12 January 2014

Stormy Weather -- Must be Time for a Roadtrip

For most people, stormy weather means staying home and safe. But for us--or at least for my DH-- it means it must be the perfect time for a road trip in the mountains. a
And since I am DH's DW, and since I have been known to do a few (somewhat) semi-daring things in my life (like walking on frozen ponds and attempting to walk on semi frozen creeks), well off to the mountains we went. Fortunately we lucked out and our road trip was 'between' the two bad parts of our storm.

Here are a few photos from one part of our trip today.

 
On the hilltop -- upper Nehalem Valley
Well there we checked out the camping sites...
I can HARDLY wait till camping season begins--our RV looks SO lonely without company:)
 
 
DDD (in this case dear daughter dog) saying to herself--
"Are you crazy mom? There's a storm going on you know!".
 
And the photo missing here...
me with my long hair blowing straight UP because of the wind...
(we found out later they had issued a warning for cold funnel clouds
 in addition to the high wind warnings)

 
One of the lakes I love to visit when I am in need of seeing some ducks...
this used to be a millpond, but the city of Vernonia has turned it into a park with hiking trails and such. So peaceful here--on the Banks-Vernonia State Trail
(which also runs through a state park and over an old railroad trestle).
Here are some (sunnier) photos of the trail in the trestle area:
 
Of course there is ONE trestle you DON'T want to go over because it kind of ends halfway over.
I couldn't get a good photo of that one today...
but it is fascinating to see! It was damaged in the mid 1980s by a fire.
Here is an earlier photo of it from Highway 47 which travels under it.
 
 
You can't really see the destroyed section in this photo, but it would be to your left.
If you are driving through you can't miss it.
 
 
Wonder what they're thinking?
What do ducks think in stormy weather?
 
 
I love this photo for two reasons--
first, the one duck has the cutest backside (LOL)
and secondly,
what beautiful coloring on the brown duck!
 Don't you think so?

 
Well we've come to the end of another week and 'the end' of my tale!
 
Have a blessed Sunday. I hear we're going to have some sunnier weather later this week:)
Maybe time for another road trip???
 
Blessings,
Aimee
 

8 comments:

My Dog Sam - Ruptured Disk said...

That was really nice Aimee. My dad's done some daring things too - mostly when he was young (and didn't really care). We loved going on road trips with you and your DH. It's fun and we learn things too.

Grandmabeckyl.blogspot said...

ducks have interesting coloring, sometimes seagulls as well, I've noticed. Not been out yet. Next trip is to Multnomah Falls on my birthday next month. No bridge access though, since a chunk of it got knocked out by a rock late this week. Sigh! My sis gave us a groupon for lunch at the lodge.So I thought it would be nice to go there then. Phil said a good idea! Not sure what else I'm doing this year. Tulip farm for sure! Have a pass for the whole season since I ordered tulips last year! Take care!

Linda W. said...

Cute duck photo. And I too love the Banks Vernonia Trail. Yeah, the weather sure has been interesting this weekend! I went up to Mt. Hood Meadows this am, and the roads were very treacherous. We made it to the resort okay, but saw a lot of people sliding to the side of the road.

Gracie Saylor said...

It is cheering to me to see ducks, too, Aimee. We have had some ducks visiting our ponds this week, and a blue heron, too! Thanks for posting. xx

aimee said...

@Sam~
Thanks! I bet your dad has--I know my sons have probably done things that would scare me to no end and my wonderful hubby used to walk across trestles in his younger years.
Glad you enjoy our road trips--we're hoping to take the dogs camping when the weather warms up so you'll have a chance to meet all three of them (instead of just the spoiled one).
Blessings,
Aimee

@Becky~
I agree. I never noticed the very differences in their coloring when I was younger.
Wow! I LOVE Multnomah Falls and the lodge is amazing! Yea-bummer about the bridge :(
I will be going to the tulip farm too--love it there!
Blessings,
Aimee

@Linda~
Thanks! Would have been better had I known to bring my good camera along (it was an unplanned trip). I have only done part of the trail, but would like to do more of it in the future. I have done a little hiking at Stub Stewart SP too.
I am THRILLED that you got to go skiing today and very, very happy you made it home safe and sound:)
Blessings,
Aimee

@Gracie~
Awesome! Aren't they wonderful! We had two ducks visit our pond years ago (I took it as a compliment as our ponds are both man made; my hubby--on the other hand--wasn't as thrilled). We've also had several blue heron visit (again I was thrilled; DH not so much due to the koi). Your ponds are awesome-what a blessing God has bestowed on you to live there!
BLessings,
Aimee

sallyO said...

Your road trip photos were just what I needed to see today! Thanks for sharing.

aimee said...

@Sally~
SO happy to hear you enjoyed them and that they were a blessing to you! :)
Blessings,
Aimee

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Oh boy -- you guys are brave ... we used to own a little Jeep and my husband loved to take mountain drives -- any excuse, bad weather or good. So yeah, I've been there. Beautiful pictures, thanks for the memories of beautiful Oregon!!!

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