I always enjoy Lehman's bike outings. In years past his bike outings seemed to be the only times I got on my bike. This year is different since I'm commuting to work by bike a few days a week. I feel fit and I'm ready for Lehman's rides. Today's ride was 25 miles and had some hills, long hills with a classic gorge wind. I was really feeling it and was thankful I've been riding for the last three months. It was hot today and like a true Oregonian I complained about the heat. The flowers were a treat and the ice cream cone in Mosier were highlights. 

Opal Creek was the destination for the day. I was joined by six women, all who were eager to spend a perfect weather day on the trail. We lunched at Sawmill Falls and enjoyed the blue green water below us. A bright sun and blue skies overhead warmed us. In Oregon we are always welcoming the sun when it's here. A frittilary butterfly landed on Lin's hand and stayed put for a few special portraits.

I noted many leaves of western starflower not yet budding with blooms. There were avalanche lilies too, an indicator that the snow had just melted there. The ferns were still matted to the ground not yet reaching for the sun. The Opal Pools were a highlight. Here is a photo below.

 

Last weekend Lauren and I went to an iris garden near Salem. Turns out there was much more there than iris. As the light got soft and moved its way across the lush and colorful garden we had fun capturing the changing light on the poppies. 

I wandered around in Bishop's Close this morning. The light was bright and harsh so I looked closely in the shade for interesting subjects. I found a few. I've posted this one of the purple flower with the navy blue edges. It came out looking like a painting. I don't know what the flower is, sorry.

Columbia Hills

I received a reliable tip from a photographer I ran into on a trail last weekend so I headed to Columbia Hills to see the wildflowers at their peak. I realized after getting there that I'd been there before. This bloom that I was enjoying was far better than the one I experienced a few years ago. 

The balsamroot was stunning, filling the hillsides with yellow. If you looked closely you could see the purple splash of the lupine. I hiked with two companions to the top at the tower and we noted the changes in the flowers as we ascended. Indian paintbrush was seen, though only in rarity. The same for larkspur. At the top we were encouraged to see that there is much more bloom to happen in the coming weeks. This means there's time to try and get there again.

Though I hauled my tripod along I didn't use it. Instead I took several handheld memory shots. I hope to return to the area and take advantage of the late evening light. On the day of our hike we were blessed with glorious weather but not the best weather for taking photos in the middle of the day. I have no complaints as the flowers, the sun, the tepid breeze, and my friendly and interesting hiking companions made for an exceptional day indeed.

Shoot, Ava, shoot!

Ava gets ready to take a shot and Coach Jojo (on the right) and her helper coach watch intently. The shot is a miss, dang!

I love the look on the girls faces. They're so SERIOUS! They play hard, that's for sure. Ava's team didn't win but they got an "A" for effort. Everyone played well. And Coach Jojo survived her solo gig.

I started at Hamilton Mtn and turned around after about 1/2 mile. I met up with an elderly couple starting the trail and the man suggested I go to the rock wall at Upper McCord Creek Falls. He's a self proclaimed wildflower junkie. I took his advice. I rounded a corner at a switchback and what did I see? A gorgeous calypso orchid at the edge of a waist high embankment and just perfectly located for my tripod. I set up without any effort and took several shots with my macro lens. My weekend was complete...I thought. After getting my fill at Upper McCord I wandered down to Elowah Falls and once again, a calypso orchid at the edge of the path. Wow! After that I got soaked by the intense spray of the falls as I crossed the bridge. It was like running through a fire hose, no kidding! 

I found an obscure, steep path on the other side of the bridge and I scrambled up. At the top I found it was an easier spot to take a few shots of the Elowah Falls without the spray.

LaCrosse

It took awhile but I finally figured out which player was Seb under all that gear! His gold Nikes gave him away. That's him on the right in white.

Photo Outing

I took a group of Sierrans to Wahclella Falls in the Gorge for a photo outing. We had favorable weather. Though I was hoping for wildflowers I was disappointed to find they hadn't yet bloomed until I rounded a curve and saw several glacier lilies perched atop a large moss covered boulder waiting to have their picture taken. The glacier lilies are an early wildflower and a signal that more flowers will follow in the coming weeks. Here are three of my favorite photos from the outing.

"Pooncha"

Elmo has a great time with his pooncha! What's a pooncha, you ask? It's a word I learned from Slavka Bilka, the slovak word for Fido. I love the sound of it and have been calling Elmo's favorite toys pooncha's ever since. 

Juli, his petsitter, gave him this recent pooncha and Elmo is quite attached. He pounces on pooncha the minute he gets a chance after being away. Juli has even brought over another pooncha because Elmo has annihilated the first one, though the first one gets just as much play as the new one.