Oregon and Washington State can be gray, even down right gloomy sometimes. But when you haven't seen it for years, that rainy gloom transforms into the understanding of why this place is so rich, green and alive.
My good friend Stephen, who lives in Portland OR, threw me a life line to escape the winter of the midwest for ten days. "Come visit and hang out for a few days." OK!
Restless from being in one place (Nebraska) for an extended period of time, I jumped at the offer. To refresh and remind myself what moisture looks like when it falls from the sky in liquid form. To renew old friendships and to see places I once knew from a whole new angle and different light.
My friend Tammy introduces me to her roommate Jack.
Tammy and I worked on my mission statement and purpose for the educational programs offered by Travel4life and The Dean of Travel. Her insight and skill was highly affective as we teased out the essentials of my presentations.
We also did a brief presentation together at a leadership training, this was fun.
A short drive from Portland is Multnomah Falls, a stunning waterfall the whisks aways your breath with its pure beauty.
In the Pacific Northwest, natures invents a whole new spectrum for the color green. Vibrant, alive, rich, life giving greens to refresh your spirit.
These are wonderful places to pause, reflect and ponder the amazing capacity of nature.
Tosh, myself and Stephen enjoy a walk next to the Pacific ocean along Cannon Beach in Oregon. I've known these guys for years. Choose your friends wisely, ones that uplift you and bring you joy to be with.
The Pacific coast line in Oregon is littered with rugged beauty. It's a place that beseeches long walks, deep breaths and awe.
My quiet mind says, "you're not in Nebraska anymore."
A sea otter at the Oregon Aquarium pauses to say hello. I would love to see one of these guys in the wild!
A once mighty ship met its demise along the Oregon coast at the mouth of the Columbian River 100 years ago.
From time to time we run our ship aground. It is part of the natural unfolding of life of those who are willing to take risks. At these moments we are given choices to free ourselves or remain stuck and at the mercy of the waves of life. The choice on how to respond will always be yours to make.
My good friend Stephen called me up and said," it's time to get you out to Portland, so I'm sending you a ticket!"
I'm fortunate to have friends like Stephen.
So, without much of a plan I have have headed to the west coast to catch up with friends, the greenery of the Pacific Northwest and to spend some time looking at the big picture.
A beautiful rainbow welcomes me to Portland Oregon.
The view from the Portland City Grill.
We are all heading somewhere....
It's Wednesday morning, the sky looks clear, it's going to be a beautiful day!
This week's 50-50 column is a trip to the state capitol building in Lincoln NE.
To read more, please follow this link.
Enjoy! Cheers, Dean
Dr. Jon Dalager, who is the Dean, School of Natural and Soical Sciences at Wayne State College presents me with the palque.
For those of you who might wish to view the acceptance speech, like my aunt Dottie in Iowa, here you go:
This was as very special moment for me in my journey, thank you for allowing me to share it with you.
Cheers,
Dean
Had a surprise visit today from a Canadian friend Tosh whom I haven't seen in a couple of years!
I am lucky to have such friends on my journey! We took the day so I could show him one of my favorite places in Nebraska, the Niobrara River.
Checking out the red cliffs along the river.
White tail deer checks out the floating log.
Some pretty cool wildlife viewing on the Niobrara! Blue Heron.
A quiet Smith Falls in the autumn.
A buffalo stares a goodbye as we leave The Fort Niobrara refuge park.
A fun day on the river with a good friend.
Cheers,
Dean
Thunderstorms are cool to watch, as long as you don't grow crops and it doesn't fill your car with hail dents.
Their is something extra special when they come in the fall, I'm not really sure what it is, the smell or the vibrant colors. What ever it is, when I see sights like these photos, I stop and soak it up. (pardon the pun)
A thunderstorm rolls south neat Beemer NE.
RAGBRAI, which stands for the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa is one of the most spectacular rides in the United States.
For a week I wrote a daily column as I rode with 20,000 other crazy people rolling by mile after mile of corn and soybean fields. In the end with covered 450 miles. Which in itself is a wonderful accomplishment for myself.
But far more impressive are the people you meet along the route. Riders from all over the world enjoy the midwestern hospitality of America. It is in the heartland that the true spirit of this great country still lives and is practiced as a normal way of life.
Below are a few photos from the ride, some were in the column, others not.
Dipping the back tire in the Missouri River early Sunday morning. The starting ritual.
A foggy road greets riders as they leave Sioux City early on Sunday morning.
Some riders are lucky enough to just come along for the ride like Princess from Minnesota.
Others are more famous like Suzy of Chicago who was rescued from a shelter and is now the poster dog for canine rescue. And whose owner, Kathy, is on a mission to get helmets on every living creature in the world.
Riders in the grain!
For miles and miles the bicycles just kept rolling along.
Enshrined road kill is a strange piece of humor along RAGBRAI.
The famous swimming hole where naked swimmers gained national news on RAGBRAI, I missed out though, it happened right after I left, bummer.
And they just kept coming and coming and coming.
My brother Dale, who often got stuck holding my bike as I took photos, and myself at the famous Field of Dreams movie set location.
A portion of our ride we had the privilege of staying in people's homes or front yards, verse crowded camp grounds. Above are Tim and Deb Rudd of Manchester IA. (Where my red pillow has now found a new home). If there house was bigger, they would have invited every rider on RAGBRAI in.
I also want to acknowledge Joe and Mic McDermott of Sioux City, parents of my college friend Mike who opened there home to us.
Diane and Gary Allen of Storm Lake welcomed us like long lost family. Jerry
and Sharon Stoulil Algona fed us like we might never eat again.
The campsites were great, but the home stays were awesome, thank you so much for your kindness, a tip of the hat for all of you.
On the east coast of Iowa, riders dip their front tires into the Mississippi River to mark the end of the journey.
We made it, even without polka dots.
RAGBRAI is a special ride. It is the most homemade apple pie I have ever eaten in week one of my life. On a side note, all week long when I told people I was from Nebraska, the constant reply was, "welcome to the Big 10!" The warm reception was inspiring and has me looking forward to a new era.
One more thing. I have a whole new level of appreciation for Iowa. It is a beautiful, warm and inviting place and unique in its capacity to invite into its space, 20,000 crazy bicycle riders for a week of fun.
If you want to read the columns from this week, please follow this link: RAGBRAI column
Cheers,
Dean
Dreams are for everybody!
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