Staffa

I want to go here! Staffa, Scotland.

Road trip and beyond

Our friend from Texas was here for a few days and we decided to jump in the car for a "quick trip" heading east to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Just for fun. I forgot about open roads, horizons and bug-guts on the windshield.

We stopped by Snoqualmie Falls, Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park where we had a breath-taking view of the Columbia River and a horse sculpture that runs atop a big bluff. Then a long stretch of open road to Coeur d'Alene, lots of stopping and eating and trying to figure out what all the crops were growing next to the road. Potatoes, sweet and field corn, alfalfa, sun flowers.

In Coeur d'Alene, found the perfect, affordable old-style, remodeled "Motor Court", Flamingo Motel, with a "motel cat" who loved to come into our room and visit with us. The Motel was in walking distance of the old downtown. More eating. Finally got to visit Cisco, that was an amazing antique store full of expensive stuff I wanted to buy for D. And met artist Steven A. Scroggins at his wild and crazy fine art gallery.

The next day we decided to drive over the Sand Point. I love Sand Point. And if I had taken more than one change of clothes and had had a shower, I would have called a terrific internet friend. But that will have to be on my next visit. When I didn't insist everyone pack lite! We stopped off at lots of roadside Flea Markets where I had an absolute blast visiting and getting to know the sellers. Pouring over rusty, dirty treasures. I found some bottles for Julie's wedding.



I had almost 3 days to empty my brain of job searches and thoughts of resume re-writing. This morning, Ruth to the airport and me back to reality of life. Darn!

Fast & furious road trip

Before arriving anywhere, we were thoroughly entertained by ground squirrels at a rest stop that literally met us at the car door begging for food. Very cute. Lake Shasta - the thing to do there is rent a houseboat for the week. San Francisco - San Francisco MOMA,  graffiti on Haight, Chinatown, North Beach (we just walked around from our hotel), Laguna, Union Street, The Presidio, Palace of Fine Arts. Then there was camping at Lake Sonoma in wine country. After the sun came up, the hills were filled with bees buzzing around. Hwy. 101 through the giant Redwoods, a beach near Orick where I found the best, thinnest rocks I have ever seen. Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.

Home Sweet Home

We made it home. So while I gather my thoughts and what few photos I have from my damaged camera .... here are a few details:

No one was injured, no big fights ensued, but it was touch and go at times

Saw two falling stars

Collected dirt and sand from each place we stopped

Picked up a dead dragonfly and crepe myrtle seed pods

Found the greatest rocks (and a heart rock) on a beach north of Eureka

Have a new appreciation for my own clean, flushing toilet

Foggy, windy, cold, winding drive up Hwy. 101

Listened to Earth, Wind and Fire the last two hours of the trip

The kids needed motion sickness medicine

Came home with clothes so foul they might have to be thrown away

Saw lots of wonderful wild flowers, collected a few in my notebook

I miss everything about SF!

Walked Haight Street in search of graffiti

M tagged a derelict house in Hwy 101

Harassed by more crazies in SF than I remember being there before

Visited my old neighborhood on Laguna Street and did a little shopping on Union.

Ate so much junk food at fast food places, I can't wait for a decent meal

While hiding out in the shade at Lake Shasta, observed a woodpecker's nest carved into a Madrona tree