Oregon Trail

Steve and I normally lead a fairly quiet life. This past month, however, has felt a bit like we are cramming an entire year of activity into 30 short days. We just returned from Corvallis, Oregon where we were visiting our friend Jack. We went out to the Oregon coast, had many wonderful meals (including some amazing sushi and gelato) and took a hike with amazing views. And, naturally, we forgot our camera at home.

I suppose in the end that may have been for the best. We had a lovely time, but pictures of wind-blown and sweaty (the day we took our hike got up to 100°) people are probably not necessary for posterity to view.

It’s very striking when you leave your home state how little things are different. Many of Oregon’s highway signs (particularly involving construction) have little square “flags” attached to the top, to draw extra attention to them I suppose. They also paint dotted lines across their off-ramps, I guess so people don’t unintentionally exit the freeway because they were following the far right painted line. Of course, there’s the obvious “you can’t pump your own gas” thing, but we also noticed that the sun sets at least a half hour later than it does in Santa Cruz. A peak at the US Naval Observatory’s sunrise/sunset charts confirmed this (http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneYear.php for those with more time than they know what to do with). And there’s the whole bit about Western Oregon being covered with trees (and ongoing evidence of logging, which leaves interesting patterns of freshly replanted tiny pines interspersed with old growth forest).

I can’t really imagine living anywhere but California, but after spending three days and four nights in our friend’s house, I can certainly imagine how lovely it would be to buy a house of our own for Oregon’s prices.