The Sun, The Sun!!!!

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Josh and I said our goodbyes to a rainy Seattle early Tuesday morning, only a day late of our "scheduled" departure. Speeding towards the Oregon Coast I received my 2nd lesson of the day regarding logging operations to include theories of tree old growth, 2nd growth, and the clear-cutting/replanting techniques (thanks to Ken and Josh Walter). Did anyone else know that there is such a thing as Tree School? Maybe I am the last to know about these things being from LA and all. In addition, I was aghast to find that Claremont, CA is not the only Tree City, USA - what's up with that?

Hitting the Coast in Washington, we passed through the Oyster Capital of the World and Cape Disappointment. "Where do you live?", "I live in Cape Disappointment?", "Oh, must be nice." Hmmmmm. After stopping by the Visitor Center in Astoria, OR, I was excited and interested to note that Josh and I are not the only Goonies fans. Apparently, some Korean tourists had gotten off their plane in Portland and came straight to Astoria to see nothing more than the Goonies house. In addition, there was a 20th anniversary(2005) of the Goonies filming where Sean Astin and his mother actually attended IN PERSON along with a "huge" crowd of fans. Pretty bummed we missed that one. Got to say, the Goonies place was a little disappointing. First, it is the house Sean Astin's character lived in, not the scary Fertelli house. Second, a nurse recently bought the house and re-painted it. She is not too keen on visitors so she has kept her house off limits to anything but drive-bys from the street below. Can't say I blame her (Goonies fans can be quite fanatical at times), but the house was a little on the boring side - hence no picture.

From Astoria we marched down the Coast stopping in the wonderfully strange town of Seaside. The apparently famous Ben Holladay built his dream vacation spot in 1873 including a zoo, racetrack, hotel, etc. making the town the place to be for the old Portland cool kids. This small town is also the end of the Lewis and Clark trail. Today, the small town is home to many a salt water taffy spot, closed restaurants, closed arcades, closed bumper cars and closed arcades. Unaware that Tuesday and Wednesday are Sabbath days in Seaside, we attempted to hang out. Honestly, EVERYTHING was closed Tuesday and Wednesday. After Josh stocked up on several pounds of taffy (just a small snack), we blew down through Cannon Beach - beautiful, Coos Bay - not beautiful and settled in for the night in Bandon, OR. A big recommendation for Bandon. We stopped at a small motel with a cheetah-covered chair, free biscotti and a psycho meowing cat on our front stoop. Early the next morning, we stopped at the Paradise Cafe in Port Orford. Not only was my 1 pancake large enough to wear as a dress, we got all the local gossip. Apparently, some crab pots worth $1600 were stolen the day prior AND Bridgette was going to give birth any day now. Keep a look out for those crab pots!

Crossing over into California, it was beautiful driving through the Redwoods. Took a pit stop at the World Famous Trees of Mystery - Home of Paul Bunyan and Blue Ox. For Josh, the trees played second fiddle to statues, hence us having pictures of the statues and none of the trees. Moving on, we took a way too short pit stop in San Francisco. (oh, we WILL be back). Thanks to the gracious Christiana (go Stags) for the comfy bed and the super dinner. Meeting up with Dylan(thanks again) North Beach's coolest club, Dolce, we danced the night away at their one year anniversary party - sweet! On to Monterey just in time for lunch at Rosine's on Alvarado St. with our superstar math genius and cabbage lasagna making friend Doug. After a quick, quick tour of Monterey (definitely a place we could live), we pushed ourselves to Ojai to catch some pizza with Kim. Fortunately for us, we could not miss her house due to the carved bear and huge elk antlers hanging on her front porch. Pizza and 3 bottles of wine later, we decided to stay the night in her crazy casa (see pics).

Back in C-town just in time for Katie's 30th...

Looking forward to Mexico middle of next week.

"Not all Wanderers are Lost"

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Photos

Oregon Coast
Awesome

Lewis & Clark - Seaside
The untold Story...Lewis, Clark, and Josh

Bunyan
Don't step on meeee!

Marisa & Blue Ox
Marisa knows why Paul B. loved the Blue Ox

Josh and New Friend
Check out the pearly whites

Josh & Kim
Grrrrrrr!

Comments

[Ben Reed]

Do it...
"Do the Truffle Shuffle... Do it! DO IT!" Hey Wally, I'd take a detour real quick to Detroit in the next couple of weeks!! Hope you guys are kicking a$$!!!

[M.C.]

Hellloooo
Hiya QTs! Are you going to make it to Chicago? We are really hoping you will. Hope you don't mind that Big Mama Nelson is reading along too! Love you both!

[Kelly Grocoff]

Shocked to hear Detroit is not on your list...
Hey guys! Sounds like a fun trip so far. I have driven "the coast" many times and am always taken by the beauty. But am I a bit mystified as to WHY Detroit is not on your short list. I mean, I know Mexico is great and all, but seriously, we have the Big Three auto companies (oh wait, Toyota and Honda have taken over). But we DO have the original building of Motown Records...no...hold on....that's being torn down as we speak. Oh...that's it...we're hosting the SUPERBOWL and the SEAHAWKS are going to the Superbowl (stop hyperventilating...I actually do know: a) who the Seahawks are, b) what sport they play and c) that they are in fact going to the Superbowl.) Enjoy your trip, keep the updates coming, and swing by Ann Arbor!!! Lots of Love, Kel

[Mom]

Such Highlights!
Love your journal and pictures! Looks like "Max" has company somewhere! The rain continues! Sorry you are missing out!

[Dad]

And Mom thinks I have a trophy room!!!
Looks like I have plenty of more hunting trips to catch up with the gentleman who has the trophies in your one picture. We had sunshine here today... Enjoy yourselves. Say Hi to Tom S when you get to the highlands of Mexico.