GREETINGS FROM SEASIDE, OREGON

After a delicious breakfast at the Misty Valley Inn in Forks, WA (Moroccan omelet for Dave, apple soufflé for me), we got on the road pretty quickly.

Our first stop of the day was Hoh Rain Forest, part of the Olympic National park for a short hike partway along the banks of the Hoh River.

We then got back on US 101 heading south but stopped again at Ruby Beach. I’m still amazed at how different the beaches are compared to those in Florida.

Our drive today also took us through the Quinault reservation and the booming metropolises of Hoquiam and Aberdeen, where we stopped for lunch at a local pizza joint. We crossed from Washington into Oregon mid-afternoon by means of a long suspension bridge, and then ended up at the Gilbert Inn Bed and Breakfast in Seaside, OR, http://www.gilbertinn.com/, which is the restored home from 1892 of the mayor of Seaside. Seaside’s claim to fame is the endpoint of Lewis and Clark’s trail, where the explorers turned around before heading back east (see picture for the famous roundabout). Seaside has a 1.5 mile promenade stretching along the beach, and the center of town has a carnival feel, with arcades, go-carts, and salt water taffy.

On a separate note, I want to give props to the folks on the Northern Pacific Coast for sincerely considering the risk of Tsunami’s and taking the safety of their citizens so seriously. Everywhere we look, we see signs about Tsunami danger zones and evacuation routes. Which leads us to ask: when was the last time a Tsunami hit the Washington/Oregon coast? Dave says there’s a bottle of local wine for whoever can provide the first correct answer!