Smith Rock and the Vertical Dance

Driving to Smith Rock State Park in Central Oregon from home isn't a terribly long trip but we went through Sisters and stopped for a burger. While Sharyn was getting the food I got out (for Doreen) to take a picture of the Bright Spot coffee drive-thru.


When we got to the park we parked the Musemobile and started hiking around the easiest trail...


... but first stopped to talk to Jonathan Schrock who Guides the climbers for Smith Rock Climbing Guides


I liked this assessment of rock climbing calling it a "Vertical Dance."


And what a dance floor this is surrounded by beautiful spires, rock faces and Oregon's Crooked River.

Natasha Denyer writes on Oregon Live's web page :

"Central Oregon's Smith Rock may not draw the concentrated crowds of big-name international rock climbers that it did in the 1980s, but it's still got those world-class walls, the juniper-infused air, the vertical dance of climbers on prickly, sun-drenched rock."

and later says

"Smith was at the forefront of the birth of sport climbing -- in which climbers clip their ropes to permanent bolts in the rock -- in the mid- to late '80s. About 80 people who were the world's best climbers would gather at Smith in those days, says Volk, who's been climbing at Smith since 1971 and lives next to the park. 'That was the real mystique of the place. Literally every name you'd read about in the magazines was here all at once.' "

Hikers and climbers were everywhere today ...


...all in the space of this one canyon...


... with a plethora of rock faces...


... that stand like gods of stone...


... living in a unique paradise.


The exquisite beauty of this place is impossible to capture and I knew that midday was not the perfect time for soft light...


... but I am happy with the shots I did get even though the three climbers in this picture are tiny specks...


... but occasionally they reach the top and can be captured


The rocks are ruggedly beautiful...


... and the views are astounding....


... and even the river below accents the beauty of this place.

Quote of the Day ~

"Climbing is unadulterated hard labor. The only real pleasure is the satisfaction of going where no man has been before and where few can follow." ~ Annie Smith Peck Born Oct. 19, 1850, Providence, R.I., U.S.—died July 18, 1935, New York, N.Y., American mountain climber whose numerous ascents—often record-setting and some at an advanced age—made her a remarkable figure in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Back to the States

When we arrived at the border crossing we saw the Peace Arch. It was built by Sam Hill who was mentioned in three earlier blogs about the Stonehenge War Memorial and the Mary Hill Museum and its Sculpture Garden.

"The Peace Arch is a monument situated on the Canada – United States border between the communities of Blaine, Washington and Surrey, British Columbia. The Peace Arch, which stands 67 feet tall, was built by Sam Hill and dedicated in September 1921, and commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in 1814. The monument is built on the exact United States – Canada boundary, between Interstate 5 and Highway 99, in the grass median between the northbound and southbound lanes.

The Peace Arch has the flags of the U.S. and Canada mounted on its crown, and two inscriptions on both sides of its frieze. The inscription on the U.S. side of the Peace Arch reads "Children of a common mother", and the words on the Canadian side read "Brethren dwelling together in unity". Within the arch, each side has an iron gate hinged on either side of the border with an inscription above reading "May these gates never be closed."

Welcome to the USA ...


Just into the US we were asked to stop for an inspection which gave me the chance to take this picture of Non-Sign II. It is unusual and what I consider the imagination of artists around the world.

"A U.S. art studio called Lead Pencil Studio has created a sculpture on the border between the United States and Canada that consists of a blank space in the shape of a billboard, surrounded by tangled metal. Titled Non-Sign II, the piece was commissioned by the U.S. government."

Estuary - where the River meets the Sea and this is an overlook of the Tillamook Estuary in Garibaldi...


... where we noticed the Rhododendron blooms were already gone...


... and the berries were just coming out. From the over

Looking back after we parked it was beautiful looking to the north west and watching the sun start to drop in the sky.



While waiting for the sunset I took a flower picture of this really nice plant...


... then walked over to a memorial to take a few pictures...


... and back to the Musemobile for a shot with great light...


... and got lucky getting this gull as the sky began its golden tint time of day.


The view became a warm gold ...


... that was perfect in the light/shadow spectrum that was balanced evenly...


... then as the sun dropped under the clouds sent out wonderful rays.


As the sun dropped behind the hill we entered the a blue period...


... that became increasingly dark...


... and then the lights on the Coast Guard pier were beautiful to see reflected in the water.


This was a perfect place to be in the Musemobile and the perfect time of day.

Quote(s) of the Day~

"Estuaries are a happy land, rich in the continent itself, stirred by the forces of nature like the soup of a French chef; the home of myriad forms of life from bacteria and protozoans to grasses and mammals; the nursery, resting place, and refuge of countless things." ~ Stanely A. Cain

"Many estuaries produce more harvestable human food per acre than the best midwestern farmland." ~ Stanely A. Cain

Last day in Vancouver

Day two in Vancouver meant another day on the bus to the SkyTrain...

... and this time I was ready to snap this skateboard park just past the Royal Oaks station...


... for my boys who loved (and probably still do) skateboarding.

SkyTrain is an urban rapid transit system in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It uses fully automated trains running mostly on elevated tracks. SkyTrain's 42.7 mi of track makes it one of the longest automated rapid transit systems in the world.

We got off at the Stadium/Chinatown exit and started walking...


... and needless to say saw Stanley Cup Playoff memorabilia hanging all over and lots of Canuck jerseys being worn except for this lone Bruin Jersey on this teddy bear.


We eventually found the gateway arch to Chinatown ...


... and Kitti's Beauty Studio painted pink...


,,, near Shanghai Alley.


Finally we found the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen garden and also the public park of the same name.

The garden is named in honor of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, a nationalist leader who is considered the “father of modern China.” The attribution is not arbitrary, as it emphasizes his connection with Vancouver. While traveling the world to raise awareness of, and funding for, the Chinese nationalist movement, Sun Yat-Sen stayed in Vancouver on three different occasions for extended periods. At the time, there was a significant presence of Chinese nationalists in British Columbia, who helped finance the Chinese nationalist revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty in 1911. Sun Yat Sen subsequently became the first president of the Republic of China.

Classical Chinese gardens employ philosophical principles of Feng Shui and Taoism, striving to achieve harmony and a balance of opposites. Craggy rocks, for example, are juxtaposed against delicate foliage. Water is also an important element of the garden, and the large pond offers stillness, sound, a reflection of the sky, and helps to unify the other elements

There are many simple rooms giving the feel of serenity and simplicity...


... that is almost perfect for quiet reflective meditation.


This is a beautiful setting like a peaceful island in the middle of a city...

with a very special view every step you take ...

from hardscape to ...

... soft colorful floral settings...

... clever turtles sunning themselves...

... and all very special...

... they even call the fish for feeding with a gong.

In one of the reception rooms I liked this rock on the window ledge ...


... and the look of the bamboo outside this window.

Even in this hidden treasure there was a Canuck bag hanging on this Kimono.

I especially liked this stone sculpture and even saw forms of people within it.

The entrance to the free public garden was impressive. I will say as impressive as this garden was I liked the Chinese Garden in Portland even more impressive.

We found Sharyn's zodiac tile ...

... then mine although I like my sign called the Ram better than the Goat.

My favorite rock was this one in the back section of the garden.

This monument was erected to commemorate the significant contributions of Chinese Canadians to the growth, vitality and prosperity of Vancouver, British Columbia and Canada...

... and a higher view of the Memorial Square and the Chinese Cultural Center...

Then there were the turtles again...

not to be out shown by this lovely Peony...

Then it was back on the "Big Bus," The "SkyTrain," the city bus and to the RV Park.

Quote of the Day ~

"Canada has great natural resources, and its people have the spirit and ability to develop them." ~ Charles E. Wilson