The photo essay below depicts our initial arrival at Westwind, Oregon, USA. I attended a Buddhist mindfulness retreat along with my two eldest daughters, sister and niece. The Buddhism is in Thich Nhat Hanh Zen tradition.
We drove down from Canada, spent one night in Portland and the next day arrived on the coast of Oregon. I didn’t take any pictures of our night in Portland but Mist (below) my sister and I took the Max train down town for the evening and dined at Rock Bottom Brewery and Restaurant. It was a whirlwind, fun night in Portland. Mist got to try Rock Bottom’s homemade rootbeer. It was surreal for me as I’d dined at that exact restaurant in Portland only 8 months earlier. The 14 hour road trip took us through the very beautiful Washington and Oregon States. We arrived, slightly weary but excited travelers, ready to leave our miseries behind…
We drove down from Canada, spent one night in Portland and the next day arrived on the coast of Oregon. I didn’t take any pictures of our night in Portland but Mist (below) my sister and I took the Max train down town for the evening and dined at Rock Bottom Brewery and Restaurant. It was a whirlwind, fun night in Portland. Mist got to try Rock Bottom’s homemade rootbeer. It was surreal for me as I’d dined at that exact restaurant in Portland only 8 months earlier. The 14 hour road trip took us through the very beautiful Washington and Oregon States. We arrived, slightly weary but excited travelers, ready to leave our miseries behind…
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| Mist on the Salmon River, Oregon– awaiting the ferry crossing. |
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| Tabs–thrilled to have arrived after a 14 hour road trip. |
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| Biologists at play on the Salmon River shore. |
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| Crossing the Salmon River to Westwind. |
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| My niece and I on board the ferry. |
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| Safely on shore. The sand is crunchy on top and soft underneath. |
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| We’re on our way—following Duncan’s 85 year old mom Fern to the camp site. She is an inspirational woman full of eloquence, vitality and warmth. |
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| Mistaya, ready to explore the biosphere. |
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| Caught in a sandstorm of emotion (sorry ABBA-it just seemed appropriate). |
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Duncan Berry, one of the retreat’s hosts, explaining the history of the land.
 We have arrived in happiness: Westwind–the dining halls. |
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| The steep narrow path to our cabin was the only escape route for the camp. |
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| Toilet on cliff’s edge–unbelievable ocean view when sitting in front of this small building, quite challenging finding one’s way in the dark. |
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| Our mountain-top sanctuary: Tyee Cabin |
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