Short Sands beach is probably the most gorgeous oceanfront on the west coast and it has pretty decent waves if you catch it at the right time (I surf).

But, Since I live in Portland and never learned how to drive I'm bound to the limits of Trimet when it comes to quick unplanned relaxation. I usually head down to Multnomah Village and just putz around. It's so cute and small, it's just a pleasant place to be. I'm looking to move there in fact. Anyone need a roommate?

I also like to head down to the Reed College library and stick my nose in a book....

oh! and if I can get a ride, Opal Creek and Silver Falls a great and to be true to my status as a trashy ex Salemite I have to mention North Fork on the Santiam River where all the Salem youth go to drink beer and wade around in freezing cold water.

-- Eastern Oregon. Where stars in the sky shine. Where the desert heat melts muscle, sinew and heart to be recast and reforged in recreation. Where I rejoin ranchers and farmers and labor, and they smile grateful for my sweat with them, and open offering talk to add with news I carry, and questioning my winter weather forecast they fire the crucible with heated skepticism and flames of devil's advocacy. Because the alchemy in what is pestled and poured serves the seal on further plans: when to harvest, (early winter coming this year), how far to provision, (extremely cold), who to help, (too much Klamath Lake water diverted away in Lost River and Sprague River drainage bathing Tulelake), when to plough, (late thaw next spring), what to sow, (the hole card not shared to the other hands).

Where the phone don't ring and the lobos sing. Where duck nests in the field detour the equipment, and egrets wade the shallow waters, and meadowlarks and magpies talk from field and fencepost. Where sagebrush fumes, juniper salts gin berries, downpours drench delightedly, and moccasin breezes sneak by. Where the air is delicious breathed deep.

Where the earth's age-lines are wrinkled in the rocks. Where I was born under the straight-grained ponderosa encircled in fluffy pumice; and dad worked Black Butte Ranch -- because it was a ranch, and mom cooked at Shaniko School -- today in wildfire ashes and burn. And the Three Sisters stood my sentinel. And Crater Lake my crystal ball.

Where the wandering stars reappear now in their pattern of 1830s, and all political tribes and humankind politics twist and writhe in molt to shed the skin we started then. Human dreams hold 180 years -- seven generations. Where the future starts over.

<h2>And I get tan.</h2>

One of the places I love to go (even though there are a ton in eastern oregon), I usually tend to head to the small, not-so-popular lakes on the Cascade Lakes Highway, as the touristy ones get overrun with folks. I also love (though it's a really long drive, and I haven't been there in years) the Steens Mountains area. There's no civilization for miles, and it's just peaceful and beautiful, only to be interupted by the occassional wild horse tearing through the area.

Tenskwatawa, whatever you're eating/drinking/smoking/snorting, I want some. Great writing.

-- brett -- Seeing: Stars. Have a look. You are kind. -- T.

This is simple and close to home...Underneath my friends' walnut tree. 60th and Powell. Walnut trees are probably messiest trees, the most labor intensive come fall. But, laying in a hammock, watching the sunlight interact with the fluterring leaves, that is what summertime is all about.

I really, really love that tree.

Cape Perpetua: bold and magical and mystical on the central coast. An oasis to the north: Yachats village for walking with ease, for greeting locals with fresh-brewed coffee in hand, an escape from the numbing distortions and distractions that pass for political discourse in the tense cities; where you breathe salt air and watch waves crash playfully, while you wade into a shallow Pacific with no fear of drowning at the sandy mouth of the placid Yachats River.

I usually avoid Lincoln City during the summer.....well, every other season as well.....until I discovered the Taft area near Mo's Restaurant. The beach there is quiet, clean, with good (close) parking, and my kids love that they can wade in the water and not be overwhelmed by waves.

There's a place to clean up with running water and a water fountain, bathrooms, covered picnic tables, nice sidewalks, an ice cream place just a few steps from the beach, and best of all---Mo's.

It's kid and pet friendly and perfect for those of us who have a ton of stuff to haul from the car to your little area of the beach.

Enjoy!