Nature Friday - Bryce Canyon

I am joining Rosy and the Boyz for Nature Friday.

When I started this blog 8 years ago, I had no idea that it would result in 4 trips to meet other bloggers and their dogs. There is so much negativity on the internet and so much hate - it is nice to have a little corner that has united us with wonderful, like minded people (aka huge animal lovers), who we have no business knowing any other way.

This year, the mini-BAR was in Bryce Canyon, Utah. Utah is now the 25th State I have visited. 

Today, I share pictures from Bryce Canyon itself. 

Me  at the top of the canyon before the first descent

Looking into the Canyon

The Hoodoos

More Hoodoos

The rule breaker . . . one of the trails was washed out (no we didn't go far on the closed path)

The pups that have brought us together - Mabel, Arty, Jakey, Rosy, Murphy and Stanley and of course the Lee and Phod flats

Even more Hoodoos

Me and Man and flat Lee and Phod at the top

Murphy and Stanley's peeps and the Man on our big hike

Making sure we don't get lost

I wonder how long before this Hoodoo falls over

Hiking in Bryce was fun but tough. First, we live around sea level (about 1000 feet above) and in the Bryce area it is 7-8000 feet about sea level. So we were starting with thinner air then we are use to. Second, when you decent into the canyon (which isn't too bad), you go down about 1000 feet. This means you have to come up about a 1000 feet. Third, it can be very steep in places (it is a canyon after all).  I did it twice, and I am going to say, both times that last 500 feet were very hard. I found the second time harder, I think because my legs were sore from the 2 full days of hiking on the previous days. 

I don't think the pictures do the magnificent canyon justice. It was stunning. I am so glad to have had this opportunity. 

Traveling Tuesday - The Forest

While I could spend the rest of my life walking beaches, the Man would spend his in the forest. Don't get me wrong, I love trees too, but my heart belongs in the water. Last week I featured the beach, today I am featuring the forest! 

If you happen to be in the Tillomook Oregon forest area, be sure to stop by the visitor centre. We learned a lot about the Tillomook burn which destroyed 350 000 acres in 1933, the subsequent fires and how they have reforested the area. It is really cool to drive by parts and see signs that say 'planted in 1956' or planted in '1998'. The forest grows quickly.

Here are some pictures from the Tillomook Oregon area. 

The Man walking on a very hot day

These reminded me of orang-utan arms

These is near the Cape Meares Light house:

So wanted to climb it!

The Tillomook burn was started by humans. Together we can prevent forest fires! 

Thank you for joining us on our trip to Oregon. We had such a wonderful time exploring the state and catching up with our pals at mini-Bar!

Travel Tuesday - The Ocean

In what feels like a lifetime ago but it was only a month, the Man and the Lady headed to Oregon for min-BAR. After a few days in Portland, they headed to an Air B and B in Rockaway Beach. Here are some of the Lady's favourite ocean and beach pictures from the area. 

The Twin Rocks at Rockaway Beach 

One of many dead crabs she saw

Rocks at a beach south of Rockaway

Looking up a cliff

The butterfly shell that made Lady think of Princess Leah

The Lighthouse at Cape Meares

Oregon's most famous rock, the Haystack at Cannon Beach

Lady enjoyed watching all the kites

The tide was out

That is Murphy and Stanley's people out for a run and trying to cross without getting their feet wet!

Traveling Tuesday on a Thursday - Oregon Zoo

While I don't want this post to become a debate about zoos, I wanted to state that I have some personal concerns about them. While I LOVE animals and the experience of talking to keepers to learn more, seeing them up close etc. etc., I don't love the idea of them. In an ideal world they would not exist. I hope my niece and nephew's generation finds a way for us to save the animals in the wild and live with them peacefully so we don't need zoos. 

Now I will step off my soapbox and share some memories from he Oregon Zoo (which the Man picked as an activity). 

First, let me say this is a beautiful, spotlessly clean facility. The keepers we spoke to/heard speak clearly had the animals welfare as their number one goal. For example, the polar bear who appeared lonely was moving in the fall to a facility where she would have 'friends'. The animals all looked very healthy too.

Here are some of my favourites. 

I have never seen a polar bear in the wild (and kind of hope I never do). I am always amazed at how big they are. 

The Man's hand in a paw print

Me beside one

This guy's face broke my heart.

The Man's hand compared to a Gorilla

Rhinos

The giraffe

Doozy was a rescue. He had been bought as a pet and people decided he was too big (imagine that). I am glad the zoo was able to give him a more appropriate home. 

Man vs. Elephant

It was this elephant's birthday so he got extra treats!

When it comes to zoo animals, the big cats are my favourite. I could spend the rest of my life watching them. I got to spend about 15 minutes watching this tiger play in the water trying to get a bucket. It was amazing. I heard someone who visits regularly say she had never seen him so active. 

Once he had the bucket out he was done with it. So like a cat! He was just so beautiful!

This bear cracked me up. She (I am guessing as there were other bears around) held up her paws so she could get the water to shoot into her mouth. 

Next week we will show off some more trip pictures. I think we will share the beach and rocks! 

Traveling Tuesday - Introduction To The Trip

On Tuesday, August 22, the Man and I flew from Ottawa to Portland.

Our general thoughts about Portland as a city:

-Clean

-Easy to drive around

-Half the city is pregnant (I have never noticed so many pregnant women in my life)

-The other half of Portland is not wearing a shirt

-The food is amazing

-People are very friendly (this extended to the coast as well)

We stayed our first night in a B and B - Mayor's Mansion on Laurelwood Park. Because home built in 1912 that the owner has turned into a B and B.

The Mayor's Mansion

The Mayor's Mansion is decorated in an Asian style which reminded me so much of Japan. The owner had never been, but collected pieces for Estate sales.

Sample of the common sitting room

I feel like we spent much of our time in Portland eating.

We visited the food trucks downtown. This is a square city block of just food trucks. We picked Mexican as it was gluten free for me. 

We also tried a number of places on Mississippi Avenue. A couple of highlights other than food included:

A light shop (which wasn't open either time we went to the street)

and a used book store that sold you a blind date. Basically it was a fluffy piece of fiction, wrapped in brown paper with the first line of the book written on it. They sold for $3. Since I read 4 books on this trip, it was nice to find to pick up cheap easy reads. 

The one place I wish we had been able to explore more was Washington Park. It was an amazing park with gardens, museums, the zoo.  I will be sharing my pictures of the Test Rose Garden in Flower Fridays.

Look how tall the roses are!

Next Tuesday we will talk about the zoo, so be sure to come back!