My absence from this blog can be attributed to my departure from the Pacific Northwest. Yes, that’s right, I’ve moved. There were many factors that caused this relocation, and I won’t get into them here. But, I will say, while I’m sorry to leave the woodsy Northwest, I’m happy to once again find myself on the coast of California. The sun. Oh, man. Have I missed the sun. Before I left Portland I did one last thing I’d been meaning to do; head to the coast.
On my penultimate day in Portland I made a last minute decision to check out the ocean, having heard it was much different from what I’d grown up with in CA. This assessment was correct. After about 90 minutes of driving through forests I hit the town of Seaside. Here, there were wide expanses of beach and a strong breeze. The sand had that barren wasteland feel, with patches of grass scattered around. After wandering for a bit I spied some rock formations down the coast and hopped back in my car for a short drive to Cannon Beach. This was the beach I didn’t know I wanted to see. First off, it’s featured in the opening scene one of my favorite childhood films The Goonies. Secondly, it was magnificent. At the base, Haystack Rock is home to many tide pools, all teeming with starfish and sea anemones, at least until I blundered into one. I think all sea life survived.
Hopefully I’ll soon visit Portland again. I already miss the cheap rents, food carts, and laid back vibe. But here, there are blue skies and friends, and as always, the promise of more adventures.