Western USA 2003
Near Otis, OR to Clatsop State Forest
--Oregon Coast
Today I reached the furthest point west and from here on the journey is headed back east.
Slept on the roll pad for the first time last night and it made a big difference. Woke after 8 hours of sleep to rain! First solid rain since leaving Maryland. Dark, cold, windy and wet, such a major difference from the desert, the rest of the day is the same, welcome to the Northwest, dreary!
--First American in Oregon (by mistake)
Passed through many quaint seashore towns surprised not to see more commercial development very homey and New England small town feel, beautiful scenery and the people are all very nice. Had a great lunch at a Café where the tables and chairs were kindergarten size made you feel like a child and the waitresses were 15 or 16 the food was all first-rate and creative. Homemade asparagus soup with lots of cream and butter and a quiche made with oysters grown on the premises, toped with an edible flower and watermelon side and a tea basket. What a difference from the Hungry Man canned soup in Black Rock Desert.
--Fort Clatsop Reproduction
Arrived at Fort Clatsop which is of course Lewis and Clark's winter camp and furthest point west from which they would begin the homeward journey east, and I would soon follow. This was one of the few places I had in mind specifically to go too on this trip and am very excited to have made it here.
Took the guided ranger tour of the reconstructed fort, talked about how they all got sick on dried salmon, how Lewis had a fondness for marrow bone.. most of the tour group thought this was gross but I concur with Lewis's taste, he knew what he was doing. Talked to the ranger about Civil War re-enactments back east, bought two books on period recipes and another on sights to see along the Lewis and Clark trail. Went back and did the tour twice!
--Fort Clatsop
My campsite tonight is in Clatsop State Forest west of Portland in rugged mountains, the forests are heavily logged and very spooky from the carnage of white dead trees and heavy silence of the thick fog moving along at ground level.
--Mouth of Columbia River
Not sure where to go next north into Washington or east to Portland will sleep on it and see where the road takes me tomorrow.
--First bombing of mainland USA since war of 1812