Exploring downtown at the Doggie Dash

 

What a gorgeous weekend we had.  Today's Saturday (yeah, I know post dated blog....) and it's time for the yearly doggie dash in downtown.   You can see the "Portland Oregon" sign in the background. It had many previous slogans but the stag has been on top of that sign for a long long time.

Navy really took to this part of the walk.  He loves the bridges, the water, and the path along the water.  Probably reminds him of his time at sea. 

Besides doggie dashers (that's us) there were a ton of people out.  Bikers, walkers, runners and many dogs. 

Downtown did not disapoint.  That big pink tower to the right, guess what it's nickname is...

Yep, it's Big Pink. Now we are on the other side of theriver looking east.  

Finally, one last shot of all of us (great picture eh) but the Hawthorne Bridge looks good.  Did you know that Hawthorne ran one of the first insane asylums in Portland?

Cocoa has found something interesting....

Ah yes, Mill Ends Park, the World's smallest park.  This park has quite the history, it started as a creative writing project by a journalist in 1946.  He would often describe the lives of leprechauns who resided at the park. According to Fagan (the journalists, this was the only leprechaun colony east of Ireland and the department of transportation actually had to move the park on the rebuild of the road, Mill Ends Park now resides 6 inches west of its previous location).  For those of you who are dying to know, its 452 square inches (0.00007205784 acres). 

Wildflowers Galore

 Hiya Gang,
Little Fox here with my pals Navy and Cocoa Beanie.  After our day of adventuring around the gorge we decided to finish our mini-get-away with another hike. It's prime wildflower season so this longer hike should be a shoe-in for many-a-flowers.

Navy looks good with Mt. Hood and Horsethief Butte in the background.  

Navy found some Balsamroot and a few early Lupine. Navy also found Mt. Hood in the background. 

This hike is on an old ranch and besides being a state park its also a right of way for high voltage power lines.  At times you can hear the buzzing of the lines but it doesn't distract us from the views or flowers. 

Navy and Cocoa switched spots and Cocoa did just as good of job as Navy finding flowers. 

It's hard to take a bad picture up here. 

Being that it was prime wildflower season in the Gorge it was busy but there were a few pockets of solitude while hiking.

Even Sequoia got in on the pictures. 

So the next question is easy:  Where to next gang? 

A day out and about

Hiya Gang,
Little Fox, Cocoa and Navy Beanie here as we explore the Fruit Loop.  First stop is the petting zoo.  I can't help but be mesmerized by these chickens - management told me I  had to stay behind the fence or else.....

Looks like Navy Beanie made a friend.  

Cocoa was more interested in the flowering trees and the views of Mt. Hood in the background. 

So pretty - Cocoa wonders if these are cherry or apple trees? 

Navy spotted some alpacas way in the back - 

The petting zoo also had a bakery (or the bakery had a petting zoo) either way. Navy and Beanie found a few homemade pies

 to take home to Sandy.  Note - sorry Sandy these cookies were consumed before we left.

We saw this cool yard art and had to stop at the winery.

Navy and I shared a glass, Cocoa is off in the office getting us another bottle.

 

Deschutes river trail

 Hiya Gang,
It's been a while since my last post but we've been busy for sure.  As you can see Cocoa is in charge of this hike and it's a good one.  

Blackberry trail is our choice today.  The Deschutes River is so pretty right here. 

Onward, there's more to explore. 

Wildflowers are nearing there end on this section of the trail but I have promised Navy and Cocoa more vibrant wildflowers - keep your paws crossed. 

A little break along the river.  Perhaps a snack?

This part of the state has such different terrain from the western part.  So pretty and vast.  There used to be a ranch here - 

Little Fox is off taking notes about the old ranch for Archeology 267 (Old Ranch Exploration - one of the toughest midterms LF says)  so Navy Beanie is taking a few pictures for a while. 

Time to pass the camera over to Cocoa. Do you see the Balsamroot in the background?

The early flowers are gone but the Lupine is going strong.  Do you see the Deschutes in the background? 

Little Fox found some old ranch artifacts.  Looks like an old rock wall from where there was a hay field at the ranch. 

I know to look for the trees in the desert as it's the area where the ranch house might have been. 

This could be promising.

Looks like some ranching equipment.  Phooey, my roommates did not bring my carbon testing kit - ugh, there goes my extra credit.

Oh, this could be very interesting, perhaps interesting enough to get my A back.