Trillium Trail and Beyond

Today's hike in Forest Park (2.9 miles)

Aaron and I decided the weather was finally good enough to start hiking in Forest Park again - during the winter, short days and muddy trails make things difficult.

Anyway, we parked on Old Springville Rd. and took Firelane 7 to Trillium trail.

Western Trillium - Trillium ovatum

It was a good choice, the Trilliums on this trail were just beginning to bloom.

After TT, we walked along a section of Wildwood trail and then headed down what we think is a new trail. The unknown trail (we now call it nettle and mud trail) was covered in tiny new nettles.

Spring is Springing

Green is showing up everwhere... in clumps of new leaves, and the mosses and ferns.

Sami's Off to Finland!

Well, Sami left for Finland yesterday morning. He was actually able to catch his flight this time, (unlike previous occasions where the flight left early or was canceled and they didn't notify him), so he called me twice from PDX to confirm that he was actually leaving.

I just got an email and a phone call from him a couple of hours ago saying that he's arrived, slept and is supposed to meet up with his brother Tomi and his family today.

Unfortunately Sami forgot to pack his camera, so I hope someone takes some pictures of his trip for him :)

Anyway, for those who don't know, Sami flew to Helsinki, then took the bus to Forssa where his family lives. Later he will go to Tampere (where we went to school) to see friends.

Metal in the Middle of Nowhere

I found out that one of my favorite bands is having only one concert this year. Opeth, considered to be one of the best death metal bands in the world, has naturally chosen to have their only 2007 gig in... Joensuu, Finland. Huh?

At least we have a bunch of good bands coming to Portland this year: Lacuna Coil, Epica, Nightwish... Nightwish will have chosen their new vocalist by then - should be interesting.

P.S. Sami probably should have mentioned that Joensuu, "the middle of nowhere", is actually in the middle of a bunch of lakes and that there is big festival there every summer called Ilosaarirock. Also I went to the University of Joensuu for one semester. - Sara