DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN YOUR CAR HERE!Someone broke into our rental car and stole ourbackpacks with all of our stuff. They apparently hit afew people today and this is a regular occurrence atthe parking lots to the trails. The people nearbybelieve it is the homeless that have camps over here.

This is an easy picnic hike. It’s s great walk in the city that makes you feel like you are not in the city. The stone house is a great gathering ground as it’s fun to climb on it. Great hike for dogs and kids ... and Bard Owls. The photo is a zoomed in crop of a couple owls in the trees one rainy fall afternoon.

The lower Macleay park is just beautiful with those high and old birches, the little creek running its way down and the peaceful furn trees. I personally like to go up the hill from the stone house and coming out high above Portland and enjoy the view. The houses up here are also quite neat if you are from Europe and not used to this kind of architecture.

I had read about the park and pathway to the Witches Castle and was excited to do this walk. When I looked down into the valley were we would be walking, it was a bit daunting. Please don’t let that stop you from doing this walk. I’m not in the fittest condition of my life, and I was wearing a dress and slip on shoes, but it was a fairly easy walk down to the castle from the Upper Macleay parking lot. I was a bit stressed because of the incline, knowing I would have to walk back up the pathway. The pathway is well used and we encountered at least 20-30 people while on our walk. For the record, everyone walking there was incredibly friendly and most said hello. We got to the Witches Castle in about 5 minutes, and we spent at least 40 minutes at the castle looking around and taking photos. It’s a gorgeous place, albeit a little bit spooky. The walk back up to the parking lot was a bit steep in places, but totally doable. I believe it only took 10 minutes, with a few breathers in between. If I can do it, anyone can!

Woke up Saturday in a very deep state of depression and hopelessness. I felt so tired and emotionally beat down. I knew I had to get outdoors so I put on my clothes, drank an energy drink full of B vitamins, got my sacred hiking/anti-pit bull staff and headed for the car. I drove over to Macleay Park near Thurman street and began my walk. I found myself in an Emerald Forest with moss covered trees and a sparkling stream that made happy noises as it flowed down hill. Soon a beautiful female jogger ran past me, the B vitamins started to kick in and I found vigorous new strength in my legs. I was taking photos and enjoying the climb up hill. I soon came to the Stone House or what some people call The Witches Castle I took some more photos of that and continued up the hill. I crossed a large wooden bridge then started going up switchbacks. When I got to the top I found myself at the Audubon Society building. I took a rest there and listened in on the lecture about Ravens. They actually had a live specimen as the lady gave the talk. It was fascinating. They are very intelligent birds. I started back down the trail, I was happy, not to mention working up an appetite. I was no longer depressed. I had developed a rhythm in my walking, a new found confidence so to speak. The wooden staff enabled me to negotiate the steep down hill parts with ease and prevented me from falling forward. As I was walking down hill I began to ponder the incredible beauty of this woman I nicknamed, The Daughter of Jesus. She is a light shining on a hill or a divine hand who revealed to me that there can be no spirituality, no sanctity, no truth, without the presence of women. I finished my hike strong. It felt good to get out and enjoy the woods. I highly recommend this hike. The trees are so thick that even on a sunny day it would still be a pleasant hike and not be too hot.