22.7.09



On vacation, visiting the area that one of my favorite writers immortalized.  It's been so long since I've been here that when we visited Cannery Row I could no longer recognize it as any place I had ever visited or visualized. I can't imagine the confusion Steinbeck would feel if he experienced it now. The aquarium, however is gorgeous. He may have appreciated that, at least.

19.7.09


Sometimes I'm a little slow to come to things. After years and years in this rural region of Oregon I've finally discovered the Britt Festival. I knew about it before but for whatever reason never ventured out to experience it.  I got off my ass this year and snagged tickets to see Andrew Bird/Portland Cello Project (w/ Laura Gibson).

16.7.09





:.....
Frank Gonzales
:.....

via

15.7.09






It's been a few weeks since this day trip to the Oregon Caves so I'm just catching up.
In the 70's, when I was about my son's age, we took a trip to the caves that I never forgot.
A tactile, cold, wet, magical experience where I learned the bulk of what I know about caves. Some of the anecdotes I can remember word for word and found comforting that they used them still in their tour (word for word). I was amazed, again, to be descending some 300' into the earth and tromping amongst the stalagtites and stalagmites, though this time without the psychedelic red and blue light show they used to awe the crowds in the 70's and more hand rails and walkways built in.... as with most tourist events, made a little tamer, a little more tasteful and a little safer than what we experienced in the 70's.
All of this failed to impress my 11 year old son. Maybe it was his mood, the car sickness from the brutal last 17 miles of tight turns leading to the caves, or just that few things seem to impress my sons they way they did me at their age.
The lodge, built in '38 and is covered in tree bark, and houses this tiny lunch cafe which serves  decadent milkshakes remenescient of it's era which did make a lasting impression on my son, though, unfortunately it was just bad luck that we missed out on actually getting one.

5.7.09


. ..... .
Mike Sinclair
. ..... .
via Heading East

1.7.09



Nicely put
from one of my new favorite blogs:
The Ladies of Letterpress