It was great to escape the heat, dust, and chaos that is my normal life these days.  Oregon was everything I hoped for and more.  The Pacific air brought back many good memories and made me yearn again to live near this amazing coast.

The weather was perfect, the water was cold, and the seafood abundant.

My blood is too thick for the southern plains and this trip was an excellent respite from the drying winds of the Llano Estacado.

We spent three days just walking on the beaches and retreating to the woods to camp with little concern for the outside world.  The rest of the time we ventured around northwest Oregon and southwest Washington and just generally loafing about.

Debris from Japan was apparent on the shore and hinted at a tragic but interesting story.

It was great to travel with friends who know the region and could steer us in the right direction to get the most out of our short visit.

Twenty years ago I was certain that I would spend my life in the Pacific Northwest.  Events transpired, or failed to, to allow this to happen and I have been drifting in the west for a long time now.  Every time I see and smell the Pacific, I’m ready to settle down and grow some moss.

It is certainly a rugged beauty but in a bountiful land.

I will definitely be back.  Hopefully without too much delay.