RAPS Group Reports Book Group THE BOOK GROUP did not meet in March. As we planned our March meeting, we discovered that we were a traveling group and very few were going to be in Portland at the regular book group meeting time. So we decided to postpone discussing the book we selected for March until April 16 when we will meet at the home of Felicia Wirtz. We will discuss Perfume River, a novel by Robert Olen Butler, winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Set in North Florida, Perfume River is the story of an aging couple whose relationship has become rather routine, and the lasting impact of differing family positions about the Vietnam War. It is described by a reviewer as “thoughtful, introspective fiction of the highest caliber.” Felicia’s home is at 16433 Avamere Court., Portland. Contact Felicia at 503-645 0947 or feliciawirtz@gmail.com to let her know whether you will be able to be there. In May we plan to read Evolution’s Captain by Peter Nichols, the story of the captain of the Beagle, who took Darwin along on his voyage. The book group meets the third Tuesday of every month (except March 2019). New members are always welcome. —Joan Shireman Bridge Group THE RAPS BRIDGE GROUPmeets in the afternoon, generally on the first Tuesday of each month. We begin play at 12:15 pm. We try to finish up by 4 pm. We meet in Smith Center, on the second floor. Please mark your calendars for the following upcoming bridge group meetings: Tuesday, April 2, in SMSU 258 Tuesday, May 7, in SMSU 258 Tuesday, June 4, in SMSU 258 I will send out the reminder email notice about one week prior to each date we play. The RAPS Bridge Group members are very friendly and are always looking for new players. If you wish to join us, please contact Steve Brennan, 503-646-6297. My email address is the.steve.brennan@gmail.com. —Steve Brennan Hiking Group THE RAPS HIKING GROUP’S March 26 hike took place at Powell Butte, an east Portland city park with large underground water reservoirs, on one of the ancient Boring volcanoes. The hike was anything but boring. Eight hikers walked a large loop of approximately 4.5 miles around the park, uphill and down, through fields and forest, on a beautiful early spring day. There were a few trillium and cardamine flowers blooming; some of the group spotted a coyote amid the shrubbery. After the walk, the eight ate lunch at a Chinese restaurant (HoHo’s) off Powell and César E. Chávez Boulevards. The hike planned for Tuesday, April 23, will take place on the Catherine Creek Trail in the Eastern Columbia River Gorge in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The hike is a 2.6-mile loop with a 466-foot elevation gain. The trail begins near White Salmon, Washington, and the hike should provide views of waterfalls, an abundance of wildflowers (this is the best time of year to view them), Mount Hood, and the Columbia River Gorge. Carpooling is strongly recommended. A more detailed description and directions are available at: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/catherinecreek-trail-021 Please contact Larry Sawyer at 503-771-1616 or larry_sawyer@comcast.net for further information. For more details about upcoming hikes please consult the RAPS hikers’ website: https://www.pdx.edu/raps/RAPSHikers —Larry Sawyer RAPS hikers enjoyed classic vistas, fragrant forests, and dry, sunny weather on the March 26 hike on Powell Butte. —-Photograph by Tom Dieterich 4
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