Happy Winter Solstice

HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE!

Maryhill Stonehenge memorial - June 18, 2023

Today, December 21 is the 2024 winter solstice and the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. I’ve often thought it would be cool to visit Stonehenge in England during the winter or summer solstice. I'm not sure if that will ever happen but as luck would have it, there happens to be a replica of Stonehenge about 100 miles away from where I now live. According to Wikipedia, the Maryhill Stonehenge replica was commissioned in the early 20th century by the wealthy entrepreneur Sam Hill, and dedicated on July 4, 1918 as a memorial to the people who had died in World War I. I have yet to visit the replica during the winter solstice, but I did visit it on June 18, 2023, just three days before the summer solstice. Apparently, Sam Hill thought the original Stonehenge monument had been used as a sacrificial site and decided to commission the replica as a reminder that humanity is still capable of being sacrificed to the god of war. The real purpose of Stonehenge is still a mystery, but it is commonly thought that it was used as a kind of solar calendar to track the movement of the sun and moon and mark the changing seasons. The presence of human remains also suggests that Stonehenge could have served as an ancient burial ground as well as a ceremonial complex and temple of the dead. However, since no written records exist, theories about Stonehenge’s purpose are still a matter of speculation.

Maryhill Stonehenge memorial - June 18, 2023

360 degree photo Maryhill Stonehenge memorial - June 18, 2023

Road Trip - Peter Iredale Shipwreck

Peter Iredale shipwreck

The shipwreck of the Peter Iredale has been on my bucket list for some time. I’d visited Fort Stevens State Park where the shipwreck is located but for some reason, didn’t see the shipwreck. It helps to know the history of the shipwreck to really appreciate it.

Peter Iredale shipwreck

According to Wikipedia, the Peter Iredale was a four-masted steel barque that ran ashore October 25, 1906, on the Oregon coast en route to the Columbia River. A heavy northwest squall grounded Peter Iredale and high seas and wind drove the ship ashore. Much of what's left of the hull is buried in sand so there's not a lot wreckage visible. However, sometimes after a storm, more of the buried hull becomes visible. Happily, no casualties occurred in the accident.

Peter Iredale shipwreck (360 degree photo)

Peter Iredale shipwreck (360 degree photo)

Hike - Burnt Lake, Mt Hood NF, Oregon

Hiked with friends and Buddy Boy (the dog) to Burnt Lake on the Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon. The hike began in second-growth Douglas-fir Forest with huge stumps and evidence of fire all around. Not too far up the trail however, we entered the Mt. Hood Wilderness where the forest turned into lush old-growth Douglas-fir forest.  

According to sources, Burnt Lake got its name from a fire that burned through the area in 1904. Since then there have been other fires including the “Clear Creek Fire” that burned through the area back in August 1906. While the forest has grown back there was still a lot of evidence of the fire such as large, burned out trees, snags and logs. 

 Except for having to climb over a few large logs and fording a few small streams, the first half of the hike was pretty easy. The second half however was a bit steeper with a few difficult rock scrambles and more stream crossings where my shoes got soaking wet. 

I think the streams were running higher than normal due to recent rains and snow melt. Burnt Lake was beautiful and included a spectacular view of Mt Hood from the southern side of the lake. 

We also saw a fair number of wildflowers on the hike including pacific trillium, stream violet, calypso orchid & skunk cabbage. I hoped to see some flowering pacific rhododendron, but apparently it was too early and the only flowering native rhododendrons we saw were at lower elevations near the trailhead.

Burnt Lake (360 degree photo)

Pacific trillium (Trillium ovatum)

Stream violet (Viola glabella)

Calypso orchid (Calypso bulbosa)

Skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus)

Pacific rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum)

Portland Waterfront Blues Festival

Pics & vids from the 36th annual Portland Waterfront Blues Festival July 2, 2023. Hard to believe the last time I went to the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival was 2010. The WFB Festival is a four-day annual event that first started in 1988 and is the largest blues festival west of the Mississippi River. This year included legendary Buddy Guy, Shemeka Copeland and one of my favorites, Rick Estrin & The Nightcats. Was a good day and thankfully, not too hot. Also got to use my somewhat new Insta360 camera and take some 360-degree photos and videos (links below).

Larry & me at the 36th annual WFB Festival

Portland WFB Festival (Click for 360 degree view)

Rick Estrin & The Nightcats - Video

Shemeka Copeland - Video