Crinklys Pacific NW jaunt (5/29-6/20/2021) Day 16 Mt St Helens and McMenamins adult playground (6/13)

 Do yoga in the little reading nook then head up to Mt. St. Helens to get a glimpse of one of the more popular volcanoes in America. Was drizzling pretty decently the whole time but still wanted to go as I am not sure if/when Ill get the chance to be in this area again. The mountain is huge and they have some pictures around before/after the eruption which is really cool to see just how much of the mountain exploded off during the eruption. 

Forever changed... nature be scary

Some beer options at McMenamins

Huge pretty trees

Nice little dinner at Von Ebert

Go walking around the trails near the Johnson Ridge Observatory but not too much as I didnt bring any rain gear so didnt want to get to wet. Was nice to see it and to be there but wouldnt have minded better weather. After that, I drove back down to Portland and went over to the McMenamins Edgecomb location which is like Disneyworld but for adults; multiple bars all around the grounds, on site brewery/distillery/winery, golf course, hotel, spa, restaurants, etc. On top of all the things to do, the grounds are very well kept and is incredibly beautiful. Food was decent and had a flight then walked around and checked out some of the other sights that were there. Then drove back to the hostel to see what I could get into back in town. Walk over to back pedal brewery but it was closed so kept walking and wound up at backwoods brewery which was ok but only really liked one of the stouts out of the options that I tried on my flight. Kept walking after that and wound up at Von Ebert brewery. There wasnt any signs posted as to how they were handling the pandemic and how one gets a table so I am sitting there trying to figure it all out and eventually one of the guys there helps me figure it out. Get a flight and a sour bottle to taste and the beers were pretty good. Pizzs was delicious. Got some beer to send home from there as they had some decent IPAs in cans. Walk back to the hostel and there was a guy on the back patio playing acoustic music so grabbed some beers and hung out back there with everyone and just enjoyed the music and the nice weather. 

Crinklys Pacific NW jaunt (5/29-6/20/2021) Day 15 Seeing all the waterfalls before starting my exploration of portland (6/12)

 Got my yoga in in the morning then dropped mike off at the airport before driving down to Silver Lake state park. As I am driving through the country roads, see a hawk just chilling on the side of the road like ground level, not up in the trees. Finally get into the park and I try and park in the north parking lot but people were standing in the parking spot as I guess they were waiting for their friend to come from wherever they were at. They wont move and I ask them to, so the guy starts recording me as I guess that is the thing to do now adays. 

Let the day of waterfalls commence

No big deal just walking behind a waterfall

Pretty view out into the valley

Behind another waterfall <3

Very tall waterfall

Love looking through waterfalls

This park is incredibly beautiful. I understand why people were all over the place

I only look like I got in haha

Got rid of the sun protection for this one

At wolves and men brewery. 

This creates a backlog in the parking lot as I am blocking the exit cause they wont let me park. I keep asking whats up and they just stand there silent recording me; I guess they were expecting me to retaliate or something I dont know. So their friend finally pulls in and just as I am about to say fuck it, they find another spot in the parking lot (the lot was pretty full as it wasnt a big lot to begin with and the road next to it says no parking on it even though when I left, cars were parked everywhere along that road) so all the people get their stuff and join their friend. With those people gone, I park the car, grab my stuff and start my hiking as that is why I am there. Start with the canyon trail which takes you down into the valley and see tons of beautiful waterfalls starting with the North fall, which you get to walk behind. The park is incredibly beautiful and a great place to be walking although the number of people on the trail make it a little difficult to keep walking (path is narrow and someone has to stop to let people pass). The frustration of dealing with the people is definitely surpassed by all the waterfalls you get to see and the natural beauty of the area. Take the rim trail back to the car; the rim trail wasnt as nice as the canyon trail as its higher and hard to see many of the waterfalls cause you are not in the thick of it all.  Eventually got back to the car and take a little detour to go check out the upper north fall which is isolated from the loop and is a quick hike from the parking lot. Its a nice waterfall, and most importantly, its deep enough and you are able to enter it and swim which is good to know; I didnt this time but I am not opposed to it next time :). After that, got back to the car and drove over to check out wolves and humans farmhouse brewery; the beers were ok but many of the beers had this basil and other pizza-esque flavors going on which I thought was weird. The spot is pretty nice as its out in the country and they have nice seating areas for groups in different arrangements. After my flight, which was delicious after the sweaty day of hiking, I drive back into town and check into my hostel, the HI Portland NW hostel. Park the car around the corner and get settled into my room before going over to Lightning Will Bar and Grill for a couple beers and a nice little dinner chatting with the people at the bar. Back of the bar has tons of games for people to play which was nice to see. The bar is on 21st street which is the party/hangout street for the area as it has tons of bars/restaurants and people everywhere; the neighborhood itself was also pretty nice and safe feeling. As I was walking around, wandered into North 45 for a cocktail before returning to the hostel for a shower and getting ready for bed.

Hostel review- great location. Lots of space. Nice cafe attached. Slow shower to conserve water which was frustrating. Cluttered fridges for the guests and unsure how often they get cleaned out. Lots of patio space which was great although everyone smokes out there so theres that. Reading room good place for yoga but it doesnt have AC so had to open the windows, which was fine. Storage room with lockers and elevator to it. Bed thin and uncomfy like most hostel beds Haha.

Crinklys Pacific NW jaunt (5/29-6/20/2021) Day 14 Portland exploration (6/11)

 Check out of our place and start the drive back to Portland which will be the final locale for the trip. It is sprinkling/raining the whole drive in. Eventually get into town and have some time to kill before we can check in so we grab lunch at the pine street market which looks like a pretty cool food hall but its currently under construction and only the ramen place was open. 

rake patterns in the garden

Fishies!!

Waterfall in the park

This tree has pretty and cool looking leaves

More sand art

Beautiful!!

Love gardens

Bonsai tree flowering

Getting lost in a rose garden

Apologize for all the pics of roses but there were so many of various sizes and colors so had to get a good representation.

Cool little theater next to the rose garden

one part of the rose garden from higher view

We eat there anyway and the ramen was incredibly tasty but also had a weird flavor to it which I think came from it having spinach in it. Make our way back to the car and go see about checking in to the hotel. They let us so we drop our bags off and get situated then head out to explore the city a bit. First stop is the Japanese garden which is decent but many of the exhibits/paths were closed which was kinda annoying but still pretty. Then we see people walking away from the garden as we are exiting so we follow them and turns out there is a massive test rose garden on the other side of the tennis courts there. They breed different strains/colors of roses and have a contest every year and each year's winner gets a permanent place in the ring of honor or whatever it was called so you can not only see various colors and styles of roses but also see what won which year and what not. Tis an impressive garden so I am glad we stumbled upon it. When we are done walking around there, we get in the car and drive around the area which has tons of huge and incredibly nice house before finding our way to where the arboretum is. Lovely park as well. Tons of beautiful trees (the redwood thicket was pretty cool), nice trails meandering all throughout, and little gardens interspersed (the winter garden wasnt much to look at when we went but it wasnt winter so maybe thats why?). The area we were in, Washington park, has tons of other attractions like a zoo, childrens museum, imax, etc. and a trolley that drives around the attractions bringing people to and fro. Pretty central area for culture and enjoyment. Drive back to the hotel and drop car off then walk over to Forte for a wine tasting which was delicious. Our server was very knowledgeable and recommended we go to high horse nearby for dinner; was a great recommendation as the food was delicious, the cocktails were awesome, and the bar/restaurant itself was very stylish as it was the restaurant/bar in a pretty chic hotel. After enjoying our dinner/drinks, we head back to the hotel for bed.