Ten Day Road Trip: Crsecent City CA.

6/1/2017: We were a bit slow getting up and going, but it was a beautiful, clear day.  The tide was out but the surf was definitely up!  We randomly chose to go to Pebble Beach from the many available.  This is where I started to understand that Heaven had made some special plans for our trip, too.  At the beach we found a guy obviously looking for something.  We inquired and in visiting he mentioned he was a local school bus driver.  We had an immediate connection.  He was collecting sea agates along the beach.  We quickly showed us what to look for and we made an impressive collection of our own.  I loved the tide pools and the cool breeze of the water.  On our way to the motel to drop off our collection, we stopped at the Rumiano Cheese factory.  We tasted several different varieties of cheese, and then settled on a bag a fresh squeaky cheese and some Mediterranean Olive Jack cheese.  I think we’ve now tasted the Cadillac of cheeses!  That afternoon we drove to the Lady Bird Memorial trail for my first experience in a redwood forest. It is hard to describe my feelings.  I have waited long for that experience and just starting up the trail brought a swell of emotion.  There is a spirit of nobility and antiquity that is almost tangible to be in the presence of those magnificent trees.  Their ability to sustain life against any odds was inspiring.  This trail led to the spot where Lady Bird Johnson, wife of President Linden B. Johnson signed the bill making this forest area protected by Federal law.  I felt a sense of gratitude that someone recognized the sacredness of these giant redwood trees and made the effort to preserve them.  On the way back to our motel for the evening I suggested we go out on a knoll where it was reported whales could be seen at times.  We didn’t really expect to be fortunate to see them in the few minutes of day light left, but we hadn’t been there long when I spotted the first spout of water rising above the ocean’s surface followed by the remaining sunlight glistening over the back and dorsal fin of the huge creatures.  We saw several and lamented that we didn’t have field glasses to see them better.  Within a few minutes two ladies arrived with field glasses.  We pointed out where to look to see the whales and they let us use the binoculars for a few minutes.  Looking back, I realized that like meeting the bus driver who shared the fun of sea agates earlier in day, the presence of these whales and the ladies with the field glasses felt much more than a coincidence.  They were evidence of God’s love for us and His desire that this trip be more than we could planned on our own.

The murals on the motel we stayed at. 

Darrel walking on Pebble Beach and looking for Sea Agates.

This is my collection of sea agates.

There were some beautiful tide pools.

The plant that makes this yummy cheese is in Astoria. 

The Redwood forest was the main reason for our trip.

The awe of the redwoods is easy to feel but hard to explainable.

A huge herd of elk live along the Kamuth River.

This is where the Kamuth River meets the ocean. 

This is Dad whale watching.

Ten Day Road Trip: Astoria, OR

5/31/2017: Astoria is an interesting place.  The Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River meet there. We first visited the 125 feet tall Astoria column that tells the story of Astoria from its start as an Indian village to the arrival of settlers and the railroad.  It is a moment in honor of Lewis and Clark as well. The column sits on Coxcomb Hill overlooking the city that reminded me of a quaint German village.  We met a cute local mom running up the steps for exercise when we got to the top of the tower.  She paused and told us some interesting facts and insights that only someone born and raised there could give.   It overlooks the 4 mile Megler Bridge that links the coast of Oregon to the coast of Washington.  Of course we had to drive over the bridge just for the experience. Interestingly, it was a toll bridge at first, but as the city council promised, as soon as it was paid for the toll would be lifted, and it was!  We did some walking along the river walk where we found at least 200 male sea lions lounging about on the peers.  The town has tried various methods to get rid of them because of the cost to the area.  Boats can’t dock where they have taken over and all of them have a BIG appetite for salmon, which the local commercial fishermen do not appreciate.  At noon, we got on the privately owned trolley that runs along the river walk trail.  The trolley was refurbished by two retired guys who know the stories and history of the area very well.  It was so fun to ride the trolley and be entertained by them.  Amazingly the cost to ride is $1, a minimal amount to keep their expenses in the black.  It was so refreshing!  They suggested we try the local fish-n-chips place for lunch.  It is an old fishing boat that a couple of women made into a small kitchen where they serve locally caught tuna and big steak fries in their own special sauce.  That was a good suggestion. 

This is a commercial fishing area.

These are all male seals.

There are always several BIG barges anchored here because

 this is the only place along the coast they can dock for free.

 

This is a famous boat.

The Riverside trolley.

The best fish-n-chips in the world!

Highway 101 is a route worth taking.   I loved it 

when we could see the ocean as we drove.

We passed the  home of my favorite cheese!

Then we had to head south as the drive down Oregon’s coast takes about 7 hours because the speed limits are rarely more than 55.   That was our first real experience with the famous highway 101.   Every corner brings another incredible view of the ocean line or the coastal rain forest.  It was worth wearing sea bands and taking Dramamine to see it.  That being said, we were grateful to be at our motel room that night in the heart of Crescent City.