CategoryNature

Multnomah Falls – Portland, Oregon

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Hiking Multnomah Falls in Portland, Oregon –

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Lets start of by saying that I did not know what I was getting myself into when I said SURE! I will hike to the top. 1 1/4 miles later I was thinking this was a bad idea.

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Well at that point I had made it to the top and couldn’t argue with the beautiful view. Mind you this was after we took a red eye flight from Key West to Atlanta then to Portland. We arrived at our hotel at about 2am washed all the plane scum off and then slept for a few hours. I was very proud of myself that I was able to make it to the top. I know to normal people this might not have been such a big deal but for myself it was. Over 600 feet up is a long way when you have never been there and don’t quite know what to expect.

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It was an absolutely stunning view that I wouldn’t trade for anything. Life is all about what you experience. If I could have I would have stayed at the top for awhile and just read a book. The very peaceful stream that feeds the falls would be fun to dip your toe in and relax for a few hours.

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Multnomah Falls is a waterfall on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge, located east of Troutdale, between Corbett and Dodson, along the Historic Columbia River Highway. The falls drops in two major steps, split into an upper falls of 542 feet (165 m) and a lower falls of 69 feet (21 m), with a gradual 9 foot (3 m) drop in elevation between the two, so the total height of the waterfall is conventionally given as 620 feet (189 m). Multnomah Falls is the tallest waterfall in the state of Oregon. It is credited by a sign at the site of the falls, and by the United States Forest Service, as the second tallest year-round waterfall in the United States. However, there is some skepticism surrounding this distinction, as Multnomah Falls is listed as the 137th tallest waterfall in the United States by the World Waterfall Database (this site does not distinguish between seasonal and year-round waterfalls).

To read more click here: Multnomah Falls

Key West Lighthouse

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Who doesn’t love playing tourist … it’s really easy when you live in one of the top 10 tourist destinations in Florida. The Key West Lighthouse is something that I have driven past for years but I never made the trek up to the top. This is where my fear of heights comes in … it’s taller than you think it is and man those steps are small and the spiral part doesn’t help. I did make it to the top … with my heart pounding, legs shaking and Scott laughing at me! He thought this whole thing was hilarious.

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“The current lighthouse opened in 1848 with a woman as its Keeper; nearly unheard of during the 19th century.  In the years following, the Key West Lighthouse underwent a number of upgrades including the installation of a Third Order Fresnel Lens, an extension to the tower which allowed the light to be seen from a greater distance, the addition of Keeper’s Quarters, and finally the electrification of the light.

In 1969, the U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned the Key West Lighthouse since there was no longer a need for a full-time Keeper due to technological advancements.  Today, this sentinel of the sea stands as a museum dedicated to Key West’s maritime heritage and to the men and women who bravely kept the light burning through the threats of war and weather.

Today, visitors can walk up the 88 steps to the top of the light as well as explore the belongings, photographs, and words of the lighthouse Keepers and their families who lived a now obsolete, yet never forgotten, way of life.”

– See more at: http://www.kwahs.org

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Here are also some of the photos that I took and edited in Photoshop. They came out a little abstract.

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Night Photography

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Last night I was sitting at Smathers Beach here in Key West waiting for the green sea turtle nest to hatch. I decided to play around with my camera and ended up with some pretty good photos.

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Now I can’t wait to practice again tonight! Maybe even get a photo of a baby turtle!

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