Good Life

Well, as I am sitting at gate C6 in PDX waiting to board my flight home to Boston, this will most likely be my last post. Sadly, my vacation has come to an end. I'd love to stay longer, but I must get back to my Liam. Today was as wonderful a day as any that I've had over the past 8 days. I took a drive from the Portland area to the coast. In order to do this I had to drop Aunt Karen at Nike HQ and get through the mountains first! I was lucky enough to be borrowing my Aunt's car, which was quite possibly smarter than I! There was one point in time that it flashed a coffee cup symbol at me and suggested that, based on my driving patterns, maybe I wanted to take a break...Nosy car!

 

The scenery was beautiful as I drove through Wine Country and up into the mountains. I ran into several trucks carrying logs, which reminded me of the scene in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation when they were out looking for a Christmas tree and they ended up driving underneath the logging truck.

When I reached my original destination of Seaside, it looked like a ghost town. It was 9:30 am on a Monday, and there was no one around. I decided to get back on the road and head to my alternate destination, Cannon Beach. From Portland to the coast was approximately an hour and twenty minutes. When I reached Cannon Beach, I was confronted with an ominous CLOSED sign at the historical museum.

 

Yet another Clark W. Griswold moment popped into my head when I saw this...."Sorry folks, park's closed. Moose out front should have told you."

 

That's alright, I didn't really want to go to the museum. I was headed to the beach! After I found parking I walked across the street and down a set of stairs that I swear came right of the movie Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

 

After making my way through the bushes, I came upon the most wonderful sight....the Pacific Ocean! It was cold and overcast and sort of dreary. I loved walking along the beach in a sweatshirt all warm and cozy. The whole scene reminded me of spending so many summers in Maine as a kid. I loved the cool mornings that would lead to sunny, hot afternoons.  This was the case today. I walked the beach taking pictures for over two hours. I waded through streams on the way down the beach and on the way back found that those streams were now hip deep....so needless to say I had wet pants! I love the ocean, and wish I spent more time there at home.

 

I treated myself to a farewell lunch on the beach and a little shopping!

 

After another visit with Nana and Dave, I was treated to a lovely dinner in Portland by my aunt and my cousin.

Currently I am waiting at the airport, where we are delayed. It's nice that for once on this trip I don't have to worry about making a connection. Hopefully we have a smooth flight, as I am once again dreading getting on the plane.

 

I can't wait to get home and see my boy, whom I miss terribly. I also can't wait to sort through the hundreds and hundreds of pictures that are stored on my cameras.

 

I realize that I have lived the "good life" this week and am grateful that I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel. I eagerly await the adventures that are yet to come!

 

Wish me a smooth flight...