Hike - Rodney Falls & Pool of WInds

Hiked with friends to Rodney Falls and Pool of Winds on the Hamilton Mountain trail. According to the trailhead sign, the hike to Rodney Falls is a moderately difficult hike of only about 1.25 miles. The Pool of Winds lies at the foot of Rodney Falls where there's a small natural viewing area that makes it possible to look into the narrow opening where the pool is. 

The water falling into the pool pushes the air out of a narrow opening resulting in a rush of wind; hence the name, "Pool of Winds". The water then cascades down a long slope sounding similar to a jet airplane taking off. Both Rodney Falls and Pool of Winds are awesome and well worth the hike. Going on a weekday worked out

nice since the trail is quite popular and can get crowded. The trail was a bit muddy in places with a down tree in one spot. Otherwise, easy peasy. 

Happy Lunar New Year 2024

February 10, 2024 marked the first day of the Chinese New Year and Year of the Dragon. The Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year is China's most important festival. I don't normally celebrate the Chinese New Year but this year decided to check out the celebrations at the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland, Oregon. Portland has some pretty cool gardens and I'd have to say, Lan Su Chinese Garden is one of the coolest. This was my fourth time visiting the garden and first time during the Chinese New Year celebration. Some of the highlights included -

• Large-scale lanterns including pandas and dragons
• Newly remodeled Chinese teahouse
• Live music played on a two-stringed Chinese Erhu
• Lion dances (missed this one)

Things I Learned On This Day (#TILOTD) –

• Lan Su Chinese Garden "is a walled Chinese garden enclosing a full city block, roughly 40,000 square feet (4,000 m2) in the Chinatown area of the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, United States. The garden is influenced by many of the famous classical gardens in Suzhou."  
• The Chinese New Year, is based on the Chinese calendar and uses a 12-year cycle of animal signs to represent each Chinese year. The twelve animals that represent each year of the Chinese zodiac are: the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig, in that order. The animals are associated with various characteristics, such as luck, wealth, and good fortune. After every 12 years, the Zodiac Animals in the Chinese Calendar repeat themselves with a new Element each year. This amalgamation of twelve animals with five different elements goes on for a period of 60 years, creating 60 unique combinations.
• 
  I was born in the year of the dragon!