After walking through several close-by forest nature centers and parks, we decided to add more water features to our diet. The girls went to a talk by another ex-Californian, Eli Boschetto, on Portland's "urban trails" and got inspired to see them all. They bought the speaker's book, called "Urban Trails Portland" and I found an interesting hike around two small lakes on an island between the Columbia and WillAMette (yes, WillAMette) Rivers. Oregon scatters its park lands with delightful disregard for expectation. Just because this is hidden in heavy port facilities (warehouses, railroads, docks, etc.) doesn't mean you can't have a 2,000 acre wetland park with paved trails, observation platforms and interpretive signs. That guy behind you at the signal could be a crane operator or a birdwatcher. They both belong here.
But, enough... after faithfully following our Google map directions, we pulled off Marine Drive into a driveway back to the Nature Center parking lot which was small but not full. It was very cold, for us, but we were well dressed for it and seemed to warm up a little as we walked along the well-marked trails. We opted for the 2-mile interior trail as opposed to the 40-mile loop (maybe later). Most of the trees were bare but leaves still carpeted the ground. As we got further from the highway, the sound of traffic was replaced by honking and whistling of birds and the scampering of squirrels and rabbits. Like a back east movie scene, only lacking a coat of powder snow. We took lots of pictures as the moody late fall woods and lakes started to grow on us. We came away with a Walden Pond sense of contentment that the outside noise and traffic couldn't shatter and now look forward to what's next on our urban trail.
Last December, I was wondering what it would be like this December. I'm not disappointed.
Merry Christmas and Happy 2019!!!
Joe
