DRINK IT IN, AUTUMN & MINERAL SPRING WATER

Welcome to Autumn in the Pacific Northwest. Here it is--nestled away in this little remote park tucked into the Cascade foothills. Wilhoit Springs sports one of the few mineral springs in Oregon. Tasty mineral water bubbles up out of the ground to offer you a bit of Middle Earth liquified so take some drinking cups with you. Since I was fortunate enough to tag along with family members who knew the way, I was allowed to gawk off and not pay attention to how I arrived at this little known wonder. So my directions would be less than desired. Google and a good map will get you there. I do know it is out of Molalla. Take a lunch and plan to spend some time soaking up the woodsy-ness of it all. It is to good to pass up on these crisp lovely days ahead. The long drive will be made on narrow two lane country roads that twist and turn, go up hills and down thereby keeping your speed in the 15 MPH to 20 MPH range. Plan to allow enough time to enjoy it. The beauty surrounding you will be worth the slow trip. Roll the windows down, put on an extra sweater and breath the rarified country air. Ahhhhhhhh! Don't forget your drinking cup.

WALK FOR THE SMELL OF IT

Those of us who live on the western side of Oregon, revel in the beauty presented by our forests, rivers, lush flora and fog. Traveling along the Umpqua River this morning, I couldn't help but "gawk off" as I drove along that beautiful diamond encrusted river. Gold maples punctuated the emerald green forests while perfect white fog highlighted the deep blue sky. I even saw a fish jump. It happened only because I had no hook in the water. 

But, I wasn't there for the fish. I was there for the beauty that resonates with each of us who live here and walk this side of Oregon just for the autumnal smell of it. Don't miss it! 

GO WILD!

This year at the Oregon State Fair Author's Table I was privileged to meet a number of you folks and pass my blog info on to you. I hope you subscribe by placing your email in the subscription field on this blog so you can receive future blog posts as I do them. 

This blog is just a reminder that if you didn't pick up a copy of either (or both) of my books at the fair, they are available by emailing me at tripshoe@gmail.com or you can get them from Amazon or on your eBook. 

In light of my photo for the "Shoestring" cover, I want to share my personal philosophy with you. It is a quote from Henry David Thoreau. "If one advances confidently in the direction of his (her) dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he (she) has imagined, he (she) will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."

So, folks, GO WILD! You can only succeed if you proceed!

SUMMER, WONDERFUL SUMMER

It's summer and the Great White Egret scratches his chin thinking of all there is to do. In his world, it's fish, eat, sleep, fish, eat...well you get the idea. I have been traveling around the state visiting with many of you who are new to me and my blog. I hope you can find fun and inspiration in some of the scenes I have presented so far. 

My new book, Tripping On Oregon's Treasures, is out. What a treat it is (for me)! I just love it. Many of you ask for more stories and this is it. It is filled with wonderful places in Oregon to visit. You may even meet a Monarch like the one pictured here. Lucky me, just as I was taking the pix, he was dancing on a butterfly bush (go figure) and turned just perfectly to catch the sun's rays. I almost dropped my camera! Wonderful surprises like that come along so rarely, snap them up while you can.

If you are interested in my new "lovely" Tripping on Oregon's Treasures or the older sister Tripping On a Shoestring you may email me at tripshoe@gmail.com for more information. In any event, get out, breathe deep, live every moment like it matters...because it DOES!

COAST RANGE IN GOOD OLE SUMMER TIME

Summer has arrived in the Coast Range. This week I went to North Bend / Coos Bay to introduce my new book (Tripping On Oregon's Treasures) to the folks in the area. It was well received and makes me grin from ear to ear. True parent that I am, I love that book! But it wasn't all about books. A walk to the Golden and Silver Falls State Park up in the Coast Range made my camera happy too. Butterflies were out in profusion, buzzing around all the beautiful blossoms lining the hillsides. 

The water load careening over those rugged rocky falls was much lighter than what is generally found in June, but the trip was worth it anyway. I love that rounded boulder where the Silver Creek takes the plunge. 

The trip home up highway 38 took me past hay fields with those huge rolls of hay. While they are wonderful to see themselves, the clouds overhead lent a quiet beauty that pulled my van over for a quick photo op. Funny how that works. Here I am, driving down the road, then suddenly...screech!! A must stop shot is presenting itself right in front of me. What's a person to do? Well, what I generally do is follow the rule: Get The Pix! So here it is for you. 

Swallowtail on butterfly bush

Golden Falls

Silver Falls

Hay!