From Suislaw Lake to Mt. Hood

Wow...its been two crazy days.Yesterday was gorgeous, so I hiked the dunes at Honeyman State Park and around the Lake...Lake uh, yeah...Lake I Can't Remember. Standing on top of a dune, lake in front of me, Pacific behind me...crazy. 

As I walked around the lake I was thinking that Honeyman must be Oregonian speak for Sugar Daddy...and then I see a grizzled old guy fishing with what must surely be his mail order bride...I'm just sayin. So I looked around to see if I could find a sugar daddy. Shall we say, slim pickins...

Stopped in Old Town Florence for a lunch of fresh salmon and clam chowder. Then drove up the road to see the Sea Lion Caves...200 feet down I went in an elevator in front of which was posted this sign: 

Ya gotta think twice about that warning before hopping aboard. So there were about 200 sea lions hanging out in the cave...they all kinda looked mournful...cept the little one that was swimming.  Hmmm. Hope I don't come back as one my next time around. So I got back in the RV and listened to Kevin bitch about being left behind until I told him about the "Notice". He shut up pretty quick after that. (Anyway, thanks to the Kable's for giving me the heads up on the caves...it really was something to see.)

Got out at Cape Perpetua and hiked around Devil's Churn, the tide pools, the Spouting Horn and finally a hike into the forest to see the Giant Spruce. All were amazing. I got a little freaked out in the tide pools...the tide started coming in with a vengeance...so I scampered right outa there. 

Last night I camped at Beachside State Park...the ocean was about 50 yards from my kitchen window (yep, I got one in my lil RV.) And a storm was brewing and the tide was slamming into the beach. It rained all night and all night the Pacific sounded like a train rolling down the tracks shooting cannons from its windows every minute or so. And...I was in a Tsunami hazard zone...evacuation route plainly posted all over the park. I didn't sleep well last night and left pret near first light. Nice place, bad timing. 

Today I went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium (again thank you to the Kable's for telling me about it.) Super cool and I wish I had gone to the aquarium before I went to the tide pools...I would have known what I was looking for. I got a kick out of this puffin...he was having a great time all by himself...reminded me a little of me. Hahaha. Well...stupid blog. I'll post the little guy later. 

So its been raining like hell and I been sleeping with footies on my feet and my hands and sweat pants and thermals. I got heat, its just not adequate for the current weather. I decided to head inland to Sally's cabin near Mt. Hood...Sal and I went to high school together and she lives near Portland. I'm hanging out here through the weekend. I think Sal and I are gonna get a bit crazy. Her husband Bob...I already feel sorry for him. The cabin's back yard hosts the Salmon River...its a really nice place. A little slice of heaven for a few days!

Thanks everyone for the comments and emails. I really love reading them. I hear some people are having trouble posting comments, so Joyce or Paula...would you comment with some helpful tips? Thanks!

Peace, love and recycle!

Watson