Now just the Northwest
July 19

Cues The Four Seasons* Oh, What a Day. I went everywhere! Well, at least everywhere in the state of Oregon. I went to four- count ’em four places today! And that doesn’t even include the two gas stations I hit today. Silver Falls State Park, Pittock Mansion, Cannon Beach, and Mercer Island (better known as Greater Seattle Area). As you might have guessed, I spent a fair amount of time in between these places just traveling, and man, have I perfected my air guitar. Today I actually spent a lot of time listening to old AT music. I can’t tell you why I started, or really, why I didn’t stop, listening to it, but it made me really happy-sad. Happy because I get so many great team memories, sad because it’s over. You know, the exact same way I’ve been feeling for a month and a half now. It still hits me every now and then just how much I miss it already, and how much I’m sure I’ll miss it closer to the start of school. And it hits me in really random moments like that one. But the good news is it’ll never hit me as bad as it hit that elderly woman next to my car when X Gon’ Give it to Ya started blaring out of my car in the mansion parking lot. Folks, don’t forget to turn your volume down before you exit the vehicle. Especially if you’ll be in enclosed parking spaces.
The unfortunate part of getting to so many places was the same as my problem yesterday- not nearly enough time, although does create an excuse to come back. At Silver Falls I got to walk around the rim trail for a bit and listen to the sound of the waterfall before I headed out to Portland, about an hour and a half north. There, I drove by the water after visting the Pittock Mansion. This was a lovely maintained house owned by the prominent Pittock family, one of the pioneering families in Oregon. They helped bring Portland to greater prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. I have many more facts if you want to learn more; my favorite one was that the mother of the family, Georgiana, established the Rose Festival.



Last stop before Washington was Cannon Beach. It’s right on the coast of northern Oregon. It has a few rocks there that are home to puffins! And also are photographed frequently. The sand was packed solid, perfect for walking and biking, as I saw some people doing. There were tidepools peppered throughout the beach; I misjudged the depth of one and ended up with my bottom half wet for the ride home. Beyond the beach, the town is quaint. They had a “cones & candy” shop that I could smell across the street (the amount of self-control I’ve had to exercise this trip…) as well as other fun specialty shops like a quilt shop and a kite shop.



Then I made it to Mercer Island where I’m staying with my friend Riley’s parents. Right now I’m paging through (yes, paging; there are 8 pages in this stack) activities to do in the city tomorrow. I’m sure I’ll keep you updated on what I decide to do:)
Some fun things from today:
- I saw another VA license plate today! However, it was a Honda Odyssey so that means it was most definitely a rental.
- I missed a prime opportunity to take a picture of Gene in Eugene hahaha get it I was still bummed I missed it.
- People in Oregon really honor the “keep right unless passing” rule here. Whenever the road splits from one lane to two, cars immediately go into the right lane. I guess people are taught to avoid the left lane, and it has nothing to do with my tailgating and blaring my horn.
- I passed not one, not two, not three, oh actually, I lost count… there are a lot of Christmas tree farms up here! And a lot of food farms, but I liked seeing all the little baby Christmas trees around. Although I suppose we don’t have a lot of time left. Five months to go people!!
- Perhaps most importantly, I saw about 374 dogs and ONE pig (!!!) on the beach today! (S)he looked happy to be out and about and enjoying the water.

TT4N
Catherine
