Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Benji’s Perch
This is Benji’s favorite spot to sleep.
I think we’re gonna need a bigger perch.
~ Susanne and Benji
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Busy as a Bee
I walked in my garden today and stopped to watch the bees.
Bees on a mission working together and apart,
Taking no thought of the other.
Bees on the lavender and bees on the chives,
Buzzing from blossom to blossom there was room for all.
~ Susanne
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From the Roof
“Whatcha doing up there Benji?”
“Defending my territory Sue. I can see everything great from up here.”
“I wish you wouldn’t climb on the roof Benji. It makes me nervous.”
“Why?” he asked. “Cats like high places. All my ancestors were climbers you know.”
“They’re wild Benji – you’re supposed to be domesticated.”
“Wrong Sue. I only pretend for your sake. Now please move along and don’t blow my cover. ”
“Okay Benji.”
Posted for Travel with Intent’s, Photo Challenge, Aerial.
~ Susanne and Benji
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Lighthouses of the Oregon Coast
This week’s Friendly Friday photo challenge, ‘Illumination,’ reminded me of the many lighthouses we saw on our recent trip to the Oregon Coast.
Heceta Bay Lighthouse stands 205 feet above the Pacific Ocean on Heceta Head north of Florence. The light shining from the 56-foot-high tower flashes white every ten seconds and can be seen 21 miles from land, the strongest on the Oregon Coast.
Umpqua River Lighthouse is almost identical architecturally to the one at Heceta Head except for the lens. It’s the only lighthouse on the Oregon Coast to emit a red and white light; a red flash is followed by two white ones during a 15-second interval.
Yaquina Bay Lighthouse served for the shortest period of time. Built in 1871 and decommissioned in 1874 it was made obsolete when Yaquina Head Lighthouse was built. It sits on top of a bluff at the mouth of the Yaquina River, and is the only existing Oregon lighthouse with the living quarters attached.
Yaquina Head Lighthouse is Oregon’s tallest at 93 feet, and made Yaquina Bay Lighthouse obsolete when it was constructed in 1873.
Coquille River Lighthouse near Bandon, was built in 1896 to guide ships across the treacherous bar at the entrance to the Coquille River. It is no longer operable.
Lighthouses warn mariners of rocky coasts, shallow waters and other hidden dangers, and help guide them safely into harbors. Even though GPS and other electronic devices now assist mariners with navigation, lighthouses still provide illumination as an important backup when other systems fail.
~ Susanne
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Highlights from the Oregon Coast!
It was a rainy trip down to the Redwoods those three days spent on the Oregon Coast.  Though it had been sunny and dry all month, the forecast changed the week we were to leave. Whatever. We packed raincoats and umbrellas and headed on our way – it’s still the Oregon Coast and it’s always marvelous!
We said goodbye to Washington and crossed the mighty Columbia River into Oregon, stopping by Astoria where I took these pictures of the giant ships on the river. We also visited the collectible stores – where I found something wonderful for the low, low price of $6 – with no sales tax in Oregon besides!
We spent our first night at the resort town of Seaside
and woke up the next day to the promised rain. Fortified by strong coffee (latte in my case) we pressed ahead to Cannon Beach a few miles down the road.
Next was lunch at the Tillamook Cheese factory so we could justify the ice cream afterwards (worth it) followed by a stop at Cape Kiwanda. While Bob caught a nap in the truck I hiked up the sand dune for a better view, carrying my umbrella, sometimes using it as a walking stick.
It was worth it.
It may seem so but the weather didn’t dampen our spirits – there was too much to see and do and we kept on trucking (literally), stopping at the overlooks and the beach walks and the lighthouses – definitely the lighthouses.
Here’s the lighthouse at Yaquina Head, at 93 feet, the tallest in Oregon.
Just below thousands of seabirds come to raise their young in the spring.
Yaquina Head is just north of Newport where we stopped for our second night. It’s also about halfway down the Oregon Coast and good place to stop this post.
But lest you think all was rainy and gloomy, the sun appeared in Newport and lo and behold – we caught the sunset from our balcony.
The best is yet to come! Stay tuned for the second half of our road trip down the Oregon Coast for more lighthouses, crashing waves and ocean geysers.
~ Susanne
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Walking Midst the Tallest Trees on Earth
I’m talking about the Redwoods of course! We recently returned from a trip to Northern California, home to the Coast Redwoods – and my oh my – those are SOME TREES!
The drive there was magnificent too, south on Hwy 101 along the beautiful Oregon Coast but I will save that for later.
In this post I will take you through some of the Redwood Groves in Redwood National and State Parks, starting with our first stop at Circle Trail in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. See our tiny truck parked out front?
The woods were lovely, dark and deep, and I was ready with my camera.
“Find anything to take a picture of yet?” asked a friendly hiker with a grin on his face.
“Not yet,” I replied, “but I’ll keep looking” and we laughed because It’s that kind of place.
Occasionally a tree was singled out like ‘Big Tree’ below, one of the largest in the park, and estimated to be 1,500 years old!
Yes, at 286 feet tall with a circumference of 74.5 feet it earned the name. On the other hand, as the sign nearby shows, there are big trees everywhere!
The next day we stopped at three different groves, starting with the Drury-Chaney Grove. Here we took a 2.4 mile nature trail considered one of the finest in the park. And no wonder – it was magical! When I entered the grove it seemed that time stopped and I wanted to lie down in the carpet of redwood sorrel.
Instead we continued walking and met a friendly German couple who took our picture, after we had taken theirs.
Our next walk was at Founders Grove on the Avenue of the Giants, dedicated to the founders of the Save-the-Redwoods League. It was here In 1917 that several prominent men traveled to view the Redwood groves and were determined to have them protected. This was the first grove purchased by the League in what is now Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
Founders Tree, a 346 foot giant, is dedicated to them.
We continued on the trail and passed the Dyerville Giant, at least 362 feet tall, 52 feet in circumference, and 1,000,000 pounds when it fell in 1991. Did anybody hear it?
After a stop for lunch we headed back north and saw this little fella by the side of the road, on our way to the Ladybird Johnson Grove.
The Grove was dedicated to the former first lady for her role in promoting the National Park which was established in 1968.
Here I am in front of one of the massive trees resident there.
Well, it’s time to wrap this up but I have one more picture for you. On our last day in the park we stopped at Stout Grove in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park and I finally got some pictures of rhododendrons in bloom against the trees. Happy!
This trip left me thankful to the wise men and woman who endeavored to preserve the rapidly disappearing old growth Redwoods. Though only 5% of the original forests remain they still inspire those who are blessed to visit. Our world would not be the same without them.
Shared with Jo’s Monday Walks.
~ Susanne
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Cat Files
You know the old adage, ‘a place for everything and everything in its place?’
Well I kept losing track of Benji.
So I tried filing him
but I couldn’t close the drawer again.
He fit better in the basket on my desk but he crumpled my papers and wouldn’t stay put.
So I gave up and let him come and go as he pleases.
Where do you file your cats? 🙂
~ Susanne and Benji
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Off to Paradise – Mt. Rainier, Waterfalls and Blackberry Pie!
On the hottest day of the year we took a drive to our favorite local attraction – the big mountain two hours south!
There wasn’t a cloud in the sky as we drove the back roads to Paradise, the mountain calling us all the way there.
As we entered the park the trees got bigger and we rolled down the windows to let the fragrance in, calming and delicious.
As we wound our way to the top, we stopped by Narada Falls, which tumbled from above, under the bridge and far below us.
There was a lot of snow on the trail to the lower viewpoint and we weren’t equipped for that – though some were and you can see them near the bottom.
We continued up, enjoying views of the jagged peaks of the Tatoosh Range along the way.
A short while later we arrived at the Paradise Visitor Center where we had close up views of the mountain. From here hikers can head up to Camp Muir where mountain climbers spend the night before making the technical climb to the summit. (Not us.)
After lunch and a few pictures we headed back down the mountain. We passed by the road to Reflection Lakes – still closed – but here’s a picture from our trip last year just so you know.
We continued on down the scenic highway stopping for more waterfalls – Comet Falls on one side
Christine Falls on the other.
It was a wonderful day on the mountain made even better with a stop by Copper Creek Lodge just outside the park, built in 1919 and famous for its blackberry pie. I don’t normally take pictures of my food (honest) but I really had to show you this. It tasted every bit as good as it looks!
Is your mouth watering? 🙂
~ Susanne
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Benji Wonders
“You weren’t planning on going without me were you??”
– Benji
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Memories in Bremerton and a Ferry Ride to Seattle
We were looking for a way to spend a sunny spring day and settled on a drive to Bremerton, where we’d visit the Navy Museum and take the ferry back to Seattle. The day would trigger long forgotten memories that I will share with you when we get there!
We headed south and across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to the Kitsap Peninsula,
and it wasn’t long before we arrived at the Museum in Bremerton. We were greeted by the sail of the USS Parche (SSN-683), a Sturgeon-class submarine, said to be the most highly decorated vessel in U.S. history, from conducting classified operations between 1976 and 2004.
Once inside we learned the history of the Naval Shipyard at Bremerton. Established in 1891, it was the first dry dock and repair facility in the Northwest capable of handling the largest ships, and expanded into ship building during WW1. During WW2 the damaged warships of the Pacific Fleet including those from Pearl Harbor were repaired here.
The Museum has many exhibits including one depicting life on an aircraft carrier. I imagined walking the narrow corridors
sleeping three deep in bunks and dining on the finest cuisine. And then I remembered – I came close to enlisting!
My step-father was a career man and my best friend’s sister was a Navy nurse. We thought we’d follow in her sister’s footsteps and sign up for the Navy together during our senior year of high school. We’d report after graduation and go through training together – under the ‘buddy system.’ We went to the recruiting office and took the exam – I passed – but my friend failed the math. I waited for her to study and take the test again so we could sign up together. She never did.
Funny how small things can redirect your life. But for a friend’s failed math exam I would have signed up that day and ended up who knows where as a Navy nurse!
After perusing the small but interesting museum we headed outside to the Maritime Park where fountains resembled submarines rising through the water.
We walked the few blocks through Bremerton’s sleepy downtown – a downtown that hasn’t made it out of the fifties yet. Which is okay with me – there’s a place for towns like that.
After stopping by a Flea Market we headed back to the waterfront for lunch.
Then it was time to take the ferry back to Seattle, a sixty minute cruise with amazing views that the Northwest is famous for.
We said goodbye to Bremerton
and headed out through Sinclair Inlet between the Kitsap Peninsula and Bainbridge Island.
Around the first bend and to the right was our first peek at Mt. Rainier – and oo la la – it never gets old!
She grew bigger and bigger to the south as we crossed Puget Sound and the Seattle skyline came into view.
It was a beautiful day and reminded me why I love living in the Great Northwest. 🙂
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 