Bend, Oregon, Daily Photo

A low ha!

2010-05-07T17:46:00.000-07:00

This is clearly not Bend, Oregon. If people carry the soul of a particular animal then I am a hummingbird, a restless creature that can not sit still. Consequently I felt the need to flit off and fortunately Tapirgal was eager to spend a few days in Maui to celebrate her birthday, so off we flew. Exhausted, but happy after the 6 hour flight, we found our way along a busy winding island road to the condo I had booked hastily.

The above photo taken from the patio depicts the soothing atmosphere of tranquility which is so characteristic of Hawaii. I am not sure I can ever get my wings to stop beating so rapidly or slow my heart rate down. I am what I am. In the meantime I hope to relax, take some pictures and experience the ease in the breeze. We'll see. A turtle I'm not.

Sugaree, Baby

2010-05-04T22:23:00.000-07:00

This morning I stopped at the Backporch Coffee Shop in Bend, Oregon, as part of my commitment to break my morning Starbucks habit. As I ordered my java I spied the pastries pictured above in the glass case below the cash register. Most fascinating, sitting alongside some highly unusual donuts were three glazed maple bars topped with strips of bacon.

For those of you that enjoy a sugar high, I have included the upper third of a pile of one of mountains of sugar I photographed at the Fromme Sugarcane Plant storage building last month in Jamaica. Not to spoil the sweetness of your day, I have included a few statistics I found about sugar consumption from Wikipedia. The average American consumes between 3 and 5 pounds of added sugar a week, meaning up to 200+ pounds of added sugar a year per person.

Now I am not going to harangue about the despicable amount of calories or fat or carbs or sugar there is in most diets, since this is the fodder of much New Age conversation. I also have seen how sugar cane production has been terrible in so many ways for underdeveloped countries in the Carribean and South America, but that is a subject for another time. I just feel letting pictures today whet your appetite for some serious consideration.

A Mighty, Big Bird!

2010-04-29T22:19:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago while visiting the Navajo Nation, my host took me to see the dinosaur tracks near Tuba City, Arizona. I had been skeptical from the moment I saw the sign that I was about to bilked out of a few dollars in order to see some carnival attraction made out of plastic.

A dirt road off the main highway took me to a few stands where Navajos were selling jewelry.

There I was greeted by a boy who offered to take me into the desert and who immediately began pointing out the many large bird-like tracks encased in the mud. He told me they were from a dilophosaurus, a plant-eating dinosaur the size of a horse. There were also larger tracks than the ones pictured above, plus skeletons, petrified eggs, scat, and allegedly the remains of a tyranosaurus claw. It then was not hard to imagine the wet fertile green swamp that once was home to these creatures that roamed 200 million years ago during the Jurassic Period.

To me, these imprints were like ancient starlight shining brightly still from a once living source that had burnt out many years before. In that quiet desert setting, the presence of the footprints of these long vanished animals evoked such a genuine, authentic quality, much stronger for me than reconstructed bones in a museum. The dinosaurs were real and they walked here. Naturally, I suddenly scanned the horizon hoping to still catch a glimpse of one that might have been left over. You never know!

To think there are people who don't recognize that these creatures existed at all and cling to biblical interpretations of creation or who believe God put these tracks in the ground like artwork to confuse humans. So much for having advanced beyond the Age of Dinosaurs!

2010-04-25T21:54:00.001-07:00

It has been over a week since I returned to Bend, Oregon, after completing my Amizade adventure. A few of you have written and wondered why I hadn't posted and were concerned about my well-being.

I have to admit it has been emotionally difficult to adjust to "normal"life, which is devoid of novelty and excitement which characterized the last four months. Also I find myself now strangely reticent and reluctant to express to others my Amizade experiences, which, predictably, seem to now be slowly enveloped in a mental fog as time elapses. What I have learned now feels strangely personal and is not easily translated. Of course I have lots of photos that will help remind me of the trip. I will eventually find a language to share these pictures so that they may inspire others to learn, serve and understand. That is for later. In any event I have decided to post in order to return to a positive activity and which may help me through what has been called by some a "transitional period".

The first photo of the shut metal gate at the home where I stayed in Jamaica serves as the closing picture of my adventure. Standing behind it is Ms. Dorothy, who represents a different race, national origin, generation, and culture and serves for me today as an archetype for the many people I met. She knew I was an unusual guest and tolerated my rants. She listened to my words and showed me great kindness and seemed to have remarkable understanding although she was of humble background and had never been off the island. Today I must declare my trip is over and the door is closed. I have lots of photos and memories to carry me from that time into the future.

The second photo taken at the Rose Garden in Washington Park in Portland, Oregon, of a raven cawing at me, even when I snapped it, felt strangely ominous. Influenced of course from my recent experiences at the Navajo Nation where there is a strong belief in the messages from animals, it put me in touch with a deep feeling of alienation and disorientation although I was now within the fabric of my own kind. After having been out wandering all over the world, now, at home, I felt more lost.

I chose the third photo of a soon to open rhododendron bud as a positive expression that, like it, I am eager to blossom in some new refreshing way. Today I am swaying quietly in the wind, so to speak, but I am eagerly open for a new challenge. I have no idea how it will relate to where I've just been physically or spiritually or when I will find it. I hope ardently to feel again the exhilaration of bursting growth. That's all I ask.

I intend to change the title of this blog to Lee's Daily Adventure and post pictures of wherever I am, including Bend, Oregon. You will be able to find me right here without changing the url. I hope you'll stay with me and keep in touch via e-mail and comments.

Farewell from the summit

2009-12-31T18:57:00.000-08:00

The street sign says it all. This is my last post on Bend, Oregon, Daily Photo until my return on April 17th, 2010. Tapirgal of Astoria Daily Photo encouraged me to smile and to invite all of you to follow me on my new blog, Lee's Amizade Adventure. My flight from Portland, Oregon, on Sunday morning, January 3rd has a long layover in Miami, during which I intend to post my first impressions of the trip before departing for Brazil. Until then, have a blissful, photo-filled Happy New Year and thanks as always for your kind words and support.

Getting Ready

2009-12-27T15:24:00.000-08:00

On a cool, sunny afternoon several weeks ago in Bend, Oregon, I hiked along this quiet trail near Shevlin Park, and reflected on my upcoming volunteer Amizade adventure. Although I have no recollection of any of the particular thoughts I had as I ascended this slight grade, I have no problem sharing that little else has dominated my thoughts over the past months than the details and personal ramifications of this journey.

In less than one week from today, I will start the first leg of a four-month trip which will take me to five different continents, where I will necessarily and directly be immersed in the complexities of vastly different cultures. I have already mentioned that, on the surface, my role is to work as a volunteer on widely diverse humanitarian projects, photograph and write about them and provide useful information for future volunteers. To express this goal in words is easy, but to actually lay the groundwork to pull it off is a stress-filled challenge. The travel preparations, including transportation and lodging, have been daunting. Likewise, it has been no easy task to settle affairs at home to accommodate a protracted absence. There have been challenges predicated by my choice to travel light with only a backpack and a carry-on as to choice of clothing and equipment. Notwithstanding, I have had to consider health issues and have undergone lots of tests, some of which have increased my level of anxiety rather than mollifying me. Last of all, I have had to struggle with an internal battle concerning my separation from loved ones and the effect it will have on my relationship with them. I rationalize that in the scheme of things this trip is only for a short time, and that I'll be back soon, but the reality is that the perils I am about to encounter are numerous and that, as it is often wryly thought at these moments, you never know the last time you say good-bye.

In any case, on Sunday, January 3rd, I leave first for Brazil, with a layover in Rio de Janeiro before heading to the Amazon river town of Santarem. I am excited to share my adventure with you. Yet this blog is so much more than a daily post of pretty pictures and words. It is a lifeline to the world to which I belong. It is a conduit to the people I love. Without it, I am simply alone, the proverbial rolling stone tossed by fickle current down to the sea.

along the trail

2009-12-23T20:16:00.000-08:00

Although there is no snow on the ground today in Bend, Oregon, it takes only a short drive West toward the mountains to find a Winter paradise. On this forest trail, closed to cars for the season, the public can spend carefree hours walking, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing. There are those of you who follow this blog who see nothing glamorous in having cold toes, ears and nose, and who also define good exercise as rolling from back to stomach on a chaise lounge under a gentle tropical sun. To you, outdoor cold weather activities probably has little appeal. Such ventures are not for everybody. Notwithstanding, in the above picture, the hardy gang decked out in fleece and gortex, march forward joyously and rhythmically, December's snowsong drummed by their boots. As they pass, they acknowledge intuitively that the camera-toting stranger in similar uniform is an ally, and like themselves, a lover of movement in the iced-white world of Winter. I hear their footsteps recede in the distance and by their dissipating presence, I feel strangely warmed.

bottoms up?

2009-12-22T19:23:00.000-08:00

This week my goal has been to take my blogger friends down the beginner run, Leeway, at Mt Bachelor Resort near Bend, Oregon. The last picture of this series, which shows my skis in a rack in front of the lodge at the bottom of the run, is a tribute to all of you for your good nature, humor, and mild curiosity about downhill skiing and snowboarding. Also my congratulations go out to MB of Small City Scenes to be the only participant left standing out of the entire motley crew. Now it is time to retreat into the lounge for refreshments by the fireplace. The round is on me!

Goin' my way?

2009-12-21T20:33:00.000-08:00

For the last two days I have been posting photos of a beginner run named Leeway at Mt Bachelor Resort near Bend, Oregon. On this glorious crisp clear day the staff has groomed the snow beautifully, making the ride down to the bottom smooth and fast. This somewhat level spot is at the bottom of a hill, the top of which can be seen in the background of yesterday's post. The hill resembles a wide and 100 foot (35 meters) long playground slide. For those of you who are still with me and who have not been airlifted, or are still sprawled out on the snow or tangled in a pine tree, remember there is hot coffee and Baileys waiting for you at the lodge. By the way, the end is not just around the next bend but near the valley floor about a mile away. Keep in mind the old adage, "No guts, no glory."I know you'll make it!

Going my Way?

2009-12-20T20:46:00.000-08:00

In yesterday's post I promised to take you down a beginner's run at Mt Bachelor resort near Bend, Oregon, named Leeway. At the top, the run is slightly sloping and has been groomed to make for a smooth ride. For those who seek more challenge, a skier or snowboarder can cruise through the large piles of snow on the edge or shoot off into the trees into ungroomed terrain. For our purposes, we will stick to the center and make slow looping graceful turns. I know that we don't want to go too fast and lose control or something annoying may happen. It is best to face downhill and let the skis do the turns, although this is easier said than done, but with practice I think we'll make it. I am sure you have noticed that the trail seems to drop off in the distance. Humpf, I wonder what that means? Yikes! Where's the St Bernard?

Going my Way?

2009-12-19T21:26:00.000-08:00

This directional sign at mid-mountain, adjacent the Pine Martin lodge at Mt Bachelor Resort near Bend, Oregon, is just to the left of the location of yesterday's post. It directs skiers and snowboarders to various runs and rates them according to difficulty. A green circle connotes "easy", a blue square suggests "moderate" difficulty, and a "black" diamond (not listed) is a slope for advanced or "expert" enthusiasts.
One of the green runs, "Leeway", tickles me because of its name. I remember the first time I skied down it, I found it quite difficult and, on any given day, it still can provide quite a thrill. It is long, and has a few short, but steep drops. Follow me for the next two days while I take you along for the ride. Don't worry, you'll be safe. I won't let you fall!

view of the top

2009-12-18T19:54:00.000-08:00

Standing at the edge of the tree line adjacent the mid-mountain lodge at Mount Bachelor Resort near Bend, Oregon, the site of yesterday's post, it is apparent there is still much mountain left to explore. The lift to the summit is East and not in view. The lift to the right of the picture is the top of the Outback Chair, which provides access to the west side of the mountain. The summit is at about ten thousand feet and provides amazing vistas of the Cascade Range. I'd love to show you some shots from above, but the lift was closed. In fact, this picture was taken last year at this time. Today it was so foggy, that from this spot, I couldn't have even seen the map in the foreground. Sometimes the weather trumps the fun. After five runs, I decided to go home rather than taking the chance of running into something solid with little "give", such as a pine tree!

Into Thin Air

2009-12-17T20:53:00.000-08:00

This scene from mid-mountain Pine Martin Lodge at Mt Bachelor Resort near Bend, Oregon, seems like an apt picture for Skywatch Friday. Join me for a moment on this balcony, feel the cool fresh air in your lungs and let your eyes take you to the horizon. Great! Now I suppose you wonder how you're going to get down the mountain. Well, you can always slide on your butt!

Lions, tigers and ......

2009-12-16T21:12:00.000-08:00

Today, I took a new trail into the park near my house in Bend, Oregon, and came across the above sign. I hoped I would be lucky to spot some spectacular wildlife. By the way, in the small print in the lower half of the sign, it says, "If you have questions , please contact...... ." What possible questions would you have? "Should I call kitty, kitty?" "Can I take mama bear's cub home?"

Winter thoughts

2009-12-15T20:17:00.000-08:00

Today's photo is the third in a series of photos featuring the arrival of Winter in Bend, Oregon. The usually rich, smooth, dark green boughs of a ponderosa pine are now frost-coated and brittle. A small cone, bundled between two clusters of needles, peeks out like a toothy rodent at the mouth of a burrow. So it is in these days, the temptation to venture out and see. Like a mad baker, Winter has coated nature's treats with icy white sprinkles, tantalizing and sugarlike to the eyes, but cold and foreboding to unmittened fingers. I stand frozen in the crisp air by this array of majesty and open my shutter and touch.

White light

2009-12-13T21:20:00.000-08:00

The frigid weather last week in Bend, Oregon, dressed the tan and gray brown Autumn landscape into the white garments of Winter. Last season's new growth adorns the crisp air proudly like tail feathers of an ice-sculpted peacock. Wherever I look, I spy evidence of cold white filigree bringing prominence to unsuspecting objects. It is the handiwork of the new season, which disguised first as an icy night wind, has revealed itself in texture as a bearer of nature's love song.

(s)no man should be so lucky!

2009-12-12T16:23:00.000-08:00

Central Oregon and Bend, Oregon, has had, like the rest of the country, its share of cold weather this week. In fact on Wednesday evening the ambient temperature dropped to 12 below zero, which is highly unusual for this area. The daytime temperature has warmed up considerably since then and much of the snow in town has melted, but last night there were fresh snow showers in the mountains and I had my first glorious day of downhill skiing. I feel fortunate to experience a variety of weather and seasons here. I know there those of you who look at the above Bend citizen and are reminded of all the snow they have shoveled in their life and are glad to be done with that. There are benefits too. I saw a father and son create this stalwart denizen. It was an act of love and joy.

The write touch?

2009-12-10T20:11:00.000-08:00

When I arose at dawn today in Bend, Oregon, I spied a design made from jets crossing above. The sky looked like a giant chalkboard. As a child I remember often seeing sky writers. Is it done anymore? If you could write something what would it be? I thought about it and decided that I 'd be glad to simply scribe in my name, nothing profound, witty nor base. I'll leave those categories for you!

Going Downtown?

2009-12-09T20:03:00.000-08:00

I have rarely posted any pictures of downtown Bend, Oregon. I have focused instead on the natural beauty of the area. This photo continues to leave followers somewhat in the dark about the town's appearance. Briefly the core business district, consisting of one way streets, contains quite a number of small boutique clothing and gift shops which I seem to be intentionally expensive. Also there are a number of better than average restaurants with elaborate wine lists for guests with a discriminating palette. It is my understanding that once Burger King was denied a permit to locate in an empty store front. My favorite stop is the barbershop. A haircut costs $17.00 which includes a beer or micro-brew for every patron. Overall the town projects a genteel atmosphere and offers visitors a clean, safe, pleasant place to stroll. Strangely enough I have not gone into most of the establishments. I am more of an alley cat than pedigree.

War to End All Wars Revisited, Part 2

2009-12-08T22:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I posted some thoughts on my Bend Daily Photo blog precipitated by the 68th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. I mirrored some ideas about war expressed eloquently by famed historian, Howard Zinn in "A Just War". I have received many comments from followers of my blog, most who see war has a necessary response to a tyrannical enemy. This position is understandable and troubling, because the choice to use force usually means that the victim must assume the behavior of the foe in order to prevail and thus exacerbates the loss of life, the destruction of resources and property and intensifies the disruption of lives of many for a dubious outcome.
As I leave for my Amizade adventure, I know that I will be asked by people along the way my position on America's role in Afghanistan, Iraq, or Iran, my feelings about the Taliban, and generally how I see America's role in the developing world. My responses are important to me personally and as a representative of America. In my post I suggested looking more critically at the value and purpose of military response. I struggle mightily with the subject of war and understand the positions of those that profess the need to show a tough military posture to dissuade rogue leaders and nations from trampling on the rights of others. Likewise, I am also sympathetic with those who see war and amassing materiels as a completely insane and counterproductive immoral waste of resource and suggest a paradigm shift in which the common man rejects lending himself physically, politically and spiritually as a willing sacrifice to further the aggrandizement of an elite few. At some point I need to choose what is ultimately a more compelling argument.
As I have grown older, my wish is to rediscover and cultivate the albeit naive idealism of my youth. I desire to embrace the idea of redirecting our war machine into a peace machine as an example of proper action. I want to act "as if" being socially sensitive through random acts of kindness may indirectly weaken the grip of power hungry leaders. Call it senility. I know the mean world and the enemy well. It is us. I have such little time left to believe there is anything I can do about it.

A War to End All Wars Revisited

2009-12-07T19:45:00.000-08:00

I ventured out at sunset today December 7th in Bend, Oregon, to take a picture in memory of Pearl Harbor which took place 68 years ago. Several times today I heard the statistics about the number of ships that were sunk that "infamous" Sunday morning and the number of American lives that were killed and how the next day we entered World War II. Unlike other conflicts of the recent past, it is said our entry into WWII was clearly necessary and justifiable in order to put an end to Hitler's tyranny and the Japanese lust for power.

The idea whether a war can ever be viewed as" just" has been written about eloquently by Howard Zinn in " A Just War". On this day, with the Iraq action still unresolved, and the prospect of more troops on their way to Afghanistan, it is important to consider carefully whether war is the best use of our human talents and resources to create a better world. To be sure, it is difficult to stop tyrants, or tyrannical groups but their power comes ultimately from the people who believe in them. Somehow if our government through its military can organize massive amounts of firepower, destruction which directly and indirectly brings suffering, we should equally be able to imagine amassing huge amounts of water power, construction, and goodwill. Is it worth thinking on this date again even stronger about an alternative to war?

sknowing snow

2009-12-02T16:27:00.000-08:00

I have shown many pictures of South Sister near Bend, Oregon, in my posts but I could not resist sharing this snowy picture. Standing at just over 11,000 feet, South Sister is the third highest peak in Oregon. This early season dumping may portend a good snow year. Snow pack is valuable for so many of our natural resources, but in recent years, warmer temperatures have caused a smaller snow pack and the melting of glaciers. There are those who wish to discredit the idea of global warming, but here on the Cascade volcanoes, especially on Mt Hood near Portland, Oregon, a marked decline in snow is easily visible by comparing recent photos with the past. There is hardly a scientist who disputes the deleterious effects of carbon on the ozone layer. Still let's hope there is the chance to preserve our beautiful environment and to enjoy vistas like this one for many years to come.

It's all downhill from here

2009-11-30T17:24:00.000-08:00

This is my third view of Mt Bachelor ski resort near Bend, Oregon. It is late afternoon on an overcast day, so this photo doesn't really bring out the energy and color which is typical when the place is hopping. In the background is the Pine Martin lift, which takes skiers and snowboarders up to a lodge which is hidden from view and over the bluff and at mid-mountain. From this angle the slopes don't look like they have much pitch and are, in fact, categorized as intermediate "blue'' runs. The difficulty of ski slopes really depends on weather conditions as well as its slope. I have come down by this lift countless times in deep powder or in fog or a snowstorm and have been mightily challenged. I thank my children for having encouraged me to overcome my fear and to take up downhill skiing which I did at age 46. I love this Winter activity so much and look forward to snapping some pictures for you from above.

pray for.....

2009-11-27T13:34:00.000-08:00

Late in the afternoon, the ticket windows are closed at Mt Bachelor Ski Resort near Bend, Oregon. Earlier in the day this spot was filled with excited skiers and snowboarders, planning day-filled adventure with much bravado. Now the crowds have gone, and a strange peace descends on the mountain and its surroundings, reminiscent of an empty playground without children. In the above photo with its sparse, and random collection of snowboards, skis and poles, we see the leftovers of the morning celebration. Under the equipment racks the snow is packed down hard from the trampling of colorful boots . The morning prayer includes thoughts that tomorrow there will be new snow. A new caravan of novitiates will then caravan to this white world to be infused by its glory. Please note my newest post on Lee's Amizade Adventure.

On High

2009-11-26T21:50:00.000-08:00

One month ago, I posted a Fall picture of Mt Bachelor almost completely barren of snow. Some of you wanted me to post some Winter shots, when the time came. Last week Bend, Oregon, experienced a surprisingly early snowstorm, which produced over 30 inches of snow in the mountains. This gave skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts a pleasant surprise, an early opening to the resort. I drove up the road day before yesterday and took a series of pictures which I will show over the next several days. The summit of this long dormant volcano is around 9600 feet and is about 3 miles from top to base with a vertical drop of about 3000 feet. On this day my focus was to display its stately beauty. Like a sweet vanilla ice cream sundae without the cherry, this majestic beauty stands like an appealing treat for the cooled Northwest sky.

A Day for Darwin

2009-11-24T20:16:00.000-08:00

This morning I read in the Bend, Oregon, Bulletin that today commemorated the 150th anniversary of the the publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species. in which Darwin concluded that natural selection was the key factor in an evolutionary process which has been going on for millions of years, a position which has been vastly strengthened through the study of genetics and the discovery of DNA which show how traits are passed on.

Today, according to a Gallup poll, 44% of Americans believe God created man in his present form within the last 10,000 years and 42% of Americans believe all life on earth has existed in its present form since the beginning of time. This attitude not only reflects the well-documented fact that average American adult lacks even basic scientific literacy, but like primitive peoples, he chooses religious answers for questions he fails to understand. This dependence on supernatural explanations retards human growth and has been unproductive in advancing civilization with respect to gathering knowledge and understanding nature.

Darwin's contribution was to take the explanation of life down a different path and to look at it not from the perspective developed by severely limited, ancient desert people, but through honest, measurable inquiry.

I know that much scientific theory today will be modified or debunked tomorrow. I still feel the mystery of nature and am amazed by it. I don't know what to think about the prima causa or about magical coincidences. Yet, there is one thing of which I am certain: namely, I am frightened by those who may come to power who wish to de-legitimize science in order to preserve ignorance and superstition. Darwin may have set in motion serious investigation into the origin of life, but it is up to us to protect and foster the process he eloquently endorsed.

open to it all

2009-11-23T19:30:00.000-08:00

Late this afternoon, on a walk across a high meadow on the outskirts of Bend, Oregon, I spied a series of lenticular clouds hanging over the mountains. These unusually-shaped formations are among my favorites, sometimes appearing as silky caps on mountain peaks or as UFO impostors hovering overhead. The air today is cool, fresh and highly scented by pine trees. There is a new thick layer of snow on the trail which appears before me like the sheet music of some modern piece, a staccato of notes formed by rabbit prints and other assorted small scurrying things. I breathe deeply and feel my legs taking me further into the interior. I tug at the hood of my sweatshirt and draw the strings tighter to stave the chill. Like a monk on a mission, I am off into God's country, so to speak, to enjoy its splendor.

going full circle

2009-11-22T20:39:00.000-08:00

Although I took this photo last summer after I completed an arduous hike on a dusty trail near Bend, Oregon, I decided I would use it as my first entry on my new blog, Lee's Amizade Adventure. I hope you will be able to bookmark this new blog as well. I intend to keep posting on Bend Daily Photo until I leave on January 3rd, but thought I would begin to share my thoughts tonight about my upcoming adventure in a new location. For a cursory description of my itinerary please see yesterday's post.

going down the line

2009-11-21T22:25:00.000-08:00

Late this afternoon, before it began to snow, I snapped a picture of the old train station in Bend, Oregon. It is now the home to an art collective called Art Station, which offers community sponsored art classes to children and adults. I looked carefully along the roadway to see the vestige of old railroad tracks, but could find none and know, if I go by the historical museum, I'll probably find old photos and learn its history. In an earlier post I related how I became infatuated with trains as a child and this thrill has never left me. I went to a railroad museum in San Diego recently and bought caps of the now defunct Southern Line and the Southern Pacific. I don't think I'll ever wear these odd-looking engineer's caps nor hang them on hooks. I am still puzzled by my impulse. The emblems on them were beautifully embroidered and reminded me how exciting it was to see these lines' colorful freight cars whizzing by.

Yesterday I mentioned that I will be taking a hiatus from Bend Daily Photo starting in January and will be starting a new blog. Briefly, through strange circumstances, I decided to volunteer for what was to be a short while with an international service organization called Amizade. Upon learning of my blogging experience and liking my writing skills, the director asked me almost jokingly if I would be interested in doing a blog and a cohesive narrative of a number of their sites. Anyway, I am leaving first for northern Brazil to take pictures, write and help out at a medical facility and school in a small city on the Amazon. After that I fly to Cochabamba, Bolivia and do the same at an orphanage. After several weeks I leave for Tanzania via England where I will be in the "bush" near the Uganda and Rwanda border where volunteers are putting in water systems for villagers. I then cross Tanzania on my own and will be able to go on a safari through the Serenghetti. I then fly East through Hong Kong and New York to Jamaica and spend two weeks at a school up in the mountains. Finally I return to America and go to Arizona to the Navajo Nation for two weeks and help at an Indian school. At the end of April, I'll be back in Oregon and wonder whether it was all a dream or whether it was real. That's it. How does it feel? without a home .....like a complete unknown...like a rolling stone! Thanks Bob D.

Rise and Shine

2009-11-21T00:12:00.000-08:00

I have been remiss in posting this week and hope to be able to show scenes of Bend, Oregon for the next several days until Thanksgiving plans take me elsewhere. Then my posting may be spotty again, until I return home after the first week in December. I have been waking early and seeing remarkable sunrises on the high desert and felt compelled to share this view taken from my front porch. My head is bursting with new ideas and thoughts predicated by a great upcoming adventure which will take me to many amazing places. I will be leaving Bend, Oregon for 4 months and will be creating a new blog which I hope you will be interested in following. I will include details in upcoming posts. A new morning to all of you!

resting place

2009-11-16T20:53:00.000-08:00

I am not sure what caused this ponderosa pine node to fall. I saw it and similar new growth lying on the duff along the Benham Falls trail last week near Bend, Oregon. I so often have questions about natural phenomena I see on my hikes especially in the fields of geology or botany and never learn the answers. I shift my focus onto the aesthetic aspect of the object at hand and let it take my thoughts.

Endearing?

2009-11-15T20:28:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I spied three mule deer not far from my house in Bend, Oregon. This isn't unusual here the since urban growth boundary has been pushed increasingly into wildlife habitat which contain scent trails that have been used for centuries. I am not here to debate whether the deer population has increased or decreased over the past years. The subject becomes unpleasant especially when talking to hunting enthusiasts or local farmers who allege their crops are almost purposefully munched. In any case, having originally been raised in the heart of the city of Chicago and then transplanted to the suburbs of Southern California in my youth, meant that seeing deer was an awe-inspiring event. Only after moving to Oregon in my early twenties and living in rural areas did this experience become almost commonplace. Nonetheless, there is still something so special about these innocent ungulates. I observed their behavior for hours when I worked on fire lookouts many years ago and learned much of their gentle personality. Seeing these few still brings me joy and reminds me of a world that once existed before there were so many of us.

Good Morning

2009-11-12T19:36:00.000-08:00

I have been away from Bend, Oregon, for over a week and returned late last night from visiting San Diego, Chicago and Pittsburgh. I took many photographs of these locales and may enjoy posting them at a later date in another venue but for now I want to stick to my resolve of showing pictures specific to my community.

As I arose this morning, I watched the sun rise over the high desert sky and was gladdened to be back home in Oregon, a place to live that offers its residents such a myriad of diverse climactic zones and open spaces.

This state has, of course, its share of the blight of tasteless suburban sprawl which is so sadly common throughout America, but it is relatively sparse, geographically limited, and easily es- capable. Today in a matter of moments, I can step outside and see the jagged, now snow-white mountains, the thick pine forests or the open plains and be awestruck by the glitter of pulsating luminescent sparks bouncing off these vistas of grandeur. Lingering are the memories of airports, hotels, towns and distant people, but these are fading. In the light of this brilliant morning of this new day, I am recreated and home again.

In the Badlands

2009-11-03T07:40:00.000-08:00

It is early in the morning at the airport in Portland, Oregon, and have some time between flights to post for Bend, Oregon, Daily Photo. As promised, I wanted to show some of the landscape of the recently established Badlands Wilderness Area which is 17 miles east of Bend, Oregon. One of several hiking trails lead to Flatiron Rock, a peculiar geologic formation of cooled molten lava piled high off the desert floor. Here I found many natural treasures. Along the path there are numerous caves and fissures to explore. I sought to find drawings from early natives but came up empty-handed. Instead I was treated to seeing unusual crystal formations created from dripping water, colorful green and orange lichen, and, of course, in the process disturbed lots of small scurrying things, primarily lizards and voles. In the above photo, I shot a picture of the many windows and arches that adorn this remarkable place. It is an easy flat walk of about an hour to this spot but, oddly enough, is sparsely visited. I have a new place to bring guests who love the outdoors. It is a place that will be remembered, I assure you.

Home on the range?

2009-11-01T21:14:00.000-08:00

On several previous posts I have mentioned that Bend, Oregon, is located in Central Oregon on the high desert. The above photo, taken this weekend on a hike to the Badlands Wilderness area 17 miles East of Bend, gives a fairly good representation of the countryside lying in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountain range. The trees that flourish in this semi-arid environment are junipers. They are generally short, with tough gnarly bark, rough light green needle-like or scale-like leaves and aromatic inedible blue berries. The soil is composed of pumice, lava and igneous rock and is the remnants of the huge explosion and fiery flow from the remains of Mt. Mazama 90 miles away, which is the site of present day Crater Lake.
There are many fascinating rock formations and caves in this location, which I hope to show in a subsequent post. I may be able to share one tomorrow, but if not, I will not be back in town until a week from Wednesday.

Fallen Leaves

2009-10-30T19:42:00.000-07:00

Like so many coins at the bottom of a sacred fountain, these aspen leaves wink back alluringly to the viewer. They are woven together by brittle strands of pondorosa pine needles, creating a colorful mosaic carpet of geometric shapes, placed on an earthen background. On Wednesday, I posted a cool gray, solitary picture of a grove of the spindly, white and black- checkered parents of these leaves. These once verdant beauties, now barren, protruding from the ground like naked spears, have dropped their jewels to the floor and wait for the snow to fall and to hide their bounty within the cloak of Winter's grandeur.

Day is done, gone the....

2009-10-29T20:38:00.000-07:00

This evening, as a friend and I left the college art building in Bend, Oregon, we were treated to this extraordinary view. We remarked how difficult it is to accurately photograph sunset colors especially the orange hue. Then our words fell away. It was time to simply take in the moment and feel its grandeur and not let thoughts get in the way.

Quiet moments in the forest

2009-10-28T20:57:00.000-07:00

Every day this week I have managed to visit a favorite trail and experience it anew as it reflects seasonal change. Today I walked from Benham Falls to the Slough about 7 miles West of Bend, Oregon. This section is part of a longer trail which meanders along the Deschutes River, crosses a massive lava flow, and winds in and out of pine and aspen groves. The single-track path is popular with hikers, mountain bikers and folks on horseback, yet I saw no one on this cold, gray afternoon. I stopped at this stand of bare quaking aspens and felt its solitude. It was perfectly quiet, not even a breath of wind. I loved its peaceful feeling.
On Tuesday I travel to San Diego, then visit relatives over the weekend in Chicago, and next fly off for business in Pittsburgh. I guess I will be migrating from the lanai to the rumpus room, where I will experience a vastly different ambiance emanating from this amazing house.

Pilot Butte to Lava Butte

2009-10-27T20:28:00.000-07:00

Bucking a stiff wind this afternoon I plodded my way up Pilot Butte, an odd looking cinder cone, protruding from the the east side of Bend, Oregon. In the distance, looking southwest, is Lava Butte which is a higher formation, but similar in shape. I took the trail alone and listened carefully to my breathing for a while until I became lost to my inner voice which is imprecisely called thought. I was quite surprised when I reached the summit, having barely noticed the landscape or distance I had walked. Then, a torrent of icy northern air swirling over this dramatic 360 degree vista caught my sails, so to speak, and brought me about. I was at the top with a world out there to see and pictures to take.

Standing proud

2009-10-26T20:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I posted about the upcoming Winter season in Bend, Oregon and showed a picture of a somewhat naked Mt Bachelor. Early this morning a huge storm from the Gulf ofAlaska blasted our area and brought buckets of snow to the mountains, allegedly as much as 18 inches of white stuff. When the skies clear later in the week, I may get a peek at the mountain and create an updated post. In the meantime, the town has been pummeled by rain and freshets, clogging drains and covering lawns, streets and walks with prodigious quantities of leaves. On my way home this afternoon, I spied this proud fire hydrant wearing an epaulet on its bright red uniform. Doesn't it deserve respect?

The wait begins

2009-10-25T21:11:00.000-07:00

This week the ski shops in Bend, Oregon will be doing a brisk business as folks plan for the upcoming Winter season. It is a time to buy new skis or and get old ones waxed and tuned. Snowboarding enthusiasts as well need bindings and boards serviced.. Colorful weather-resilient clothing clog the aisles adjacent cluttered shelves of helmets, goggles and masks. The economy thrives on a good snow season. Coffee stands, hotels, restaurants and bars, clothing stores and the resort itself need the white stuff to fall long and often. Sometimes Mt Bachelor, pictured above, in some years, opens as early as Thanksgiving. At the moment there is only a light dusting on the summit. Soon this lovely ancient volcano, as tantalizing as a delicious vanilla ice cream cone, will host to an array of colorfully-clad guests from all over. I'll snap some pictures to share of this wonderland when the party begins.

out in the open

2009-10-22T21:12:00.000-07:00

Today I hiked again in Dry River Canyon near Bend, Oregon. About a month ago I reported I walked only part of the way and turned back, because I felt the presence of a mountain lion. This morning I completed the trail and came up out of the canyon and found myself in the high desert. There are some exceptional hikes to Indian mounds and caves with petroglyphs near here which I will be able to do when it becomes too cold and snowy in the mountains to explore.

Another look at Sparks Lake

2009-10-21T20:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I posted several pictures of Sparks Lake near Bend, Oregon. Today I spoke with a friend who tells me that this is his favorite lake for kayaking. He shared with me that the lake is especially low right now and that, near the spot featured in this picture, there is an underwater drain where the water flows downward into a lava tube and runs under the ground for miles. Soon it will begin to snow and the lake will freeze over and be only accessible to cross-country skiers and snowshoe enthusiasts. The road to this lake sometimes does not open until late May and, by that time, after the thaw, it should be brimming to the top with fresh icy water from the high mountain run-off. I hope to return then and see this lovely place garlanded in wildflowers and picture perfect again.

Beyond Words

2009-10-20T21:12:00.000-07:00

Today I decided to walk at Sparks Lake west of Bend, Oregon. The 2 1/2 mile trail is named after Ray Atkeson, Oregon's laureate photographer. In the background is South Sister, an ancient volcano that I climbed and posted about in early September. It was late afternoon and I never saw any other people and it was perfectly quiet. It became abundantly clear why this spot has been memorialized. It seemed so perfect in its grandeur.

Moving on down the line

2009-10-19T21:05:00.000-07:00

Late this cloudy, cool afternoon in Bend, Oregon, I decided to visit a favorite thinking spot and stroll down the Burlington Northern rails. I felt that I needed to sort out some troubling feelings and get some exercise at the same time. I spied this tumbleweed sitting against the track and a string of empty lumber cars parked on a siding, and considered, that the two elements together might produce a composition which reflected my present mood.

returning home

2009-10-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

Having been away from Bend, Oregon, this weekend, I didn't have the opportunity to shoot new refreshing pictures. On my return trip to this region though, I succumbed to taking yet one more sunflower picture, this time of a wilting cluster in front of a harvested cornfield. I enjoyed this shot because I felt that the color of the leaves complimented the sky and also the tan stalks of the background. Tomorrow I hope to embark on a new direction of pictures here, but at this point, I don't have a clue where my eyes will take me.

weekend repose

2009-10-16T19:28:00.000-07:00

To all the wonderful City Daily Bloggers who have become friends and supporters of Bend Daily Photo, I am taking a break this weekend and hope to post again on Monday October 19th.

The best to you and your town. fondly, Lee

Roadside Attraction

2009-10-14T20:29:00.000-07:00

On a recent drive on U.S. 20 about 35 miles east of Bend , Oregon, I had to stop and take a photo of this highway sign. The Brothers' post office, established in 1913 is long gone, and so are the residents of the Three Brothers Sheep Camp. The Oregon Department of Transportation decided to credit Brothers with the elevation rather than report "Population Zero" or write in capital letters, "Nobody". I suppose they could have said, "A couple of Jackrabbits." to provide travelers some comic relief on this desolate road.

Leaving it behind?

2009-10-13T22:04:00.000-07:00

Scattered leaves on a sidewalk in Bend, Oregon, is a simple Autumn scene designed to evoke a relaxed feeling. There are few demands here for the viewer other than to walk an uncomplicated path, tread gently and to "leave" responsibility behind.

There was a time

2009-10-12T20:04:00.000-07:00

For the past week I have been showing Autumn scenes in Bend, Oregon. Somehow the above photo of a withered, fallen, giant sunflower is emblematic of the end of the season and the beginning of the next. Fall is a time to gather dried flowers and arrange them in a vase. Also, goals involving school or home projects are again taken in earnest. Even the crock pot is hauled out and last year's successful stew or soup recipe is retrieved from a folder or box for next week's menu.
On weekends in the cool grey air, where once verdant summer grass had been the domain of butterflies and is now the stage for Autumn soccer, a potpourri of parents watch progeny occasionally live up to someone's expectations. Fall is also a time when, inexplicably, the fortune of a town, city or state's football team can become the determinant of self-worth. The mutable October freshet strews loss and disappointment over the land like mouldering leaves and portends a long Winter or brings the warmth of joyous victory and a sense of well-being to those that care.
In this season, camera in hand, I wander the town like a detached weather vane, pointing at what I see and record; merely to enjoy my time, this time.

Beaming with Pride

2009-10-11T19:07:00.000-07:00

As I traveled around Bend, Oregon this weekend, I saw Autumn colors everywhere. In this picture of some red leaves on trees along Wall Street, it reminded me of my childhood in Chicago, and living in the Midwest, with its well defined seasons. I recalled the huge variety of deciduous trees on my block, each wearing uniquely shaped colorful leaves, which then blew off and skittered and screeched along the pavement before being collected into piles for burning. Instinctively, I felt there was something good about such decorative leaves. I believed, I was fortunate to see them, although they were commonplace. Those delightful earth tones evoked a sense of joy in me that the natural world could be so pleasing. Today, I still carry within that child's pleasure. I look at this photo, watch the trees sway their crimson bounty and grin like a youngster in the Fall of my years.

For Crater Lake's Sake

2009-10-10T16:09:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, a friend and I rode our bicycles the 34 mile rim road in Crater Lake National Park, about 90 miles southwest of Bend, Oregon. We were fortunate to have tapirgal of Astoria Daily Photo along to chronicle our trip and drive a "support vehicle." It is her pictures that are on today's post.

The first photo, taken early in the morning in 30 degree weather, expresses the pristine quality of this amazing place. Crater Lake, the remains of an ancient imploded volcano, Mt Mazama, is over 1950 feet deep crystal clear blue water and is off-limits to boating of any kind. There is also no development in the park or along the lake. Due to the severity of the long Winter season, the park is usually open only from June through late October and, on this lovely day, amidst incredible Autumn colors, was practically free of tourists.

The second photo pays homage to tapirgal's skill with the camera and to memorialize the kindness she showed us riders. If you look carefully at the sunglasses worn by the exhausted bicyclist, namely me, you see that this is a group photo. In the left lens is friend Steve and, in the right, is the photographer with a beautiful shot of the lake in the background.

The last photo is a classic shot of "phantom ship" and the west rim. There are so many breathtaking vistas that I urge any of you to visit at least once in your life. However you might think twice before seeing it on a bicycle. This ride is no picnic. Many a guidebook or bike shop advisor describes the road in terms likened to jack-o-lantern's mouth. The grades are long and quite steep, and, on the downhills, the rider can reach truly death-defying speeds. Aside from the satisfaction of completing the course through this unique landscape, at the end there is the pure pleasure of easy chairs before a fireplace and delicious food and drink at the historic Crater Lake Lodge. I know that, unlike so many mundane days in life that disappear from memory, this day will stand out as one of the finest.

twilight time of day

2009-10-07T21:29:00.000-07:00

After a stellar Autumn day in Bend, Oregon, I went out on my back deck to take in the twilight-cooled, dry, pine-scented air. After living on the coast for so many years and accustomed to the feeling and sound of the ocean's moist breath, this environment has its own particular flavor. The ground is tough, rocky and decorated by withered needles that fall almost invisibly from supremely proud-looking evergreens. A fine dust, the remains of once terrifying volcanoes or eroded desert sands, paints surfaces and sky with an ochre and sienna tinge.
For me this place is new, neither better nor more magical than living amidst the seagull's call, but for now, bathed in this early evening radiance, I am fortunate to call this home.

Sign of the Times

2009-10-06T21:48:00.000-07:00

At first, I liked the message along the river walk on the edge of the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon, alerting the public of an ecologically sensitive area. Then I became anxious by the strong foreboding instruction at the bottom of the sign. The expression "No Trespassing" felt out of keeping and more suited for a construction site with a high chain link fence and a junkyard dog nearby. It might have as easily said, "Please, stay on the walkway" and accomplished the same result and been in keeping with "feel-good" community-spirited green philosophy.

Then again maybe a maintenance supervisor thought toughness was required to prevent yahoos from "tearing it up"with dirt bikes. Whatever its genesis, this sign reminds me of the adage "that you get more from honey than from vinegar" and, whenever possible, to promote an attitude of vigilant kindness.

wet and wonderful

2009-10-05T19:45:00.000-07:00

Near the summit on the west side of the Cascades about fifty miles from Bend, Oregon, at a campground, closed for the season, I wandered in a dense grove of old growth fir trees and big-leaf maples. In this region, thick, billowy clouds billet after a long march from the Pacific, and then sleep on the high granite peaks. This grey soggy cover creates rainforests in the canyons below. In the above picture, thick curly moss gathers on tree branches like wet wool. Sparse droplets of capricious light squeeze through the canopy and illuminate a few fortunate leaves fleetingly and then moves off to other secret spots. Here, the cool, highly oxygen-loaded air inflates my lungs with fresh vibrant energy and causes me to tick with ideas. Among such grandeur, and where the tune of nature's life-affirming lovesong chimes so melodically, I sense a renewal of spirit and a tenacious desire to prolong life as long as possible.

Snow body's business?

2009-10-04T19:53:00.000-07:00

It had been my intention, as I stated in yesterday's post, to show some Autumn pictures I took on Saturday near Bend, Oregon, but it has been a strange day, to say the least. After a week of temperatures in the upper 80's, well above the average for this date of 74 degrees, a Winter storm blasted in, dumping some locations with over 7 inches of snow. Many of the deciduous trees, still laden with bright green leaves, could not endure the weight of all that white stuff and collapsed, like this unfortunate aspen on my front lawn. Driving was amazing. There were no sand trucks to be seen and, even some of the cameras on the mountain passes, designed to show hazardous conditions, weren't operational yet. Tomorrow there will be chaos at the tire centers for mounting and balancing. There will be a run on chains, scrapers, gloves, battery chargers, and stocking caps. People will recall the taste of a hot rum and begin to jabber about new skis, snowboards and expensive lift tickets. The kayak's days are numbered and is soon to be stashed again in the garage rafters above the fishing gear and golf clubs.

Amidst the excitement of the day, I consulted the weather report. A massive warming trend with mild days are predicted. Maybe a person ought not be too hasty. Sandals, shorts, and t-shirts for me, that's my mantra. I love Winter, but not yet. December is soon enough.

still life

2009-10-03T18:22:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, as I neared Bend, Oregon , I stopped in the mountains near the Pacific Crest Trail along the upper Santiam River. Although I took a whole series of photos of Autumn colors, which I will share this week in subsequent posts, I was struck by a composite of colors and shapes, I spied on the ground. Nestled amidst fronds of sword fern, moist wood sorrel and fallen big-leaf maple leaves, a fresh white and pink mushroom has found its place. Rather than elaborate on this scene, it is my desire to be without agenda and let this simple, picture impact the viewer's thoughts and feelings peacefully.

cooling down

2009-10-01T20:44:00.000-07:00

A cool low pressure system from the Gulf of Alaska has brought moist unstable weather into the Pacific Northwest sending a blast of Arctic air over the region. A few snow showers have fallen on the Cascades, giving a prelude to the approaching winter's weather. This shot, taken from Wickiup Reservoir, about 30 miles Southwest of Bend, Oregon seems suitable for Skywatch Friday. The air has become brisk and brown and withered leaves dance erratically along the ground. Lost in thought, I stuck my chilled hands in my sweatshirt pocket and recalled how, just last week, I clutched a chocolate shake in them. Tomorrow I'll look for my ice scraper and be sure it's in the car.

Light of my Life?

2009-09-30T21:57:00.000-07:00

Hydroelectric power is harnessed from many dams along the Columbia River on the Oregon -Washington border and is sent thousands of miles in various directions. These particular

power lines cross Highway 20 East of Bend, Oregon, and, I assume, carry current south to light up customers in Nevada or California. Like soldiers at attention, these towers stand unflinchingly in pairs across the desert's monotonous parade ground. It is an eerie feeling in this desolate landscape to see these metal and wire interlopers weave their path through fields of sage and bitterbrush, across dry creeks and scorched hillsides. Like the thoughts of a child who has stuck large pins in an unwanted doll, so were the minds of those who decided that this architecture suitable and practical for worthless space. The priorities of progress demand sacrifice. This grid brings convenience. It is not about art or beauty. Remember your Genesis. Is that what is meant by "Let there be light."?

Ridin' into the wind

2009-09-29T20:20:00.000-07:00

In front of the Deschutes County Court House in Bend, Oregon, I spied this simply designed sculpture. It showed a cowboy twirling his lasso in order to rope bicycles. I thought how much I would have liked to have tied my road bike there and snapped a picture, but, as it was, I had driven my car to the spot. Having been an avid cyclist all my life, and someone who rides every week, I appreciate how much this area and the state promotes bicycling. Nonetheless, as more people cycle, the more difficult it becomes for riders and automobile drivers to share the space safely. I read with sadness that last weekend a Canadian woman, who was touring the Oregon Coast Highway, failed to "unclick" properly from her pedal at a traffic light, fell into a passing car and was crushed. It is dangerous out there, and yet, in spite of the challenges, most bicycle riders agree that it is worth having such a great freeing experience. Maybe, that metal cowboy knows that too. "Yup, like ridin' a horse."

Living off the land

2009-09-28T21:54:00.000-07:00

Every Wednesday, weather permitting, Bend, Oregon, has a farmer's market. I snapped a picture of this gentleman chatting with the lady in red. I didn't overhear the conversation, but I must assume, no surprise, it has something to do with agriculture. If you have ever questioned the validity of the adage "clothes makes the man", I think this should assuage any doubt. I believe that this fellow can grow a righteous crop of almost anything, knows plenty about chicken manure, and can fix damn near anything, except probably a computer. I love listening to these country folks. The experience generally humbles me . These farmers have learned so many skills and develop incredible knowledge of their occupation. They work long hours and have to endure the caprice of the weather, the insects and the market prices. In any case, it is easy to forget, when biting into that sandwich or eating green beans, what effort was required to deliver that to the table. I think the guy looks great, and deserves to be memorialized by this post.

lights, camera.....

2009-09-27T18:23:00.000-07:00

Looking from the pedestrian walkway on Colorado Ave, in Bend, Oregon, I was able to capture the reflection on the other side of the bridge one of the restored Old Mill buildings glimmering on the surface of the Deschutes River. Everything in the picture appears to be bathed in a violet wash, since this particular sunset was especially enhanced, because the setting sun's rays were refracted by smoke from a nagging forest fire burning on the western slopes of the Cascades.

In the foreground, the deep-purple mirror of the horizontal concrete deck and the vertical bridge pylons form a shadow box which takes the eye inward through a progression of watery, color-laden, rectangular shapes to the windows. Here, harnessed by glass and river, the white-gold molten sun is divided and cooled, and appears like a bank of stadium lights just before game time.

A little of this

2009-09-26T19:47:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I drove 15 miles South of Bend, Oregon, to visit Kline Falls State Park. Having not carefully consulted my guidebook which told that the waterfall was a mile downriver, I proceeded with much gusto on a narrow overgrown trail upriver. After about an hour of climbing over rocks and roots in unseasonable heat, I decided to cool off at the above location. In this country, it is easy to find special spots to relax. I sat, had a nutrition bar, and thought about the trout, like myself, resting behind rocks and eating. After a while, I turned back. It would not be long before I would be behind the wheel, changing lanes, using my directional signal, watching for traffic and be in the thick of it.

joy of innocence

2009-09-25T21:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon, I snapped this photo of children on a jungle jim at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon. I liked the balance of each child sitting opposite one another at peace in the world of the playground. It was my intention to post a picture where the subject matter would be without a particular theme and not illicit further discussion in contrast to my previous posts.
Yet I have to admit that the story is not in the picture. I actually found myself nervous, standing outside the fence, camera in hand. I expected any moment a parent or passerby or a policeman to suddenly tap me on the shoulder and ask me what I was doing and why I was photographing children. Please don't think I'm unnecessarily paranoid. Our adult world is full of fear and a little crazy, don't you think?

water, water everywhere.....

2009-09-24T19:27:00.000-07:00

As I left the supermarket on an unseasonably hot afternoon in Bend, Oregon, I spied this motley collection of water and soft drink vending machines. I was suddenly reminded of an old episode of Rod Serling's Twilight Zone, where a shy and reluctant Nevada casino visitor is magically spoken to by a brightly-colored one-armed bandit, which first implores, and then demands the guest to feed more and more shiny coins into its hungry slot. The mousy man, seduced by its voice to pull the handle, slowly transforms into a compulsive lunatic and proceeds to lose his life savings.
After having just resisted purchasing a lot of useless, non-nutritional crap in the market, I was hardly tempted by these allegedly thirst-quenching charlatans to give them even one thin dime, even though they had succeeded in reminding me that I could possibly want a drink of something. By clicking and enlarging this photo, you can read the text on the bottles on the face of the machine and try to decipher what is being sold. Much has been written about the bottled water controversy and is best described in Elizabeth Royte's Bottlemania: Big Business, Local Springs and the Battle over America's Drinking Water. It is a complicated issue. In any case, rather than becoming dizzy and faint on the spot from the stress of temptation, I jumped in my car, drove home and turned on the tap. I have to admit that it is convenient to carry water, and have bought it in the past by the box. Yet I felt my municipal home-brew left a good taste in my mouth and quenched something greater in me than thirst.

Clean as a Whistle (blower)

2009-09-23T21:08:00.000-07:00

As a result of your stimulating comments on yesterday's post regarding healthy organic lollipops, I returned to Wild Oats market in Bend, Oregon, to read the content label on the back of the package . I learned that three unusually small suckers contain 17 grams of sugar. This sugar comes from rice, cane stalks (I assume sugar) and beet pulp (I assume sugar). Now I am no guru on nutritional information, but I had a feeling that if I bought a bag, I had better not cancel my dentist appointment.
Today's photo comes from a neighborhood dry cleaner. It assures customers that it cleans clothes in an Eco-Friendly manner. In fairness, dry cleaners in Oregon must dispose of solvents properly and, in order to be licensed, pay a fee annually into a clean-up superfund. Nonetheless, what made this establishment "green" and functioned differently than your washing machine or iron at home, baffled me. I thought momentarily of asking the lady behind the counter, since I didn't see any large tubs of the special "organic" detergent which costs up the kazoo at Wild Oats, but thought better of it, since there was already a language barrier, and my question might have been misconstrued and I didn't want to lose any shirts.
I am certainly in favor of earth-friendly economic activity, but have become increasingly annoyed by those who purport this goal, but capitalize on it for economic gain, without actually helping the cause at all. Without judging this small business in particular, note the misspelling of the word "environment" on the window as symbol of carelessness on such a vital subject. Is this a way to air your laundry?

Sweet tooth?

2009-09-22T20:03:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I stopped in at Wild Oats Market in Bend, Oregon. This market caters to health and environmentally conscious shoppers and is wildly popular in this community. The produce is attractively displayed, the meats and fish are allegedly of superior quality and the shelves are stocked with almost every imaginable "green" product. As I finished eating a strictly organic walnut salad with light balsamic vinegar dressing, my eye caught the above pictured display.

Does the expression "over the top" mean anything to you? I understand marketing, but really "organic candy" brought to us from "Yummy Earth." My tummy starts churning at the idea of saying to my granola-addicted friends. Yeah, that's a lollipop I'm eating, but its gluten free, fat free, USDA-approved organic, and it's made from "real fruit extract", so I'm cool. Now the reason there are so many boxes on display is that this manna is actually Halloween fodder. Parents can feel good that this year that little Brittney may come home with fewer tootsie rolls. What a good, wholesome holiday it will be! Look I am all for ridding society of bad stuff like refined sugar and preservatives. I understand the arguments, but then why do I feel some business is capitalizing on the pretense that eating the right lollipop represents a higher ethic? I wonder if the sweet little treat is "kosher?" Somehow we will lick our way into becoming better human beings or are we all "suckers" at heart? (Btw. Lollipop is spelled incorrectly on the sign.)

At the Movies

2009-09-21T19:53:00.000-07:00

Each of us probably remembers fondly a childhood movie theater. As a child, growing up on the south side of Chicago, I would go to double features on Saturdays to the Jeffery Theater in South Shore. This ornate theater was long ago gutted, as the neighborhood deteriorated, and now houses the main offices of Shore Bank, a community based lender, specializing in low interest loans for low income people. After moving to Southern California as a pre-teen, my fifty cents allowed me to see every western or horror movie at the Strand or at the historic Fox Redondo Beach. The later, filled with murals and gilt with incredible filigree had been a famous vaudeville stage for L.A. beach goers of the 20's and 30's before being converted to a movie theater. It was torn down in the late 1960's to build King Harbor, an elaborate marina in Redondo Beach. Later, as a young adult, I saw excellent movies, while sitting in plush loges in the rococo-style Liberty Theater in Astoria, Oregon, the interior of which has been photographed and been blogged in Astoria Daily Photo. These venerable old movie houses, marquees with thousands of colored lights, huge flowing curtains hiding the screen and stage, thick cushioned seats, elaborate foyers with highly polished chrome snack bars, and bathrooms with hexagonal tile and porcelain fixtures, made movie-going such a special event.

In my post today, I snapped a picture of Bend, Oregon's former vintage movie theater, The Tower. According to Wikipedia, it was built rather recently in 1940 and had a seating capacity of 998 using two levels. The tower was 40 feet high and the name had been surrounded by 1200 feet of neon tubes of green and yellow. Like so many others of its era, the theater eventually closed. Today, through grants and local support, the Tower Theater is now a hub of cultural activity. There are plays, lectures, musical events and can be rented by the public for special events, such as weddings. It has been beautifully refitted and has an excellent sound system. Nonetheless, when I go inside, I miss the feel of the authentic. I want diligent, uniformed ushers with long flashlights, Movietone News on the screen, three or four cartoons as a warm-up, and John Wayne or Vincent Price in cinemascope. Everything else seems out-of-place.

Walk on the Wild Side?

2009-09-20T19:42:00.000-07:00

Today I climbed up a hillside to a cave along the Dry River Canyon trail 17 miles east of Bend, Oregon, and snapped this picture. I was hoping to find petroglyphs, but unfortunately there were only odd patterns of mineral deposits made from dripping water. After my descent back down to the trail, which followed an ancient river bed, I walked for two miles through a desolate landscape of rock and juniper, with towering canyon walls on both sides of me. It occurred to me that mountain lions inhabited these parts so I began to listen closely and look around. If I had seen one from a distance, I probably would have tried to take its picture!

Light and Dark

2009-09-19T21:54:00.000-07:00

For Shadow Shot Sunday I decided I would post this simple picture. I liked this forest scene because most of the information about the trees comes from looking at the shadows. On this quiet trail near Bend, Oregon, scruffy hemlock create almost parallel lines that appear woven into the path like a pattern on a scarf or a serape. They demonstrate that, while hiking, there are great views to be appreciated while looking down too. Nestled amidst the dust and rock are silhouettes of the animate and inanimate. These shapes of dark against the light remind us of a different way of seeing. Through looking at negative space, it becomes easier to see nuances. Distinct edges are clarified and the unique beauty of the object itself is enhanced. The shadow is not shadowy. Its presence makes the world around it clearer and brighter.

familiar footsteps

2009-09-18T21:22:00.000-07:00

As shadows lengthen into evening and the twilight begins to fall, the quiet time arrives ever earlier on the cool autumn air. In Bend, Oregon the aspen is soon bare, its withered leaves mouldering and scattered on the pumiced earth, hardened and silvery-sparkled by marbles of frost. Out my window, remaining ever-constant, stands a young evergreen, prickly and proud, pushing up toward the chilled mountain air like a forgotten scarecrow in a now fallow field. It reminds me that it is now time to open drawers to search for last year's gloves and to put my trusty sandals in the back of the closet. Soon there will be the whiteness, but not yet. First occurs the gray procession of shortening days, as the next chord in the rhythm of nature's lovesong.

Beeing aware

2009-09-16T19:19:00.000-07:00

Others have posted honeybee pictures, so I thought it was time for me to give this Bend, Oregon hymenoptera member it's debut. I have always loved watching these little critters and have been amazed, like so many, by their behavior. Years ago, when reading the 1962 nature journal, Stalking the Wild Asparagus by Euell Gibbons, I remember Gibbons explaining how to locate a beehive. He suggested you put blue chalk on the butt of one of these little guys to identify your subject, then watch which way he flies off, time how long he's gone, get a bucket of sugar water and place it a short distance from the flower in the departure direction and hope the little guy is lured to your treat. If you are lucky, he selects your dessert rather than the flower. He stays a while, feasts and then flies off. This procedure is repeated, moving your sweet nectar continually in his departure direction, hoping he'll find you. Finally, our friend returns so quickly you know you're near his home. Then, Eureka, you see him come out of the old tree. I don't remember what you do once you find the hive, but it probably involves getting stung a bit in exchange for fresh honey. I have never forgotten this story and often imagine trying my hand at it. Of course I never have, but now that I've told you how it's done, "bee" my guest.

airing thoughts?

2009-09-15T15:41:00.000-07:00

I have shown little of the actual town of Bend,Oregon in my blog. I guess I am more of a country person or, when in an urban area, gravitate toward parks and rivers when I take pictures, rather than street scenes and businesses. This picture from Pilot Butte, a promontory located east of the main business district, gives a bird's eye overview of a westerly view of my community. This peak is a favorite for locals to walk, jog, drag or be dragged by the dog. This weekend I pushed an "all-terrain " baby carriage up the rather steep, three quarter mile dirt trail to give my visiting daughter and grandson some fresh air. It is actually an amazing place, for on clear days the 360 degree views are stunning. I take this hike often to think, exercise, listen to music or books on my ipod and to enjoy the scenery. I am making progress on this route, being able to walk it now without stopping to catch my breath. Of course, there are those younger, health conscious buffs that race past me. My initial reaction is to rue my aging physical being. Then I settle down and know I am okay. I remind myself that no one is giving me a letter grade at the top.

sleeping giant

2009-09-13T19:49:00.000-07:00

In the distance is the shattered remains of an ancient volcano near Bend, Oregon aptly called Broken Top. I have considered climbing it and may go as far as the saddle, but to reach the summit requires technical skills and equipment, such as rope and, no pun intended, that is where I draw the line. I chose this picture for Sunday since the western slope lies in dark shadow against the early morning sky.

I sometimes imagine what this terrain looked like many years ago. When I shut my eyes, I recall childhood memories of scenes from the 1946 Disney movie, Fantasia, in which really scary, big dinosaurs are quickly overrun and covered by molten lava to the percussive sounds of Igor Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. Sometimes while walking among all the pumice, basalt, and obsidian outcroppings of igneous rock, I wonder whether I will suddenly see steam ooze from the ground and feel a portentous vibration under my feet. Fortunately, I have lived another day without being part of a cataclysmic event and am happy to witness this amazing, hopefully dormant, landscape.

seeing it through

2009-09-12T21:51:00.000-07:00

Looking through the balustrades at Mirror Pond on the Newport Avenue bridge in Bend, Oregon offers an interesting glimpse of watery reflections of some large pine trees. There are several similar bridges in town, which still show similar ornate concrete columns and Gothic arches. It saddens me however, when I learn that an old bridge is being replaced because it is too narrow or shows signs of wear, because, odds on, the new span will be generally devoid of character and be purely functional. Taking a picture through cold steel rails fails to provide a decorative frame for a lovely vista that lies beyond. It makes a picture look like it has been taken from a jail cell. Rather than dwell on the economic conditions which stifle artistic considerations, or wax nostalgically by venerating the architecture of the past, suffice it to say, I am thankful that this bridge near my home still lasts to enhance the majestic beauty of this town.

view from the ground

2009-09-11T21:52:00.000-07:00

In May, I left Bend, Oregon to spend a week in New York. Like so many tourists, I stopped at the World Trade Center site to relive the memories of 9-11-01. I remember walking the perimeter and finding it difficult to sort out my feelings. Then I focused on these signs on the tall blue wall. In glaring orange, they expressed negative messages and warnings. Ironically this was located on Liberty Street. Likewise the crane in the background had the word America tilting . I asked myself whether this picture symbolized, what so many had written since 9-11, that our country had developed a paranoid, restrictive attitude toward liberty, and lost confidence in its goodness. Also I felt that the machinery, noise and foreboding barriers, interfered with my ability to generate a genuine feeling of tribute for those that died. When the signs are down and the equipment gone, maybe I'll feel comfortable with the place where humanity had been imperiled. For now, that terrible location and vision still lives in my memory. It wasn't at this place, not yet.

down the line

2009-09-10T23:06:00.000-07:00

At the rear of the amphitheater in Bend, Oregon , there is a quiet street which leads to some townhomes and a park situated along the Deschutes River. On a walk, the day before yesterday, I spied a multitude of black-eyed susans growing by a wrought-iron fence Later, upon closer examination, I noticed the harmonious combination of four distinct parallel color lines formed by the street, sidewalk, flowers and fence growing smaller to the eye as they recede. When looked at in this manner, the picture's focal point is beyond the curve at the back of the picture. I like the geometry as much or more than the flowers, if that is possible. In any case, this scene provided me another moment to enjoy playing with my camera and enhancing the quality of my life.

seeing double

2009-09-09T22:32:00.000-07:00

At the edge of a wooded area in Bend, Oregon, there sits the remains of the chassis of some old logging equipment. I found the wheels and spokes especially intriguing as they related to the meadow of flowers in the foreground. Like a science teacher who has placed a skeleton before an anatomy class, this contraption's rolling stock demonstrates the physiology of the flowers which are carpeted before it. It also reminds us of the sun and its rays. Other posts have spoken of how nature reflects itself over and over in things large and small. This picture repeats this notion with unusual clarity.

High on High

2009-09-08T20:26:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago I posted some pictures from some hikes to volcanic peaks near Bend, Oregon. I had been told by many that the trails to the these summits were good warm-ups as preparation for my goal to climb the trail to South Sister, the third highest mountain in Oregon.

Hiking sites report this trail is to be considered a formidable challenge and is rated exceedingly steep, but not technical. I left this morning in 29 degree weather and after 1 1/2 miles of significant uphill through dense forest, I reached a high mountain plateau. However flat and relaxing this meadow may seem, as shown in the upper picture, the majestic and ominous presence of South Sister at 10,400 feet looms in the background and I had 4000 vertical feet yet to climb. I took a number of pictures of the relentlessly ascending trail covered with scree and snow as I ascended relentlessly uphill above the timber line. Like most inexperienced day hikers, I grew fatigued, exacerbated by the effect of the rarefied mountain air. Finally after several grueling hours, I reached the summit and felt incredibly elated. In the second photo, looking North, the nearby peaks are Middle Sister and North Sister. In the distance, the skyline is graced by Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams. Mount St. Helens and Mt Rainier, which is over 350 miles away, are visible by looking at the enlargement. I have so many feelings and thoughts tonight about this experience which are personal. However, most of all, I wish to thank publicly those bloggers who posted on my previous pictures and offered encouragement as well as to various friends, family members and especially Tapirgal of Astoria Daily Photo and my son Adam, who wishes his father to stay young.

flowers today

2009-09-07T20:13:00.000-07:00

It was a peaceful Monday afternoon of Labor Day in Bend, Oregon. It was clear that the tourist season was over. There were few people on the roads, in the parks, or on the river's edge. Needing a little exercise, I decided to take a short walk and take pictures near the new recreation center. In this area of town, wildflowers grow prolifically creating a lovely atmosphere for residents and visitors to enjoy and, not forgetting, a floral buffet for the bees. It occurred to me that other municipalities could spread flower seeds in their open space and create similar environments. Much has been done to clean up and beautify the urban and suburban environment, not that the results compare favorably to the aesthetic when there was less civilization. A flower pot hanging from a light post here, and a non-native tree in a planter there, does not bring back the prairie. Yet it is an attempt, however feeble and limited, to offer nature's beauty as a soothing palliative to combat stress. Even many mall parking lots, paved on former stands of old growth trees or long forgotten orchards, have obligatory green spots. Is it better to say some living appearance other than asphalt is better than nothing? I think so.

"A Labor of Love"

2009-09-06T20:34:00.000-07:00

In keeping with Labor Day, I decided to snap a photo of a job site in Bend, Oregon as a tribute to the founder of the American Federation of Labor, Samuel Gompers and include this 1950 plate block from my stamp collection.

Samuel Gompers immigrated to the U.S. from England as a boy in 1863 and became a citizen in 1872. At a time when workers had low, daily changing wages, labored under terrible conditions and toiled for long hours, Gompers believed that each employee deserved an "American" standard of living, which guaranteed a safe environment and enough money for food, clothing and education for the families' children. This could be achieved by economic organization and workers voting for politicians who understood their needs. He developed the still current procedure of collective bargaining to establish contracts between management and labor. In 1882, he founded the American Federation of Labor, the AFof L, and was its president until his death in 1924. He staunchly supported women's suffrage and equal wages with men. He also affirmed the rights of negros to participate fully vested in the work force. During World War I, Gompers support of Woodrow Wilson assured the uninterrupted production of war materiels, and, at the end, attended the Peace of Paris in 1919 as an advisor on labor issues.

Certainly the industrial age has practically disappeared. The new era, dominated by technology, has engendered a new relationship between employer and employee with rights and rules mandated and overseen by the states and the federal government. Yet the imprint of Samuel Gomper's hard fought gains are unmistakeable in the workplace. Today, on Labor Day, his legacy deserves to be recalled.

Fowl weather?

2009-09-05T22:01:00.000-07:00

When it comes to paddling on Mirror Pond in Bend, Oregon, the ducks know that it is best to take heed of the swans. The other day, lured by carmel corn and bread, this graceful pair posed unabashedly for photos. By the way, a male swan is called a cobb , a female is a pen, and its young, a cygnet. Also, if you are wondering how to distinguish the sex of a swan, it is easier than one might think, even though males and females have similar color and plumage, the male swan is the only bird known to be endowed with a male appendage, according to a website I just read. (Not that I would want to pick one up and flip it over.)

On that note, I recall the famous Greek myth of Leda and the Swan. Leda was the young, beautiful queen of Sparta. Zeus coveted the lovely mortal and transformed himself into a swan. As she leaned near the water's edge to appreciate the romantic bird with its handsome curved neck and snowy feathers, the ruler of Olympus seduced her, and as a result, she bore Helen, who later becomes Helen of Troy. I suppose the story might suggest, among other things, that appearances can be deceiving or tells of the capricious hand of fate.

Whatever the case, the appearance of this exquisite animal on quiet water brings to the moment a magical feeling and a sense of serenity. The image of the swan inspires poets and lovers and children to express their thoughts on beauty, and its elegant presence transforms the mundane into the sublime.

Over There

2009-09-04T21:38:00.000-07:00

Today I finished listening to the audiobook of the 1962 classic, Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman, a fascinating narration of the events of the first month of World War I. This Monday September 7th, is the 95th anniversary of the horrific Battle of the Marne, in which over 2 million French, English and German soldiers fought and in four days over 500,000 were killed on the field or died later from wounds. Worse yet, since there was no decisive victory by either side, a stalemate ensued which prolonged the war for four more horrible years under unspeakable conditions. In memory of that tragic event, I decided to snap a photo of this plaque on Newport Ave. in Bend, Oregon. Even the peace in 1918 failed actually to resolve the issues between the combatants as the future demonstrated. Last Tuesday, September 1st, marked 70 years since the official beginning of World War II in 1939, when England declared war on Germany after the Third Reich's troops invaded Poland. Maybe I missed it, but I heard nothing from any government official noting this significant event. It is often said that there is much to be learned from remembering the past. The lessons are numerous and complex. In any case, thinking about, and feeling the highlights of history is similar to the way we try to understand ourselves. The impact of our parents' and grandparents' behavior, the events of the time and the choices we made, did much to determine our personality. Likewise, the world today can be better understood by cultivating a mild curiosity about the salient events of its past.

Looking Up

2009-09-03T22:25:00.000-07:00

With September's arrival, Bend, Oregon, like so many other places, shows early signs of the approaching new season. Cool, moist coastal air edges its way inland over the Cascades to bring the high desert picture-ready, mutable skies. In the early evening light, this barely visible, totally quiet, dusty path, once filled with fresh wildflowers and brilliant leaves, is ideal for reverie. It is easy to disappear in memories of the past or to ponder the complexities of the present. It is the unexpected freshet that portends the taking of long pants, shoes, windbreakers, sweaters, and sweatshirts from the closet and gently directs thoughts forward. The breeze reminds of school, football and the World Series. It recalls colorful leaves and softened ground with sky-reflected puddles. The time is near when nature's lovesong assumes again its Autumn melody.

Days of Yore?

2009-09-02T20:09:00.000-07:00

For the last several days in Drake Park in Bend, Oregon I have watched a group of young people, sporting medieval clothing and, equipped with shields and wooden bats, engaging in combat. I snapped this shot without bothering to ask the name of this game. Perhaps you know? There are two teams of about six players that line up across from one another At a given moment a signal is given and a battle ensues where it appears the object is to strike the opponent in the flesh with the bat. Skilled players show nifty blocking techniques with the shield. Upon being hit, the unfortunate victim lies on the ground until one team is completely conquered. The entire foray usually takes a couple of minutes, then the teams regroups and repeats the process. No score was kept, that I could tell, nor was the contest unnecessarily rough. It seemed like wholesome, almost relaxing, fun on a sunny summer afternoon at the park.

Big is in

2009-09-01T23:02:00.000-07:00

I introduce to you the big man on the block in Bend, Oregon. He is the paragon of physical fitness and awash with testosterone. He represents the ideal. How far we have come from Hellenistic art! He is willing to take on all comers. Are you ready for him? What's the matter? You mean you could be in better shape? He doesn't want to hear your excuses. Get it together for next year. He'll be back.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Up in Smoke

2009-08-31T19:31:00.000-07:00

I had written earlier some thoughts about Smokey the Bear, which I have tucked away for a more appropriate time. I show this photo of this symbol of fire prevention standing in front of the Bend, Oregon fire station as a tribute to all those who are working to stop the devastating fires in California.

Over my head?

2009-08-29T02:45:00.000-07:00

A number of friends have asked for more pictures of the summit of Mt Bachelor near Bend, Oregon. As the above photo shows, it is a barren inhospitable place, seemingly devoid of life other than a few curious birds above and probably sneaky lizards and voles living among the rocks below. As Jacob from Ocala Daily Photo astutely commented in an earlier post, mountain tops have been the site of important scenes in native mythology and Judeo-Christian history ostensibly because it was believed that the further the ascent, the closer a person would be to divinity. This is easy to understand when, already exhausted by an arduous trek and breathing thin air, faced with an austere environment and the mundane world below, that the mind might more readily turn to "loftier" thoughts.

As I lay on my back from this spot and gazed sublimely upward, my reverie was distracted by a commuter jet, flying , I suppose, from Portland to Reno, leave its fluffy track across the heavens. It was not a sign from the All, but from science, which had trumped the old magic mountain and relegated it to a distant place in old books. It didn't matter to me. I still had to come down the trail before dark and appreciate the present one more day.

Full Steam Ahead

2009-08-26T15:46:00.000-07:00

There were many children playing at the water's edge today in Bend, Oregon, a typical hot August summer scene repeated in countless places throughout the world. Voices glorifying merriment blended in a cacophony of laughter, squeals and exhortations. Concurrently, amidst a swirl of colorful bathing suits, towels, sand and splashing water, there sat a few little ones alone ruminating over complicated sand projects or fixed in a reflective pose, digesting possibly the meaning of hurt feelings.

Today's photo for Watery Wednesday is of a neglected toy boat, resting aground at the edge of lapping water. I assume its small barefoot owner will return soon to send the sturdy trawler off onto the river for a new perilous adventure. In the meantime, it serves as one more poignant detail in our memory of halcyon days when we were young and enlivened by the cool, gentle shore.

On High

2009-08-25T22:31:00.000-07:00

After publishing three picture about last Saturday's hike near Bend, Oregon, I decided that it was time to test my stamina once again. I bought special hiking tennis shoes and poles and decided I would ascend to the summit of Mt Bachelor, which is pictured on Monday's and Saturday's posts. This photo, taken from a flat spot amidst a moonscape of volcanic rock, looks across at South Sister, my next quest. To tell you the truth, I became a little light-headed and felt tuckered out near the top. The air was thin and the steep path, strewn with rocks of various sizes, made walking difficult. By resting often, also out of necessity, I knew that eventually I'd reach the peak. Other than a few ravens spying me as potential carrion, this high place was barren, lonely and devoid of life. The view of course was majestic. Yesterday I spoke of why I hike mountains. Tonight, fatigued and sore, I realize that today's challenge affirmed my convictions. I feel healthier mentally and physically and more inspired by nature's brilliance.

Sitting on top

2009-08-24T20:23:00.000-07:00

For the past two days, I have been posting photos from a Saturday hike to Tumalo Mountain near Bend, Oregon. This shot of the summit shows the texture and color of the soil, its reddish tinge from pumice and lava-cooled igneous rocks. In the background looms the fractured and eroded volcanic dome of Mt Bachelor. On this day, the air was pleasantly warm with a gentle breeze, but in winter, temperatures and wind can make this a most inhospitable spot, although ardent skiers are known to pack their skis up here and find a line through the trees.

It is a strange, puzzling yearning to climb to the top of a mountain. I'm not sure the process can exactly be called fun. Hikes are often long, hot and exhausting and not conducive to smiling. It is work. Feet, knees and joints ache and there is anxiety about sufficient supplies and daylight, and the possibility of twisting something. Some of you are content to see someone's photo or look at the scenery from an airplane, rather than to make such a questionable effort on your own. That's okay too. Hiking is clearly not for everybody. So what is the appeal? I know there is much gratification in reaching the pinnacle, looking over the world below, and then returning safely down to the trailhead. It is giving voice to the little train engine in me that puffs, "I think I can, I think I can." I have chosen to challenge the narrow limit which my upbringing has set. I am capable of being the bear who goes over the mountain to see the other side to see what he could see.

Quiet time

2009-08-23T21:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I posted a photo of the Mt Bachelor ski area looking South from Tumalo Mountain. Looking North from the same location near Bend, Oregon, are some other ancient inactive volcanoes. On the left is South Sister, in the center is North Sister, and to the right is Broken Top. There are many more majestic snow-covered peaks along the spine of the Cascade Mountains, including Mt Hood, Mt Rainier and the famous Mt St Helens, which violently erupted in 1981. This countryside is an outdoor person's paradise. There are numerous trails accommodating all levels of hikers and mountain bikers, plus abundant crystal clear lakes and streams for fishing. Animals still abound, especially deer, elk and bears, of course ever more concentrated, but not to the extent found in more urban areas, where wildlife habitat is massively degraded. When I gaze from this spot, the world doesn't look overpopulated. In fact this view seems almost timeless. Then again, I know there are no Paiute hunting parties out there, no villages where natives sit, telling stories or roasting meat. There are only finely equipped backpackers, who have parked their SUV's in forest service campgrounds, embarking on a modern excursion into nature.

Above it all

2009-08-22T22:11:00.000-07:00

This morning I drove west from Bend, Oregon to hike Tumalo Mountain. It is a small volcanic peak adjacent to Mt Bachelor with a moderately steep and arduous 1 1/2 mile trail. On my descent, I looked across at the Bachelor ski area and saw the winter white paradise barren and scarred. This ancient volcano's summit and cornice reach 9,000 feet, about 3,000 feet from its base. The terrain is generally not considered as challenging for skiers or as steep as in the Rockies, but the snow is similarly dry and powdery. On this warm August day I was reminded of the upcoming season when I, either alone or with friends, will again pit myself against the elements and ski downhill filled with bravado and joy. Today though, I had indulged in the pleasure of walking in the open air up through clusters of pine, across fields strewn with basalt and pumice, amidst fading wildflowers, to a spectacular vista above the timberline. There I felt equally alive and sensed in the late summer wind the tune of nature's lovesong.

Inside insight?

2009-08-21T21:46:00.000-07:00

This evening I wandered over to Summit High School in Bend, Oregon to take a few pictures. The buildings were all locked and the athletic fields and tennis courts closed. In this space which, during the school session, is normally awash with young energetic people, there was now a sterile empty area further compromised by copious amounts of cold, hard, thin structures. In the above shot, the chain links invite the eye, but not the body, to go beyond. It sends a firm message, often expressed poignantly through signage, to keep life out. Fortunately though, art rescues us from such negative sentiments. The angles and shapes of the diamond screen, railing and imposing foreground fence create together an elaborate, imaginative metal design. It takes us inside and provides a more interesting way to view the world.

Anyone there?

2009-08-20T20:05:00.000-07:00

Looking East on Monterey Pines Drive in Bend, Oregon this evening, this rosy cumulus cloud adorned the evening sky in time for Skywatch Friday. It reminded me of Aristophanes' comedy, The Clouds, written around 420 BC. In the story the Chorus plays the role of the clouds and recites in amazing lyric poetry a quizzical commentary of the proceedings below. The play itself is a spoof on the current Athenian educational system and Socrates in particular, where sophist arguments defied common sense and "head-in-the-clouds" ideas could easily turn right and justice into folly and wrong. If our clouds today listened to various legal and political arguments and could talk, what would they say of our world? "Nothing new under the sun" I suppose.

Latte Dah!

2009-08-19T20:50:00.000-07:00

I probably am not the first to post a picture of a Starbucks on a city blog, but this one, in northwest Bend, Oregon has special meaning to me. Practically every morning I come here, read the paper and chat with a number of good friends before starting on my day's adventure. Like so many other people, I tank up here in the winter before going up to the mountain for skiing. or in summer, it is a usual starting point for a bike ride. In this post I don't feel like discussing the merit of coffee drinking and the dangers of caffeine nor is this the time to talk of the domination of corporate America over the little guy, or the exploitation of workers in Brazil nor of the destruction of rainforests for coffee plantations. These are all worthy themes. Today I appreciate the freedom of expression that I feel there. I am excited by the numerous activities of Starbuck's numerous patrons, some sitting alone reading, some on laptops working, others visiting with friends, and a few participating in loosely organized discussion groups. Along with an assortment of kayakers, cyclists, hikers and shoppers, this gathering place, in it is own way, becomes a place where people affirm the goodness of life and figuratively and literally "smell the coffee".

Hitting Rock Bottom

2009-08-18T15:27:00.000-07:00

After having been told that my Bend, Oregon, posts have often been much too serious, I decided to Bend over and show you my juvenile side. While driving on Canal Boulevard, the old highway between Bend and the neighboring city of Redmond the other day, I spied this address on the side of a small warehouse. I can not be sure what is inside its walls but the thought worried me. I considered stopping and shopping, but I suddenly realized I didn't want to spend any money.

Music in the Air

2009-08-17T11:23:00.000-07:00

Last night, folksinger legend Joan Baez performed in Bend, Oregon and Tapirgal, who contributed the second photo, and I attended the concert. For me and others, it evoked deep melodic feelings and memories about the past. This was not a hand-clapping, foot stomping nostalgic event for those of us whose lives were dramatically impacted by the sixties, nor was it a convocation with the like-minded. It was more a reckoning that we were still alive, just older. Joan Baez's voice still resonated clarity, power and magic, not with the same intensity of earlier times, but spoke the same message of hope, love and affirmation of life in a combination of old and newer tunes from a variety of genres. For me the highlight was her electrifying rendition of The Band's "The night they drove ol' Dixie down, and the people were singing". On this night I felt gladdened by the music and enriched by a sense that my past and present have meaning into the future.

For your eyes only?

2009-08-16T12:33:00.000-07:00

Last evening I sat down on a bridge crossing a pond at the Old Mill District in Bend, Oregon and took this picture of the sunset and its reflection through a wire mesh railing designed to keep small children and pets from falling into the water below. The resulting grid of colors and shapes is my offering for Scenic Sunday. This picture is for the eye alone. Sometimes words are fingerprints on crystal clear glass.

Evening Repose

2009-08-14T18:50:00.000-07:00

On my way home I stopped at Drake Park in Bend, Oregon, and looked across Mirror Pond and decided to make this evening view the subject for Skywatch Friday. It was a quiet time by the water. The milk glass globe streetlamps glowed above empty park benches, the resident geese had tucked in along the grassy water's edges, and a restless nighthawk veered above me through the enveloping darkness like a frightened phantom. Here by the sky's remaining light, I felt the gentle touch of nature's power to close the shutters for awhile and allow the weary to rest under its mauve-gray comforter.