Walked 2.23 Miles - Candyland Loop

 

 

Today I set out to do the Oaks Bottom loop. It's a known 5k and I can just go on autopilot. I didn't get far on my walk when my old Nemesis, leg pain, reared its ugly head. I haven't had this kind of pain for a long time. The pain was definitely a 6 and maybe even a 7 on this pain scale. Not a fun feeling. I thought about trying to suck it up and complete the 5k, but I'm really glad I didn't. Instead, I opted for the 2 mile Candyland Loop.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bachelor Buttons are my mom's favorite flower. They always remind me of growing up in Central Oregon. They commonly found along roads and ditches in the high dessert. They don't grow with such wild abandon in Portland.  

 

 

 

 

I love finding poetry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

17th has a myriad of markings in the street. I thought this one was funny. I have no idea what it means or why they needed arrows. 

 

 

 

Walked 4.01 Miles to Bybee

 

 

This morning was cool and cloudy; my favorite walking weather. I stood on my front steps for a couple of minutes trying to decide where to walk. Finally I decided to see what was new with the Max construction south of me. I continued walking to Bybee which is exactly 2 miles from my house. I walked up to Milwaukie Ave to loop home. I usually stay away from urban streets, but it was a nice change to walk through Westmoreland. I'm a big fan of Chris Haberman and it was so great to see this mural a couple doors down from the movie theater. What a great addition to the neighborhood.

 

 

 

 

Progress continues and the Advantis bank is almost on the ground.  

 

 

 

 

Yep. This honey bucket is locked to a power pole.  Stay classy, Portland.

 

 

 

 

While I think it's sad that this large tree will be cut down for the new Max line, I'm grateful that I live in a town where due process must occur before this tree is allowed to be cut down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nobody will fall in this hole.

 

 

 

 

More buildings are in the process of moving out. This warehouse used to be packed to the gills. It looks so much bigger now that it's empty. 

 

 

 

 

I've taken a picture of this bell many times, but I don't think I've ever posted a pic. I didn't like any of the pictures I had taken. I figured today was the day, because soon this bell will be gone.

 

 

 

 

A stone's throw from 17th and McLoughin is the first in a long string of strip clubs all along McLoughin.  Looking at the building shape and with some portholes as windows, I think this used to be a Skippers.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I love how Portland can feel like a small town. 

 

 

 

 

Walnuts! We have a million walnut trees in the neighborhood and lots of fat happy squirrels. It's the time of year where squirrels are harvesting like mad. We have squirrels that are constantly carrying nuts across our deck. Unfortunately because of this, walnut trees take root everywhere and we are constantly battling to keep them from destroying things in our yard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've seen this flower a few times now and I love it. I don't what it's called or anything about it. It grows in tall stalks and the flowers are as intricate as an orchid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

These flowers are stunning. And of course, I'm a fan of whatever the bees are into.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This bank of lilies were so dark they looked black.

 

 

 

 

Here is more of the mural by Chis Haberman. It's set in from the sidewalk and adjacent to this dive bar door. Very nondescript and very cool.

 

 

 

 

The intersection of Milwaukie and Bybee is a happening little corner of southeast. Such great restaurants and lots of antique stores. It's nice to have this only 2 miles from my house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walked 3.07 Miles - West Hills of Brooklyn

 

 

The sun is back, but luckily it wasn't hot and there was a pretty strong breeze during my walk today.  I headed to the West Hills of Brooklyn and started my walk off by visiting the Poulson House. 

 

 

 

 

I'm really digging seeing so many vegetables growing in people's front years.  It's always fun to see what's coming up next. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I passed these cat paws by, but a block later decided that I should go back and take a picture.  This cat must have been very surprised, because these imprints are deep.  

 

 

 

 

Because I circled back, I happened to see this guy.  I had walked by twice without seeing him.  It's a good reminder that I can walk the same route over and over and still see something new.

 

 

 

 

I'm afraid that I'm going to turn into the crazy bee lady.  I really like watching them do their thing.  There were a few bees already buried in this big blooming artichoke.  I like watching them hoovering over the bloom looking for their right opportunity to land.

 

 

 

 

Go Fourth and Sparkle 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got caught!  I had my head deep in this corn, (the little baby corn is seriously adorable) and as I'm taking this picture, I hear: "I charge money for pictures of my corn".  Doh!  This was the first time that I've had someone comment while I was taking a picture.  The owner of the corn was super nice and his Great Dane was even nicer.  We talked about corn for a few minutes before I continued on my walk.

 

 

 

 

Like I said above, it was a pretty windy walk.  I caught this bloom right as the wind picked up.  

 

 

 

 

This is where it's at!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Folks are getting creative with the neighborhood street signs.  This one cracks me up. 

 

 

 

Walked 4.14 Miles to 39th

 

 

Today was a great day to walk.  It was a cool, cloudy morning.  The temperature was perfect.  It lightly misted on me a couple of times and it was so refreshing.  It was such a  nice reprieve from the muggy weather we've had.  I couldn't have asked for a better time.  

 

 

 

 

The 17th street overpass is gone!  Powell has been closed since Friday to remove the bridge.  They sent out tons of notices saying that the construction would be going 24 hours a day.  I was worried that it would be loud at night, but I could barely hear anything.  The weird thing about having Powell closed is how quiet it was without the street noise.

 

 

 

 

The Gideon pedestrian bridge has a little extra flare at the moment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I swung around to the other side of the 17th street overpass to get a different look.  It was a little disturbing to see that the folks who had been sleeping under the overpass are now sleeping just next to it.  There was a small camp of folks directly to the right of this picture.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

One last picture.  It's weird to think that Powell could be closed.  I wonder if this will happen again when they rebuild the overpass.

 

 

 

 

I don't know what a Speedvagen is, but I want one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't get this.  There was another set of jeans on the front step.  I found it rather odd.

 

 

 

 

I want to figure out what these flowers are named.  They are so delicate and lovely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't forget to be awesome.  I love this reminder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are the biggest hydrangea blooms I've ever seen.  They were huge!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I came across a large bank of Sunflowers.  Most are just starting to bud like this one.  I want to revisit this spot when they are in full bloom.  It will be spectacular.

 

 

 

 

I don't know what the deal is with feathers in trees, but I sure do see a whole lot of them.  

 

 

 

 

This is one of the doors to Cleveland High school.  I think it's very poignant in this day when we are still continuing to fight for basic rights for all.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had stopped to watch a very young Golden Finch couple feasting on some bushes.  Then a few of seconds later, this hummingbird caught my eye.  He's almost smack dab in the middle of this picture.  Can you see him?  I always feel so lucky when I see a hummingbird on my walk.

 

 

 

 

I need to remember this more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was a little baby bee.  It was pretty cute.  

 

 

Walked 3.12 Miles to Oaks Bottom

 

 

Wow!  July has been a busy month.  My days have been filled with lots of committee work which has left me not a lot of time to walk.  I had several projects culminate in the first 2 weeks of July and lucky life is starting to return to normal.  I made it out today after not walking for almost 2 weeks.  It was a lot and muggy day, so I headed to Oaks Bottom and the shade.  

 

 

 

 

I think the Winterhaven school is so pretty.  With school out of session, I'm exploring this property more.

 

 

 

 

Zucchini!   

 

 

 

 

And strawberries!  It's definitely summer now. 

 

 

 

 

I didn't take that many pictures on this walk.  I was having issues with my iphone.  It didn't want to focus for me.  I took it as a sign to just focus on walking.

 

 

 

 

Now that the 17th street overpass is closed, I've seen some pretty crazy driving in the  neighborhood.  Lots of folks are flying through stop signs and not being careful in our residential area.  It's a little scary to think about all the kids and pets that play on these streets.  I wish folks would follow the proper detour signs and slow down.

 

 

 

Photo Friday - Dog

 

 

I don't take many pictures of dogs on my walks.  Mainly because I don't want to infringe on the dog's privacy, but also because it takes too much time.  I do like this little fella, though.  His earnest gaze and bright red collar just makes me happy.