Oregon: Silver Falls State Park

South Falls

Silver Falls State Park is a phenomenal destination only an hour northeast of Salem on highway 214. It is located in a temperate rain forest in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. 100-year old moss, ferns, and raging waterfalls are just some of the sites one can expect in the park.

South Falls Close Ups

I was traveling with my parents so we visited the falls that could be seen from the road or on short walks an level terrain.

Winter Falls

North Falls

Taken with a telephoto lens from the North Falls view point on Hwy 214 going towards Silverton

On this trip I was continuously amazed with Oregon weather. In the several hours we were at the park, we were hailed on twice and between each deluge, we had warm sunny skies!

The rain forest

The trail heading down to the bottom of South Falls. Every inch is covered with something growing!



Flowers

Mosses

Oregon: Haystack Rock/Cannon Beach

(On the left: Foam leads the way to Haystack Rock) Cannon Beach is located on the north section of Oregon's coastal highway. It rises 235 ft out of the sand and is a bird sanctuary this time of year for Gulls and Cormorants. To get there we drove highway 22 through Hebo until it connected with 101. Much of this route was through the lovely countryside and deciduous forests dripping with 100 year old mosses. Dare I say it was pouring rain the entire way!

We stopped at the Tillamook Cheese factory to go to the bathroom. That was a bad choice. The place looks like poorly done tourist trap.

The route does not reach the ocean until after the Tillamook Bay and Garibaldi. Like my recent trip to Nova Scotia, I was surprised by how little coast one can actually see on these drives. Trees and houses blocked the views whenever the ocean was near.

Sand and rock

Patterns in the sand in the rivulet near the entrance

Entrance to the beach

Looking south along the beach at one of the rivulets that bisects the beach

We swung through the town of Manzanita, which was cute and reasonable as far as real estate prices goes and had lunch in Cannon Beach proper. To get to the sands we drove back south and exited 101 onto a local drag. There were many places to access the beach.

The farthest south we got. The rivulet was deep in this spot

The same birds, but looking out to sea

The tide was out when we arrived and the rain held itself at bay. Wind coats and gloves were required but the sun was shining. We walked up and down the beach for a while but ran into several streams we could not cross without taking off our socks and shoes.

The rocks in their natural state

Playing with color

Standing next to the rock and looking south

Oregon: Baskett Slough

Ducks lounge in the waters of Baskett Slough with farmland in the background

Hi everyone,

I am on vacation visiting my parents in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. On my first day we went to Baskett Slough, a 2,000 plus acre National Wildlife Refuge. Below are a few photos of the area.

Birds fly over the marsh

Nutria (Myocastor coypus) is an invasive species that I recognized from my life in Lousiana but had no idea that they had invaded Oregon as well.

Clouds reflected in the marsh

Canadian Geese Goslings

plant buds

Views of the marsh and the countryside

Female red wing blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

France: Senlis

On my last day of sightseeing in France, I went to the medieval town of Senlis, which at one point was the capital of France. A short 15 minute drive away from my hotel, it was easy to get to. Considering that a large garden fair was going on in the city park, I am lucky to have found a parking place. I headed to the inner walled city, which was practically deserted. Except for the few cars scattered about, the it could have been a rainy morning during the Black Death. No footsteps, carts, or birds disturbed the damp air.

Everything in France, with the exception of Paris, closes down between noon and 2pm and being jetlagged, I did not arrive in Senlis until 11:30. I started wandering about but quickly realized that no museum, restroom, or shop was open. To kill time, I headed for the cathedral, which had just finished its Palm Sunday services. In the middle of the nave, a priest was conducting a baptismal ceremony. I sat in back to listen to his chanting and his French. His melodic voice reverberated off the walls and practically shook the pews. What a wonderful demonstration of medieval acoustics. Imagine the uneducated peasant living in a hovel, coming here several times a week. The voice of the priest must have sounded like the voice of God itself and the high reaching vaults must have felt like heaven. Every time I visit Europe, I am drawn to the old churches and the Catholic ceremonies. I think if I lived there, I would have to convert. The church seems as much a part of the country as the language.

Senlis Medieval Images

Senlis is known for it narrow, cobblestone streets, and medieval airs. I found the reputation to be well deserved. After several hours of walking about on the cobblestones, my feet were aching. Like, Chantilly, I was surprised at how barren the town looked. No colorful signs or flower boxes extended from the walls. The whole area seemed to be in the grip of an eternal dreariness.

Another interesting door

After 2PM, and things opened again, I headed for the old capitol museum. This is a series of ruins inside a walled courtyard. The ruins were from old churches, towers, and governmental buildings. The nicer of the bunch has been converted into a museum of hunting, which was free with admission and only took 15 minutes to peruse.

The cathedral from the south

Interior vaulting

The east entrance

Machine gun impressions, reminding us that life if suffering no matter what era you live in

I also stopped by the tourist information center, which is in the Cathedral square and picked up a walking map of the town. I had found that I had walked most of the old town already and so decided to venture outwards somewhat from the old town to some of the newer areas. It did not take long to get lost because the route had me going up a well concealed staircase that skirted several buildings. Through careful backtracking, I finally found it. There are 4 walking tours through the town, so do stop by the tourist center for you map.

Exterior and interior of the hunting museum

I am glad that I took a couple of extra days before my conference, because once it started, I was a captive from 8am to 10:30pm and would not have seen a thing otherwise. My three destinations covered the gamut. The Chateau de Chantilly gave me a taste of the grandeur and decadence of the aristocracy, the Royaumont Abby peace and industry of the cloisters, and Senlis the narrowness (both physical and mental) of a medieval village.

A more modern part of the walking tour

greenway near the old walls

Once again I apologize for the quality of the photography. Time to get a new travel camera!