The sun is out.

The following scenario plays out often in our house:

SHH: The sun is out!

Obimaster: Yes, there is so much I can get done outside today ...

SHH: Well ... I was thinking of getting in the car and going somewhere ...

Obimaster: *pause* What time do you want to leave?

He is such a sweet man to me. I sometimes wonder if he really understood he was signing up for a partner with raging wanderlust, triggered by sunshine. Anyway, we packed up, grabbed Samsonite, and headed back to my favorite port city on the Columbia.

I always learn so much when we letterbox. We get to go someplace we have never been before, often learn interesting and sometimes surprising history tidbits, and get to practice our mindful reading, listening, direction-following, and teamwork skills. Letterboxing intrigues, challenges, entertains, teaches, and makes us better people - what other hobby does all that?

Yesterday we found 7 boxes out of 7 sought - that was fortuitous. Our searches led us to a few cemeteries, one of which was a pioneer cemetery. It was what Obimaster called a pauper's or charity cemetery that had been quite overtaken by moles. The stumps of the ancient trees cut were enormous, at least 4 feet across - I was trying to imagine the trees as the living giants once upon a time. For it being a poor-man's graveyard, there were some pretty influential people buried there. I found the first teachers in the area - a missionary and his Native American wife. Obimaster found this guy: 

Alfred Coleman Kinny, M.D. Born in 1850 and died in 1943. This guy was amazing! Look at this list of creds:

• Education: McMinnville College, Bellevue Hospital Medical School. 
• Oregon physician-surgeon, 1872-1929. 
• An organizer and first president of Oregon State Medical Society, 1874, and its 50th president, 1924. 
• An organizer and member of first Oregon State Board of Health, 1903.
• Performed first surgery at St. Vincent Hospital in Portland in 1875.
• Instrumental in the elimination of typhoid fever in Oregon. 
• President, Astoria and Columbia River Railroad, and Vice-President, Astoria and Seaside Railroad. 
• Influential in efforts to deepen the Columbia River channel.

Wow! What in the world is he doing in this cemetery? I figure they must have moved him here from another place when this was designated a 'pioneer' cemetery.

Another cool place we stopped was a fish cannery museum that was like stepping back in time. While Samsonite and I were stamping in, Obimaster found some possible carving ideas:

What an expression!

This is priceless!

While we were down on the pier, we saw the former sailing mate to the Lady Washington, an old-style tall ship. Currently, the Lady Washington is shrink-wrapped and sitting along the Chehalis River in Aberdeen, Washington. Unfortunately, her mate, the Hawaiian Chieftain is not doing so well these days. Apparently, during the pandemic seemed a good time to giver her a sandblast and reno - however, in the process some pretty serious deterioration was discovered, and she (he?) was moored on Pier 39, lonely and forgotten. I overheard the owners are trying to sell it. Anyone interested in a incredible pirate ship cheap? (You may want to click on those links above to see what these ships look like in all their glory!)

And then, in another little hidden park along the River, we found not only a box, but some sweet friends that always make me smile:

who doesn't love tiny daisies?

Samsonite said these little lovelies are called Sweet Alyssum,
but the blooms were much smaller than the Alyssum in your flower pots.

Summer is coming! 

And that makes me happy - I hope it makes you happy, too. 

That means more 'boxing adventures are in the future :)