Thursday 18 May 2017

1: Oregon

1

Off we go again on a trip- bit of a short one this time. Only a week long, to Cannon Beach in Oregon. Currently we are in the lineup to the Coho Ferry sitting in our van, listening to the various alarms (car and otherwise) that continue to go off every once and awhile. Julias is regaling us with mine raft soundtracks, lending a bit of a surreal feel to the whole situation. Doesn't help that I'm pretty tired. 
We've brought five instruments: cello, violin, two violas, and a mandolin. Everyone needs to practice for upcoming year-end concerts… the size of the cello means that the backseat needed to be sacrificed. Nice and cozy for us children in the middle seat. 
Every time I'm down at the inner harbour recently I miss my outrigger days… it will be interesting to ride the Coho after so many encounters as a fellow vessel in the inner harbour. 

I don't think the interior of the Coho has changed at all since the 70s. The prominent colour scheme includes pale green, matte finish metal counters, and beige floor tiles. The Art Deco burgundy seats are pretty comfy. A couple have collapsed and are taped off. All the signs are very quaint; very 50s diner "Food service available at the stern of the vessel". It's definitely an experience. 
Watched victoria harbour disappear behind us in the watery trail. Can confirm: we live on a tiny island. 

Here we are in Trump's America. Drove through the American Nanaimo-town of Port Angeles, saw many gratuitous American flags. It's that manifest destiny seeping through. Saw some recreational marijuana stores, a reminder that it's pretty legal here in Washington state. 
Stopped at a gas station, officially done 30 min of our trip. Gun store next to the gas station "Jones arms: best prices on guns and ammo. Turn here!!!". Gun store on the other side of the station "Fred's Guns". 
Passed a road called "Kitchen-Dick" road. Ah, the United States of America.

First trip to Trader Joe's. I can't believe it: a good 95% of every single product is Trader Joe brand. I don't know how they can do it. They must license other brands or something. Only select products were off-brand: Jarlesberg, condensed egg whites, a certain brand of dog treats. They made the other brand of dog treats. They cleverly copied the look of each brand for each product, making it LOOK like a shelf of various brands, but upon closer inspection, everything says Trader Joe's. It's a bit unnerving. I'm very impressed. 

We stopped at a gas station, and found another spider in the van. Tobin was trying to herd it outside, but it fell into a bag of mostly finished kettle corn. So then the spider was in the popcorn. And we proceeded to try to remove the spider in the middle of the parked gas station cars. Jeff got it out. 
This was the fourth medium-sized spider we've found today in the van. Our guess is that some hatched in here. Julias says "Now we need to ask for spider poison in American", referencing a time Lise and Jeff had to ask for ant poison in Italian. 

Four total gun stores passed at this point. They don't hide, let's just say. Guns and weed: both very available here. 

Passing through a small town with an alarmingly large number of metal animal sculptures: "Rabies vaccine for $25" we definitely needed to know that. What a sweet deal on rabies vaccine. That's a draw. 

Passed a rest area called "Dismal Nitch". Inviting. 
About to cross a giant bridge from Washington into Oregon. It's very long. Just kinda fades into the distance. 
Been listening to a good story called "The Magicians" in the van. Like Harry Potter with swears, grit, and technology. Loving it so far.
Now crossing another big bridge. Many bridges. Much engineering.  

THE PLACE IS BEAUTIFUL! It's right on the beach. And it's big and tall-ceilinged with a distinct Japanese vibe. Beautiful kitchen, nice loft bed area. Everything is perfect. 
Lise's getting right in on cooking the pasta we bought earlier. Julias and I are going to be flipping a coin each night for the separate room. Julias and Tobin are eating cookie butter on graham crackers. The blinds are god-like: you move them where you want them to be and the stay there like magic. 
We have free yoga classes and wine and chocolate in our lovely welcome basket. The complex has a pool. The beach is in sight. 
I am in heaven. 

After dinner and some sibling drama and bit of injury between my bros, everyone minus Julias went off to explore the beach. It's about a 2 min walk and it's gorgeous. The sun was just setting and we could see beach fires starting up on the shore. We are planning to have one tomorrow if we can. The waves look Tofino-worthy at least and I can't wait to get in my wetsuit tomorrow. The sand dunes are like something out of a fairytale, with tufts of grass and perfectly smooth cool sand. Picture Hawaii, but frigid water. 
Lise and Tobin are doing some angst-ridden practicing, with limited success. I can feel the family getting pretty tired with each other. They are arguing about dishes. 
I think it is time for bed. 



















1 comment:

  1. Wow!! Looks amazing...cookie butter=the BEST. I think I might have given you some of mine to try before! I know the really really long (and HIGH!) bridge - it goes into Astoria from WA, I drove it when Nana and I went to California in 2014! It was a bit nerve-wracking, but not as nerve-wracking as accidentally driving onto and over the Golden Gate Bridge!! :-0 What a trip though, proud to say I did it.

    I bet you are going to live in your wetsuits the next few days - hope the weather is good.

    xo

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