6 States, 5 days later

I’m finally here. Pulled into a damp Port Angeles around 9 last night, and headed over to my cousin Maggie’s.  Decided not to stay in Portland and just get the driving over with, as PA is only 4 hours north of Portland.

www.crescentbeachmotel.com

Was definitely a good choice to pull over in Crescent City and stay a bit. Last night… with my book, thai food, wine and waves… definitely my favorite leg of the trip. 

Woke up yesterday morning to incandescent waves frothing up and washing over the smooth sand, and seagulls calling out to one another, cheerily in the sharp, piney air. I took my coffee outside and perched on a large rock, overlooking the ocean. Wasn’t in a hurry to leave. At all. I will definitely be bringing Caden to this little beach motel over the summer. Although it is nice to have alone time, to think, reflect and just be, I cannot wait to share more adventures with little man. He makes everything better.

somewhere, in some forest, on some mountain

After a stroll on the beach, I very begrudgingly climbed into my car to finish up the last 10 hours.  Took a curvy 199 through Six Rivers National Forest, from Crescent City, through Grant’s Pass to I-5, and then, after thick, heavy Portland traffic, was back on 101 for the rest of the drive. Ironically enough, I got carsick about 30 minutes out of PA, and had to pull over and throw up, but felt immediately better. Also got pulled over by a not so bad looking state trooper in Discovery Bay, but when he looked at my driver’s license, he exclaimed that he was from Beaumont, Texas, welcomed me to the state with a friendly hello, and sent me on my way. I think he was also rather alarmed when I told him I’d have to unload everything from my front seat in order to get to my insurance papers.

thew up next to the water. no biggie.
Discovery Bay

It dawned on me that I hadn’t mentioned my reasons for this move. Port Angeles is situated just across from Victoria, Canada, right on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This is where the majority of my family lives. Raised all over, in a military family, I’d be hard pressed to tell you where “home” is, but the place that’s always faintly  whispered in the back of my mind would be PA.  I’ve always known I wanted to end up in the Pacific North West, but wasn’t sure if I’d settle in PA or Seattle. For right now, I’m going to call PA home. For awhile, at least.  My grandfather, also knows as Grumpa, was recently diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer, and being the most flexible, mobile person in my family, I thought I’d head his way, and annoy help him for awhile. So I’ll be staying with my grandparents the next couple of months, helping out where I can, and when Caden finishes 3^rd grade, at the end of May/ beginning of June, he’ll be joining me. I gave him the choice of coming with me now, or finishing 3^rd grade, his baseball season, and be spoiled by my parents for two months in Houston, and he chose to stay in Texas. He had no desire to start yet another 3^rd grade year somewhere new, and I don’t blame him. He is however, excited to be up here, as Cory, his dad, lives in Portland, and they will be able to see each other much, much more. Not to mention his beloved dog, Sadie, will be within arm’s reach, as well.