Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Thursday, August 25, Part 7, Timberline Lodge and Mt. Hood, before we said, "So long."

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Looking a different direction from the viewpoint above the main entrance at Timberline Lodge. I've used the HDR-ish effect in Picnik to get this look. I couldn't believe it when I clicked on it, how those trees got that blue glow behind them, the whole image fascinates me.

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I still think this just might be Mt. Jefferson, south of Mt. Hood. I couldn't resist trying Orton-ish in Picnik on the closer shot that I took with my zoom lens. I like. Do you?

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A plaque full of facts, attached to the gigantic chimney/fireplace inside the lodge.

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It's easy to get the drift when you read this sign and look at the slope of those various roofs--sorry, couldn't resist the pun! This door opens out onto the patio at the back of the hotel.

Naturally I took photo after photo of Mt. Hood from the patio. Such fun!

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A cloud came to call.

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And came to stay.

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And then go away, afterall.

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Inside the lodge, I came across a tempting table--the last of a finger-food buffet? I didn't touch one single thing.

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Here's another view of the chimney/fireplace and the sign. It's in the center of the lodge, more than two stories tall. Amazing.

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Look who I saw out on the patio! A sweet little miniature dachshund who actually was a good bit bigger than our Duncan.

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Still a gorgeous little red dog.

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Soon I walked back to the Zipcar and drove up to in front of the hotel to get my buddies, Milton and Kay.

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When I walked to the SUV, I got to see and photograph this vehicle. Hmmm. Wonder why?

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And I saw this KGW Channel 8 remote van. I knew it was in place for the start of the Hood to Coast, a relay race made up of teams, which was set to begin at 3:30 a.m., about 12 hours from when I took this photo. Here's some info about the race. It's limited to 1,250 teams of 12. They run from Mt. Hood to Portland to Seaside on the Pacific. It's 200 miles with 36 legs of different lengths, varying from 3.5 miles to 7.8 miles, and the terrain ranges from flat to steep hills. Each runner may total between 13.6 miles and 19.7 miles. Teams must complete the course within a 31-hour limit. It begins on the Friday morning of the weekend before Labor Day weekend, between 3:30 a.m. and 6:45 p.m., staggered with about 20 teams every 15 minutes. The slower teams start earlier than the faster teams, based on self-reported 10K times for each team member. It officially ends at 9 p.m. Saturday. My goodness!

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Look! It's an Official Vehicle for Hood to Coast!

We got home in time for me to drop off Milton and Kay and then get back into the SUV to head for the airport. My superb brother Howard and his superb wife Vanessa were due to land about an hour later. Their plane was on time, their luggage was on the plane, and I got them to their hotel safe and sound--the Monaco in downtown Portland. Howard was more hungry than tired, so we made a date to dine in the hotel's bar. I drove home, picked up Milton and Kay, and we enjoyed eating and talking in the Red Star Cafe. Then everyone went home (or to the room) to rest up for Friday's fun!

3 comments:

Roland said...

Ah, so this is what Mt. Hood looks like without snow! Still beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful looks at the mountain.
I like that new Nissan too.

Randy said...

I would love to see this in person.