Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Saturday, June 24, 2017

Two Adventures In One Day


Loaded up . . .and ready to go!


Friday morning kayaking adventure.
This is a wildlife preserve about 10 miles 
from our home.






Look at the center of this photo
see the Egret on the tree branch?
While I was taking this photo a Bald Eagle
flew to the side of us.
I wasn't fast enough to get his photo.


It's kind of amazing how this swampy looking 
area is right in the middle of the desert. 


Later that afternoon when Steve got home from work
he asked if I wanted to go for a drive . . .



Okay!


This area is called Frenchman Coulee
It is along the Columbia River
and about 40 miles from our home.

 
There is a hiking trail that goes 
through that gap in the rocks.
I was wearing sandals,
so no hiking.





The road ends at a boat launch on the river.
That bridge in the background
is called the Vantage Bridge.
It is a 1,640 foot long cantilever bridge
built in 1927.


Driving out of the coulee.


What a nice day I had . ..
two little adventures.
Both with nice company.

That's it . . .
if you are still here,
Thanks for hanging in there.

Have A Great Day
&
Keep Smiling!

Your blogging sister,
Connie :)
 
 


34 comments:

  1. What amazing scenery you have. I once went kayaking in Canada and loved it.

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    1. It is so much fun. I was seventy when I bought mine . . . goes to show that it's never to late to teach an old dog a new trick, LOL.

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  2. Amazing scenery! Nothing like where I live. :)

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    1. Well, we miss the green trees and fields full of wild flowers, but there is beauty in the desert, too :)

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  3. What a joy to come along with you and discover a different part of the world that I am not likely to visit. Beautiful.

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    1. It's nice that we can tag along and visit each other's worlds, isn't it :)

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  4. Nice place for kayaking and for a drive. Great views

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    1. Thanks, it was a fun day . . . nice to get away and enjoy the beautiful outdoors.

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  5. Our world is so diverse. Thanks for sharing your beautiful scenery.

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    1. I have been to this wildlife preserve many times and each time it is different, depending on the weather and the water level.

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  6. What a beautiful place...love that scenery!

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    1. Thank you. It took me a while to see the beauty in our area. I was raised in the Midwest and this is very different.

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  7. I sure wouldn't mind going on that drive...and would love to see the area you kayaked at.

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    1. It was a very nice day . . . I spend most of time around the house, and in the garden, so it was fun to have two outings in one day :)

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  8. Hi Connie
    So nice to "meet' you! Thank you for the nice comments you made on my blog. It looks like you had two wonderful adventures recently. I love that coulee rock formation area--so unusual! The kayak ride looked nice and peac eful.

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    1. They were both fun adventures and the second one very unexpected. My sweetie took off work a couple of hours early so that we could drive there. I love that you are exploring the area around you. The year after college our daughter took a job in Telluride for the winter, so that she could get a break from school and do some skiing. She was always telling me how beautiful it was.

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  9. You are quite the adventurer! I am too afraid of water to do that. but will go on big boats. I am now a follower. Thanks for visiting my blog.

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    1. Hello Rose and welcome to my humble little blog. Blogging is a great way to meet new people and make new friends. When I was a kid we lived near water, so it was important to learn to swim. I've always enjoy being on the water, but my mother was like you . . . she was afraid of it, yet once she retired she did take a few cruises.

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  10. Beautiful scenery! Just like God to provide beautiful water in the midst of the dryness. Kind of softens all that sere. We surely appreciate our river cutting through the drought. And it is good to get out of the house now and then. ;-)

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    1. It certainly is! This world of ours is filled with so much beauty, I don't have the chance to do much traveling, but I do enjoy getting out and exploring the area around here. Even our state is filled with so many different terrain . . . we have dessert, rolling wheat fields, rocky cliffs, green rain forest, mountains and coastline . . . God is an artist :)

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  11. The scenery is amazing. It makes the drives worthwhile. Looks like you had an awesome adventurous day.
    xx Beca

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    1. I did, thank you. I appreciate that you always leave a comment . . . it's the only way we really get to know one another and blogging sisters are the best :)

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  12. I love taking adventures and day trips! No kayaking for me though, I'm afraid. I love the scenery in your area. So different here in the Midwest. That's one of the great things about blogging...getting to see the area where others live!

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    1. I know what you're talking about . . . I love seeing where other bloggers live. I love seeing their homes, their gardens and all the places they travel . . . whether out junking, camping or trips along the countryside as well as trips to the city :) It's so interesting and I certainly don't have a budget for much traveling . . . so hiding in their suitcase and tagging along is great.

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  13. Wow Connie! Those adventures both look like so much fun! How neat that hubby came home and took you on that drive! We have an area here called Smith Rocks and it looks very similar to the Frenchmen Coulee area. The rocks rise out like that and it looks so amazing out in the dry flatlands. Your wildlife refuge area looks like a very peaceful place to kayak.. and kudos to you for getting one for your 70th birthday! My 70th is tomorrow.. I wanted to go horseback riding as have owned horses and ridden all my life, but don't have one now and wanted to ride again, but doubt I will due to some life circumstances.. but I hope I can next month. And kayaking again is on my bucket list too! We have a couple of nice lakes around here to kayak on. Oh... that Vantage Bridge?? I've been through there a few times, once (or twice) on the way to the Gorge Amphitheater. Have you been to that? What an experience! Lots of good music there. The Columbia River there at that bridge is just awesome and I remember the water there always being so green. What a fun and memorable day! Hugs.. Marilyn

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    1. Hi Marilyn, actually I know of Smith Rocks and how rock climbers like to gather there for climbing. It is the same with that rocking area in the Frenchman Coulee. Also if you ever go to the Gorge again for a concert, the entrance to Frenchman Coulee is between the freeway and the entrance to the amphitheater on the same road. I've only been to one concert at the Gorge it was to see Sammy Hagar, many years ago. We are not big on crowds and enjoy small venues much more. As for kayaking I think you'd love it:) At our age we have to grab the bull by the horns while we still have the chance, we sure won't be getting any younger, LOL.

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  14. What an amazing and enjoyable day you had.
    I loved all of your photographs and seeing the scenery.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thanks . . . I love being at home, but sometimes it's nice to just get away :)

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  15. You live in a very picturesque area! We finally got our kayaks out on the water last week, and I think we're going again tomorrow. My favorite thing about summer!!

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    1. Hi Sunny, you know this area has to grow on you, or at least it did with me. It took me a while before I could find beauty in this desert, I longed for lush greenery, wild flowers, trees and green meadows. Now, it just seems like home and I find beauty all around me. Thanks for visiting, I love reading your comments.

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  16. Hi Connie, wow you have some wonderful places to visit in area! Enjoy your summer

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    1. I am enjoy it, but it seems to be moving along so quickly . . . why doesn't winter do that, LOL.

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  17. Such two completely different scenes, how lucky you are to have both on your doorstep. Stunning photography xxx

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    1. Hi Fran, I love it when you visit. They are different, but most of the water in our area has it's birth from the Columbia River . . . If it were not for President Roosevelt building the Grand Coulee Dam and sending water to our dry desert, this would probably still be underpopulated land.

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