kayaking | lower lewis falls, wa

Over the river and through the woods to Lower Lewis Falls we go...

I love watching skilled kayakers. They have a grace that makes hucking yourself off a waterfall look like a piece of cake. Truth is, it's intense and takes a great understanding of the water and knowing your personal skill level. yeah, so that said--I sat on the sideline and photographed my bad ass friends.

Below is my dear friend, Dave Hoffman, a skilled kayaker who has also been known to have a camera in hand. He's also a kayak instructor in Portland, Oregon so if you find yourself in the area call up Next Adventure and ask for "the best looking kayak instructor..."

Below is Louis Geltman, another amazing kayaker that did this drop with nothing but control and grace.

You can be an amazing kayaker and athlete but sometimes things don't go just as planned...and that is why you go with people you trust.

portland, oregon | a love story

It might be the crisp air or the quirkiness that Portlandians take pride in or being surrounded by a vibrant food culture and a killer outdoor scene OR the fact that you can bike pretty much anywhere in the city without having a mini heart attack every time you hop on your wheels...ahhh yes...the list continues. All I know is I left a little piece of my heart (and a pair of socks) there.

My favorite time of day was when the sun started setting behind the mountain, the sky turned a dark blue and the silhouetted hillside just sparkled. That--is my kind of cityscape. I can't think of a better way to see this than an evening paddleboard session {with a dear friend} on the Willamette River.

I spent an afternoon roaming the downtown market and streets and found myself photographing people. Go figure. Normally when I travel I come home with lots of architectural/food shots but this time the people totally captivated me. The outfits, the smiles, the impromptu dancing just because --"why would you need a reason to dance." These are a just a few people that caught my eye for various reasons. I adore you all.