Ten miles hiking in Forest Park, Portland yesterday.  8 miles paddling on the Clackamas today (see below).  26 miles over 8 Portland bridges in the Providence Bridge Pedal tomorrow.  Yes, it's the first (annual?) Slow-poke Triathalon. Note: 6 months into my goal of paddling in every month of the year.

OK, Barton to Carver was nixed by road closed for paving 500 ft before the turn-off to Barton park :( Oh well, I had already expressed interest in the Carver to Clackamette run based on Soggy Sneakers. It sounded even more interesting than McIver or Barton/Carver. Emily and I launched knowing full well that we were once again sight-reading a river. 8 miles in 2 hours. First half was easy Cl 2. SogSneak mentions a large rock and a bridge to avoid towards the end. A large rock to me is car-sized - maybe 20 or 30 ft. Something REALLY f****** obvious in a river. After we had seen a rafting trip gearing up and a couple of whitewater kayakers getting lessons from Next Adventure the run got REALLY interesting. The river starts making sharp bends. In one, we really had to maneuver clockwise and avoid a rock. The river wanted to push us into the rock but Emily powered forward and we missed, like, by the skin of our teeth. I'm really surprised that we don't have scratches on the side of the boat. Wait, was that a "large rock"? It WAS a large rock. Next time, eddy out river-right before the rock. Then the bridge. No, wait - FOUR bridges. Stay to the left. Below the third bridge, there's a rock gorge section. We caught an accidental eddy on the L but avoided capsize. That's the end of the fun. Right at the upper edge of our skills but we're home unscathed and happy.

 Link to details at the WA DOT.  All lanes of I-405 in Bellevue (from SR 520 to NE 8th) will close in both directions for 53 hours beginning Friday, April 1 at 11 p.m. The freeway will reopen by 4 a.m., Monday, April 4, in time for the morning commute. 

First paddle of the year! Sultan River 5.5ft/532 cfs, Sky 3.17ft/7480 cfs.  From fishing acces on the Sultan right out onto the Sky and then to Monroe.  Wildwoosi got some great action shots: www.flickr.com/photos/amazinglightfoot/sets/72157626360054284/ . All right, if you know whitewater, this is not so gnarly but I like them! 

This is the last time I take Gandalf (whitewater kayak) down the big river.  Gandalf was not made to go in a straight line; I spent most of the day fighting to stop going in circles.  

It's March and it's been rainy.  However, I was also reminded that these were LOW water levels. 

The American Economics Association was organized in 1885.  In 2011, 126 years later, they are just BEGINNING to consider a code of ethics.  And there is resistance to the idea.

Once again, I'll post my definition of "economics": the study and rationalization of human greed.

It seems that tonight we could sing "Here Comes The Moon."  Tomorrow, wildwoosi, mlerules, myself  and Portland's Pagan Jug Band will raise our voices in singing Here Comes The Sun at 7:00 PM.  It's our Winter Solstice ritual and we invite you to join us wherever you are.  To that end, you'll find the lyrics ( under this Cut Tag o Love )

Well, I got a little Yule bonus at work.  Wasn't sure that it would happen this year but I had a plan if it did.  The plan has come to fruition as I have just received my Amazon Kindle this afternoon.

I used to be very technology resistant.  I have, since they were first introduced, frowned upon and resisted compound archery bows.  I still do. Back around 2000, I was insisting that I would be the LAST person on earth to get a cell phone.  That didn't last very long (and I'm already shopping for my upgrade due in February).  

These days, however, a good book weighs a bit heavy on my shoulders as it rides along in my satchel.  Dark Materials (the trilogy that included The Golden Compass) was a fine read at 995 pages.  But damn, that was a lot to carry around (along with the netbook, journal, and various necessaries of modern life).

So, I'm taking the Kindle plunge.  I added one thing to the basic unit and bought a cover that opens like a book.  I'm used to balancing the two halves of a book and I'll be more comfortable with that.

Quote collecting.  I used to use LJ as a repository of my favorite quotes; thinky quotes, happy quotes, meaningful quotes - anything that resonates with me.  I heard another one this morning.  A commentator was quoting Annie Dillard from Pilgrim At Tinker's Creek.   This is the crux of the biscuit: 
There are many facets in there.  The one that resonates with me the most is the last one.  However, I would rephrase it: HOW you see is what you get.  

I try mightily to see the pennies.  I know that, without warning, I can slip away from seeing them.  I will suddenly see only the lack or poverty; in my behavior, in my knowledge, in my soul, etc.  It will only be after I've shaken off that mood that I will recognize where I was.  Sometimes it will be the smile or touch of a Love, sometimes it will be seeing (really seeing) a bit of natural beauty that brings me back to recognizing the pennies.

 SAN JUAN COUNTY-WESTERN WHATCOM COUNTY-SOUTHWEST INTERIOR-
EAST PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS-WESTERN SKAGIT COUNTY-EVERETT AND VICINITY-
SEATTLE/BREMERTON AREA-TACOMA AREA-ADMIRALTY INLET AREA-
HOOD CANAL AREA-LOWER CHEHALIS VALLEY AREA-OLYMPICS-
EASTERN STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-WESTERN STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-
NORTH COAST-CENTRAL COAST-WEST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES AND PASSES-
WEST SLOPES CENTRAL CASCADES AND PASSES-
532 AM PDT WED OCT 20 2010

...A SWITCH TO AN ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN WILL OCCUR THE END OF THIS
WEEK...
...THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL OF THE SEASON IS POSSIBLE IN THE
MOUNTAINS LATE THIS WEEKEND OR EARLY NEXT WEEK...

THE DRY AND TRANQUIL WEATHER OF LATE WILL COME TO AN END THURSDAY.
THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF PACIFIC STORMS WILL BRING A THREAT OF RAIN
TO THE AREA THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. THIS SYSTEM WILL BE FAIRLY
WEAK...WITH MUCH OF THE ACTION STAYING TO OUR NORTH. ANOTHER WEAK
SYSTEM WILL PASS MAINLY TO OUR SOUTH ON SATURDAY.

ALAS...THE STORM TO WATCH WILL BE THE ONE DUE TO AFFECT THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY. THIS SYSTEM PROMISES TO BRING
A PERIOD OF LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN TO THE AREA AS WELL AS WINDY
CONDITIONS. THIS STORM WILL BE FAST MOVING...WITH THE FRONT EXPECTED
TO SWEEP ACROSS WESTERN WASHINGTON DURING THE DAY SUNDAY.

THE STRONG FRONT WILL USHER IN A COLDER AIR MASS...RESULTING IN
SNOW LEVELS FALLING TO NEAR 3500 FEET BY EARLY MONDAY. THUS SNOW
CAN BE EXPECTED TO IMPACT ALL OF THE MAJOR CASCADE PASSES. STRONG
AND MOIST WESTERLY FLOW COMBINED WITH AN UNSTABLE AIR MASS COULD
RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL IN THE MOUNTAINS...ESPECIALLY THE
CASCADES...SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY.

THOSE PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES...ESPECIALLY IN THE MOUNTAINS...
SHOULD STAY TUNED TO THE LATEST UPDATES FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE ON THIS UPCOMING EVENT. BE PREPARED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF
WINTRY WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS LATE THIS WEEKEND AND
EARLY NEXT WEEK.

 (third anniversary of first date with Emily). No grilled oyster tacos, but this was replaced by raw oysters with a habenero sauce; tres numbly and another good cioppino . Over six miles of hiking in Ft Stevens State Park in gorgeous "partly cloudy" weather.  It was my first Volksmarch in ~26 years; Emily's first ever.  Planned to visit Sauvie Is on the way back to Portland but the backup on Hwy 30 just to go over the Sauvie Is Bridge was 1.3 miles long!  Change of plans: scamper home to The Hive, unpack, nap, "nap", then off to visit Petting Zoo.

Next up: Bainbridge Island Anniversary :)