Hell Sure is Gorgeous!

Being facetious, of course! And apparently flowers bloom a-plenty in Hell -- Hell's Canyon, that is! Unable to wake up at o-dark-hundred to meet for a group ride, we decided instead to blaze our own trail today, this time up to the Hell's Canyon Overlook, a spot we've been meaning to visit for some time. Why anyone would name such a heavenly place "Hell's Canyon" is beyond me, but I suspect it has to do with the ruggedness of the terrain and the early pioneers.

Here's a crude pieced-together-panorama shot. Someday I'll have a proper wide angle lens. Until then, we'll enjoy the wild flowers that carpeted the lush meadows, and the brilliant blue sky. Here are more pix of the views - stunning to say the least! 

 I really wanted to snatch this up and take it home, to reduce to bones and have it mounted properly. It would make a neat anatomical specimen for the studio. But not only did I suspect that hubby would be nonplussed with me cramming a decaying elk leg into his bike-bag, but the Park had a "no tread" and "no take" policy, so I left it to fertilize future flowers. I wondered what the story was behind this leg...the rest of the carcass was nowhere to be seen. 

Three of the interesting surprises on this trip were the cows we encountered on the road (apparently the Park is free-roaming). On a Harley, coming face to face with a large black steer that outweighs you and the bike combined is interesting to say the least! The second quirk of the trip was realizing that the road to the overlook ate up more gas than expected -- and on a bike, the contents of the gas tank are a big deal. Suffice to say we rolled into Baker City almost on fumes! The third hiccup was not knowing that much of the roads to Hell's Canyon and the Overlook were just repaired with tar and gravel, and for a bike that slows the trip to a crawl -- so we got home four hours later than expected! Rolling into our driveway just as the sun was going down, we were tired, but armed with great memories, lovely photos and some good stories for our fellow riders.

Anyway, when I tell folks I'm from Idaho, most people say, "Where?" Then their next question usually is, "Why Idaho?" Well, if these photos, and the others I've posted, are any indication (and they are), they provide a pretty good answer. I'm definitely a NorthWest girl, though I do admit that living in a lighthouse along the Maine coast is equally tempting. As the years go by, I also find myself being drawn ever more to hidden, reclusive places -- those little homesteads tucked away behind hillsides would sure seem more homey with a kiln in the back...

"I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright." ~ Henry David Thoreau

Hell Sure is Gorgeous!

Heaven in Hell's Canyon

 A typical Idaho/Oregon pastoral scene. Moo cows!

We took a ride on Saturday along a new route for both of us, through Hell's Canyon in a loop from Idaho to Oregon. Hell's Canyon is the deepest river gorge in the U.S. and we've been meaning to visit for some time. According to the map (below, from the "you are here" pointer), we went north on 71, turned south at Copperfield Park and followed 86 to Baker City, and from there back to Boise.

 

 This big, nifty map was posted outside on the wall of a local gas station.

We didn't really know what to expect, though we'd heard this ride was lovely from several riders over the years. What we experienced, however, was nothing short of spectacular! The skies were bright blue, showcasing the brilliant snow capped mountains beautifully. The uncharacteristic intense rains of the past couple of months caused the meadows, hills and canyons to be blanketed in a lush, verdant green, and inspired the wild flowers to sprout in vast glorious armies, in dense thickets of yellows, whites, blues and purples. Of course I was too spellbound by those blooms to snap pix of them, but I did manage to capture a few incredible views...

We rode past Brownlee Reservoir and stopped at this tourist site. The red arrow indicates the original narrow trail for those wagons, and you can follow that groove across the hills. The thought of two wagons butting heads unexpectedly gives me hives.

This sign was right next to the one above. Idaho is rich in gems, minerals and precious metals, thus being nicknamed "The Gem State." It also is one of two places where star garnets can be found and - as yet - the only place where six-pointed star garnets have been found.

Brownlee Dam with a flowing spillway. We've had lots of rain this year, and there's still the snow melt!

As we rode down the road along the spillway and into Oregon, I was dazed by the greenery and the glassy surface of the Snake River. Further on, we rode through a bit of Payette National Forest and the landscape was stunning. For your enjoyment, following are various shots I took throughout the day as we drove through Oregon and back to Idaho, in no particular order...

 

 

We dropped into Baker City to catch the interstate back to Boise. We plan to get a hotel some weekend to use as a hub to explore the gorgeous country in that area in future rides. Baker City was one of the locations where Paint your Wagon was filmed.

The inevitable gruesome bug splatter. Hubby will spend hours cleaning and polishing his bike after a trip like this, but don't feel bad for him. It's a kind of meditation he enjoys immensely.

As I mentioned, Idaho has experienced an uncommon amount of rain this year, with unseasonably cool Spring weather to go with it. It's as though Spring decided to take a vacation - again! The bikers have complained bitterly about this, since we're all used to sunny riding by the end of April. So as we crossed the Idaho/Oregon border, what struck us was the weather: the skies changed from cold overcast grey to warm brilliant blue! It was as though Oregon commandeered our Idaho weather for the weekend. All in all, it was a wonderful day and fun adventure! Thanks for the great time, Ham!

"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~ Ansel Adams

Heaven in Hell's Canyon

Gut Bendin' in Bend

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I'm still on the road, on a continuous Northwest Adventure. I'm deeply passionate about the Northwest. Any place that has coastline, mist, moss, ferns and forest -- and no sticky heat -- is Heaven on Earth in my book. Then just over the mountains you come to high desert with big sky, dramatic rock formations and spectacular vistas. What's more, I love clouds and, of course, the Northwest excels in all manner of vaporous lighted sculpture. I intend to return next year to spend a week exploring the Olympic National Park, for its own sake, and because I'm intent on creating a series of tiles and jewelry inspired by nature. Food for the soul.

As for food for the body, eating well is always a priority on vacation. The one rule is that chain restaurants and fast food are verboten. Instead, I seek out local haunts that serve local, seasonal specialities and plain ol' good cookin'. So I've porked out on fresh caught fish, local peaches and apples, oysters and shellfish and other sundry local foods. Yum! And right now I'm in Bend, Oregon now, visiting my brother and sister-in-law, and this town is no stranger to good eatin'! No sir!

Speaking of indulgence, I've also been taking photos like crazy. I stayed at a wonderful lodge on the Washington Coast, right next to the Olympic National Park, which had a shore peppered with rocks that allowed me to explore the tide pool critters at low tide. After several dozen photos, I'm now suitably inspired to create a series of pmc enameled pendants based on the ocean shore. Heck -- I'm so eager to get my paws workin' in pmc, and back into my stoneware tiles, that I think I'll go mad! But I'll have to wait until I get home...torture! Oh is my patience starting to whine. But I have my trusty sketchbook and I hope to have some workable ideas by the time I get back home. Until then, I shall continue to wallow in fun, food, family and future imaginings. The food of life.

"I await joyous surprises while working, an awakening of the materials that I work with and that my spirit develops." ~ Odilon Redon

Gut Bendin' in Bend