Great Columbia Crossing 2017

While it's raining and blowing here today, this past Sunday was a spectactular day for the 2017 Great Columbia Crossing, a 10k walk/run that starts at the Dismal Nitch Rest Area in Washington, and ends near the West Mooring Basin in Astoria. Last year's event was cancelled (for the first time) due to a forecasted severe storm.

The Astoria-Megler Bridge is 4.2 miles in length, spanning the mighty Columbia River. The uphill portion of the bridge is a little more than 3,250 feet, which is about .61 of a mile. The hill starts about 3.9 miles into the race. The bridge crest is about 4.5 miles into the race. The grade of the hill is 5.62%, or a little less than a 4° slope.

Just check out some of these photos:

 

Taken from Dismal Nitch shortly after we arrived at the start. Nippy (39F degrees). 

Also taken from the Dismal Nitch start. Warming up slightly.

 

Take from the span of the Astoria-Megler Bridge between Washington and Oregon.



Columbia River

Just sharing a view from one of our local hang-outs in Astoria. This was taken off Pier 11.

Crazy Weather!

It wasn't the usual drive to work this morning. Wipers were on overdrive, and the lightning was close. Very close. My 10 second sprint from my car into the hospital resulted in completely drenched scrubs (though I wore a homely raincoat to cover my upper half.)

This photo was taken this morning by Michelle Roth. I found it on facebook, and had to share it like so many others.

 

We were supposed to get high winds again this afternoon (had much wind and rain yesterday), and it's just starting to pick up now.

Hometown Love (BlogAlong day 7/30)

Driving home from getting groceries yesterday, I had to stop and pull over about a quarter mile from home. Sure, I was in a rush to get the ice cream home before it melted, but I was compelled to stop for a moment and enjoy this little slice of Heaven.

Sometimes it's hard to find the beauty in things, other times it slams you upside the head. This day I  thankful for the reminder to stop and take a moment to appreciate what I have.

Long Time Gone

May. Gone like it was never here, and I don't really have that much to show for it. Only a few weeks left before we leave for Chicago and the annual UFDC Convention/ODACA Day - and I don't have very much "product" for the big sale.

This week, in between work, babysitting, and painting the living room, I've been working on a "Primitive Americana Patriotic Challenge" doll, hosted by Cloth Doll Artistry's Prim group. Participants are using the same pattern, designed by Sherrie Nordgren. No alterations can be made to the pattern, but paperclay, etc., can be added, which is what I've been doing. http://clothdolls.ning.com/

I plan is to make a little boy doll, with some sort of patriotic or red/white/blue clothing. I used paperclay to sculpt his face, then covered it in knit fabric to make it more durable. I'm so used to making girl dolls, it will be a bit of a challenge to make a face that's all boy. One coat of gesso has been applied, and I'll apply a second before painting the skin tone.

While waiting for it the gesso to dry, I glanced out my window and saw a deer in the yard across the street. He'd been hiding in the tall grass (the house is empty and the yard is over-due for a mowing). I was able to get quite close.

Winter Recreation

This morning we left bright and early, heading to Mt. Hood Meadows to ski. It's wonderful being there mid-week, because there are no lift lines, you don't have to park very far from the lodge, and you have the slopes pretty much to yourself. This is a horrible photo, taken from my phone. There wasn't much snow, but there wasn't wind or rain, either. And actually, the snow was pretty good and the company even better.

The Great Columbia Crossing

Today was the 28th Annual Great Columbia Crossing- a 10K/6.2 mile Walk/Run that crosses the Columbia River near its mouth. This is the third or fourth time I've participated. The sunrise this morning was gorgeous.

This year I walked with my sister. My son and nephew ran. Here I am with my youngest (Kyle). We got up very early and rode the shuttle bus to the Washington side of the Columbia River, where we had two hours to kill before start time. It was very breezy and cold - about 40 degrees, I think. Hats and gloves would have been nice - next year we'll be better prepared.

Three thousand walkers and runners gathered at the Dismal Nitchrest area. After a mile, we crossed the 4.1 mile-long Astoria-Megler Bridge (usually open to vehicle and cycle traffic only) and finished in Oregon.

This is my sister and I (Deb's on the left, I'm on the right). It's not easy to have a good hair day with all that wind. I'm SO thankful it didn't rain this year.

We'd like to train for next year and try running it. Neither of us are natural runners, so I'm sure we'll suffer mightily, trained or not. The rise and span of the bridge are deceptively long.

This bridge is the longest continuous three-span truss bridge in the world. It rises 205 feet above the river, over a major shipping channel. It used to be a toll bridge, back when I was new to the area (some 23 years ago). Once the bridge was paid for, the toll went away. Hey! I see my friend and coworker Shaun in this photo. Many hospital staff participated today.

This photo was taken at the top of the span. We're just starting to get our autumn colors here. I think October is my favorite month. Very crisp and cool, but sort of risky for an event like this.

If you have time, check out the links in this post for a little history.



I really don't think we need to leave quite so early next year. The thing is, parking can be a challenge. I suggested we walk to the shuttles (about 1-1/2 mile from our house), but for some reason no one was interested.

Oh, and I did get the T-shirt.

Raining Again

It's raining again, and really starting to look like Fall. There are tons of garden spiders, and they're so darned efficient at building their webs (wish this photo did this web justice.) I'm all too aware that I look like a complete spaz when I unknowingly walk through a web, imagining a big fat juicy spider on my person.

Since it's so dreary out today, I decided to forego the laundry and housework and add another layer of Paperclay to my Halloween Challenge doll.

For this particular challenge, the Reigning Dolls & Bears club is using the "Genevieve" pattern from the book "On Making, Mending, and Dressing Dolls" by Clara Hallard Fawcett, copyright 1949. I was more than a little disappointed at how hideously mis-shapen the head was after sewing and stuffing it. It really needed some alteration. So I decided to make a clay-over-cloth pumpkin head doll. This is kind of outside my usual box, and I'm looking forward to the challenge.

A Beautiful Day in Astoria?!

You'd think this would keep people from coming to the ER today, but NO...
This is outside the ER ambulance bay doors, about 8:30 a.m. Looks kinda like fake movie effects, doesn't it?

It's June Already!

I can't believe it's already June. Where did May go? Our weather has finally taken a turn for the better, and I've started walking to work again. Up and over the hill, it's about 2 1/4 miles each way. But my goodness, it's hard to get up 45 minutes earlier!

These are photos of my friend Daniel (taken in April 2007), trying out my husbands rowing shell - and my husband offering his sage advice. I haven't tried rowing this thing, but I did enjoy kayaking in Key West. Maybe I should give it a try, though I know it's a bit more difficult. A person can end up in the water if not careful (and the water around here is quite cool). Young's Bay is visible from my studio window, though this photo was taken from the dock near the water. Oregon's a beautiful state, but I'm particularly fond of this area.

This morning I took my "Pediatric Advanced Life Support" test online, and passed (yeah!). Now I have to clean my studio, which is in complete disarray. Then I need to start packing and making kits for a class I'm teaching this coming weekend. So much to do, so little time...

Christmas Day Snow in Astoria!

Christmas Day, and can you believe it's snowing in Astoria?

I looked out my studio window to see the big snowflakes (sticking, but wet), and thought I'd drive up to the Astoria Column, a high point in Astoria. I took Misty with me, and she seemed to enjoy herself. We were the only ones up there. I wish I could have seen a panorama of snowy hills, but visibility was poor due to the falling snow. http://www.astoriacolumn.org/

The photo at the right is Youngs Bay, near the Old Youngs Bay Bridge. Much wetter here at sea level.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

"Arctic Blast"

Sunday: Lots of snow. Roads closed. Making the best of it, and enjoying the company of family.

Dad, who's really a child at heart, has rigged a make-shift sled to be pulled by four-wheeler. The "sled" is one of those plastic pads that go under desk chairs. Very slick. Lots of fun, with (thankfully) no injuries.

Brad's on the quad, Kyle's on the sled (above). The other photo shows Misty and Grandma. Misty didn't enjoy the snow as much as she did last year. She's older, and has some difficulty getting around now. She looks happy in this photo, though. Misty is half Great Pyrenees and half Australian Shepherd.

We'll try heading home to Astoria tomorrow, with the hope that road conditions improve. The news channels state chains are required. I don't own any chains, because I've always gotten around with studded tires. Hmmm.

Beach Snow

Saturday: we're headed over the Coast Range in NW Oregon. We'll be having our Christmas get-together early, due to work schedules. Of course, I'm not at all ready for Christmas.

It's been snowing (and sticking), which is rare. This photo was taken in Seaside. It's unusual to have snow on the beach here. See the ocean waves in the background?

We're headed for Eugene to pick up our youngest son, so he won't have to drive on the ice and snow to get to Grandma & Grandpa's in Hillsboro. It's going to be a long day, and very slow-going.

Our kitty, Cassidy, has been shut in the house with plenty of food, water, and cat litter. It's just too cold to let him stay outside - the raccoons would eat all his food, anyway, and his water would freeze. Hope he's a good boy. We're taking our dog, Misty, with us.

Tillamook Head Trail Hike

I spent the last four days working on the ODACA Day centerpiece dolls, so today I took a break and hiked the Tillamook Head Trail with a friend. We were able to see the Tillamook Head Lighthouse through the light sea mist.
At least 8 miles round trip, it was a very pleasant hike. Cool, no rain, the morning began with overcast skies. I packed a light lunch (sushi, cantaloupe, hummus, crackers, carrots and plum tomatoes). By the end of the hike it had warmed up a bit, and some of the clouds had burned off. Julie took a photo of me standing beside the colorful remains of a huge tree.

Now that I'm home, I'll work on the dolls, continuing where I left off. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

December Storm

The Oregon Coast (and SW Washington) was hit by two back-to-back storms, the second of which was record-breaking. Sustained hurricane force winds knocked down thousands of trees, snapped power poles in half, ripped off roofs and caused general devastation. We were without power, telephone, cell service, 911, etc. for five days.
Monday after work, having no way to contact my mother-in-law and check in on her, we tried to reach her house. One route was littered with downed power and phone lines. The other was completely blocked with downed trees. We chose to hike down through the trees.
These are photos of Williamsport Road. The hike down was about 1 1/2 miles, but seemed much longer. That's husband Chris in the yellow pants in the top photo. The wind had died down a little by this time. Common sense said to stay at home, but we had to know that Chris' mom was alright. We had to climb over trees, assuming we were still following the road, as it was completely obscured with trees and branches. It was getting dark, so we had to move quickly.

Reassured Mom was ok, we headed for home. It was too dark to return home along the same route, so we had to walk a different route home, dodging downed lines in the dark and pouring rain.
The next day we went down to the marina to check on the boat. Many were damaged; ours did alright. Check out these photos by one of the boat owners who stayed near the marina during the storm. Scroll down for video of the marina. http://redhare.org/log/index.php

Diamond Lake, Oregon

I've got another, relatively new blog, but this blogger seems to be a little more user friendly. I'd love to be able to transfer the posts on my other blog to this one, but haven't figured out a way to do it. Here's the other address:
http://blueheron61.bravejournal.com/

We got home Sunday afternoon, after having participated in Cycle Oregon's 20th Anniversary week-long ride. The scenery was spectacular, and some of the days were pretty tough. I'm happy to announce that I didn't ride the SAG wagon, 'tho may have been tempted once or twice.

Day 1 was 60.5 miles, Sisters to La Pine
Day 2 was 92.5 miles, La Pine to Diamond Lake
Day 3 was (optional) 59.8 miles, Crater Lake
Day 4 was 88 miles, Diamond Lake to Dorena Lake
Day 5 was 55.5 miles, Dorena Lake to Oakridge
Day 6 was 65 miles, Oakridge to Rainbow
Day 7 was 45.5 miles, Rainbow to Sisters

And of course, there was much climbing. Thousands of feet, and sometimes 8-9 percent grade. I did it, but had a pretty good internal whine going. I did NOT opt to do the Crater Lake ride on Day 3 - I've done it before, and instead enjoyed the beautiful Diamond Lake, pictured below, with Mt. Thielsen in the background. I've got more Cycle Oregon (and doll) photos here:
www.picturetrail.com/blueherondolls

For Better or Worse

For better or worse, I'm leaving in the morning to participate in Cycle Oregon's 20th anniversary, along with 2000 other bicyclists. If you don't hear from me again, it means I will have expired somewhere along the route.

My lycra shorts are nearly dry and ready to pack. If you've never spent much time in the saddle, you'll know it's not for the fashion statement, but out of necessity, that bicyclists wear lycra.

I did manage to ride 50 miles last week, then hiked Saddle Mountain with some friends. And I rode 23 miles this week. While it's not nearly enough, it'll help.

Here's the top of Saddle Mountain, where we ate our picnic lunch. My friends Allison and Autumn are in the corner of the photo. The vista was beautiful.