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