leavin' my Home State

out of state, out of mind
Heading south on Hwy 101,
As you first get to Florence, at 37th & Hwy 101 is Kathleen and Nina's, two sisters.
Speaking of pies, they make great pies, two charming caring people, Dad's there,too. Opened two years ago on May 11th. Regular breakfast, at the right price, I drink all the milk they had, and they charged me $.25, money can't buy the love like here. Someone called while I was there, wondering what pies they were making that day. Coconut Cream was the request. The pie maker here has the cleanest hands around.
Stopped in Bandon, looking to post this blog. The Bandon Creamery is gone, Tillamook bought them out, fired the help and left town. Now I know why Tillamook smelled the way it did.
Good eats here, Wild Rose Cafe and cranberry everything. Great golf, too. Pricey!
Port Orford, only port in the US with an anti-Patriot resolution, as well as the town, too.
Stopped at the Wild Winds Cafe, 10 till 2pm, closes at 2pm, they said they are cleaning, they let me sit awhile longer. Thx! The owners daugther and I talked about wandering.
Lots of folks here, trying to make it, in an isolated areas while it's getting tougher for the working poor to survive.
Down past the Rouge River, Gold Beach to Brookings. Gas has been about $2.99, Brooking $3.07.
Into California, pass Cresent City, Patriot Gas regular only $3.49, ain't that patriotic.
Into the Del Norte Redwoods, was at 65mpg, till that last hill.
Camping in Del Norte Coast Redwood SP, Mill Creek, 2nd growth redwoods, all the old-growth has been cut down, only 4% remain in the world. I believe we need timber, just not old-growth, is there hope for our forests? Do you have a plan?63.9 mpg, 209.9 miles traveled

Down the Coast

Last night, the motel manager told me to pay at the cafe the next morning, plus you get free coffee, H & H cafe, South Bend. The waitress took my money, cleaned my dirty thermus, filled it with coffee, someone please tip her for me, my back. I owe her!
(Passed though the cafe on my last leg, it's closed!)
I passed the spot where recently, a fellow solo wanderer got caught in the mud flats, trying to get to a little island, he lost his life. Why do we make the choices we do?
On to Seaview and Long Beach, eat at the 42nd Street Bistro, I highly recommend this place. The chef had worked at the Shoalwater up the street, before opening her own.
Rumors that the Shelburne Inn and the Shoalwater are moving to Astoria.
And the Ark sold, the gals split up. it's a tuff buz for couples.
an older fellow been digging clams since 1946, said this years one of the best ever.
To Astoria, it's a town in recovery,people doing the right things here. Restaurants to check out are:
Fulio's Pasteria and Silver Salmon Grille, both within walking distance.
Would love to have a beer at Mary Todd's Workers Bar.
Down the coast, within an hour of Kim & Jeff's farm, left turn on Hwy 26, I'm back.
Back to being to close to home, have I left?
(it was very strange to be so close to home, still in my first week of my journey, it took until I got into sunshine and the redwoods to feel comfortable with choice to wander)
Down Hwy 101 South, past beauty, I know to too well.
I wanted to eat at the Otis Cafe in Otis or Blackfish in Lincoln City, I chose the later, they close on Tuesday. Onward! Hungry.
Past Gracie's Famous Sea Hag in Depoe Bay, the bar is better than the food.
I will try the Rouge Brewery, located over the bay bridge on the docks, great beer, great food, distracted service, not good when hungery. They have a $14.95 burger that looked worth the $, I eat beer batter Fish & Chips, excellent!
While in Newport, check out Nye Beach, cool area.

Cape Perpetua, old WW11 look out, views 37 miles out to 75 miles down the coast.
Lane County, stopped at George Washburn State Park. 30 years ago, I went to this park. The wind picked up, walking on the beach, gulls where using the coastal cliffs and shrubs to fly into the wind, cutting back & forth, like a sailor using the wind. Slowly they moved,they asked me "what you looking at."
30 years to come back to the same place!
Cold night, I need to get out of my home state.
63.4 mpg, 241 miles

to wander down the west coast

to wander about

May 1
it's time to leave my comfort behind. Am I ready, do I really want to go?
I had to go, one more time to the Streamliner Diner, my fav cook was working.
A beautiful blonde, great pan work, excellent food, makes me want breakfast every day, there!
My first day, off to Cape Flattery, the most western point in the lower 48.
Off to views of the Olympics, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Canada.
Beautiful day,finally. The NW has had a cool wet winter and spring.
Where's Joyce, thier little country store has everything from plumbing parts to the world's largest candy display. Mix of proud country folks, native people. I can tell, one one's rich here.
The road is very windy. Lots of dreams for sale.
To Neah Bay, home of the Makah Nation, the people here made the news because they wished to continue thier tribal traditions, which include hunting whales.
In the cultural museum they show thier proud history, how they have lived long before, America was a nation. Do we have the right to tell them how to live?
Do new immigrants have the right to tell us how to live?
Spectacular Cape Flattery!


Off again, where to stop, camp tonight?
Hoh center, good history of the rain forest.
Stopped at the Hard Rain Cafe, run by a German couple with 2 energtic boys.
Grilled Cheese sandwich, needed butter, please don't toast, please pan-fry.
Pushed past Humptulips, that did't take long! Never Does.
Pass Hoquiam, and Aberdeen, old work towns, it shows. Poor Curt. we miss you.
On to South Bend to a friendly $30 room.
Too Long a day.
390.6 miles, 60.3 mpg
Go Skate!

Bainbridge Island April 27-30, the first time

Bainbridge Island April 27-30
Who would not want to go home to Bainbridge Island, to “Paradise “ everyday.
Thom and Maureen have a house on Grow Ave. be here 3 years, working on an old house.
Nice to be here , getting ready to wander.
First the native Americans came by canoe to hunt and fish, then in the 1800’s settlers came. Only access was by boat or canoe.
Farms,lumber mills,dairies and the early Japanese settlers planted strawberrys, many were sent away during WW11, many people on the island were very sensitized by our country's actions and supported thier Japanese nieghbors.
In 1950 a bridge was built on the back side of the island, then the mosquito fleet would bring people and things, then the ferry system.
The population steadily grew.
Grow ave, is where Thom and Maureen call’home’.


Seems the city wants to widen thier street for cars to go to and from to the ferry. Most locals work in Seattle, or stay at home to work or raise the kids
Then on weekends and nice weather days tourists or people wanting to live the island life in this Boutiqese community.
They roll there cars and themselves down the hill like water to the sound.
Forks aways moving to their destination or chillin’ the island life.
Their island is perfect.
We spent part of a day walking up and down Grow Ave. measuring, exciting neighbors of the big news, the city going to do what it dawn well please. You work, they plan.
Beautiful place, Discovered!!
Reminds me of John Prine’s song about Mr. Peabody’s coal train done hailed ‘Paradise’
Away.
Mr. Peabody is Mr. Caldwell banker.today!
But people seem happy here.

Food on the Island is great, lots of choices.
My fav is the Streamliner Diner, great for breakfast all day, done right, consistence, good.
Biscuits and Gravy $4, you may need a nap afterwards.
Other great places: Blackbird Bakery, Bainbridge bakery,yummy good pastry, then the Public House for the best pub food on the docks, Vincenti’s for great pizza.
I took M & T for dinner at Café Nola, creative plate combos, little pricey for me,I hear the locals go to the Four Swallows for fancy, 'o my', but one last person off my Earl list.
Don't forget Pegasus Coffee House, as billed 'still the hot spot for local color',and for film a great one-screen theater the Historic Lynwood.
Leaving May 1 to wander.
When is a condo in your back yard useful?

Starting Over

My 1st day, On the road April 26th
I have lived on or around Hwy 47 in Oregon for the past 10 years, been in Oregon since May 13th, 1977. it was a Friday.I am taking a long road trip, circling America in a 2000 Honda Insight. I will be posting often, making notes of the day traveled, local food, and local politics.Wildwood Cafe, 319 N.Baker Street., McMinnville a great little cafe, serves wonderful breakfast and lunch.Biscuits & Gravy, Homemade bread & jam, good selection of omelets,organic coffee, lots of vegi options. decent prices,too.Lunch there good soups, fresh-cut fries, burgers using local grass fed, free range beef. Reuben, melts, cold and hot sandwiches, salads, too.That gets you going to Hwy 47 and beyond.April 26Car's name is Skate112,968 miles driven. Life in the country, does require some driving.Hwy 47 is some of the most beautiful country I have seen, not taken anything away from all the places I plan to visit.
Here we go!!!turning left out of Kim Wick and Jeff Ward 10 acre farm, they have been kind enough to let me stay with them, while trying to finish the stupidish thing I have been a part of, a divorce. It's not wise to be stubborn, if so, the lawyers will love you.Light drizzle, Oregon Sunshine.I never have turned left out of their driveway, my life has been to go right to the western valley, Portland and south on Hwy 47. Like water I have been going downstream.Vernonia12.5 miles north, the Nehalem River runs though this town, almost took it downriver in the Great flood of 1996. 10 churches listed at the gateway, welcoming you. Nice little rural town.Hwy 47 winds and winds to the bottom, where you find the Columbia River and the town of Clatskanie. Stopped for gas, $2.89, in Oregon, other people pump your gas, yeah!the attend told me the motorcyclist that fly up and down this road call it "the Spine of the Dragon".Clatskanie to Westport, taking the ferry across, only one I know on the Columbia.Ferry's name is Wahkiakum, been crossing since 1964, then another ferry before that.Washington side, town of Cathletamet, State road 409 to Hwy #4, runs from Longview to Hwy # 101, little towns, Skamokawa, sign says" Go Mules", then Gray's River, not sure if it's a town, but they have an Irish Pub, need to go back. Then Rosburg, then side road to Altoona, the same spot Lewis & Clark group said " we are all wet and disagreeable"


then they went to Oregon for more of the same. Ave. Rainfall 120"On to Hwy #101, great road, more later.Hungry need to stop, found a local spot north of Willipa, S. of Aberden called Clark'swww.clarksrestaurant.comGiant Hamburgers, fresh thick w/skins french fries, home made ice cream, the Best milkshake I have had in years, home made soups and pies, with a counter to sit at,too.Full and sleepy, the food and the road.Onward to see Maureen and Tom on Bainbridge Island, to start this blog, r&r, time to do stuff I need to do, like set up the tent before I am on the North Washington coast with the wind.Hwy # 107 to #12 to #108 to #101 again, it loops the Olympic Mountains,
then to #3which at 6pm puts you going the right direction, since the other way is everyone commuting off the ferry home on this island, they seem happy and removed and going home. Not sure I could do this, but I have been driving a good distance to work and back fir some time. I guess it's all relative.Day 1, Skate performed better than expected, 63.2 mpg/ 264.6 miles in 8 hours.