invites the reader to take a poetic and visual tour of this odyssey.
view ~ Walking With Eagles ~ in top menu bar for a preview, though the folio is much nicer!
Lindy Low LeCoq 