Spring Colors & PNW Beauty (Portland, West Linn: hotel, vacation, house)

[Tesaje]

I was out there last week. The flowers are gorgeous! Rhodendrons, camelias, flowering trees everywhere and trilliums! But for the first time, it was a lot colder in Portland last week than it was at home or on any other trip I've ever taken there. Everyone said it was unusually cold for mid April. It didn't help that I failed to bring my winter coat. Brrrr! I blame it on my nephew for scheduling a wedding. I also met his native OR in-laws and family - extremely nice and friendly people.

In between working and visiting, I took a lovely hike in Mt. Tabor park and no rain! What a lovely place in the middle of the city. I also got up to a loop hike in the gorge - falls area. Beautiful as usual. Got some sun there but the afternoon ended in a little hail storm. During the week, there were a lot of clouds, some intermittent sun, some rain but mostly not, a little snow that didn't stick, a couple of snow grain showers, and hail! A lot of weather variety, but chilly!

[deegers]

Originally Posted by hymalaia

this is to satisfy the gloom-sayers. Honestly, I like the gray, it's much better than these pictures make it out to be. It's more akin to a bright white sky this time a year, occasionally going gray to rain on you, like today. But I like that as well.

These were all taken 3-6 weeks ago. It's actually much more beautiful now, the green is really starting to show. I've been doing more digital video stuff though than still photographs of late. You need motion to fully capture the falling flower petals.

Hymalaia! What wonderful pictures. REally give you a neat perspective with the gray. ACtually, cloudy days are realy great days for photos. I am with you like the gray days. Makes me appreciate the sun when it comes out.

Wonderful!

[KarlaT2]

Originally Posted by hymalaia

yea right. you photoshopped that, we don't have blue sky in Portland.

Where were these taken? I love to ride my bike everyday, and I'm visiting my family up in Oregon for several weeks in July so I'd love to check out that bike path. How do you get there? Thanks!

[hymalaia]

That's the Tom McCall waterfront park which runs alongside the west bank of the Willamette river, right next to downtown. These were taken in the northern part, near the Steel Bridge. The southern part (near the Hawthorne Bridge) has a cool fountain and a view of Mt Hood (on a clear day). Both bridges have pedestrian/bike paths where you can cross the river and get to the Vera Katz Esplanade on the east side of the river. It's smaller, less festive, and hemmed in by a freeway but in many ways cooler. The view of the city skyline is terrific and part of it floats! These are terrific public spaces, though the combo of bikes and pedestrians means you gotta stay alert lest you mow someone down or get mowed down yourself.

getting there, hmm. I usually ride my bike though there is parking I think but being so close to downtown you might have to pay. There is tons of public transit though.

[oldtintype]

That's along the waterfront in the downtown area. You can ride on both sides of the river and it's pretty scenic.

[oldtintype]

Oops! Didn't see your post hymalaia!

[EnricoV]

These pictures are in Waterfront Park, which runs all along the river in downtown Portland. The pathway is part of the Esplanade, which runs down both sides of the river, and across the bridge.

If you're looking for longer rides, this website describes five of them in the Portland area. This one is just about the Springwater Corridor, but has better detail. And, finally, the City of Portland has a biking section with shorter rides, maps, and lots of other information.

[KarlaT2]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

These pictures are in Waterfront Park, which runs all along the river in downtown Portland. The pathway is part of the Esplanade, which runs down both sides of the river, and across the bridge.

If you're looking for longer rides, this website describes five of them in the Portland area. This one is just about the Springwater Corridor, but has better detail. And, finally, the City of Portland has a biking section with shorter rides, maps, and lots of other information.

Thanks! I'll have to check out Waterfront Park. It amazes me that I lived in Oregon over 30 years, but never saw much of Portland. So much to see that I never knew was there. Thanks for the bike route website. The Blue Lake one looks awesome.

[GB1]

Your pictures are beautiful!

Portlanders seem to love summer, but I think fall is actually the most beautiful time of the year there, followed closely by spring, and your photos captured that springtime feeling really well.

[MtnSurfer]

There are some beautiful colors right now that is for sure. The Gorge Lupine Flowers are also in bloom. I can't wait -1 more week and I am there on vacation!!! Thanks for the continued inspiration.