It’s a few days and hundreds of miles since my last story. When I look at the pictures of just yesterday and the day before, I’m amazed by how much I’ve done in so little time. After I posted the previous story I went outside the coffee place and just at that moment the trolly arrived, perfect timing. I get on the street car and it costs only 1 dollar to go to the end of town and back. The whole trip takes about 40 minutes and two friendly elderly man, the drive and the tour guide, tell a lot about the history of Astoria.
Then I walk over the market. They sell a lot of food and there are some musicians playing and singing. I get myself a clam chowder, my favorite soup here on the west coast. At the end of the afternoon I drive to Atomic Motel. It’s an old motel in fifties style, like you might have seen in the movies. After I get settled I walk to a nearby pizza place and get a large pepperoni. Watching a sitcom and eating comfort food in a motel is a perfect break from camping. In the morning it’s raining again, but I don’t mind. Somehow it feels right at this part of the country. It’s also why it’s so green here in Oregon. I drive south to Cannon Beach and by the time I arrive there, the sun has come out and I can enjoy a walk at the beautiful beach. Canon Beach is famous for an enormous rock in the water which houses many birds. On my way north a few weeks ago I couldn’t stop here, because it was late in the day and very busy, but this Monday morning it’s very quiet in the town and at the beach.
After a nice relaxing walk I continue driving and cross many small beach towns. In one town I see a sign with the text ‘Play pinball here’. That sounds fun and so I stop my car by the road. Inside the store are many pinball machines which you can play for only $0,75 cents. I play a few games and then continue driving until I’m in the town of Tillamook. I know Tillamook for their ice cream, but today I’m learning that they also make cheese. Some friends told me a while ago that you can visit the factory and so I stop there. You can take a free self-guided tour in which they show you the whole process of making cheese. It’s very interesting to see and I also get to taste various types of cheese. Fortunately they also sell their ice cream there and I enjoy a nice Mountain Huckleberry ice cream. After that interesting visit I drive further to Newport, the first town on the route with a Walmart where I camp for the night.
Early in the morning I head east to Silver Falls state park. I found that on the map the other day when I was looking for what more to see in Oregon. There is a trail there that leads to no less than 10 waterfalls. The hike is a bit challenging, about nine miles / fifteen kilometers long, but very beautiful. It’s only about 8am and for most of the hike I’m all by myself on the trails. Around noon I arrive back at the parking space which was still empty in the morning, but it now fully packed. Again I had a great timing. I get a well-deserved coffee before I head off.
Someone I met during the hike told me I should check out the city of Bend here in Oregon. I check it out on the map and it’s looks like a fun place visit and about two hours driving away, so I’m heading further east. The landscape slowly changes from forest to farmland and the weather gets warmer and dryer. Late in the afternoon I arrive in Bend and drive to the hotel that I booked during a break from driving. It’s very nice with a large room with a California kingsize bed and a large desk for me to work on. I booked it for two nights and I’m happy to relax here for a bit. I ask for food recommendations and the lady behind the counter tells me that there is a cool place just a block away with many food trucks and so I go there. It’s a fun place indeed, with many food trucks surrounding a brewery. Apparently they have about 28 breweries in this city, so surely a great place to try out some beers. I get a burger from the recommended food truck and sit town at one of the picnic tables. I talk with some friendly locals while I enjoy the excellent burger and a beer. It feels like a nice summer night, the weather it totally different here than at the coast. Back at the hotel I jump in the jacuzzi before I head to bed. That feels great after the long hike of today.
This morning I went to a breakfast restaurant next to the hotel. It’s called Black Bear Diner, a cute place with a many breakfast options. I go for eggs, bacon and pancakes and for the first time in a while I actually cannot finish the meal, because it’s so much food. I go back to the hotel, call with some friends and family and then walk to downtown. Bend has a lot of cute little stores and there is also a farmers market. I walk around for a while and then stop at a bookstore cafe, those are my favorite kind of places. So that’s where I’m sitting now, enjoying a cappuccino and taking a moment to write. I like that today I don’t have to drive anywhere but can just have a relaxed day here in town. I think I’ll walk around a bit in down town, do some reading and writing and find a nice place for dinner. Tomorrow I don’t have to check out from the hotel until noon, so I can also take it easy then before I continue the roadtrip.
