"The city is most fortunate in possessing this park containing part of the deep, romantic, wooded ravine called Balch Canyon. Few people know and love this beautiful sample of the magnificent timber which formerly covered all the hills and ravines in the city. Aside from the luxuriance of the woodland vegetation there is the added charm of seclusion to a degree rarely found in a public park." John Charles Olmsted and Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., Report of the Park Board, Portland, Oregon, 1903On the last day of a hectic visit to Portland, Oregon, my husband, daughter, and I enjoyed a short hike in an unexpected oasis of an urban park. Just west of downtown, a hilly neighborhood street of close-built homes dead-ends at Macleay Park. Donated to the city in 1897, the wooded trail forms part of the 5,100-acre Forest Park, which ranks as the U.S.'s largest forested natural area within a city.
We walked (and skipped and dawdled and photographed) along the park's dirt trail, which winds along a creek and beneath a leafy canopy of old- and second-growth trees. Sunlight filtered down the steep slope of the ravine, backlighting a spiderweb strung between fern fronds and cottonwood fluff littering the creek. Green was all around us. Sycamore leaves waved fanlike above the trail. Clumps of moss clung like cloth patches to rough bark; lichen added a green patina to wooden railings. My daughter noticed a slime trail and discovered slugs the size of fat cigars resting on leaves in the undergrowth.
It was one of those perfect, soul-soothing walks, a much-needed rest after a very busy summer. I have been taking out little memories of that walk over the last few weeks. The moments of peace gathered in those green woods have helped me get through packing and moving back to our home after a year-long sabbatical.
I hope that you are all enjoying the last bit of summer. I'd love to hear how yours was, and if you managed to find a place of the heart that inspired you as that little moment in Macleay Park did for me.
6 comments:
You are back! I had to blink three times to believe that Zencrafting was highlighted!
You have been missed.
I am so glad you found such a gorgeous, soul stirring place to get away, recharge, and reconnect. We literally left a well established business and well loved city just so we could walk in parks and forests like this at will.
This city is filled with lush forests, and deep primal forests filled with sparkling water falls are only a few minutes drive away. I need nature and here it is always near.
Come back soon. The tree await you.
Hey! Welcome back to Ithaca and bogland! Over coffee this morning I was looking at Lisa's blog and followed a link to Sonia's blog (which was new to me) and then on Sonia's sidebar I saw a link to Patricia. I've been watching for you and wondering when you were coming back. I clicked on the link and there you were! I hope your shoulder is all better. And I hope to see you soon. Thanks for describing your forest of the heart with such beautiful details!
Sounds like you had a great time on your vacation. What a beautiful spot you found and great photos.
We just got back from a family trip to Newfoundland - our first trip there. We enjoyed the trails and hiking, whales, moose, icebergs (incredible) and zip lining.
Now we're off to Algonquin for a camping trip before the summer ends and the girls are back at school.
Have a great rest of the summer!
ahhh what a joy to read you again, my friend ! We missed you so much !!!!
I hope your move went fine & without any bumps.
I loved how you described this huge park, I can feel the chorophyle, and the green, pure vibrations that trees & plants send !
July was a bit unusual for us as a family, but August tightened the ties between us & we went to our favorite (nature) places, and will try to squeeze one or two day trips before school starts again, on the 5th.
oxoxo
Like the others, I need to tell you how nice it is to have you back. I hope the move went as smoothly as such moves can go. As a family, we found our moments of peace and renewal on the shores of Lake Huron, as we have for the past three summers. Water has that effect on me.
hello, hello, hello! you're here!that picture transports me - it's so magical and comforting!
like our trip to oregon where we walked, skipped, dawdled, meandered, examined, breathed, touched skin to skin, heads bent close to really see something. ocean air, fog and sand, smooth driftwood... i could go on and on.
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