Next

Since Portland we've been seeing a lot of the road, a lot of the sea and lot of fog. We never managed to find the somewhat secret Hobbit Trail, but settled on a beach with a lighthouse instead. We wimped out, and spent the wet and cold night in a cheap motel, did laundry, charged electronic devices. Functional and wise choices. The next day we drove for 45min before we realized we'd already passed our plans for the day, we turned around and drove 1hr back, and realized we didn't have exact change for the park pass. So we drove again back to town to get change, and drove back to Oregon Dunes park. We ended up back in the same town we'd spent the night for a late lunch in a fabulous cafe that seriously raised the stocks of that little town, and drove south through Denmark, and into California. And then we did the unthinkable, spent 2 nights in one place! The Hostel in the Redwood National Park is delightful, and so are the trees. So we spent 2 nights, in the fog, across from a ferocious beach. This morning we hit the road on time and spent the day driving south again, our destination: San Francisco. We stopped along the way at a roadside attraction known as the "Hill of Confusion" which "bends" gravity, and I'm still dizzy. Gotta run...

So Far

It was a dramatic, disappointing and weary wait for this whole adventure to start. But here we are in Portland, one week since we left GP. Having perused Seattle's Pike Market, hiked 2 of our planned trails, seen Cape Disappointment (and toasted life's disappointments), and found a Kite Flying Festival on the world's longest beach. We've got lost along the mountain roads to Mt. St. Helen's, which were wildly unmarked and inconsistent with the map. Slept within 15ft of the most prolific train route known to man. White water rafted a class 3 and 4 river and gone over a waterfall, on purpose. Seen the world's 3rd tallest waterfall, Multnomah Falls. And eaten fiery hot Thai food in Portland, Oregon.
Today we move on down the coast, we reconnect with the 101 and all it's twists and turns. We get to frolic in the ocean, see the sand dunes and track the Hobbit Trail to a hidden beach.

Smoky River

D and I spent an afternoon at the river. He and I are hanging out for these 2 weeks, I'm reclaiming my "domestic goddess" title, tying up all the loose ends for the trip and trying to get in decent shape.