Buxton, Oregon. 24th November, 2025.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Kodak Portra 160 (Expired)

Clatskanie, Oregon. 24th November, 2025.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Kodak Portra 160 (Expired)

Oregon. 3rd October, 2025.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Kodak Portra 160

Oregon. 3rd October, 2025.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Kodak Portra 160

…this little waterfall with a bunch of Fall-en leaves…

…a farmer who said hi, and also, “what a lovely Oregon day!” as I was standing in cold rain and the sky was gray and the temperature was 43°F, but I genuinely agreed with her, because it was true…

…this horse chilling in a field some distance away, and this other one right by the road…

…these birds flying in a nice pattern…

…this viewpoint, where the view was just some trees in a fog so thick my camera app said, and this is no joke, “clean your lens”…

…these mossy trees, and my favorite trestle bridge, although, to be honest, I only really know one…

…yes, it was a good day. Love you Oregon ❤️

Cannon Beach, Oregon. 12th October, 2024.

Astoria-Megler bridge at early morning, and just past sunset. Astoria, Oregon. June, 2024.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Kodak Gold 200

This was taken at about the same time and location as another photo I shared last week, but I only saw it recently when I received film scans.

I like this composition a lot more. The shadows balance the mural wall, there are fewer rooftops in the frame and they are below the railing, the colors better reflect the feeling of that morning on the rooftop.

The square format and the film properties work together pretty well in this case.

Astoria, Oregon. 19th June, 2024.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Kodak Gold 200

Replica of Chief Comcomly’s burial canoe. Astoria, Oregon. 18th June, 2024.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Kodak Gold 200

Astoria, Oregon. 19th June, 2024.

Astoria, Oregon. 19th June, 2024.

Looking south from the base of the Astoria Column. 18th June, 2024.

Astoria, Oregon. 18th June, 2024.

Salem, Oregon. 19th May, 2024.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Kodak Portra 160

Coos Bay, Oregon. 28th April, 2024.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Kodak Portra 160 (Expired)

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Fujifilm Acros 100 (Expired)

Shore Acres State Park, Oregon. 27th April, 2024.

📷 Hasselblad 500C/M
🎞️ Fujifilm Acros 100 (Expired)

A couple weekends ago we went hiking at Latourell Falls. It’s a lovely hike that has immediate view of the lower falls from the trailhead. There’s a short hike to the base of the lower falls. There’s also a separate loop hike that goes up and around those falls and comes across the higher falls. That’s the one we did.

Along the way we saw a number of mushrooms, some huge Devil’s Clubs (identified by the phone), and a whole lot of moss and trees. It’s a popular hike. There were people all along the way.

On a side note, I’m really enjoying the new iOS 17 feature that lets you choose the point of focus after taking the photo. I used that in the photo above.

Activity Stats and Map

Distance: 2.54 miles
Elevation Gain: 587 ft
Time (including breaks): 1h 34m

The weather forecast had said that there may be thunderstorms with lightning the morning we were thinking of hiking up, but fortunately that warning moved to later in the day, so we got going a little before 10am.

There was a short trail that started right outside the campground and took us to the foot of the rock in a few minutes. This was a mostly flat, or a very gentle climb. There were five of us humans, and one very happy dog.

As we got closer the features of the rock became more discernible. The trail led us to the central part of the rock, to the start of the switchbacks that went up. Other trails lead there as well. Shortly before that was a picnic table, which seemed ideal for a pre/post hike snack.

These initial switchbacks are a mix of loose rocks and gravel, or just rock. It was the trickiest part of the hike and lasted maybe a quarter mile, with a moderate to steep slope.

Once we were above that part, the view expanded and we had two options on the trail. We could’ve gone right followed by a right-loop, or we could’ve gone left, and done a left-loop. That day we went right.

There was still more elevation to be gained for about a quarter mile before we reached the top of the rock. At this point we started the loop which went for a while along the edge. This afforded lovely views, starting with the campground area, followed by more expansive views of the lake, with rocky islands spotting it all over.

After about twenty minutes of hiking and stopping to admire views, we came to the farthest point on the loop and the trail turned away from the edge. The return path was through grassy fields. To start, on our right there was a short slope to a lower elevation of a large field. In the distance we could see to the end of the rock plateau, then a gap and another large rock or hill beyond that.

A short while of hiking on the plateau, with some gentle ups and down slopes, got us back to the start of the loop. Not much to see except a dramatic sky above and grassy fields on either side with a small variety of wildflowers.

We made our way back to the fork in the middle of the rock, descended the switchbacks, and soon found ourselves on the last stretch of the trail.

At this point the sky was very dramatic. It seemed like the thunderstorm was about to start, and we were glad to not be the highest objects in the vicinity anymore.

Activity Stats

Distance: 4.09 miles
Elevation Gain: 835 ft
Time (including breaks): 2h 41m

Upload images using Mimi.

Upload images using Mimi.

Upload images using Mimi.

Upload images using Mimi.

That day it was a foggy with columns of rising steam visible. I’m not sure if this is common there but it sure added to the spookiness of the name.

As in many parts of the Oregon coast there were rock formations of various sizes that dot the landscape and make it ever more interesting than just a sandy beach.

There are a lot of mussels! And anemones.

Some starfishes too…

And of course sea weed, crabs, seagulls, etc. all over the beach.

The weather has been interesting. Fog comes and goes on the beach. The coast is the warmest I’ve ever experienced, as there is a historic heat wave in the entire Pacific Northwest.

Images uploaded using Mimi.

Images uploaded using Mimi.

The trails have a gentle grade and there’s plenty of room to distance ourselves when we come across other people.

Lovely views. Small streams and falls. Birds and flowers.

We’d gone there last April as well. This time around we just did a four mile loop.

Two and a half years ago, my lower back had gotten so bad that I couldn’t walk for more than a few minutes at a time without having to stop to sit or squat. Then came surgery, recovery, return of ability, and progression from there on. Yesterday I hiked up Dog Mountain. It was the most strenuous hike I’ve ever done. And as I sit here all sore the next day, I’m incredibly grateful to be able to do that.

Due to it’s incredible popularity, and limited parking, the Forest Service has been issuing permits for weekend days. Jenni bought ours a while ago, and we have been making small preparations ever since. Purchasing some gear (backpack, water reservoir, hiking poles), and going on light to moderate hikes starting in early Spring. Although we didn’t go on any hike for over a month before this, and that was a mistake.

We arrived at the trailhead just before 9:30am, met up with our friends, and started the hike a few minutes later. About half a mile up is a “difficulty fork” 😂

For the first 2.5 to 3 miles the trail is like many others in the Gorge, comprising of switchbacks through the woods.

Halfway to the top the trail emerged from the forest briefly for a sweeping vista of the river and the gorge.

For the last half mile going up, we were out of the trees and surrounded by wildflowers. It was here that the wind also picked up significantly. This final stretch afforded gorgeous view all the way, with our trail surrounded by steep slopes full of wildflowers.

The views at the summit were incredible. Some fast moving clouds engulfed us soon after we arrived. That was quite a show before it cleared up in a few minutes. It was time to put on another layer. We sat there and enjoyed the views as we had lunch comprising of tasty sandwiches that Jenni had made, and some chips.

As we started back down, my IT band was hurting on the outer side of each of my knees. I was annoyed at myself for not having taken the time to go on hikes and do regular stretches since the Coyote Wall hike from over a month ago. Every downward step was painful. Soon Jenni reminded me of the cross-leg stretches and those helped. Those and the hiking poles were incredibly helpful in making the descent.

Heading back down we reentered the forest, and it sheltered us from the sun and wind for the rest of the way.

All in all this was a great hike with friends, and brought tremendous satisfaction on a personal level. It is entirely possible that someday my back may go bad again, but I’m grateful that I can do this today, and motivated to keep it this way. I’m also grateful for Jenni who has been supportive and encouraging all along the way ❤️

Activity stats:

Distance: 7 miles (11.27 km)
Elevation Gain: 2800 ft (853m)
Ascent/Descent: 800 ft/mile (75.76 m/km)
Time (including breaks): 5h 30m

Last weekend we went hiking at Coyote Wall. Jenni and I had never been to this hike before but our friends were familiar with it.

There are multiple trails that meet each other at various points. Some are gentle slopes, while others are steeper. One can pick and choose paths based on how much of a workout one wants and switch that around as needed.

There are beautiful vistas all along the way to the top of the wall. I could see myself bringing family and friends here that are not used to hiking much, to just go for a bit, enjoy the views, and head back.

There are cute little waterfalls and streams as well along the way.

Spring flowers, sunny weather, and spotty clouds, made everything look a lot more beautiful.

At the top, we hung out for a bit to have snacks and enjoy the views some more.

On the way down we took the steeper route for a bit. Some folks were mountain biking along the cliff and down the steep trails, which was incredible to watch but not something I see myself doing 😅

I can see myself coming back to this hike again in the spring, and probably in other seasons as well.

Activity stats:

Distance: 7.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1662 ft
Time (including breaks): 4h 45m

Last Saturday we went hiking at Angel’s Rest in the gorge. I’ve been on this hike several times and always enjoy it. It is only a thirty minute drive from home, and offers great views and a good workout.

This trail, along with many others had been closed for over a year since the Eagle Creek Fire, and had reopened last fall.

All the way from the trailhead to the viewpoint on the top of the cliff there were charred trees. I’ve never hiked through a place devastated by fire before, so it was a new an interesting experience from that regard.

Some areas on the trail were a bit muddy with puddles but mostly it was fine.

Views were great as always.

Activity stats:

Distance: 4.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 1484 ft
Time (including breaks): 3h 5m

Sunday morning, after a brief breakfast stop at a local bagel joint, we drove out towards the museum. We passed beautiful hills draped with vineyards and wineries. Later in the day we learned that these were the Chehalem Mountains and Dundee Hills regions of the Willamette Valley Wineries. We hadn’t been there before and were delighted to see it. Eyeing all the wine tasting signs we decided to stop at some of the wineries on our way back.

We got to the museum about an hour before noon. It is located across the road from the airport in McMinnville. There are two museum buildings which house the aviation and space museums and a third building has an IMAX theater. Some aircraft are displayed in spaces along the buildings too. We only visited the aviation museum, choosing to return to the space museum on another day, perhaps after they install one of the retiring space shuttles, which they plan to do.

It is clear upon looking at the aviation museum and the time spent inside it that the Hercules is their star attraction. It takes up most of the space and even though there are about a hundred other aircrafts spanning the hundred year history of powered flight, they all appear negligible next to it. The critics of this magnificent aircraft, the largest of its time, called it the “Spruce Goose”. Liz and I were disappointed that this name, which was despised by Hughes, was the one used prominently by the museum. Their website address uses it; they sport it on gift store items; and they even have a winery that makes wine branded the same.

Even in their relative smallness, the other aircrafts on display offer a great collection of beautiful airplanes, helicopters, balloon-basket, a Wright 1903 Flyer replica and even a model skeleton of the wing-like device sketched by Leonardo DaVinci. There were some charming touches to the museum. Sitting next to a WW2 bomber was an old man who had flown one of those for thirty missions over France and Germany when he was eighteen. Alongside some planes were accurate models. One depicted intricately the machine gun wing assembly on a WW2 fighter. Next to the Hercules was a model of it used in the Scorsese film and donated to the museum.

On our way back, we checked out a few wineries, tasted the wines at a couple of them and bought some at one in Dundee. I haven’t been a fan of wine most of my life, having sided with beer whenever presented a choice, but in recent times I have started to experiment. Now, having had some really delicious ones, I’m starting to become a fan to the extent that I know a bit about what I like and what I don’t like. My wine vocabulary remains minimal and will probably stay that way unless my interest in it skyrockets.

We drove back to Portland through a different, but similarly scenic route. To top off the lovely Sunday, which was filled with expected and unexpected pleasures, that night we saw Terry Jones’ Erik the Viking. It featured a different kind of flying boat and was quite hilarious.

My sister and her daughter came by to visit me from India last month. They were here for about a week and we all had a great time going around the Portland metro area and nearby to the gorge and coast. Here they are at Cannon Beach.


I got a paper accepted to a conference called SECRYPT. I will be going to present it at Porto, Portugal during the last few days of July. I just applied for a Visa and am looking forward to my first trip to Europe.

Ignite Portland 3 happened last night. This time Liz was a speaker. She spoke about her experiences of traveling to Afghanistan. She has a ton of stories and did an excellent job of squeezing a five minute rapid fire inspirational talk from them. There was a good variety of topics, just like at the last Ignite Portland, which made the evening quite entertaining. This time we went to the after party at Imbibe and had a great time with friends, old and new. You can see her slides and video right here. They go quite well together.

And lastly for now, Liz and I decided to start a blog together to document our adventures. I kicked it off tonight with a basic theme and a first post about how we met. Check it out and subscribe for more stories in the future.