Western USA 2003
Clatsop State Forest to Portland
--Oregon forest
Left camp around 11am this morning. Did not eat dinner last night was not hungry.
Stopped at a beautiful State Park and waterfall. It is Sunday mid-afternoon and there are no people at all, the roads are empty, the parks are empty. If this was back east an hour outside a major city it would be a different story!
--Oregon forest
Country here is very rural only have 30 miles of gas left and no gas station, head to main road Rt.202 and luckily find a gas station with just a few miles of gas left. Pass an Elk Viewing ground but did not see any Elk, or people, amazed there are herds of Elk this close to a major city Portland. Oregon is still very undeveloped and in a natural state, the people have no idea how much a garden of eden it is compared to back east. Spend much of the day driving the back country roads and logging roads exploring.
Cross the Columbia River at Longview which is a major shipping port and eat a boxed lunch at the piers overlooking the river underneath the bridge. Head north to Mt. Saint Helens and stop at the ranger station to find out the mountain is fogged in for the next week or so there is nothing to see.. disappointed but happy to talk with the ranger for a while she was very cool. It looks the rain is going to put a damper on outdoor actives in the Northwest for at least a week with a storm front moving through, it makes living out of a truck very difficult.
--Oregon forest
Head south to Portland and look for a hotel so I can rest for a few days in the city and get ready for the long push back east. Book a room at the Marriott Residence Inn in Portland. Discover my laptop is infected with the Master Blaster Worm and no way to fix except by re-installing the OS but too tired tonight. Notice the locals in Portland mostly dress in t-shirts and shorts even though its 60s damp and pouring raining, I don't think they even notice the rain, I feel foolish wearing a jacket and hat as it must be a "tourist" thing but would rather stay warm and dry.
Posted by stbalbach at September 7, 2003 10:27 PM