Leg 1

Day 1 is in the books. The 6am alarm clock was pre-empted by the anxious anticipation of any adventure and 5am was the hands on the watch as I counted all the things I still need to gather, pack, arrange, and take care of before I left.

There's a side quest of this trip to hit 8 National Parks and the little known Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park is a mere 4 blocks from my apartment. 1 down, 7 to go.

Straight freeway riding until Olympia, and then the National Highway system took over. A beautiful, windy, immaculatey mainted Hwy 101 greeted me, with only the intermittent British Columbian, left lane camping, rubber-necking, pause in my southern bound agenda.

Fort George Brewing was the layover destination for lunch, with the fried oysters, fries, and a Power Cycle Pale Ale that did not disappoint.

In all, 7.5 hours of riding along the immaculate PNW coast is a road that is not to be missed.

From Seattle, it takes 90 mins to completely escape the city, the vice of urban humanity, and to lose yourself in wide open spaces, small towns, and a culture of connection. It's only the interspersed right-wing fascist inspired Trump flag that interrupts an otherwise tranquil moment of serenity.

South Beach State Park on the Oregon Coast, just south of Newport is a diamond. Pressure formed against the Pacific Coast, it is a 10 min walk from campground to sandy's beach with reservable Yurts and a disc golf course flanking each of its borders. (disc golf, woof).

To put down the google places review for a moment, what an incredible privilege it is to make this trip. 17 days away from work, among the some of the most inspiring scenery in the world, let alone some of it being less than a day's drive from home. To live among such beauty is something that I should keep in better perspective. How fortunate we are. How wonderous this country and it's scenery is, and how privileged we are to have such access.

Onward to Eureka.