Whup!! Another day and another mini-adventure. And, as proof that we will seize upon the least excuse as a reason to get up and get out is the flimsy pretext we used to start today's adventures.
You see, they had some bad weather near here and one of the roads was washed out. It was a major inconvenience for the folks living down that road as it meant they only had one way in and out to their home and that way required them to turn onto The 101. Now, turning across traffic onto The 101 is difficult any time of the year but it is especially so during the summer months. This created a good amount of discomfort and anxiety for the good folks living that way.
Well, we heard just the other day that they'd finished the repairs and the road was open so we, being naturally nosey folks, decided we'd motor on over and take a look-see just to make sure what we had heard was right.
Well, it was right. They've repaved the road and put up new guard rails and it's looking mighty fine.
Well, we scratched that itch. Since we were out and about, we figured why not go and have a walk through yet another Lincoln City Open Space. It wasn't raining and we sure had the time so we were off. Off to the Spyglass Open Space. And, conveniently, along the way we could pass by the Candy Store and, maybe, get Carol Anne a Frozen Banana. Just maybe.
This Open Space is located just in back of the local high school, Taft High School, Home of the Taft Tigers!!
On the way over, we'd stopped at the parking lot by the Outlet Mall to see what the Ospreys were up to. And the short answer to that question is...nothing. They weren't around; nowhere to be seen.
Well, that was rude.
As we were pulling up to the high school, I drove over by the football field, where we'll be rooting on the Mighty Tigers of Taft High. They open their season at home on the 11th of September against Blanchet Catholic School (their first two games are away against Toledo and Astoria). And, what to our wondering eyes should appear...but an Osprey nest with a couple of Ospreys at home. They put up a platform for an Osprey nest on a tall pole near the football field and the Ospreys have built themselves a neat home there.
You mad, Bro!?!
The wind caught him at the right time.
Talk about your ruffled feathers.
And then we drove on over to the Open Space. I really appreciate the effort and the money that's been expended to make these Open Spaces available.
And my faithful Mini.
And then there was the forest. This whole blog is just about the forest. That's pretty much it. So, if you want to bow out now I won't be offended.
Still here? Whoa, you're not afraid of a little pain, are you!?!
OK, let's get started. At the beginning this Open Space seemed a world apart from the last one. There was ground cover, a lot of it.
And there were plenty of trees, too.
But, once we got into the forest just a bit, the ground cover began to change.
I imagine this forest is as old as the last one we visited and, like the other one, not managed.
You see, just after we broke into the woods, the ground cover began to change. It was thick with forest growth and then, about a hundred or so feet in, it changed to the dark, deadfall that we had seen the other day.
Walking through this was slow and treacherous. The soft, spongy forest floor was really a layer of deadfall covered by leaves, needles and such. You step here and your foot sinks just an inch or so and you step there and suddenly your foot plunges through some rotten wood and you're in up to your ankle.
Even though we didn't go too far into the forest, there was still plenty to see. And plenty to trip over, too. Hahaha, if either one of us fell, we were on our own.
And we saw a lot of different kinds of forest fungi. On the deadfall or on the side of the trees.
And I was playing with my camera controls. Hahaha, I've always wanted to be able to see in the tones of black and white. Really tried to master Adam's Zone System. Hahaha, I really beat my head on the table trying to absorb that one but, despite the books and the ruined developed prints, I never quite got it. Hahahaha, never got close would be more likely.
And so now I just try to please my eye. Me and my little iPhoto program.
Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know. However, like with other manias I have (such as gulls, flowers, doors), I tend to find a 'thing' and stick to it. One of my things these days is putting the lens at its widest and aiming up. I imagine some psychiatrist could find a deep meaning for wanting lines to converge around a beam of light but, for me, it's just aesthetically pleasing.
Can it be just that?
Sure!! Why not!?!
Looking for Hansel and Gretal...this one was off and away searching for the elusive Forest Fungi!!
Whup!!
Back to B&W for Ol' Smilin' Jack.
Somber. Dark. Foreboding.
You'll see some more of this genre later. I was having some fun, here.
And more fungi. The oozy, icky-looking kind.
Carol got down and really close for her pictures of the fungi....
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And, who wouldn't expect to see the back seat of some mini-van sitting out here...in the forest. This was about 80 or so feet into the forest. Just sitting out there, at an angle, waiting. I'll let the police know it's here but I doubt they'll care too much.
Plenty of deadfall and dead trees. But, they hang around long enough and they can become planters, like this one.
Sitting on the side of a hill just behind the high school, I'd sure like to know the back story for this Open Space.
Whoa!!
A little sepia-toned delight for you. I've never shot in sepia before. And, (quit groaning!) I might be trying this a bit more in the future. I sorta like the effect...not in everything but in selected scenes it might add to the picture.
And we busted out of the old forest and back to where the Faithful Mini was waiting...faithfully.
From this picture, the high school is to my left. In front is the apartment housing backing up to the Open Space.
But, wait!!
There's more!!
We had taken the trail, sort of, to the left, If we'd continued straight ahead we'd go up the hill on a more developed path. And so, having no other constraints on our time other than having fun, we did.
We chose the path more traveled.
We're like that. Path of least resistance, y'all.
Hahaha, it's still summer although you can see the fall coming onto the scene.
And, while we were hiking up the path, we ran into the biggest Banana Slug we've seen so far here in the Great American Pacific Northwest.
He was more than six inches long!!
By the time Carol got to him, he'd shrunken up a bit. I guess this is a defense mechanism although I can't see what good it would do. Obviously, it's worked for these slugs as they're still around.
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Carol, up close and personal.
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This path was laid out better. It was a real path. The other way we went, the path was more like a suggestion than anything else. But at the crest of the hill, the path narrowed and became overgrown. I pushed on through and was rewarded with this....
....sight. As you break out of the Open Space there is the edges of a housing development. The road ends just to the right in this picture. And, you get some impressive views of the Oregon coast. That's Siletz Bay in the distance. Plus, as you meander along the trail a bit further you come to some Valued Homeless tents. Living La Vida Loca, y'all.
And, so, having reached the top, so-to-speak, and not seeing Carol, I turned around and headed back down. You can get an idea of the difference between this part of the Open Space and the first part we went into. This one was more open and had a lot more ground cover.
And it had a lot of these guys....a beetle.
Hahaha, I found out why I was alone on the top of the hill. Carol had been on a voyage of discovery on her own and was so preoccupied with what she was seeing, and photographing, she didn't even make it close to the top.
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Like this lichen. I often get the feeling that I'm in a rain forest. And, as long as I don't have to sleep there, I'm a happy guy!!
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Some more fungi. Tres interesting! Oh, and to get these shots, Carol was climbing up and down the sides of the hill off the path. She's dedicated!!
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And another fungi. All different kinds of shapes, sizes and colors.
Hmmmm, I wonder if they're edible? It sorta looks like a biscuit doesn't it? I'll just take a little...Hahaha, no, I won't. I be stupid but I'll stick to eating the mushrooms I buy at the local IGA.
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And finally, we both headed down the hill and back home.
What an interesting morning. We satisfied our curiosity about the road, got Carol a Frozen Banana, didn't see Ospreys at one place but, unexpectedly, found them at another and then explored another Open Space here in LCO.
Life's what's happening while everyone else is at work.
Hahaha, I know that doesn't make sense and, honestly, I don't care!!
Hahaha, I know that doesn't make sense and, honestly, I don't care!!
I'M RETIRED!!
Hahahahaha....
You go out and find what amuses you. We're getting pretty good at it, too. Oh, really, it's not that difficult. Having a camera makes it soooooo much easier. So, for us, life is simple and pleasant and...
Life is good...Yes, it is.
Hooah!!
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