On the Road again

Train Mountain Railroad with Tom from Colorado

We have just completed a journey of 900 plus miles in five days and four nights to southern Oregon and northern California. With the last furlough day, a Memorial Day weekend plus one vacation day, I have a total of five days, so off we go. We encountered snow on the side of the road at 5,000 feet elevation, namely Santiam Pass, a below freezing night at Klamath Falls, it was registered at 31 degrees Fahrenheit, we had clear day in Redding, California with the steady rain the next day when we left. I was just a kid at heart again, visiting Train Mountain Railroad and Klamath & Western Railroad where they are situated side by side. On Pokie’s highlight, she had an expensive hamburger at $395.94 (well make that two, one for lunch and one for dinner). I was just joking of course, but that’s the total cost to get down to Redding some 450 miles south of Portland, it is the closest In-N-Out Burger joint. Enjoy the highlights; I will make separate websites for Train Mountain Railroad and Klamath & Western Railroad later in the week.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2013/ontheroad

My birthday - Seattle Waterfront

Seattle Waterfront

The sixty percent chance of rain in Seattle did not deter me from going north again to celebrate my birthday. I was hoping all week that the weather forecasters were dead wrong and indeed I proved them that I was right, just a few sprinkler throughout that special day. This time we explored the waterfront, we took the Ferris wheel and Washington State Ferry to Bainbridge Island. It turned out that the clouds really made it interesting to photograph. I took more than two hundreds images and I came up with about twenty that I think look presentable. Remember that I am a recreation photographer; by the way I like that title very much. Enjoy!

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2013/seattle2

Red Carpet

The Red Carpet

I do not consider myself as a landscape or specialize photographer such as food, fashion or portrait. I just come up with a new term if I may – a “recreation photographer”, I do not wait for the sunset nor the sunrise for example, just take presentable photographs whenever I go and do the best I could at that point regardless the lighting condition, of course I prefer cloudy day or even lighting. Here I encounter the “red-carpet” that I did get a few shots last year, this is in a different place not far from where I took the photographs last year. Enjoy!

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2013/red

The Elevator

Oregon City Municipal Elevator

This is when I wish the day were cloudy to give me the even lighting since the direct sunlight makes the pictures too high of a contract, but since it is not raining, I can’t complain too much. I want to show you this elevator since it is unique, the only one in the United States and only four in the world.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2013/elevator

CHIHULY Garden and Glass

Persian Ceiling

I am still overwhelmed and speechless, so just enjoy the Chihuly Garden and Glass. Just a few words of warning, picture does not do any justice, you have to go and see it!

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2013/chihuly

One Rainy Day in Seattle

SeaTac Station

Last Friday was a furlough day for me, so I need to stay true to the motto – I got no pay, I go play. We decided to go to Seattle to see our newest family members and to see Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibition. It had been raining constantly while we were in Seattle, since we have webbed on our feet now, rain did not bother us too much. Here’s our journey three hours north of Portland.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2013/seattle

Ding....Ding..My New Toy

Vintage Trolley #514

After three years of hiatus (broken down trolley), I finally can get my hands dirty again with the lease of a vintage trolley from the City of Portland and Trimet. Today is the first orientation day of the trolley; the line is much shorter when we run again due to the construction of the Sellwood Bridge. We may not reach South Waterfront for a few years, and that’s just my estimate. The tunnel also needs some repair and we estimate that we can have revenue run after July fourth. On my initial assessment, this vintage trolley is smoother to operate and it feels heavier than what I used to operate. Overall it is a great day for me. I can’t wait.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2013/vt