I’m off on another little adventure! I was going to head north but then my friend Robin said “solstice bonfire” and I pivoted to head south. I can head north any day, summer is finally here! It’s not far so I am moseying.

I stopped at the Jackson Bottom Wetland Preserve, thinking I could stretch my legs and surely find a restroom. But the visitor center was closed . I walked anyway, wishing more and more for that restroom. Finally, at the backside of a loop around a pond, I spy this!! This is the most welcome sight of my travels so far.

I stopped at a food truck in Hillsboro called Ochoa Outdoor Mexican Food. Everything on the menu looked yummy but they had a chavindecas, which I’ve never even heard of so of course I ordered that. Oh wow, it was huge and so delicious. Like a tortilla sandwich but the tortillas were kind of cakey and charred on a hot griddle and it was stuffed with shredded chicken, poblano, queso fresca melted onto the tortilla, avocado, lettuce and shredded carrot. I didn’t even come close to finishing it but not because I didn’t want to.

I stopped at Lewis Pioneer Cemetery south of Hillsboro. I read there is a grave dated in the 1700s, but I didn’t see it. A bunch from the 1800s though. It shows the harsh life they led. Families buried multiple children, adults seldom made it past their 50s.

I finally arrived at Robin’s and she had the fire going. There is no better aid to conversation than a good friend and a roaring fire. It was a wonderful way to welcome summer! (photos courtesy of Robin)