Hood River Marina

Another view of the marina, also from last week. I had given up on photographing this marina after multiple attempts last year, but was drawn to the marina on Thursday by the lack of blue in the sky or water, which I thought was an improvement on the scene. I've got an ideal photo view of the marina in my mind, and I figure that if I drive out here often enough, I'm bound to see it in that perfect light one of those times!

Also, a blog format note:'Next month is shaping up to be a very busy month with our move starting on Monday. We are only moving a few miles away, but I know I'll be too busy to blog daily for a while. Right now my goal is to get back to daily blogging in January, and to post when I can in December. We are heading back through Hood River this weekend, and up to Gifford Pinchot National Forest for a Christmas tree. Hope I'll have some photos from that trip to share next week. 

Clouds and Mist

 Another of my stops in the gorge, this time at Viento State Park. I love driving through the gorge in the winter months because it's often so misty like this.  Last year we stopped at a Starbucks for a cup of tea, and they had just switched their tea brands.  The new green tea was called Emporor's Clouds and Mist, and we thought that was the greatest name, because it was a cloudy and misty day, just like this one.  So somehow Clouds and Mist has stuck with me as a description of the gorge. 

Misty Falls

Continuing with my photo pit stops as I made my way into the gorge last week. Wahkeena Falls are just west of Multnomah. I've read there are 77 falls in the gorge, mostly on the Oregon side, and I believe it! Very pretty on a misty day like this, and actually much more vibrantly colorful than my camera captured, especially the golds and reds.

Wet Leaves

We dried out over the weekend, but on Thursday in the gorge it was still pretty wet. This photo of big leaf maple leaves was taken from the same location as yesterday's Multnomah Falls shot: the parking lot.

Multnomah Falls in the Mist

A very misty drive into the gorge this week to finish setup of my photos at North Shore Cafe. I took a short detour on Hwy 30, including a stop at Multnomah Falls.

Cafe Scene

My 2016 calendar photos will be on display at North Shore Cafe in White Salmon, Washington through December.  If you're in the gorge, and looking for a place to eat, stop in here (across the river from Hood River).  Great organic food, fresh-pressed juice, and homemade chai with fresh-pressed ginger.  If you do stop in, I highly recommend the chai!  For a chai blog and photo, click the link here.

Avast, Me Hearties!

A cool old sailboat docked at Hood River Marina yesterday, 

and the waters were reflection still...almost. 

Linking to Weekend Reflections

A Dark and Rainy Morning

Such a dark, drizzly morning today, but the water droplets were glowing
on the little tree outside my kitchen window.

Old Farmhouse Orchard

I know I've been on a fall tree theme for a while now, and really want to switch to another subject, but I can't seem to keep away from trees! Not likely to change themes in the near future since I'm heading back out to Hood River and White Salmon later this morning. For today though, another view of the overgrown orchard at the old farmhouse near Woodland. It's a nice counterpoint to yesterday's photo. I appreciate the crispness and composition of today's view.

Through my Rainy Windshield #9

I took a wrong turn yesterday, and pulled into a drive to turn around during a spell of heavy rain. The drive led to an old farmhouse with overgrown orchard. Very colorful in the rain. I turned off the wipers and tried a rainy windshield photo for my series. I think it's too blurry, but I like the dark glow of a rainy fall day. Lucky to happen upon such a pretty spot for a turnaround.

Woodland Wonderland

Beautiful, glowing scene coming down the backside from the grist mill in Woodland over the weekend.  So many layers of leaves, and so much moss!

Fall in Washington State

When people think of Washington, they usually think evergreens, and we have our share.  But a typical fall scene here often includes moss, fog, and big leaf maples.

Deep in the Pear Orchard

Late afternoon in Trout Lake.  

Cascade Locks 2

East-facing view of the Columbia near Cascade Locks. The stretch of river between Cascade Locks and Hood River is often the border between weather patterns, because the river bends here and it's right at the thickest part of the Cascade range.  Calm in one direction, choppy in the other; blue sky in one direction, clouds in the other. Dramatic clouds today reminded me of an impressionist painting.

Linking to Weekend Reflections.

Wake

Wake on the Columbia, calm waters, and a very hazy day.
(Full color photo, believe it or not!)