Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Just before little Michael laid me out in Justin's octagon

Judy at Justin's gym

Jenn and Amy

May 27th 2008

We've been in Keizer, OR, outside Portland staying with Jenn's cousin
Michael and his wife Amy and their kids - along with a lot of family
who were visiting in time to surprise Amy with a birthday party.

So far we've visited Justin's gym in Portland and hiked around Silver
Falls.

Friday, May 23, 2008

May 20th 2008

We woke up early after our first night (and first sleepless night) of camping.

On the cliffside at Westport Union Landing, with the cold sea breeze, it wasn't the hot summer night I'd expected. We'd climbed down to the beach to collect driftwood and stolen a flame from a nighbour's firepit. It didn't last long and as it was getting dark and the tide was coming in we decided to let it die and go to bed. We'll have to get a couple of blankets before camping again.

Luckily tonight we are staying with Jenn's grandma Nordell in Bandon, Oregon. From Westport to Bandon takes us North on The Avenue of the Giants - a redwood forrest with the world's largest trees, some featuring road tunnels, some: rooms carved into their ancient stumps, and then a 'magnetic anomoly' at The Gravity House.

A short detour to the Victorian town of Ferndale, for lunch at Poppa Joes before the long drive into Oregon.

May 19th 2008

Today we set off on our road trip. The plan is to drive clockwise from California hugging the coast whenever possible and taking our time - we have four months.

The van - a '93 Town & Country with 247,890 miles on the clock - has been readied; tuned up, fluids checked, cleaned out.

We have more resolutions than luggage. In fact, travelling light is one of the resolutions. We stole an idea from Jenn's brother, Jordan, we each wear a wrist band - a charm to ward off the fast food demons ready to tempt us - which we can't remove until we return to CA. Do you want to make bets on how long that will last?

I tried to think of a Dave Gormanesque gimmick so we could write a travel book. But who needs another one of those? (If I think of a good one, I might take that back.)

It feels strange to be setting out with no plans and no farewell. I was worried we'd have the usual roads for the first few hours, but tucked between all the same old freeways is Highway 20, which, after 5 miles, is already unfamiliar. Trailor parks and fruit stands - we'll have to try and buy from these road side vendors whenever possible. It must be a lot cheaper and we only have 40 dollars a day after gas.