Short Sands

The lousy spring weather continued into June--a true Portland "Junuary." I began volunteering with Faunalytics, a non-profit organization that conducts research and shares knowledge to help advocates help animals effectively. My role is to transform new research into user-friendly summary articles. I am excited to have stumbled into an opportunity that combines my interests and skills in an effort to better the world.

 

Tom and I recently attended a concert hosted by the Portland Lesbian Choir, an all-are-welcome organization that has been performing since 1986. We enjoyed the production and supporting our friend, Dani. Happy Pride Month!

 

 

 

 

On a Wednesday after work, I headed to the coast for an evening surfing lesson to continue improving my skills. Oregon Surf Adventures has been teaching surf lessons on the Oregon Coast for over 15 years. I felt humbled to take a lesson with OSA's owner, Lauren. I appreciated her enthusiasm, and effort to maximize my experience with few crowds and high tides for long boarding. I was also inspired by her ability to create a lifestyle around her love of surfing.

Lauren met me at Short Sands Beach at 4pm. "Shorty's" is located in Oswald West State Park, 10 miles south of Cannon Beach. The parking lot is on Highway 101, and then it's a half-mile walk to the beach through magical rainforest and old-growth Sitka spruce trees. Shorty's is sheltered in Smugglers Cove and is a protected marine reserve.

The conditions were ideal for a beginner lesson; "cute and playful" waves with just a handful of surfers. Lauren reviewed the basic concepts and we practiced pop-ups before jumping in. With her guidance, I caught my first waves and practiced my technique. It was exhilarating! The water was cold, but I didn't notice beneath my wetsuit, gloves and booties. Despite the overcast sky and light rain, the gorgeous rugged coastline was pure perfection. It felt surreal. The icing on top? A harbor seal floating casually beside me. We called it quits when my tired arms could no longer push me up on the board. The priceless afternoon was fun and left me eager to get back out there!

Father's Day weekend was spent with the Marshalls. We hosted Tom's sister, Sam, who flew in for their sister's wedding. The ceremony was held at the family property in northwest Portland. The rain created a mystical, forested fairytale atmosphere. On Sunday, the family sampled two vineyards in Cornelius, Dion and Sidereus. It was my second visit to both wineries, and I can confidently say that Dion is a favorite.

Congratulations Kim and Chris!

The Marshalls & Odells

The summer solstice beckoned the sun and heat (finally), with almost 16 hours of daylight. During a brief heat wave, I joined my new triathlete friend, Jared, on a morning bike ride at Sauvie Island, which sits at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers just 10 miles northwest of downtown Portland. I had gone fruit and vegetable picking here before, but never on two wheels. However, an idyllic, flat 12.5-mile loop circles the island, passing through farms and stunning views of the rivers and Mts. Hood, Adams, and St. Helens. The scenic ride transported Jared and I to a rural countryside in Europe; I will be back soon for more of this. That same weekend, I got in my first paddle of the season on the very high Willamette River. Summer is here!

Blue Lake Triathlon

Portland finally began to warm up and dry out by the end of May, which encouraged the season's first roses to bloom.

  

  

  

 

My unofficial COVID hobby has been to train for a triathlon. I enjoy swimming and cycling, and tolerate running. A sprint triathlon is a good place for beginners to start; swim 0.5 mile (750 meters), bike 12.4 miles (20K), and run 3.1 miles (5K). Despite being a fish in the water, my biggest challenge was the swim due to my inexperience in open water; there is a major learning curve and mental barrier to swimming in the murky waters of lakes, rivers and oceans--especially when you're used to a swimming pool! Fortunately, I got in a few practice swims with a new friend from the OHSU triathlon club.

 

 

I felt prepared and excited for the annual Blue Lake triathlon in Fairview. My goals were to finish under two hours and to have fun. It was the first weekend of June, but the forecast looked miserable. However, race day ended up being just fine; temps in the 60s, overcast, light rain. About 800 athletes participated across a variety of events, including sprint and olympic distance triathlons, plus swim/run and bike/run duathlons. The event organizer, volunteers, and athletes that I met were very kind and supportive. The positive energy was contagious!

The swim section was difficult to navigate around people, but I found my way through (15 minutes). My first transition out of the wetsuit and into my shoes was longer than it needed to be, but hey, I'm a rookie! The bike ride was slow and steady along Marine Drive (45 minutes). My legs felt heavy on the run, and I was tuckered, but I pushed through (26 minutes). I finished in about 1.5 hours, 4th place out of 16 women in my age group. I experienced an immense feeling of pride and gratitude at the finish line.

 

 

Tom was there to cheer me on from start to finish, and to celebrate afterwards. We talked about what's next; an olympic triathlon? The sprint is a comfortable distance, and I don't want to spend all my time training, but I would also like to see what I can do. Regardless, it would be nice to sign up for another race later this summer when the weather is warmer... stay tuned!