Sunset in Seattle

When I began this journey, I said I would go from San Diego to Seattle driving the Pacific Coast Highway, stopping as often as I wanted to take photos and see friends. Twelve days later, I had reached my destination; bucket list item completed!

As I approached the ferry that would take me over the bay to Seattle, my friends and family were excited for me, and I received numerous texts and messages through facebook. Once my car was secured in line and I had turned off the engine, I saw the orange glow at the back of the ferry. Within minutes we were moving, and I was enticed to the back to watch the sunset over the water for the last time on my journey. I would be inland tomorrow and the days that followed, so I must savor this moment for as long as possible. This sunset had to be glorious and I had to watch every second of it and capture it with my camera, regardless of how similar one frame was to the previous one.  (click photos to enlarge)

http://www.seattle.gov/html/visitor/

Port Angeles, Washington

I arrived in Port Angeles feeling exhausted and worn out, but with the encouragement from my lifelong buddy Chris Tabor, I decided to take a minute and check it out. I parked at the docks and stepped out. The first thing that hit me was the biting-cold air outside. When I looked up, I could see why. Facing me, was the awe-inspiring Olympic mountains with a bright, white, thick blanket of fresh snow. I pulled on a jacket and walked towards the water to see a bright blue color; a deeper, brighter shade of blue than the water I'd seen up to this point. The cool air blew across the water making it colder than it already was even though it was May. Port Angeles was stunning, and had I not been chasing the clock by trying to arrive at Seattle at precisely sunset, I would have stayed and explored. Maybe it was the brisk air, but I was certainly revived when I returned 15 minutes later to get back on the road. (click on photos to enlarge)

http://www.portangeles.org/

Crescent Lake, WA

Had anyone told me in the 4th grade what Rick Penny would mean to me over the years, I would have laughed, chased him around the playground, and smacked him hard just to prove them wrong. Through 4th grade games, junior high torment, tenth grade science, Spring sports, and our incredible spiritual friendship now, I have come to understand that Rick Penny will always be one of the most important people in my life. He serves a profound purpose; one we didn't even understand until recently. He was the man who baptized me, and he and his wife have guided me on my own journey in ways no one else could. Don't get me wrong, this is not and has never been more than a friendship, but it is a friendship more meaningful than most will ever know or understand.

When I doubted I was ready for this journey, or that I should spend the money, he pushed me to go knowing it was something I needed to do. He guided me to a specific place along my journey, pushing me to go further than I intended - further than I wanted. Like many times before, he was right, for it was a profound moment that I cannot think of without getting choked up. It was the healing point in my life.

Rick insisted I go to Crescent Lake, Washington. He simply said "trust me, you'll understand when you get there." I've never trusted any man like I apparently trust Rick, because with those words, I drove to Crescent Lake, and I saw what he meant. Words and pictures cannot express what that moment will forever mean to me.

Rick - knowing you, listening to you, leaning on you, and trusting you has changed my life. May God bless you for the lives you have changed. May I be the friend to you that you have been for me.

http://www.olympicnationalparks.com/

Washington Coast & the Freaky Forest

I was surprised by the Washington coast. Much of it was too difficult to get close enough to see. I went through a forest that was the most bizarre thing. Though I found it to be intriguing, I actually did not like it. The trees were so odd, the ground so lushly covered with ferns and hostas and other rain forest plants, it made it difficult to walk at times. When I entered the forest, I was on a trail that wound around between the thick, oddly shaped trees. It's like walking into a science fiction movie set. I became disoriented and had a hard time finding my way out. There were also a lot of a creepy bugs. I'm not normally bothered by critters, but this place gave me the creeps. Give me normal trees: redwoods, ponderosas, aspens, and even palm trees as opposed to this forest.

http://www.washingtoncoastchamber.org/

Day 12: Astoria, OR and Cape Disappointment

For those of you who read my first blog, you understand that I took this journey in part because I wanted to see where Lewis and Clark, and Sacajawea first stepped out of the trees after their long journey to see the great Pacific Ocean. The idea that they struggled through such a life changing journey facinated me. They called the area Cape Disappointment because they were so deeply disappointed by the steep slopes, bad weather, rough seas, and high winds that prevented them from getting to the shore. The terrain and the coast is so treacherous our own coast guard often struggles with rescuing ships along that area of the shore today.

The Oregon coast, the Columbia River, and the Washington coast all are decorated with the names of Lewis and Clark on sign posts, museums, and memorials. It's hard to tell where one memorial ends and another begins. So when I took a wrong turn, one of the only ones on my trip, I was afraid I would miss what I was looking for. Not only did it put me exactly where I wanted to be, which was on the tip of Cape Disappointment, but it also put me in perfect position to witness the Coast Guard doing something unexpected.

As I stood at the tip of soil that jutted out into the ocean taking pictures of the coastline, I heard a helicopter and turned to see it coming straight at me. I held my camera on it as it flew through maneuvers, flew out towards the ocean, turned around and then came back at me. What a great show! I was the only one standing there to witness it. 

http://www.oldoregon.com/

http://www.funbeach.com/attractions/cape-D.html