Pictures At An Exhibition

by

I saunter along Hood River’s waterfront, raising my hand to greet other codgers and dog walkers. Silently, we share the companionship of fortitude. They, like me, are determined to exercise. It’s a commitment undeterred by dreary weather as Oregon transitions from autumn to winter.

I do dreary quite well. My recovery from cancer related pneumonia motivates me to stretch, walk, and breathe deep. I find contentment with doing the same thing over and over.

The photos below look west: same view, different days.

Click on any photo to enlarge and view the gallery format.

A windless day on the Columbia River.
Cloud reflections on a placid Columbia River.
Brilliant late fall morning on the Columbia River.
Strong westerlies create a back current on the Columbia River.
Golden light and a frosty morning on the Columbia River.
The west wind was particularly bitter after winter's first snowfall.

The natural world also pursues repetitive instincts. Ordinary seasonal change blossoms with the beauty of the landscape’s variety. This is true even when it leans into the dormancy of winter. Subtlety and nuance occur when nature’s patient curator, Time, arranges the exhibition.

Usually, I walk alone. On these solitary perambulations, I’ll often listen to music while observing nature’s art gallery. This museum of natural history does not belong to me or any of the other walkers. Yet, it is available always to everyone.

Here is another collection looking north.

A dreary day on the Columbia River.
A barge heading up the Columbia River.
If you enlarge this picture, you can see a train on the Washington side.
Morning light on the Columbia River.
A cold morning with mixed cloud cover on the Columbia River.
An icy path required careful stepping on this day.

These walks along the same path week after week help fulfill physical needs. The fresh air and exercise stimulate my body and mind. I pay little attention to my stepping other than the feel of its rhythm. It’s a meditative routine; always the same and always different.

This last assembly of photos looks east toward the Hood River-White Salmon Bridge.

The grassy area and inlet serve as the Event Site for water sports.
The bridge stands out as clouds begin to lift.
An intrepid sailor heads out on a cold windy morning.
A blustery day paints clouds on the sky's canvas.
New snowfall on the foothills of Washington State above the Columbia River.
Snow has arrived in town.
Tagged: cancer, Columbia River Gorge, Hood River, multiple myeloma, Mussorgsky, nature, photography, Pictures at an Exhibition, The Dull Men’s Club, writing