Toward the end of last week, Melissa, Jonathan, and I went out to Chip Ross Park for a short walk. Oregon continues to amaze me even after 28 years with how stunningly beautiful it can be. If only it could be summer the whole year.
Green Grass Hike with Melissa
Yesterday afternoon Melissa and I went out to McDonald-Dunn Forest for a hike. We went up Extendo Trail from Oak Creek Research Station and back down Endo Trail. The original plan was to try for McCullock Peak but that will have to wait for another day. At least it was nice and cool in the forest.
There is a crazy profusion of grass in the forest this year.
We saw this banana slug trucking along across a fire road. Not long after this guy, we saw another one that was twice as long. Slugs are on the move in the forest.
Rain Squalls and the Beaver Freezer Triathlon
Yesterday I went out for a leisurely bike ride with Melissa. Out by the base of Bald Hill, a rain squall suddenly appeared and threatened to drench us. We made haste to the Irish Bend Covered Bridge to take refuge from the storm. The wind whipped the rain into sideways frenzied sheets of stinging ice. The howling gusts sounded eerily reminiscent of the noises the tornadoes made on the movie Twister. After about 15 minutes, the squall passed and we were able to continue our ride.
We rode past the staging area for the Beaver Freezer Triathlon. Several of my friends were participating yesterday. I was going to participate in this event but when registration came open, I wasn’t sure if I would be in Corvallis this weekend or not. Turns out I was. Maybe next year I’ll do the triathlon.