Alright. So we've had a few complaints and no one seems to know who or what the Banshee is. Here's the down low. In Irish mythology, the Banshee is a female fairy spirit who appears and cries a mourning call to those who will die in the near future. Our Banshee, however, is not nearly as foreboding or caustic as all that, she is merely the wrecked little green Subaru that is taking us down the coast. Here is a picture of her majesty:

In other news, we've been camping for three nights straight and despite being rather dirty, we've stayed some of the most wonderful and lovely campgrounds the coast has to offer. The first night after drying out in the hotel, we made it a bit further south to Humbug National Park in Oregon. The campsite is right off the highway and just around the corner from the beach. In fact, you walk right under an old bridge that is a part of 101 to get there. We spent quite a lot of time playing in the sand and watching the waves.

After a lovely last evening in Oregon, we packed up early and drove across the state boarder into California. The past two days we've spent in the Elk Prairie State Park, in the heart of one of the more northern nationally protected redwood parks. Yesterday, we hopped into town for coffee at a dive of a restaurant and then took a long hike in the park. During our adventure, we happened upon a big bull elk, munching bushes and brush in a grove. While we were a mere 50-60 yards away, he seemed unaware, or rather unconcerned about our intrusion into his kitchen. We left him after a good ten minutes of observation to continue down the trail. However, the recent presence of elk in the area was not lost on us, as with every other step, Ben or Molly would slide in a pile of fresh and ever present elk poop.

When we got back to camp, it was agreed that the only way to truly experience the beauty and grandure of the red woods was to take a long, rambling hike into the depths of the forest, and spend some quality time with the trees. These giants that take up so much of our imagination are every bit as wonderful and big as you might expect. 

Today dawned sunny (finally!) and hot. We're sitting in the same little dive of a diner, after having just finished breakfast and preparing ourselves for the last little bit of drive south.  Disc golf and relaxing in the warmth is at the top of the agenda list, so we had better get moving. 

Love to all!

Ben and Molly

Hi everyone!

Well, it has been quite a while since the last post, and quite a lot has happened! Here are a few more pictures from Orcas Island. 

From top to bottom: Chickens on Bright Meadow Farm, Ben standing on a cliff in the fog on Mt. Constitution, piggies on Bright Meadow Farm

 

Since Orcas, we've been to Anacortes to visit Molly's great aunt, Marysville to visit her mom's side of the family and Seattle to see Hillary and Emily (two of Molly's good friends from home). Now, we've begun our journey down the coast on highway 101! We drove to the southern end of Washington state the first night, and camped out on the side of the road. The following morning, we drove into Astoria, Oregon, a medium sized town on the Washington/Oregon border. We had an excellent breakfast in a diner on the Oregon side of the Colombia river and then took a stroll through town.

  

from top to bottom: The calf on Bright Meadow Farm (for Pam), Molly and her grandmother at her apartment in Marysville, a madrona tree at the beach on Orcas Island

Following breakfast and the stroll, we drove further down the coast, stopping at whatever rest areas struck our fancy. Among our detours were Arcadia beach, where we searched for sand dollars, and climbed on ancient volcanic rock and Tillamook, Oregon, home of the Tillamook creamery -- we couldn't resist stopping to check out the museum and get some Tillamook icecream. That night, we made it all the way to Lincoln City, where we camped at a camping and RV rest stop. 

  

from top to bottom: pigeons sitting on the break chairs behind the diner in Astoria, Arcadia beach in the mist, Molly standing in the crack of a volcanic rock on Arcadia beach

The rest stop was well maintained and the care taker sweet. All would have gone perfectly, were it not for the storm that blew in around 2am. We woke up in the morning, soggy, tired and sore from the gravel underneath the tent. Once again, we found ourselves dealing with wet gear and sleep deprivation. Damp and dirty, the two of us trekked to the camp showers, only to find they were coin operated and only ran for a mere five minutes, before abruptly shutting off and asking for more money. Well, at 50 cents a pop, it wasn't a bad deal, until you found yourself shivering, covered in soap suds and standing in a freezing shower stall that wouldn't produce water until you walked out and stuck some more coins in the machine.

Finally, after several times each, getting in and out to shove coins in and rinse off, we were clean and dry, and ready to hit the road. From Lincoln City, we took our time driving to Florence, OR with several more stops along the way. Our best stop was at the sea lion caves on the beach. To get there, you drive to the top of a cliff, towering above the waves and dropping off the side of a mountain. The entrance is in a gaudy little gift shop, perched precariously at the top of the cliff. After buying your tickets, you, walk down a winding staircase to a long ramp that ends with an elevator. Once in the elevator, you watch the level drop from 0 to 200 feet. Finally, 200 feet down the side of the cliff, the doors slide open and reveal a deep cave that ends in crashing waves and darkness. Unfortunately, it's not mating season and there were no sea lions to be seen.  However, we were the only people there, and we got a great up close look at the empty cave.

 

from top to bottom: "Du Drops" at a roadside art gallery, the empty sea lion cave.

Tonight, we're in a cheap hotel room in Florence, drying out our sleeping bags, tent and shoes. Hopefully tomorrow will dawn dry and rested. Despite our mishaps, things are going well! The Banchee (our car) is running great, we haven't lost anything and we're well ahead of schedule. Thanks to all the friends and family we've stayed with and heard from lately, and we wish everyone good health and happiness!

XOXOXO,

Molly and Ben

Hi all! Here's a post chock full of pictures. Today dawned sunny and clear, so we attempted to go up Mount Constitution to actually see the view this time. Once again, however, just as we reached the top, clouds rolled in and the fog was so thick we couldn't see anything. =( Maybe it just isn't meant to be.  In any case, we hope you enjoy these!

An old beached boat in Juneau - out Thane

Our pumpkins! - carved in Juneau the night before leaving

On the ferry to Bellingham

A seafood store in Ketchikan (one of the stops along the way to Bellingham)

On the ferry to Orcas Island

A sign in the woods on the trail up Mt. Constitution

Blackberries along the highway on Orcas - mmmm!

Howdy! and Progress So Far

Hi all!

We thought this would be an easy and efficient way for us to keep in touch with/update all our friends and family as we travel down the west coast and eventually make it to Hawaii...so here goes!

We left Juneau on the night of the 12th and took a three day, four night "poor man's cruise" down to Bellingham, WA on the Malaspina (one of the ferries on the Alaska Marine Highway System). The ride went smoothly with stops in Sitka, Wrangell and Petersberg, until Ketchikan where Ben acquired food poisoning and Molly developed a bladder infection. Yuck. After a visit to the hospital for antibiotics, a very uncomfortable night and a disagreeable day, we both began to recover and spent our last day happily wandering the ferry and watching movies.

The ferry docked at 7:ooam Alaska time in Bellingham, and we drove off and down to Anacortes, where we got a wonderful breakfast and then caught the Yakima (one of the Washington State Ferries) over to Orcas Island. Which brings us to the present! Ben and Molly are currently staying at Bright Meadow Farm with Ruthie (Molly's god mother), Abby (Molly's god sister) and Dean (Ruthie's husband).

Today, we drove into town and went to the farmer's market to get cooking supplies. As is to be expected, we got distracted and also visited Crow Valley Pottery, the book/coffee shop and a variety of other places. After that, we drove half-way up Mount Constitution and hiked the last two miles to the observation tower. As we were coming down the mountain, dark clouds rolled in, the heavens opened and thunder and lightning boomed and flashed around us. We made it back to the car, soaking, but still smiling and rumbled down the road back to Bright Meadow.

In keeping with tradition, Molly cooked Dominican rice and beans this evening and we all munched Newman-Os for desert. Yum. Now it's off to a movie and then bed. 

Here's hoping everyone is healthy, happy and well-loved. More soon!

Love,

Molly and Ben ~ xoxoxo