Enjoying a new pair of jeans and a NW beer.
Summertime bounty; Eugene farmers market.
We're back in the USA! Danielle and I retreated to Eugene, Oregon to wait out the jet-lag and culture shock. It was a perfect location, with ample nature trails, a wonderful farmers market, and several delicious breweries. If you find yourself in this area, consider staying at these wonderful properties:
1. https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/14846, and,
2. https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/541748.
Danielle then entered a 10-day Vipassana silent meditation retreat at Camp Lane in the Coast Range west of Eugene (http://www.or.us.dhamma.org). Meditating all day, completely silent, zero eye-contact or interaction with anyone else, alone with your ever-shifting mind... I can't overstate the difficulty of this endeavor. Danielle was ready and it came easily to her. I was thoroughly impressed.
Meanwhile, I took off on a solo road trip to some of the loneliest places in Eastern Oregon. After the population density and incessant noise of SE Asia, I was ready for wide-open spaces, starry night skies, and absolute quiet. There is no better cure for nature deficiency than the high desert. What follows are some of my favorite photos from the trip.
Now we are making our way through the NW on our "Reunion Tour", reconnecting with friends and family. As we intend to stay on the road, exploring the continental U.S.A. over the next year, we will keep this blog going. Enjoy your summer-time adventures! ~Micah
1. https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/14846, and,
2. https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/541748.
Danielle then entered a 10-day Vipassana silent meditation retreat at Camp Lane in the Coast Range west of Eugene (http://www.or.us.dhamma.org). Meditating all day, completely silent, zero eye-contact or interaction with anyone else, alone with your ever-shifting mind... I can't overstate the difficulty of this endeavor. Danielle was ready and it came easily to her. I was thoroughly impressed.
Meanwhile, I took off on a solo road trip to some of the loneliest places in Eastern Oregon. After the population density and incessant noise of SE Asia, I was ready for wide-open spaces, starry night skies, and absolute quiet. There is no better cure for nature deficiency than the high desert. What follows are some of my favorite photos from the trip.
Now we are making our way through the NW on our "Reunion Tour", reconnecting with friends and family. As we intend to stay on the road, exploring the continental U.S.A. over the next year, we will keep this blog going. Enjoy your summer-time adventures! ~Micah
Dig your own hot springs on the shores of Paulina Lake; Newberry Crater Natl. Monument.
The Big Obsidian Flow, most recent lava flow in Oregon; Newberry Crater.
Strange optical illusions at dusk; Summer Lake Hot Springs.
Unusual geology; Gearhart Mountain Wilderness.
Alkaline Lake Albert.
Camping in an Aspen grove; Hart Mountain Natl. Antelope Refuge.
Sunset shadows; Hart Mountain.
Heart-shaped hot springs; Hart Mountain.
Looking east to the Alvord Desert; Steens Mountain Summit.
Thunderstorms over sage prairie; Steens Mountain.
Looking west to Hart Mountain at sunset; Steens Mountain.
Driving toward Alvord Desert (< 5" rain per year).
Alvord Desert.
Strawberry Lake; Strawberry Mountain Wilderness.
Strawberry Mountain.
Wildflowers on Fields Peak, Aldrich Mountains.
Dragonfly on the South Fork John Day River.
Camouflaged spider on wildflower; Mt. Washington Wilderness.
