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 On the Road Again On June 8, 2001, after two months of preparation, I finally left for my two-month drive around the U.S. I said goodbye to my dad and my sister, Doti, then hopped in my truck and headed down Interstate 5 towards Seattle. As I drove south, I thought about how good it felt to be on the road again, just me and my truck. I felt like the king of the world in the movie "Titanic" – or maybe the king of the road.
Driving through Seattle can be pretty nasty during rush hour, but I hit it around noon and before I knew it, I was on the other side. South of Seattle, I cut over to U.S. Highway 101, which is my favorite highway in America. The Washington section of Highway 101, though on the coast, really isn't that interesting but the scenery improves considerably after you cross over the Columbia River Bridge and head into Astoria, Oregon. Astoria, I believe, is one of the most fascinating smaller towns in America, largely because of its geography lying at the mouth of the Columbia River. And even better, it's where "The Goonies" was filmed.
If I had had more time I would've gone up to the Astoria Column, which offers one of the most spectacular views of the Oregon coast. But it was late in the afternoon, so instead I made a quick stop at the Fred Meyer grocery store to get stocked up with supplies. From there, it was on to one of my favorite campgrounds, at nearby Fort Stevens State Park, where I cooked up my favorite camping dinner: brats (as in Johnsonville bratwurst) and beans. It's certainly not the last time, I was sure, that I'd eat brats and beans on this trip.
The next morning I drove a few miles over to Fort Clatsop, where Lewis and Clark spent a soggy winter in 1805 after they had reached the Pacific Ocean during their incredible overland journey from St. Louis. I spent a couple hours there, then continued down the spectacular U.S. Highway 101, known here as the Oregon Coast Highway. I spent the next two days driving the entire length of the highway, all 363 miles of it, and enjoyed every minute.
I've driven down the Oregon Coast Highway dozens of times in my life but have never gotten tired of it. The Oregon coast, with its endless miles of sandy beaches and rocky headlands, is absolutely beautiful and the drive is wonderful. It's wonderful, that is, until you get stuck behind some slow-poke RV, which I did many times.
I've put together a few pages with my Highway 101 Travel Tips, which I've posted here:
Above left: My sister Doti and my dad in Bellingham, Washington the evening before I left on my trip. I don't have many commitments – no wife, kids, house, or pets – but I do have some plants, which have surrounded Doti. She's been kind enough to care for them during my absence. Thanks Doti! Above right: The pleasant coastal town of South Bend, Washington on Highway 101.
Above left: Camping at Fort Stevens State Park near the mouth of the Columbia River, during the first night of my trip. I cooked up some brats (as in bratwurst) for dinner – the first of many such meals, I'm sure! Above right: The bow section of the ship "Peter Iredale" at Fort Stevens State Park. The Iredale was a steam-powered sailing ship that beached here during a storm in 1906 with no loss of life. Every time I visit, it's a little smaller.
Above left: Here's Fort Clatsop near present-day Astoria, Oregon, the 1805-06 winter home of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. It rained almost every day during their four-month stay at Fort Clatsop (imagine that, rain in Oregon!) I followed the Lewis & Clark Trail from St. Louis to Portland during my vacation in 1998 and had a great time. Above right: Meriwether Lewis (left) and his army buddy, William Clark. Lewis was quiet and introspective while Clark was outgoing and gregarious. Despite their differences, they got along well during their three-year journey.
Above left: The beautiful town of Depoe Bay, Oregon, with its oceanfront view. Above right: The "world's smallest harbor" is in Depoe Bay.
Above left: View of Otter Crest and the central Oregon Coast from Cape Foulweather. The cape was sighted and named by the English explorer, Captain James Cook, in 1778. Captain Cook is one of my heroes and I'll be running across his path in Australia, I'm sure. Above center: My truck taking a break at Yachats State Park (pronounced "Ya-hots"). Above right: Probably the most photographed view on the Oregon coast, this is the Heceta Head lighthouse near Florence.
Above left: Although the northern and southern Oregon coasts are rocky, the central coast is quite sandy. Enormous sand dunes here stretch for dozens of miles and are lots of fun to hike down (but not so fun to hike up). Above right: At the Dunes Overlook Trail, my favorite hike on the Oregon Coast.
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