Road Trip Gone Wrong

Determined to hike somewhere it wasn't pouring this past weekend, Morgan and I decided to drive as far as it took to find a somewhat dry spot to hike.  We made a spur-of-the-moment decision to go to one of my bucket list places to hike, the Painted Hills.   According to Google Maps, it was a little over four hours away and since we were getting a late start, we quickly packed up our gear, grabbed Cole and jumped in the car to hit the road.

We drove on I-84 east along the Columbia River Gorge in the pouring rain which made for treacherous driving.  Ruts worn by car tires and slightly sunken spots in the road had collected water and would drastically slow or try to change the direction of our car as we hit them.  After about two hours, we finally came upon the exit for highway 97 which would lead us to highway 206. For awhile, a whole lot of nothing was all we had to look at except for giant rolling hills, barren of any kind of tree or shrub.  Much to my surprise though, we quickly came upon Cottonwood Canyon State Park, another place that is on my "must hike" list.  Had we known what was to come of our destination road trip, we would have stopped and hiked there that day.  Or, at minimum, I would have stopped to get a few photos.  Unfortunately I did not know any better and continued on.

Herd of cows, note the tumble weed

In our hurry to get out of the house, I did a quick glance at the Google map and saw that highway 206 should have taken us pretty much all the way to the Painted Hills.  I figured my GPS could get us the last bit there and so we left, without much navigation planning.  Morgan had downloaded the directions on his cell so regardless of signal, which we knew we would lose as we got closer to our destination, we would know where we were supposed to go.  The problem though is that his directions were not coinciding with what I saw on the computer before we left.  I decided to consult the GPS and typed in "Painted Hills".  Soon, Painted Hills State Park popped up and I figured that had to be where we wanted to go.  I selected that as our destination but after 20  minutes of driving I noticed that our new time of arrival was still over an hour away.  I knew that couldn't be right. Even with our stop for a quick lunch earlier, we should have been much closer than that.  At one point, we came upon a group of cows being herded by people on horseback down the highway.  We strolled along behind the herd at about 3mph until eventually they were all on one half of the road and we could slowly pass, not before a tumbleweed rolled by though.  Several more miles down the road, we came across the marker for the 45th parallel and couldn't resist the photo opportunity.

We kept driving and driving.  Not knowing where we were and being in the middle of nothingness with no cell service or place to stop for directions, we decided to continue on highway 19 and follow  the GPS directions. Highway19 turned to 207 which turned to 26 and then the GPS had pointed us to a dead end.  With no other options for navigation and the sun beginning to set, we had no choice but to head home, defeated and virtually pictureless.  We made a quick bathroom stop at a snow park off highway 26 in the Mount Hood wilderness where Cole enjoyed eating some snow, the first he has seen this winter outside of Wisconsin.  I guess he misses it although I do not share the same sentiment.  Very soon after getting back on the road, all daylight was gone and the rain picked up, making our drive over the usually beautiful Mount Hood much scarier.  I hadn't picked up tire-chains yet so I could do nothing but hope that the rain would not turn to snow before we could get to a lower elevation on the other side.

After what seemed like forever of white-knuckle driving, we made it over the mountain range without incident and decided to stop for a much needed break in Sandy where we enjoyed a Thai dinner.  About ten hours, and 423 miles after we had set out earlier that day, we finally arrived home, exhausted and pictureless.  When consulting the Google map on my computer once again, I saw just how close we came to the Painted Hills, it was just about 6 miles from where we had turned onto highway 26. I now know exactly where we went wrong but there is nothing I can do at this point from my home in Portland.  There is nothing to do now but try again, another time. 

So what did I learn from this experience?  First, impromptu road trips are not my style.  I'm a planner and when I stick to what I do well (planning), my adventures usually end up going (somewhat) as desired.  There is a certain thrill that comes with throwing the plan away sometimes though and just going where the road takes you.  In this case, I think a good old-fashioned road atlas would be hugely helpful especially when technology fails, as it so often does.  Also, I will be making the tire-chain purchase a top priority before my next long-distance excursion.  Lastly, I need to make myself take the time to stop and get photos along the way, even when I'm working on a timeline.  The landscape was so beautiful on this trip so much of the time and it saddens me that I have no photographic souvenirs to show for it. Live and learn and then try again; wise words to live by.

To see a collection of my photography, please click here. 

Coastal Beginnings

Cape Perpetua

A new year, time for reflection on the year that has just passed and a look forward to what is yet to come.  It's a good time to set new goals or an opportunity to recommit to old ones.  Anything is possible.  You don't necessarily need a new year to start anew but it seems like a natural time to me.

Day one of my new year began with a trip to the coast.  Morgan, Cole and I hopped in my new-to-me car early Thursday morning and drove southwest from Portland to the central Oregon coast.  It seems no matter which route you take to the coast, they are all full of beautiful landscapes of mountainous hillsides, giant trees, horse pastures and dotted with a few charming small towns.  In some ways, it reminds me of home.  Certain parts are like driving through the back roads in northern Wisconsin where my grandfather used to live, surrounded by trees and weaving through curvy roads illuminated by the sun's rays that barely manage to cut through the foliage.  In other ways, it's a world of difference, the elevation changes in Wisconsin are nothing compared to those here in Oregon.  I love coming around a bend in the road or over the top of a hill and suddenly being met with a magnificent view of giant sloping of hillsides, covered in enormous trees, as far as can be seen.

Strawberry Hill

Once on the coast, we stopped in Yachats for lunch at the Drift Inn.  Colorful globed lamps and painted umbrellas hung from the ceiling while brightly colored art adorned the walls.  There were many appealing options on the menu, making it difficult to choose just one thing.  Once we finished with our lunch, we drove a bit more south to Cape Perpetua, a 2,700 acre section of the coast with wonderful natural features to explore.  We parked by Devil's Churn and hiked south on the trail to Spouting Horn, stopping to explore tide pools along the way.  

After leaving Cape Perpetua, we checked into a charming room at the Fireside Inn, a motel close to the beach in Yachats.  Before dinner, we walked to the beach to watch the sun set amid the cool, fresh air.  At the nearby Adobe Resort, we enjoyed a feast of sauteed mushrooms, seafood and cocktails.  From our table, the view of the ocean and beach, still glowing from the setting sun, was a special added touch to our dining experience.  

The next morning, we made a quick stop again at Cape Perpetua as it was high tide and a perfect opportunity to see Thor's Well.  Afterward, we went further south, stopping at Strawberry Hill before arriving at Heceta Beach to explore the rock-speckled shore.  The beach curved up along a river that flowed under a bridge surrounded by moss covered trees and a few pockets of water froze on the sand.  We climbed an old tree that had fallen and created a sort of bridge over the river.  Once done there, we drove north to Newport to visit a bookstore we had heard good things about, Canyon Way Bookstore.  Afterward, we grabbed some lunch at Pig N Pancake and then found our way to Devil's Punchbowl.  Unfortunately, the friendly little squirrels that had been there during my previous visit the summer before must have left with the tourists because not one could be found anywhere. Though we did manage to sneak in a quick visit to a nearby viewpoint off the Otter Crest Loop before the last light of day disappeared.

As I was saying, a new year is a good time to set new goals and part of what I want to make a priority this year is getting my to-do list organized.  There are a plethora of places I want to hike and with my new car, I'm now able to more easily get away on the weekends and hike the trails around Portland, in the Gorge, by Mount Hood, on the coast and in the central Cascades area. There's an ever-growing list of books I want to read and music I want to listen to.  I want to setup my first official photography website and spend more time growing my photography skills.  Now that my job and home are settled, I want to work on meeting new people and hopefully make some good friends here. Before I know it, it will be closing in on 2016 so I better get going.  I hope you will follow along as I embark on these next adventures!!

Viewpoint from Otter Crest Loop
 

 To see more photos from my nature adventures, click here. 

A Look Back at 2014

Fort Stevens State Park, Oregon

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe."  
~ Anatole France

For the last several years, I had dreamed of moving to Oregon.  As time passed, that desire grew and grew until one day, I couldn't fathom the idea of staying away any longer.  This year, the stars seemed to align to point the way, the time was right. 

A relationship that I thought was going somewhere and worth staying put in Wisconsin for ended unexpectedly.  Not too long after that, my grandfather lost his battle with Alzheimer's and passed away.  At his funeral, I saw a slide show of photos from throughout his life and they had a strong, introspective impact on me.  What would my "slideshow" look like when I reached the end of my road?  Growing more dispassionate for the non-profit work that I once poured my heart and soul into and also wanting a better work-life balance, I began to wonder if the time had come.  Should I make the move? 

I had just completed planning and executing the most successful fundraiser in my company's history.  I had also been contracted to coordinate a four day summer festival for the Verona Chamber of Commerce. The extra income from those two events made it possible to invest in a new DSLR camera, something I couldn't imagine moving to Oregon without.  It also left enough money to finance a cross-country move.  I decided to make my dream come true, to get myself to the life I knew with every fiber of my being was waiting for me in Oregon. 

The drive from Wisconsin to Oregon was long but beautiful.  There's something so peaceful to me about a long drive: music going, my dog by my side and the wide open winding, road.  Iowa was fairly uneventful other than some giant, unidentifiable bugs I saw flying around at one of the gas stations.  I drove through a spectacular thunderstorm in Nebraska.  Wyoming was wide open, speckled with some rocky points here and there.  My jaw dropped at the majesty of the Utah mountains.  Southern Idaho was fairly uneventful.  All of my Oregon drive was spectacular with mountains, rivers and small towns all along the way. 

Once in Oregon, things continued to come together perfectly.  I found an amazing job with a wonderful company in Portland.  Shortly thereafter, I met Morgan, a surprisingly good match for me and my sense of adventure.  I found a wonderful downtown apartment right by the Willamette River and just a short train, bike ride or walk away from work. The ease and speed in which these events came together only strengthens what I already knew to be true:  this is exactly where I am meant to be. 

South Beach State Park, Oregon

I've done lots of exploring in Oregon since I arrived in late June.  From Latourell Falls and Mosier Creek in the Gorge to Sauvie Island just north of Portland to Jones Creek in the Tillamook National Forest.  Of course I've been to the coast, everything from Cannon Beach on up to Cape Disappointment (in Washington) down to Bandon and Gold Beach for a 4th of July trip.  I camped with a friend at Fort Stevens State Park near Astoria and visited Ecola State Park, Rockaway Beach, Hug Point, Manhattan Beach, South Beach State Park with Morgan.  In the Mount Hood area, I hiked a trail up to Tamanawas Falls, ate dinner at Timberline Lodge where I could see the peak of Mount Jefferson from and also did a short hike to Little Zig Zag Falls.  I did several trips into Washington and saw Mount Saint Helens and the magnificent Mount Rainier.  I also met up with a Wisconsin friend in Bellevue and did an overnight work trip in Seattle. 

Other notable events happened this year too.  One of the photos I submitted to a local coast publication's photo contest made the top ten.  In early December, I made a trip home to Wisconsin for an early Christmas celebration with my immediate family and visited with friends in Madison.  Just this past week, I purchased my very own car, ending my four years of no-car streak.

I believe this past year to be one of the hardest yet one of the most rewarding years of my life to date.  I have taken away so much that will impact my life in the years to come.  Some of the challenges I took on this year proved that I am capable of so much more than I may think possible of myself.  I proved that the unknown is not something to be afraid of, that taking risks is essential to following your dreams.  When you listen to your intuition, you will always be making the right decision. 

In 2015, I'm looking forward to living a more authentic life, making new friends, staying connected to old ones, growing my photography and to more Pacific Northwest outdoor adventures.

Netarts Bay, Oregon

"We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure.  There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open." 

~ Jawaharlal Nehru

To see more photos from this past year, please click here.