Cemeteries, pioneer cemeteries, hold a spell over me. Portland has quite a few designated as ‘pioneer’. Of course, they are not as old as eastern U.S. cemeteries. But, there a draw to them that intrigues and begs so many questions as you walk about.

I have decided to spend more time stopping along the way, whether on the open road or around town, and slowing down enough to study the markers and capture some with the camera that work their way into my imagination.

 For years, I have driven by this old cemetery perched atop a hillside in Central Oregon. Always in a hurry to fish, the hillside begged but I drove by. This day, I pulled off and drove up into cemetery.

What a captivating setting. Rugged and almost forgotten. I walked about the tall, dry grass. There were hundreds of stories here and all the attendant questions.