Mt Hood from the plane
An hour in Portland...will be staying there more later.
I am happy right now. This morning I went for a run through downtown Bend, Oregon, along the river through Drake Park, and through a neighborhood of craftsman style bungalows so pretty it hurt. I made a mix for my run before I left the inn I am staying at. The songs are ones I've been listening to a lot lately. It's the kind of music that makes me run faster and float across the pavement full of hope and inspiration.
cannon beach
loved this house just a block from cannon beach
Life just seems so wonderful right now. I'm just trying to soak it all in and hold onto each moment. I love changes and travel and there is lots of that in the air right now.
yum! dairy!
I am on day 3 of my travels. Flew into Portland, OR Saturday afternoon and after a quick stop at the Portland Saturday Market for a lamb gyro I drove to the coast. When I got into the hostel in Seaside, OR I stashed my stuff in the room and took advantage of the daylight left and rented a kayak. I paddled down river towards the ocean and watched the waves crash into the inlet. I was filled with that strange sense of appreciation that comes sometimes when I contemplate the amazing machines we have built that allow me to wake up in Massachusetts and then paddle on the Pacific Ocean later that day.
largest sitka spruce
cape meares...volunteers showed me oystercatchers and a bald eagle through telescopes
Yesterday I wrote up early and went for a run along the Promenade watching the waves crash and the beach combers explore the low tide. After making myself breakfast at the hostel (which provided eggs and pancake batter to use!) I started driving south. The Oregon coast was breathtaking, especially with the coastal mountain range running up to it. I made lots of stops taking my sweet time to get down to Newport, where I headed inland to Corvallis.
cape kiwanda in pacific city...where are MY truck-driving husband and dogs?
coastal driving
yaquina head...the only spot I paid to get into...worth it
I wanted to see Corvallis because according to findyourspot.com it might be the perfect place for us. And it was wonderful. I love college towns and this one was beautiful. I had dinner at the McMenamin's pub there and stared in awe at their awesome interior design.
mcmenamin's in corvallis
From Corvallis I drove through the darkness to Bend, OR. I couldn't really appreciate the scenery because it was so dark. The roads were windy and surrounded by trees. This morning started another beautiful sunny day. Today I drive north to Mt Hood, then to Colombia River Gorge tomorrow. EncaustiCamp Frield Trip starts Wednesday morning at VooDoo doughnuts!
headed inland toward the cascades