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Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Foggy Hike, Soggy Hike

Okay, it wasn't so much a hike as it was a stroll through the woods.  The Friday before last I had the day off and Troubadour and I decided since the weather was so poor and the fog wasn't lifting enough for a ride, we'd go for a hike.

We decided on William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge south of town.  We've hiked there before. It is great if you want a walk in the woods without mountain bikes, joggers, or pets on the trail.

We decided on a trail we didn't walk the last time, the Woodpecker Trail.


(A look at the trail from the car)

(A look back at the car from the trail)
We slowed our pace when we started to see the birds flitting about.  We saw a few woodpeckers. The Black Capped Chickadees were chirping at us and we also saw a Steller's Jay or two.   Rare for us since we usually see the loud squawking Western Scrub Jays.  We walked a little slower looking and listening to the sounds of the forest, muted by the dense fog.

(A slug's eye view of the trail)

(Greenery growing on the trees)

(There was a bird hiding in there somewhere)


(Our view over the oak savannah - fog, the reason we weren't on two wheels)

(Large white oak with a lookout platform)

(The view from the lookout platform)

(I was mesmerized by the silhouettes of the trees in the fog)

(So many trees, so many different branch structures)

(A few wooden boardwalks to carry us over streams and marshy areas)

(Oak leaf on a bridge railing)

(So much green this time of year)

(Moss making everything brilliant)

(I wonder if a bird has made his home here)

(Older white oak trees have beautiful bark)

(It wouldn't be a walk in the woods without mushrooms)

(A rough skinned newt of the salamander family - toxic if licked or eaten)

(A hollowed branch - horizontal and  5 feet off the ground)

(The backside of this tree was quite burned)
We eventually looped back around and made it back to the car.  On the way out we thought we'd find another short trail, but it was getting later in the day.  We opted to take a few pictures of the Fiat in front of the old barn and homestead then go home.

(Fiat by the Fiechter barn)
(Fiechter House and Carriage House, building started in 1855)

As we were leaving we decided to take one side trip into a lookout area.  The gazebo was open but the Cabell March Trail was not due to wintering water fowl.  We attempted a few pictures, but had the wrong camera for the zoom we needed. I apologize these are a little fuzzy.

(A view from the lookout gazebo)

(Mallard ducks on the logs in the water, and white swans in the background on the shore)

(Full zoom makes for fuzzy pics on a point and shoot)
We went home and had a nice chai tea latte to warm up.  

Our weather lately has been alternating between pouring down rain and dense fog.  Neither one motivating for a ride on two wheels, whether pedal powered or fuel injected.  

We shouldn't really complain since our weather has been above freezing and last year we had snow at this time.  Our high today is forecast to be 47˚F (8.3˚C) and you guessed it - rain.  Oh well, all this rain makes for some pretty greenery, except now we need to mow the lawn if it ever stops raining long enough to dry a bit.

- Au Revoir

" Sometimes we need the fog to remind ourselves that all in life is not black and white." - Jonathan Lockwood Huie
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28 comments:

  1. Uhm, why would one lick a newt anyway?

    Brandy, believe it or not, I really miss these soggy, misty, green wet coast hikes.

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    1. Ummm little boys? Well, someone had to lick that first toad to find out it was hallucinogenic.

      I know what you mean about the wet coast. As much as we bitch about the rain and dampness, I know we'd miss the forests and greenery if we were ever to move to a drier state.

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  2. So much green. Beautifully captured too! It's a good thing you didn't get the green Fiat or you may be still looking for it among the trees...

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    1. Thanks Richard. I was actually surprised at how green everything was. Next time you are in town bring your walking shoes and we'll take you out to Finley.

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  3. Perfect description of a Mid-Willamette day. Finley is a nice hike, very peaceful. When I was there back in October it was still warm and dry. Nice to see the wetlands filled with water.

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    1. I hear it is going to get soggier this weekend. I think we've only ever been to Finley in November. When other trails turn muddy the fallen leaves always seem to be a buffer layer at Finley.

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  4. What a gorgeous walk! And your Fiat looked so stylish :^)

    Great newt photo. I love Stellar's jays- we have none here...that I know of. Chai sounds like the perfect way to end the excursion.

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    1. Thanks Martha. Something tells me you'd be hating the icky grey days we've been having lately. There are two huge storms on the way in from the Pacific with forecast of 2-4 inches of rain here on the valley floor by Sunday night. At least we don't have to shovel the rain. Cascade mountains are supposed to see 12 inches of rain in the same amount of time. Yikes. The ski hills are hot happy to get the rain.

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  5. I just love fog to walk in, seems so perfect for Winter. That green moss is wonderful too! Great photos.

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    1. I'd much rather walk in the fog than ride in it. It takes a lot of moisture of create that greenery, but we love seeing it.

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  6. You sure do live in a pretty part of the world brandy.

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    1. Thanks Steve.

      I've seen the pics and video - you too are surrounded by beautiful scenery.

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  7. Beautiful photographs! The moss covering the trees and the branches is particularly spectacular.
    You two don't work???

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    1. Thanks.

      We work, but luckily hubby works 4 - 10 hour days so he always has Fri-Sat-Sun off and I work for an attorney who doesn't like to work Fridays and if we have to, just the mornings. Hooray for being on salary.

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  8. I like looking at fog, from a great distance, but I much prefer the carefully captioned pictures describing the background but not the big shiny silver blob in the foreground. What is it about the 500 that captures that sort of affection? I wonder sometimes if I shouldn't be jealous of my wife's..?

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    1. I think you'd need a heated jacket and gloves for our weather.

      As far as the Fiat is concerned I think it is a love ii or hate it kind of car. We love it's small compact nature and zippiness. Is zippiness a word? I knew your wife was really enjoying her 500 which was good to know prior to our purchase.

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  9. lovely pics again

    but why subject your new little car to that harsh weather like that

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    1. Our weather is like this at least 5 months of the year so the little car better get used to it, lol. Unfortunately we just have a 1 car garage and it has 4 motorcycles, 1 bicycle, lawnmower, washer/dryer, tool chests, work benches, table saw, etc in it so the four-wheeled vehicles are subjected to the elements outside. Luckily Oregon outlaws the use of salt on our roads so driving in wintery weather doesn't cause the corrosion it used to.

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    2. All that stuff would easily fit in the living room...

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    3. Ha, funny Richard. Although it would keep the bikes safe and warm......

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  10. What a beautiful, mystically looking forest! Isn't it all about our point of view and how we see and experience things? Even a rainy, foggy day can be beautiful. Especially when your nice little car provides you with a dry and warm way home.

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    1. I agree. One person may hate this weather , but living in it year after year you adapt and it just becomes part of you. Sure we'd like a little more sunshine for better riding weather, but it is a trade off for the beautiful greens this time of year.

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  11. A perfect day, outside and in. Love being outside in that weather when properly prepared here in the Midwest and I'm sure in the NW as well. Simply have to agree with your quote by Mr. Huie.

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    1. It was a nice day because it wasn't raining down buckets. Unlike today (it hasn't stopped raining since late Friday night) I don't mind it a little cooler and foggy since it is still good for a hike or a walk.

      I thought the quote fitting for this post and in life. I am glad you enjoyed it too.

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  12. Love the pictures - the scenery is so different to Australia

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    1. Thanks Theo. You have some pretty stunning scenery in your area too.

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  13. The trails ... the fog .... a great day for a hike.

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    1. I like walking in the fog since it can be so mysterious.

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