07.21.11 - NW California to SW Oregon
We awoke early in Arcata to a haze of fog and began our journey north up the coast. Moonstone beach was as magnificent as the name sounds. It was impossible to tell where the fog ended and the white sand beach began.
We spent some time wandering around, checking out the tide pools, entranced by the eerie atmosphere created by the fog. Hours went by as we then cruised slowly up the coast stopping at every beach on the way. Eventually the fog cleared and we received some even more exquisite views.
Our first major stop for the day for some hiking was in Prairie Canyon State Park. We were promised by our Couchsurfer the night before that we would see Elk, and wouldn’t you know it, we got the royal treatment with no less than 15 elk cows and bucks along the beach. It was astounding getting close and snapping photos, taking in their full majesty. I didn’t even know we had elk in California!
The hike we then embarked on took us through a stunning canyon covered wall to wall in flowing ferns and wispy waterfalls. It was a great little hike.
We left the park particularly satisfied in all we’ve seen already today. As we drove we discussed the possibilities for camping tonight when we came to a bridge covered in people looking excitedly over the edge. At first we assumed people were merely excited about the view of the wide river, though it did not seem particularly astounding. I then spied a spout shoot out of the water, and reconsidered that theory. We parked and walked back to discover a grey whale and her baby had managed to swim upriver from the ocean outlet and was now swimming back and forth under the bridge. They may have come in at high tide and gotten caught in the river.
After plenty of time spent in awe of this creature, we got back in the car and soon hit the Oregon border. The evening ended viewing a gorgeous sunset behind a lighthouse on a hill near our campsite.
07.22.11 – Eugene Bound
The trip along the Oregon coast to Bend was more and more beauty. Along the way we turned off into an ultra-cute little port town named Bandon. We enjoyed some kitschy shops, crab sandwich and clam chowder, wandered the docks, grabbed some toffee and headed out.
We arrived in Eugene to our college friend Christina’s house in the afternoon. She rents a room in an amazing house with a huge garden in a neighborhood so choked by plants you feel you are still in the woods while walking the streets. For the evening we went with some of her friends to a bluegrass show with the aptly named “Water Tower Bucket Boys” who are really just four hipsters dressed in olde tyme clothes, playing olde tyme music. It was surprisingly fun, some good beer and dancing was enjoyed by all. The night ended with a long walk home late at night with the streets still bustling with bicyclists and tipsy party-goers.
More to come about Eugene and our journey to Bend, Portland, Seattle and beyond. It is a great trip thus far, sorry I am a tad behind in writing, there is simply so much to do!
As always the pictures we take can be found in our Flickr albums at:
http://flickr.com/flufflebuns/sets
Although I usually like photos including people, the fog and lighthouse pics are wonderful!