Travel Log Day 2

July 7

Don't you just love logging trucks! ('...if you need logs over there, and you need logs over here?....)

Oregon morning, the fragrance of trees and clear air, and ruggedness. It was quiet this morning as we left Roseberg and pointed our car North. North, The Northwest, unique in it's appeal. The magnitude of trees, fir, and cedar, oaks, and poplars, giant towering pines line the highway as sentinels as we drive. The highway leads us over creeks and rivers, wide and small, it cuts through mountains and across the grassy flat lands. Green, unending varieties of green, and blue sky, a few white innocent clouds, the landscape continues to change as the hills begin to drop away to more open plains. We pass through the popular towns quickly, Albany, Eugene, Salem, so different than the elongated state of California. And finally, my home town, Portland; the great Willamette River meets the greater Columbia river, a port town, though miles from the Pacific Ocean, ships of all sizes lining the banks, only to be out done by the numerous bridges and tall skyscrapers.

Today it is well known for being 'green', and eco-friendly; the top city in the nation for bicyclists, (really? Don't you know it rains 360 days a year!) But I sense the pull of roots here. I haven't lived here in over 40 years, yet I feel it, the 'I know this place', but, I really don't. This is not the town where my memories of childhood rest or where my grandparents lived; with the commotion of cars and people everywhere. My memories of this town are of a by-gone era, of playing outside until dark, running the streets with neighbor kids, of the basement and horse corrals, the braying of Henrietta and an apple orchard! Wait! I love it!

We have to wait for a 'lift' bridge!

So cool! Over the bridge and into Washington, Seattle here we come!
We arrived in Seattle, blue sky and fluffy white clouds! The Seattle skyline! Beautiful! Such a gorgeous city.

( okay it was over cast the first day, but it was still incredible! Writers license!) Found our hotel, after driving in circles and then off to Chuck and Chris's! I've not been in west Seattle, and it IS actually west of Seattle proper! So, ok, I think I could live in their house, at least in their basement! A view!

Incredible, over looking Vashon Island and the ferry terminal below, mesmerizing to sit on the deck and watch the ferry's and barges going by. Fortunately, we had water view places at the dinning room table!

A full day, good driving time, left Roseberg about 9 am and checked into our hotel a little before 3pm. And the gas prices for the day and a half trip? A little more than my grandparents, $59.24, more like $157.02! and our hotel room? Not $8.00, but $134.02. Does it count if that includes a full breakfast?

(sorry can't figure out how to rotate the photo!)

(side side note...one of the extras is 'Disneyland' $5.00!!!!!!)