SheSue Experience

We spotted birds of a wide variety on land and on the water. At one point, we spotted a large birds nest on top of a pole out in the water. It appeared to have some babies in the nest with the mom flying in and out, we assume to feed the birds. The path meanders along close to the river with numerous spots to sit on a bench and just enjoy the view. You can see Mt. Hood in the distance. Part of the way into our walk, the trail connected with the Land Bridge. This trail connected you to the Fort Vancouver area (more on that later).

This is a beautiful walk. I enjoyed it with one exception: it is right across the river from the Portland International Airport. Now, if you like the sound of planes soaring right overhead, this is the place for you. For me, it was a nice place to visit, but I don’t think I will be going back for that reason.

Letterboxes are usually some sort of plastic box, one that is weather proof. They are hidden in various locations in parks, forests and cities around the world. Check out the website Atlas Quest to find locations. On the website, you will find a “treasure map”. This map will give directions on how to find the box. You will get directions such as:
go south 1.2 miles or
move 30 paces forward, then turn right or
turn right at the big moss covered boulder or
some are clever. I found one that was done in bunny hops!

So what is the treasure that you find in the box? A rubber stamp and a notebook. If you are really into letterboxing, you will have your own stamp and journal. When you find a treasure, you exchange. You put your stamp in the treasure notebook and write something short about yourself. In turn you put their stamp in your notebook and record where you found it. Sort of like a passport of letterboxes.

It also requires some amazing math skills. Depending on the game, players begin with 301 or 501 points. They reduce their scored to zero, ending with a hit in the double ring and without scoring more than the number needed. There are about 9 different dart games, each with different rules and scoring.

During the competition, everyone was quiet, but during breaks, you could talk to the audience or even the competitors. They were happy to answer any questions. There was a seriousness surrounding the competition, but the crowd was there to have a good time. The scoring was the most confusing. I thought bowling was hard to figure out, but it pales in comparison to darting.

Darts are not one-size fits all. Everybody has different size hands, so you need to purchase your own set of 3 darts. The darts are made of different materials with different weights. Your level of play will determine what kind of dart you buy.

Best way to learn darting – check out neighborhood pubs and bars. Most will be happy to give you some pointers. For more information, check out Darting.com.

This past weekend I went to their Mission Theater and pub for Miz Kitty’s Parlour Vaudeville Revusical and Novelty Show. There was a short Post Easter conundrum featuring Bo-Peep and Mike Danner. This was followed by sweet and sassy C.J. MacDuffee singing. Loren Hoskins took on Shakespeare and the mob in a one-man comedy act. My favorite was a local band, Heroes and Villians. Self titled “A circusy caberet persuasion”, they were a very fun band with unique instruments. After a brief intermission, David Clay did a balancing/ comedy act then it was a small jazz ensemble.

The Mission Theater was originally a Swedish Evangelical Mission and Longshoreman’s Union in Northwest Portland. Today it is still adorned with an ornately decorated balcony overlooking a small stage. Tables and chairs are set up so that you can view the show while partaking in the pub fare. The food is typical with burgers and sandwiches with a few extras. I had a wonderful turkey sandwich with cranberry relish on the best whole grain bread. Good food and I understand good ale all at a reasonable price.

I would recommend checking out any of the special events at a McMenamins theater. I am hoping to attend the Faire in the Grove which includes the Middle Ages and the Renaissance with demonstrations and activities. For more information on McMenamins, check out their website.

Tryon Creek State Park is situated just south of Portland city center and encompasses around 600 acres of land. There are several miles of nature trails, as well as an equestrian area and a nature center where they offer a wide variety of educational programs for adults and children.

Each year they hold the Trillium Festival in celebration of the blooming of their famous trilliums, this beautiful white flower. The trilliums are a fragile flower that only bloom every other year. The festival also included crafts for children, a photography contest that the public got to vote on, and a native plant sale.

On exhibit in time for the festival was the “Natural Cycles: Art in the Forest”. The idea was to use natural items to create art in the forest. Each piece in this collection also had a hidden message. The first creature is called “Invader”. It is meant to depict invasive species that can take over your landscape. The “Source Series” was a series showing the kinds of products made from logs. Each piece was half log and half the products. “Nontrivial Pursuit” looks like knitting needles sticking into a ball of yarn. Inside the yarn are various items that have been thrown away. The message is to consider what could be “knit” out of these discarded products. And finally “Fung-US” replicate bracket fungus as it fits on the trunks of trees. This is supposed to depict a civilization making do with what they are provided.