Final Leg - Oregon Coast and Home

We have arrived home after sixty-five days on the road. It is great to travel but it is also great to be home.  I'll miss the sixty-two sunny days and will soon tire of the drenching rain that is happening outside of our home as I write this final trip entry. 

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip up the coast. It is one Deborah and I have made many times but in the summer.  It is quite usual to have our ocean views spoiled by sea fog but this time we got lucky. The fog lifted as we arrived from inland and the sun shone for the rest of our coastal trip. It was the first time for Kathy and she was thrilled. 

We left the Napa Valley in the early morning (for us) and travelled inland to join I505 North before joining I405 further along. We decided against the Northern California 101 route because it is slightly inland and you don't see the ocean for much of the way. 

We had a smooth sunny freeway drive and arrived in Roseburg, Oregon to stay the night. We chose this spot because it was near our jumping off exit to the coast the next morning. 

Or drive west was through tiny villages, vineyards and dairy farms. The colour of new green was everywhere. 

We arrived at the coast after nearly a two hour drive and stopped to take in the beauty of the sea. Oregon is a land of long, desolate, sandy beaches with huge crashing waves. We took our time and stopped for pictures, lunch and anything else that caught our interest. We ended the day at Cannon Beach.  Cannon Beach is a small village of artisan shops, small restaurants and of course Haystack Rock, a curious rock formation sticking out of the sea. 

Our final day was characterised as one where folks were ready to be home. The drive was uneventful and we managed to time missing the Seattle Rush Hour with ease. We arrived at the border to face long Border Security lineups but this also proved to be nothing to worry about. Once again our NEXUS cards meant we sailed to the front of the line. 

We have already settled into the rhythms and routines of home life. Our sun tans will fade but our memories will last our lifetimes.