It was an exceptionally good weekend for exploring nearby natural wonders. Friday afternoon was a much needed getaway to Forest Park. (Nancy includes her thoughts around this walk in a poignant blog post from that time.) As usual, the shadowy trail didn’t provide many photo opportunities; tracking a Stellar’s Jay resulted in nothing more than a study in blue and black. Everything else about the hike was wonderful: the peaceful pace, the breadth of tree-time, the small wheel rhythm of seeing the same couples and families again heading around the loop in the other direction.

Saturday was an extra treat: the kids agreed to a bird walk at Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge “on the way” to an afternoon at our house. It was short in minutes and miles, but rich in discoveries and conversation. And they even gave me time to take some photos! Below is a photo gallery from that adventure.

Sunday morning Nancy and I continued west from the gym and explored Fernhill Wetlands. That trip gets a gallery of its own.