This was a solo road trip by Bill to Portlandia to visit old friends in their new digs, and then take a leisurely drive down along the stunning coastline of the Pacific Northwest.
It started as a beautiful ride north on a cool, crisp winter evening. Spent the night at a funky little spot just on the outskirts of Ashland, OR, under an intriguing nighttime sky. I got to follow the dance of Venus and Jupiter for the entire trip.
The primary purpose of the trip was to attend the opening of our friend's art exhibition and spend some time exploring their new 'hood. It's always an intriguing experience to explore in and around Portland, OR, including the Columbia River Gorge.
Following a few lovely days of their gracious hospitality, it was time to continue on. I headed north and west on a diagonal backroads path toward Astoria, OR. Traveling along Highway 26 then turning north to follow the Nehalem River, it becomes a straight shot through the Jewell Meadows State Wildlife Area and the Clatsop State Forest. The passage was filled with expansive vistas (albeit often foggy), moss-shrouded county roads, and massive herds of elk.
Upon arrival, I crossed the Astoria-Megler Bridge, the longest continual truss bridge in North America, with a 4 mile (6.5 km) span across the mouth of the Columbia River.
My intention was to explore the Long Beach Peninsula, on the Washington coast, and then possibly spend the night at Cape Disappointment State Park.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed [ just kidding ;-) ], so I crossed back into Oregon and decided to follow the coast southward and get some miles in before dark. Made it down to Cannon Beach, OR in time to catch a glimpse of Haystack Rock during nautical twilight.
I spent the night stealth camping among the mountains, ancient forest, capes & coves near Oswald West State Park. The next day was full of dazzling hikes and views from Cape Meares to Cape Lookout State Park to Agate Beach to Tillicum Beach.
This theme continues for the remainder of the trip, through Oregon and onto CA Highway 1.
[Devil's Churn]
From Cape Perpetua to Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint to Devil's Elbow to Umpqua Lighthouse State Park to Gold Beach (where we rang in the Millennium with the kids; somewhere in that pile of painted stones are our wishes for the new century)…
And then, re-entry into California, and my first stop is one of our all-time favorite places, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.
This was my planned stop for the night so, after cruising around the park enjoying the elk relaxing in the meadows, I made the 7-mile drive over the coastal mountains to the secluded Gold Bluffs Beach. There was a glorious sunset and then a spectacular view of Venus and Jupiter setting over a lone fishing boat several miles offshore.
The next morning, I had coffee alone on the beach while sitting on a massive driftwood log, soaking in the the sights, sounds, and smells of the Pacific Ocean, before hiking the Fern Canyon Loop Trail.
Next stop, Fort Bragg for my last night. It was a majestic ride through the Avenue of the Giants, and then I enjoyed a dark, clear night for perfect viewing of the winter constellations, and yes, you guessed it, Venus & Jupiter.
Final stop before reaching home was Mendocino. Great town, unparalleled ocean views, and just a glorious day to conclude my road trip!
I will end this post by encouraging anyone who has not yet had the pleasure of traveling along the coast of the Pacific Northwest to consider it. And the winter season is actually a beautiful time to go. Here is a short video to enjoy a taste of the serenity...
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