*Blog written 9.29.10 While watching sunset into the Pacific at Oregon Dunes National Recreational Site
Mount Rainier is ridiculous - majestic, powerful, unforgiving, and mysterious. Utterly beautiful in its grander. Mount St. Helens is tragic, destructive, heart-stopping, and awe inspiring.
These mountains are beasts. Part of an active volcano chain in North America and part of the larger Pacific ocean surrounding "Ring of Fire". They will no doubt one day cause the tragic deaths of thousands and thousands of people. Yes...these were some wonderful thoughts to be having as I drove nearer to St. Helens - eyeing ominously its giant blast zone which leveled nearly one whole side of the mountain in 1980. My geology professor at UConn told me he lost two close friends on that May 18th. He said at the time they represented half the worlds volcanologists - a field people still know relatively little about. Four years later I was born on the same date. I've always wanted to see this mountain; partly for the coincidence of its most recent blast and my date of birth and partly for my love of geology. I decided I didn't want to fully experience this mountain alone though, so I hesitantly left - intent to go back and summit its blast crater another day...another year.
As I drove away I knew I made the right decision. It was Saturday and I was only an hour from Portland, Oregon where cold beers and the company of old high school friends were waiting. Portland is a city I'd never seen, but I always seem to meet people whom have been or live there. I'd never heard a negative word mentioned about it....and you're not going to hear a negative word about it from me. Four nights and five days I spent in Portland. My longest stay in any single place on this trip. My buddy Craig who I stayed with plays in a successful band called "Quiet Life" and my visit fell perfectly in line with one of their shows. For four nights I was entertained by live music...God I forgot how good it makes me feel. The first night we saw the record release show of a group called "Pancake Breakfast". Then for two nights I was spoiled as the lone guest of "Quiet Life" practices. Finally on my last night I heard "Quiet Life" kill it live, followed up by Carl Hayes who at moments during his show either left me starring with mouth slightly ajar in awe or grinning from ear to ear uncontrollably. Music has such a powerful hold over me. In times of joy it keeps me up - in times of sadness it consoles. It levels my heart and vibrates my soul - OH when I saw "Quiet Life" play did I wish I could make a guitar talk like they do. The talent needed to make music is unbelievable.
As I left Portland I blasted the radio, trying to recreate the "live effect", but despite the noise, the silence was deafening. I need to find some good live music as I continue on this journey...
I just sat and watched another Pacific sunset....This whole experience, this trip, the people, the places, where I wake up every morning....it's all just so unreal....
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