As summer has continued...

The rain has flooded back into Portland, reminding us of what we cherish about the beautiful Northwest: Variety. Here in P-Town, we have seasons, so just when one type of weather starts to overwhelm you something else moves in. We have had a spectacular summer here in Portland. A combination of Matt living with us for the summer, being in the new house, owning scooters, Jenny living with us, knowing people and reat summer weather have all come together to make this a summer to remember.

Speeding past like a train going down a mountain, summer is flying by; as it rains outside, I am reminded the days of 85 and sunny will only last so long before we tumble back into the gray, river-filling drizzle that is typical Portland weather. Mixed with excitement for snow and water to ski and kayak in, I also lament at forgetting what the sun looks like and loosing my tan.

On the note of reflecting on the summer, I thought I would dazzle the world with some summer photos. I will try to organize them into groups of our adventures.

To start with: Idaho...

I spent 3 weeks guiding on the Main Salmon this summer for Orange Torpedo Trips, the best rafting experience on earth. Anyway, here are some pictures from my 2 back-to-back, 5-day Main Salmon trips.

Chewy in Trashcan on the SF Payette

The Sawtooth's
Time to wake up and make coffee
Heaven on Earth
Yours Truly rowing the kid and dog raft
Leaving Shepp Ranch
This dog was crazy!

So that is river guiding, but really it was only a fraction of everything from the summer. Not to be missed was the trip to Agness. For the 4th of July, we packed up the 4-runner with Shasta, Matt, Evan, Nish, and myself to head for the lower Rogue River. A couple of days laying in the sun and jet boating around while sleeping under the stars and experiencing the "locals" was a nice get-away:

The view from our camp

Loaded up and driving

Matt on a ropeswing
Nish and Shasta the last morning
Evan, in what kind of looks like a fake picture
Well, yeah
Evan

Well, this seems like a good start. At the rate I am going, it will be next summer before all the photos and stories from this one make this publication. On that note, enjoy the above photos and expect more in the possibly near future. If the clouds continue to roll in and hide August from us, I will be posting sooner, but if the sun of late summer can somehow manage to beat back the gray, it may take a little longer.