The Pacific Northwest

We left Eureka, CA this morning and took a leisurely drive up the coast to Crescent City, stopping several times to enjoy the ocean views and to walk along the shore. This coastline is much more rugged and rocky than the NC coast. The beaches were full of deeply polished stones from the ocean, rather than the shells we had expected to find. The beaches were grey in color, and the texture seemed to be that of finely crushed granite rather than sand. John and I walked along the beach looking for perfect stones to collect, enjoying the sunshine and the cool breeze. Paul wasn’t feeling well this morning so he rested and took photos from a distance as we walked. It was nice to take a more relaxed drive today. The traffic was very light on this part of Hwy 101, and it was not unusual to come to a place where we were the only car in sight. We almost laughed at the “Congestion Ahead” signs that we saw as we approached some of the small coastal towns, as we saw nothing that even approached our idea of congestion.

At Crescent City we stopped at an ocean side park to play disc golf. The course was not well marked, and we were almost ready to abandon play when we saw an elderly man with a disc and decided to ask him for help. The man’s name was Don Shinn, and at age 87 he still plays almost every day “for the fun of the game and for exercise.” We had a great time playing a round with Don and talking to him about his lifers travels from Alexandria, VA to San Diego CA and then to Crescent City “to get away from the traffic and congestion.” Meeting people like Don is what makes traveling the country fun. He also gave me new hope that I might be able to play this game I love for another 40 years!

Leaving Crescent City we turned inland on Rte 199 and headed for Grants Pass, Oregon. Along this route we twisted our way through our last (I think) lush forest of Giant Redwoods. We continue to be amazed at the size of these trees and the density of the forests that hold them. John remarked at one point “Everything is bigger out west – the mountains, the canyons, and the trees.”


At Grants Pass we turned north on Interstate 5, and I turned the driving over to John. The first 170 miles of today’s travel traced over the route I had bicycled in 1981, and I actually saw a few places that I remembered from that trip. It was good to reminisce about my bicycling days, but my solo bike tour pales in significance to this auto tour with my sons!

At 5:30 pm we reached the 4,000 mile point of our journey, which I think is about the half-way mark. Our Mazda Tribute has performed extremely well, taking us over the mountains with ease and averaging close to 24 mpg. I have drive 40% of the time, John 35% and Paul 25%. (Paul has not felt well several days, which has cut down on his mileage.) We are one day ahead of schedule, and feeling quite rested. I’ve had more sleep in the past two weeks than I have had in a very long time.

As we moved north through Oregon we entered a farming area of red barns and wheat fields – something we had not seen singe eastern Colorado. It’s beautiful up here, with rolling hills to the east and west. Occasionally we still see the vineyards and orchards that dominated the California central valley, but for the most part we see what to us are “traditional farms.”


Approaching Portland, OR we took an eastern bypass (I-205) and had a stunning view of Mt. Hood, the highest point in Oregon (11,239’), rising up through the clouds. A short while later Mt. St. Helens (8,365’) came into sight. With darkness closing in and heavy cloud cover, we were not able to capture this view well with our cameras. I am hopeful that we will have a better view in the morning.

We arrived at our destination hotel just across the Washington border at 9 pm, and I sat down to write while the boys took a tour of the town. Their main destination was the local Wal-Mart, as has been their custom. Right now the boys are eating some supper (Ramen Noodles, one of their favorites!) and looking through a travel guide to plan Vancouver, BC destinations. This destination spot was of their choosing and what we do there over the weekend will be entirely up to them.

I realized today that I am truly relaxed for the first time in many years. I am enjoying having just one thing to do with my time, and I am hardly thinking about my responsibilities at home, at work and at church. I have to think to figure out what day it is and I don’t wear a watch. I’m just taking in the moments with my sons and thoroughly enjoying seeing the country coast-to-coast again. I have no idea at all what this trip will cost in dollars, but I don’t care at all because this time with my sons is truly priceless. I am blessed!