Waterfalls and Clean Air Oh My in Everyday Ramblings

Just in case there was any doubt about the season…fall is moving in swiftly. I have taken a number of pictures of the crepe myrtles this last week but can’t seem to get the light right.

I have all this stuff to do but am not getting far with any of it.

We did have a lovely mild day after all the heat and smoke and Mrs. Sherlock picked me up early and we carpooled with two other women in their 70’s to go on a Trails Club hike on Mr. Hood.

It was the most disorganized chaotic organized hike I have ever been on.

The person who was leading it was, the only word for it would be, confused. It is that kind of confusion that can come on with age where the confused person doesn’t know she is confused. One, (as the hike leader) is supposed to actually do the hike (or at least most of it) a few days before to note any current hazards.

It had been at least 3 years since she had done this hike. And on top of that it was all down hill.

She kept worrying about us actually doing 4 miles (the trails club limit for an official hike) and we ended up walking 6.5 miles on this mostly narrow root bound, rocky trail.

Almost everyone was having trouble with their knees by the end. Mine were fine but about half of the 20 in the group were in pain when we came out of the forest onto the busy mountain pass highway, which is the main route to Eastern Oregon.

We had left half the cars up at the top at a ski resort parking lot and half of them down where we with major relief emerged from the trees. The logistics were head spinning but we did finally get everyone where they were going.

The other thing about the hike that was challenging was the mountain bikes. It was hard to share the trail with them. Apparently the same bus that takes skiers up in the winter takes mountain bikes up in the offseason and the trail we were on was a favorite. And of course it is all down hill so one can see the appeal for them.

Still, I was thrilled to be out of town and we did have lunch (we all brought our own) at this gorgeous powerful waterfall called Little Zigzag Falls. I’d never been there before, didn’t even know it was there.

I enjoyed getting to know the other two women. We had a lovely wide ranging discussion on the way up and back. I had heard about both of them because Mrs. Sherlock hikes with them all the time. One of them used to be a reporter and has a lively and curious intellect and we talked about things like identity politics and political correctness and Marion berry pie and everyone was talking about John McCain as well as medical stuff and yoga and shows on Netflix.

It was great to getaway. The cats were a bit disgruntled having me gone so long but with Diego at my hip and Carlo at my feet I think I have been forgiven.

Tomorrow it is church and chores.

Last updated September 02, 2018