Monday, January 27, 2014

Beautiful powelines

Beautiful weather drew the fam out onto the river trails Sunday morning. I've passed by these power lines just North of the rugby fields hundreds of times without ever really seeing them. It took a few wispy cirrus clouds to draw my gaze upward. I won't pretend this is good photography, but it may give you an idea of how familiar things just need as change of light and weather to excite the imagination.





Later I went for a five mile run along the river in the afternoon warmth (70 degrees!).

A lazy afternoon nap.


Monday, January 20, 2014

Chandler overlook

This morning I ran in the Chandler backcountry to the overlook above Avery Drive; approximately four or five miles round trip from the baseball diamond.


















Sunday, January 19, 2014

Hop Henge

A big thanks to Hamilton Callison for getting me acquainted with Deschutes' awesomeness this Holiday season. I've been working through a case of Hop Henge, a seasonal Double IPA. This beer must have been heavily dry hopped because the smell is incredible. The taste is even better: tropical fruits, orange rind, a bit of pineyness. The bready malt backbone holds up despite its bitterness. Check it out if you can!



Cheers!

Saturday, January 18, 2014

The black tree

I ran a big loop around Mountain today with enough diversions along the way to get in six miles. This photo is of the interior of the abandoned vehicles that are along Pepsi Lake. I'm going to presume these are old abandoned Pepsi trucks as a bottling plant lies immediately to the North of here.


There is a new trail on Turkey Mountain. In general, I am opposed to the making of more trails as there are already too many of them in on such a small track of land. But this one breaks new ground on the South side of 61st street. Running on fresh single track reminds me of how much we've made a mess of the more popular trails.

The main attraction for me on this one mile loop is an uncannily dark tree. Every time see it I'm compelled to stop and walk around it. Most of its branches are dead and blackened, perhaps from a fire. They appear to be reaching down, grasping at something with sinister intent, like Old Man Willow in The Lord of the Rings.


This is the second photo I've taken of the tree. They both fall short of capturing the air of malevolence in the place. A work in progress, I guess.

Friday, January 17, 2014

Under the I-44 Bridge

If you leave the bike trail at the I-44 bridge and go Southwest toward the river, you will come out onto a wide open sand bar that remains dry this time of year. You're only a few hundred yards from the highway above and riverside drive to the East, and yet it feels a world apart. Filled with small dunes, driftwood and random jetsam, its a great place for exploring.




Thursday, January 16, 2014

Down to the riverbed (again)

This afternoon I ran down to the river edge, via the boat ramp near the pedestrian bridge. It is a good place for short hill repeats. There was bit more water flowing today, enough to cover the spot captured in last photo from yesterday. This photo is just a few feet closer to shore.


Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Arkansas River run


The Arkansas river is as low as I've ever seen it, which opens up some new ground to explore.


 This photo is obviously doctored, but manages to capture my first impression the spindly branches pretty well:


Its amazing to think that a river that was running 50,000 cfs this summer has been reduced to the trickle captured here:



Back again!

A very short sabbatical it was.

The fact is, I need this blog. But expect the focus to change a bit. You'll still have bikes running and beer, but I'm done with the typical "how's my running going" and race report stuff. Not that there was much of that last year. This blog has reignited a passion for outdoor photography, and I want to pursue this further.

Anyone who is into digital photography knows that properly cataloging photos can be a real pain in the behind. First, there's the matter of easy and consistent organization, something with which I constantly struggle with. But there's also the issue of recording context. I need a way to record the adventure behind the photo. That's where this blog comes in handy.

I recently picked up a Canon S100, a point-and-shoot that acts like a real camera, and I'm even considering dusting off my Dad's old Minolta film camera. I have been trying to improve on both composition and technique, with the ultimate goal of being able to take better photos while adventuring in the great outdoors.

So come with me on this new adventure! Let us go and look for new things and see old things in a new way.






Friday, January 3, 2014

Happy trails to you

After an extended break from blogging about mud, sweat and beers, I've decided to take a sabbatical. I have other internet projects that require my attention and there's only so much time I'm willing to spend in front of a computer screen. Now, go get lost on happy trails.

"Some trails are happy ones, others are blue. Its the way you ride the trail that counts, here's a happy one for you." Dale Rogers



















Cheers!