January 9 - Taking the Long Way to Newport and Back

Life is so good! What an amazing day. After weeks of torrential downpours and so much responsibility at home and at work, it was absolutely delightful to spend the day riding in the sun with friends. Leo Guzman Fernandez led Grant Myers and I on a run to Clearwater Restaurant in Newport, taking the long way there AND the long way home. Food, friends, and fun in the sun – it doesn’t get any better than that.

Leo, Grant, and I left later than originally anticipated and stuck to the interstate for the first hour since temperatures were so low and we were worried about frost on the road. The real fun began after Corvallis when we turned off on highway 34 towards Alsea and got to enjoy dozens of curves as we wound our way through the mountains and along the Alsea River.

I have to say it felt like coming home again – leaning into the curves, breathing in the fresh mountain air, feeling the sun on my back, and taking in the natural beauty of our surroundings. Leo did a great job navigating us safely around snow, gravel, roadkill, tree limbs, and leaves.

In Waldport we turned north on highway 101 and enjoyed spectacular ocean views as we drove past Seal Rock and over the Yaquina Bay bridge into Newport. We dined at the Clearwater Restaurant on the Bay and listened to Sea Lions while we ate. I very much enjoyed my fish tacos with deep fried Cod, pico de gallo, guacamole, hot garlic habanero cream sauce, and cilantro cream. The deep-fried Cod was moist and tasty and melted in my mouth.

After eating we took the long way home, following Yaquina Bay Road around the bay and out to highway 22 East. From there we headed north on highway 223 through Kings Valley and then headed north on Interstate 5. I feel totally rejuvenated and ready to enter the work week with a smile on my face.