What an incredible drive it was. We have concluded our road trip down the west coast. We are now safely in Hawaii, which is saying something for us. We have also booked our tickets for Fiji and New Zealand in June. We feel good and my leg is healing properly. I have even started to walk around the house without crutches.
A few pictures from the last two weeks on the road since Vancouver. There are actually more than a few since there is a lot to share.
The Astoria Bridge that crosses from Oregon to Washington at the end of the Columbia River. It's a pretty insane bridge as it is the longest continuous truss bridge in North America according to Wikipedia.
One of the Monuments south of Seaside. I believe this was in the Goonie's film.
That big speckled bird is a baby Bald Eagle claiming the crab by his/her feet and shooing off all the other birds there.
Andrzej waiting for the right wave for his short board at Seaside, OR.
Driving through Tillamook, OR where they make the Tillamook cheese. They also have a delicious creamery! (See below)
Since I can't do much else, I might as well enjoy a good ice cream cone, right! We did the creamery tour, but since their new factory is under construction they have a temporary factory tour, which was made up of plastic cows and plastic displays. Supposedly in the future they will be using real cows and you will see workers and machines actually milking the cows and making the cheese. Luckily, they still had a full buffet of cheese samples at the end of the 5 minute walking tour.
A hiking expedition on my newly decked out crutches to a special surf spot called Short Sands. My arm pits will tell you it was brutal! Anj told me it would make me stronger, and perhaps it did.
Anj getting in to surf at Short Sands after our "long" hike in.
One of the amazing views while driving down Highway 1
Andrzej getting ready to go in at Port Orford, OR.
CALIFORNIA
Elk Prairie Campground in the Elk Prairie Redwood State Park, CA. These are REAL ELK, they are not statues. They were just checking out the campground the next morning as we were leaving. This campground was filled with wildlife. We nearly had our cookware stolen by some critter with shiny yellow eyes the night before. Not knowing what was behind those eyes we were just as nervous as he was and tried to shoo it away. Whatever it was, it ran off with our bowls, which we were lucky to find the next morning in the bushes.
BIG TREE! We made it to the Redwoods National/State Park. This was just one of many big tress in the park. It was truly a majestic experience to walk amongst these silet giants.
Another spectacular view from the road at Cavanaugh Gulch.
Point Arena Lighthouse, CA
Passing through the Golden Gate late at night. Entering San Francisco!
Can you find Andrzej? California Surfin....it's crowded out there!
Going trolley riding - best way to see the city when you can't walk
Saint Mary's Church in San Francisco. Right behind it is Chinatown.
Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA
Chinatown San Francisco!
Inside the old trolley car
All aboard!
No more trolley! Hiking up the hill to our friend's apartment after a night out in the Mission District. Who says you can't have fun with a broken leg!
Nothin' like surfin' in Cali with friends at OB (Ocean Beach, San Francisco)
Took a drive up Twin Peaks. Not a bad view from up top.
Another view from Twin Peaks
Our Buddy, Paul, in SF
Made it to Sonoma Country where we of course had wine. This was at St. Francis Winery & Vineyards. We visited my cousin and his family in Santa Rosa. We highly recommend an extended vacation to this are where there are many many more wineries to visit and the landscape is quite beautiful.
St. Francis Winery & Vineyards
Steamer Lane Santa Cruz Surf spot. Long continuous rights all day, but you better be a damn good surfer and not get in the way of the locals.
Heading down to Big Sur.
Big Sur Bridge and Tunnel
Surfing Sand Dollar Beach at Big Sur. We were lucky enough to get a camp spot across the road from friends of our friend Paul. It is one of the most isolated surf spots we found in California.
Leaving Big Sur. We had to turn around and head north due to the landslides that have wiped out the road just south of Big Sur.
Good times with our peeps down in Shell beach and Avila Beach with friends
Happy pup!
Music and wine, happy times...and white peacocks
Surfing at Huntington Beach, CA
Anj surfing "middle" Trestles, CA
KELLY SLATER surfing Lower Trestles, CA
