Who Needs A Yacht...

When you have a perfectly capable Bayliner to sleep in. Yes, Rafa, Bella and I decided to sleep in the boat last night along the Columbia River. We started out with the air mattress (snug fit):





but then we gouged a huge hole in it and it became flat, so we decided to sleep on the fold out back to back chairs with our sleeping bags. This is Rafa waking up:



Among other things during this trip, we ate wild blackberries, played rummy, and watched the sunset and the sunrise from the boat:







It was an overall good evening, warm, peaceful, and quiet.

Love and Time

Love is so kind and glorious, especially in the springtime, when all is re-born. But when I see someone in love despite the grace of time, it gives me a happiness that is pure.

"I wished for nothing beyond her smile, and to walk with her thus, hand in hand, along a sun-warmed, flower-bordered path."
--Andre Gide

Photo Op

I had the pleasure of taking our friends Marisa and Derricks daughter Kayla to the zoo yesterday. What a perfect opportunity to take photos. No special lens, no special talent, just a pretty and joyful little girl.

4th of July Weekend

The Figueira family took the boat out to Government Island (which we have named Paradise Point) for a lovely and sunny three day weekend! I believe we had more dogs than humans, and they were certainly unruly for all of us! There were two dog fights, a vet visit, and constant "Come!". But I guess it is really the owners who are unruly : )

We had plenty of time just swimming, boating, tubing, eating, drinking, relaxing, and fighting off the mosquitoes (of course!). It was really so nice to get away and spend time in the Oregon sun with family and friends. I wish more of our family and friends were here to enjoy it with us.

Rafa went tubing for the first time and he rode with Derrick on a two man tube and I drove the boat. And I flipped them! It was so funny! I rode as well with Derrick and got flipped. It is pretty scary and exhilirating all at the same time!

Bella was pretty scared of the fireworks; we tried our best to keep her calm, but it was just not the best for her. Once we put her in the tent she was fine, but we tried to keep her outside in the early evening to get her "used" to it, but that loud noise is just something she will never get used to (I think that is the husky in her).

Anyways, great weekend for us, I hope you all had a great weekend too. Here are some shots:

Marisa enjoys the sun:



Boating and Tubing:







My friends Marisa and Olimpia and I



Rafa with his Medeiros Family shirt:



Janelle, Tara, Marisa, and I



Dirty Bella:



Rafa and I:



Marisa and Derrick's daughter Kayla, or Ragga Muffin in this photo : )

Dog Mountain

Rafa had a plan to go fishing with Derrick last Saturday, So Bella and I decided to hike Dog Mountain in Washington State. It is a 7.1 mile hike that elevates to 2850 feet. Bella and I completed the hike in 4 hours. It was a steep incline for the entire way up because Bella and I chose the most difficult route. It was harder coming down though, since it puts a lot of pressure on the knees. I was certainly tired after the hike, but Bella was still rearing to go; the girl has so much energy! The hike was lovely; sparse and damp forest at the beginning, open, airy, and cold at the top, with fields of tiny flowers. Here are some shots:

At the beginning:



This is the view from near the top:



Small flower:



The last stretch before the summit:



Bella at the top : )

Viva Brasil

Brasilian Family....get ready! We are coming to Brasil!

Viva Brasil! Viva!

Rafa and I will be there from 11/22-11/28 : )

Saddle Mountain

Bella and I drove west yesterday morning to hike Saddle Mountain. The drive is about an hour and and a half from our house beginning with prairie lands and ending with rich lush forest. Beautiful. It is hard to find an unappealing area in Oregon to drive once you get past the urban areas. Even then, we have a such beautiful city. Anyhow, so we loaded up Summer with the essential hiking gear; water, food, and camera and turned on the Retro 80's Country music and put the pedal to the metal. Once we arrived, the hike is a 5.5 mile loop, with a gain in elevation of 1603 feet where you peak at 3283 feet. The climate varies along the way, at first brisk and damp, rich in vegetation, and then once you near the top it is dry, open, and hot (because you elevate above the clouds). It was a quiet day on the trail, which was great, and when we got to the top, Bella and I were the only ones; it was completely silent, with the exception of the few birds and some pesky flies.

This is after the first mile before you fully make your way out of the forest:



Rocky area towards the top:



Trail near the dry and open part of the trail:



A little life amongst the rocks:



At the top, nothing but clouds: