September 12 - Seaside and Paradise

What a great day! I feel like my summer is complete. It is my annual tradition to begin or end my cross – country trip with a visit to Pig ‘N Pancake on the Oregon coast. However, this year I decided to use the last couple days of my summer adventure to explore more of Idaho instead. After visiting so many beautiful places around the country I was feeling homesick for my own coastline. So, I was almost giddy with anticipation finally heading to the coast today.

Grant Myers and I got a rather late start leaving West Linn as I had a morning appointment to attend to at home. Given that I was feeling a little tired from a busy first week back at school with students, we decided to take a scenic yet straightforward route to the coast rather than something more technical. We headed north on highway 217, then west on highway 26 all the way to the coast before heading north again on highway 101.

I love Sunset Highway because it has plenty of curves and forest and valley views. I can get up some speed and lean through the curves while still taking time to enjoy the vistas. My breakfast at Pig ‘N Pancake was exactly what I wanted – real strawberry crepes with a side of bacon – and the views of the coastline were spectacular. The tide was higher than I’ve ever seen it today, making the waves especially beautiful.

Rather than head straight home, I drove to Tigard to Paradise Harley and enjoyed good food and company with other HOG members who also signed up for the Volcano Rally. I won’t be able to do the rides with everyone over the next few days as I don’t want to leave my students so early in the school year. But I was able to enjoy an excellent Koi Fusion burrito, listen to the band, and catch up with some wonderful friends. All in all, a great end to the weekend.