Nephew #1

It's Official. I now have my first and only nephew. Gage is his name and grinning at stuff is his game. These pics are from a few weeks after he was brand spankin' new. He is 2... maybe 3... I dunno, Several months old now and looks only a little like he does in these pictures. Now that you know what he looks like wave if you see him on the street.

 Gage holding Grandpas hand.

 Oh hi.

Portland's Japanese Garden

I visited the Japanese Garden in Portland a mere three months ago.  It is an amazing few acres of classic Japanese style gardens in the middle of busy Portland.  A beautiful place to wander, even in the rain like I did. I fear I didn't do it justice.

Gilbert Peak

Ah Gilbert Peak. You vex me so. How I hate thee.

Don't climb Gilbert Peak. Just don't. It is a lot of work and it is sketchy.

Gilbert is the 3rd tallest peak in Utah at 13,448' above sea level. It is tall enough to make me never want to climb Mt. Everest. But, the view is pretty fantastic.

The puppies were tuckered right out.

Only half way and Cort already hates the peak.

Excellent views.

Now we just have to figure out how to get down.

Oh look! We found a crazy steep scary route down the mountain. Fun.

We went up the left side and came down the right face. Both were bad ideas.

 The view was almost worth it.

The Bartons

That's right I said THE Bartons. Last August (yep I'm five months behind on posts...) the Barton Fam invited me to their cool cabin in the woods to take some family photos. They are an awesome family who fed me some awesome food.

I got a new car. I think it's pretty. That is all.

Now boys and girls it is time for artsy, photographer like pictures from my road trip with my aunt and uncle. You will at no point in this post be forced to look at any pictures of any of my motorcycles. So fear not you can enjoy in peace.

First stop is lovely, flat Pendleton, OR.

Then just north of the Gorge in Washington we ran into a woman on a golf cart. 

Not that odd. Until you see her passengers.

My uncle getting too close to the seals in Astoria, OR.

Pacific City, OR.

I love beaches. I love giant rocks.

Fishermen would back their trailered boats as fast as they could into the surf. Then slam on the breaks flinging the boats into the sea. Then they gas it back up the beach to park their trucks and sprint back to the boat before it washes out to sea. I was LOLing during this entire process.

Beautiful orange sand stone cliffs also at Pacific City.

 

Cool little mushrooms on the trail to Munson Falls.

 Munson Creek

Taking off from PDX on a clear day and you can see some cool peaks.

Pacific City Panorama.

Pendleton, OR. It really is that flat. Kansas like.