Cheating a bit here but wanted to keep Canada blog separate. !!!
So we began our long trek up the pacific northwest coast. After leaving Bodega we travelled north along a very twisty highway 1 in really really thick fog!!
We then stopped in Mendocino for a while - a very sweet touristy Coastal town. Was actually where murder she wrote was filmed. Fantastic spot - we walked around the quirky little shops for a while and bought a few pressies then walked around the headlands.
This a fab bit of coast -look out over the forested hills as a background then there are loads of caves and arches and ins and out in crystal clear waters. Loads and loads of seaweed though!!
After a bit of trouble we sorted accommodation in Fort Bragg for the night . Nothing special just a motel and
Italian for tea! Really friendly little town though!
Next morning in sunshine we stopped at beautiful little cove for a good run around and hectic game of rocket ball. Was great to be back on beach again after so long!! Boys loved it. Was quite wild and there were warnings everywhere about sneakers waves! The occasional big wave that sweeps people away. Scary. Everywhere we went there were signs telling us we were entering a tsunami hazard zone - nice.
So on up to Humboldt redwood park. Via a hideous 20 mile plus drive through steep twisty turny narrow roads with Sam feeling sick, Arun screaming for no apparent reason and me desperate for a wee!! We decided enough was enough and stopped at drive through tree. Unfortunately our monster truck a bit too big but boys enjoyed watching others go through! Nice peaceful lunch stop too.
We picked up highway 101 our constant companion through all of oregon!! Then into Humboldt redwoods -there were lots of big trees!!!!! Huge trees! We had a walk around a few then headed onto the 31 mile Avenue of the Giants scenic drive. Was pretty cool. We stopped in the park and did a short trail around some of the trees including the fallen Dyerville giant - the tallest recorded tree in the park at around 370ft which fell in 1991. Wow he was a big tree!!!
The root system almost as big as a house!!
Spent night in Arcata - non descript place and motel but had gym and swim so not too bad!
Next day we had a quick stop in Trinidad another sweet little town with a very cool replica lighthouse. Another quick play on the beach then on up to Redwoods national park. Not great day weather-wise again so although we drove upto lady grove we had lunch in car and didn't bother with the trail walk!
Instead went on scenic drive and stopped to have quick walk. Trees were even huger here pretty awesome. Parts of the park were used in Jurassic park and we could understand why. Very green and ferny and jungly!!
Then drove on out of California and into Oregon!!! Spent the night in Brookings in the sweetest motel with lots of space. Nice relaxing evening.
Next day just out of brookings we stopped at Bandon - odd little place a development of the old docks with random touristy shops and not much else!! Drove on up to Florence through all the huge dunes at side of road very cool. Odd motel for the night but nice meal in zebra bar!
Fab day the next day!! Drove to dunes and had quick run up and down!! Up much harder than down!! they are actually pretty high and fab view of freshwater lakes and ocean 2 miles away . Couldn't believe there was forest growing in dunes- not sure how it sustains it.
Then....... We went sand buggying. OMG was amazing. Huge adrenaline rush 60mph up and down dunes quite often almost vertical and trying to avoid all the other quads etc!! Twins LOVED it bless them. Was awesome experience!
So we drove on real high to Lincoln city :-) not quite the same as my Lincoln as we were right on beach literally had ocean at our window fantastic. Had walk on beach in freezing wind but lovely and sunny. Wind sculpted lots of cool patterns on beach and loads of driftwood guns to keep boys happy! Also loads of weird crumbly rock which boys thought was very cool as they could 'break' rock!!! Great sunset too but was nice to be inside by heater to watch it!!
We had time for walk on beach on morning before investigating the seriously tacky souvenir shops!!!
Straight drive then to Astoria and another fantastic view outside of the window. We were right under Astoria bridge on the Columbia river. A huge river with busy shipping lane through it. Very very cool sat in bed watching ships go by so so close - awesome !! Had good meal in bistro in one of old warehouses. Big redevelopment of area including tram along the riverside v cool. Next morning we drove across bridge and back again just to say we had then followed the Columbia river to Longview and said farewell to Oregon and hello Washington. Oregon much nicer than I expected. The coast was just stunning. Really wild in places but beautiful. Fantastic little towns and communities and very friendly people. It was just state park after state park along the coast you could literally stop every 10 minutes and be somewhere totally different and pretty much deserted. Fab!
Washington nothing impressive. Had stopover in Olympia before hitting Seattle! Got to hotel and Jase got car dropped off. Hotel lovely and v posh but very snotty and not at all friendly. Had a quick wander around and shop but such an odd place- not really any shops much and no child friendly restaurants particularly. Cool architecture but whole atmosphere of city is cold and sterile- no buzz about it at all. And homeless people everywhere but they have aggressive edge to them and really in your face so not particularly safe feeling place either.
Next day we headed out to Seattle centre on the sky train and me and boys went up space needle. Pretty cool 520 ft high platform - fairly clear day so could see for miles. Then into pacific science center which was well past it's sell-by-date. We had a cool 40 mins in the planetarium which surprisingly all boys fascinated by -the guy was very entertaining.
Then we had to "endure" star wars exhibition!!! Was actually ok lots of models of cast and weapons and costumes. And got to ride on hover chair!! Few hands on bits to do too and of course boys thrilled by it all!
Next day pretty chilled tried to do shopping unsuccessfully and then went to cinema to see rio- pretty funny!
Last day in seattle found us on the duck boat!! Tour of city by road and lake!! Was absolutely freezing but pretty cool! Went onto lake union and got great views of skyline and phenomenally expensive houseboats and floating houses!! Went down by harbour and through the oldtown pioneer square which seemed to be a little more lively but all in all Seattle v unimpressive. Not really for tourists or children but probably great to work in particularly with the 112 Starbucks within city limits. Pretty disappointing all in all.
Caught quickshuttle bus to Canada on Friday - long 5 hr journey but not too bad.
And so...... America Done!!!! OMG that's it down to the last one- only Canada left!!! But think possibly saved best til last???!! Well we will see- watch this space.........
Can't believe we only have
month left - is going to go sooooo fast. Soon have to face reality!!!!