Dear Dog Diary: Feeling springy in the Columbia River Gorge
Looking south to Mount Hood. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
Doodle here, your surf dog reporter.
That’s Mount Hood, my mountain bro, over the back fence.
In our front yard - the historic Columbia River, land of Indians, Lewis and Clark, wolves and salmon. And an occasional doxie Doodle, a.k.a. me.
After a winter of snow and ice, you are ready to GET OUT!!!
Feeling SPRINGY! Springtime is our "locals-only" secret season, without the tourists.
Where the Earth comes alive after a long winter’s nap.
Looking east along the river. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
You know that feeling when, after snow and ice and wind and cold goes away at last?
The world warms up.
Trees and flowers and grass and leaves bust out into a symphony of colors, right before your eyes.
I mean OMG. Doxie paradise.
I can FEEL my heartbeat!
Before we lived here, we lived in another state that had endless sunshine. Year 'round surfing lifestyle. Which is fun, don’t get me wrong!
But there is nothing more awesome than four seasons - all different.
Small town spirit.
Nature on your doorstep.
We love Hood River, Oregon, with our whole heart. Every hair on our brain.
The views!
BEFORE, out the front window...
Looking north, out the living room window, safe and warm inside. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
AFTER...
Ditto, in spring. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
That amazing view is here for anyone living in the Gorge, every day.
We pinch ourselves that we get to live here.
Our neighbor is the Coyote Wall syncline. What the heck is a syncline, anyway? Google it.
It’s just one of the amazing rock formations towering above the Columbia River. Our house.
We’ve got our own private Grand Canyon.
Those amazing cliffs, the river gorge, is why they call it The Gorge. Duh! Towering peaks, sliced in half by the Columbia River.
Surfing life is all about the river. Our Columbia River.
Syncline trail, east of White Salmon, WA. Just across the river, north of us in Mosier. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
Let’s hit it!
After a long winter inside, hanging 20 toes at the fire, catching up on the latest dog news online, an amazing thing happens.
Sun comes back.
The quail calls from the yard.
Flowers bust out.
Life begins again in spring.
Here's a doxie-eye-view of the Coyote Wall trail, a.k.a. the Syncline, just across the river from us in Mosier, Oregon.
Deep doxie thoughts on springtime in the Gorge. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
My people. We just met! Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
Looking back home toward Mosier - south across the river. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
Yes, that is a bald eagle nesting on top of the telephone pole.
At 14 pounds, I am eagle bait. So I, for one, am glad that nest is in the distance.
The important thing is that our own national bird lives here, too.
Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
Look, mom! NO SNOW!!!!! Actual grass! And flowers!!! Wooo hooooooooo!
I CAN SEE MYSELF!!! Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
Springtime is magical here in the Columbia River Gorge. People travel here from all over the world to standup paddle board, windsurf or kite the Columbia River, hike, kayak, camp or enjoy a million other amazing adventures in our the Columbia River National Scenic Area.
Look how big we are! Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
After a romp outside, I for one, will never be the same.
Nature does that to you.
Now, get on outside and have a SPRINGY Easter weekend!