Oregon – Page 3 – blog.circusgeek

While at the office today, I think I found Marvin the Martian’s KABOOM.

There I was, sitting at my desk working away in peace and quiet, when suddenly came a very loud and earth shaking explosion somewhere nearby. The east-facing windows were instantly lined with coworkers, watching a tall stream of black smoke that was steadily rising a couple blocks away. About a minute later, white vapor and then nothing.

Then I recalled what some coworkers had said earlier in the day; there was some kind of filming going on at the corner of Burnside and Broadway. A-ha! (and whew)

I later learned that the hubbub was apparently for the TNT show Leverage, which recently moved it’s production to Portland. It’s a pretty decent show actually, and now I’m kind of excited to watch some episodes filmed in and around my hometown. Including the one with the KABOOM.

Today, Kelly and I went for a little trip along the Columbia River Gorge to Wahclella Falls, which is about a 40 minute drive east from Portland. I’d first learned of the falls from a local news article last week, and since the weather was so nice today (finally) I thought it’d be a perfect day for a visit.

After paying the $5 fee (in a refreshingly ‘honor system’ style; place your money into an envelope and stick it in a box, nobody standing guard) we started our hike to the falls.

The walk itself was a bit muddy and fairly steep at times, with many smaller falls along the way, but at the end of the mile-long trek was a beautiful two-tiered fall into a large blue-green pool, and a deep thundering sound which echoed through the 350 ft tall canyon.

Unlike the larger and more well-known Multnomah Falls (which was packed today as we drove past), we encountered fewer than 20 people along the trail during the two hours we were there. And like the ‘honor system’ payment method, the trail itself was a welcome change; well tended but not overdone (no fences, hand rails, or stairs unless absolutely necessary) making the hike feel a bit more natural and dangerous, with some fairly precipitous and slippery spots which if you fell, you’d almost certainly break bones (if not fall to your death). It’s definitely had that ‘off the beaten path’ feel.

That said, if you want yourself some beautiful nature, it’s well worth a visit.

More photos in my gallery. Enjoy.