The Narcissistic Expat Diaries: From Iowa to Ireland

Friday, June 28, 2013

Road Trip: Eugene to the Redwoods

Date Stop Odometer Location Time

6/14/2013	0	208891	Eugene, OR	9:00 AM
6/14/2013	1	209036	Drain, OR	9:36 AM
6/14/2013	2	209130	Bullards Beach State Park, OR	1:34 PM
6/14/2013	3	209160	Port Orford, OR	2:25 PM
6/14/2013	4	209253	Florence Keller C.P., CA	5:30 PM

From Cory's travel journal (revised)

6/14/13

On our way to Redwood today. Our hosts made us a great breakfast while we packed the car. We got on the road about 9AM. We had a map snafu when I misread the road names on our way out of town. We first got on the wrong road, then were on the correct road going the wrong way. We ended up (finally) on I-5 on our way South. The only change this made to our route was that we would meet the 101 (Pacific Coast Highway) in Reedsport instead of Florence, no big. We stopped for coffee in Drain, OR on our way over to the coast.

Stopping for coffee on our way out of town in Drain, Oregon

1:34PM- Just leaving Bullards Beach SP in Oregon near Bandon. We had a great lunch that we purchased at Safeway in Reedsport, 50% off day-old sandwiches! We ate on a windswept Pacific beach behind a pile of driftwood that made for an ad hoc windbreak. After eating, we walked to the COLD surf and got our feet we (and numb.)

Stopping for lunch at Bullards Beach State Park, Oregon

Cory eats a sandwich behind a pile of driftwood and eats a sandwich at Bullards Beach State Park, Oregon

We continued to the historic lighthouse on the park lands. It was open to visitors. We walked the steps to the lighthouse top and got the interpretive tour from a nice local park volunteer. We walked around the tide pools on the rocks, took some pictures, and got back on the road.

A lighthouse on a point on the bay at Bullards Beach State Park, Oregon

Rocks protrude from the blue water off the beach at Bullards Beach State Park, Oregon

8:15PM- Back at the campsite at Florence Keller County Park in CA. We arrived at the Redwood info station and found out a few important things. One was that most of the campsites and the State and National Park were taken. The ones remaining cost $35! We chose the local county park. $15 a night, baby! We're still in a redwood grove. These trees aren't QUITE as large because this forest is a little younger than the big boys.

Campsite is set up at Florence Keller County Park, California

Old redwood stumps at Florence Keller County Park, California

A path leads through the small redwood grove at Florence Keller County Park, California

A mossy redwood stump at Florence Keller County Park, California

On our way out of town, we wanted a drink so we stopped at BK and waited in the LONGEST drive-thru line in California History...or maybe we were just tired. Once we were set up at the campsite we took a scenic drive through some old growth Redwoods at the Jedediah Smith State Park. We were on a gravel road through the park called Howland Hill Road. We took a bunch of photos of the huge trees and some banana slugs (awesome!) Now we are back at the campsite after our scenic drive and a nice short stroll on an easy trail. Tomorrow we head South!

More photos below.

Cory hugs a giant redwood tree at Jedediah Smith State Park, California

Frog poses at Jedediah Smith State Park, California

A fallen tree shows its rings with Frog at Jedediah Smith State Park, California

Sara hugs a giant redwood at Jedediah Smith State Park, California

Sara hides and peeks out of protruding tree roots at Jedediah Smith State Park, California

A banana slug makes its way across a fallen stump at Jedediah Smith State Park, California

Sara poses between two giant redwoods at Jedediah Smith State Park, California

Several half-fallen trunks stand in Jedediah Smith State Park, California

A fallen tree partially covers the path at Jedediah Smith State Park, California

Water boils on the charcoal chimney at Florence Keller County Park, California

Coffee brews at Florence Keller County Park, California

A banana slug stretches the antennae at Florence Keller County Park, California

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Road Trip: Rest day in Eugene

From Cory's travel journal (revised)

6/12/13

Rest day at J&J’s place. We were slow moving in the morning, so those who had to work went to work in a cold rain while the rest of us took it easy and felt guilty for it J We watched a Louis C.K. comedy special followed by the latest comedy special of Aziz Ansari. We worked on some blog posts (you’re welcome) and did all of our laundry from the first week on the road. We went out to lunch with the poor devil who had to work after our night at Shuryuken League. Upon arriving back home, we finished laundry while watching episode after episode of Kitchen Nightmares. Netflix does funny things to people.

Our hosts were making Pad Thai for supper, which requires some prep work. Once the prep was finished, we learned a new game, Dominion. This is a deck-building card game of strategy, wit, and those moments when you feel fully capable of physical violence against loved ones. We played a short game before supper, and another after we ate delicious Pad Thai.

After dinner and games, we were craving some dessert. We got some tasty ice cream, did some blender experimentation with the contents of some mysterious glass bottles, watched some Parks and Recreation (Netflix!) and went to bed.

Sorry there are no photos from this day. We were tired! Good thing we got all that rest this day, because the trip gets more exciting from here.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Road Trip: First full day in Eugene

From Cory’s Travel Journal (revised)

6/12/13

Retro logging out days in Eugene. On our first full day, we got up and got ready for the big bike ride. The night before, we had been up watching a movie, and I had fallen asleep. It’s difficult to stay awake even for a great movie with the pace we have been keeping…

Gettin' Croaked: Frog takes a brewery tour

Frog (not us!) took a cycling brewing tour of Eugene and Springfield, OR. He (not us!) rode a bicycle to all these breweries and sampled the local flavors. Below is his (not our!) photo essay from the day.

Frog posing with the flight of beverages at Oakshire Brewing in Eugene, Oregon

Oakshire Brewing Co.

Frog poses with the flight of beverages at Ninkasi Brewing in Eugene, Oregon

Ninkasi Brewing Co.

Frog poses with the flight of beverages at Falling Sky Brewery in Eugene, Oregon

Falling Sky Brewing

Hop Valley

Frog poses with the flight of beverages at Plank Town Brewery in Springfield, Oregon

Plank Town Brewing Co.

Frog enjoys a cold beverage at Plank Town Brewery in Springfield, Oregon

An unshaven stranger helping Frog with a drink.

Frog poses with Bingo cards and the flight of beverages at Rogue Brewing in Eugene, Oregon

Rogue Brewing with our Bingo cards

Frog poses at First National Taphouse in Eugene, Oregon

First National Taphouse, home of the beers priced by demand.
Beers are listed on a big stock ticker with current price
and its recent price trend.

That's it for that (ribbit) night. Keep reading for more stories!

Monday, June 24, 2013

Road Trip: Spokane Valley to Eugene