Oregon and Washington.

After finally reaching the Oregon border, we drove north to find the Oregon Dunes National Forest. We arrived around sundown and had a brief peak at the the Dunes before setting up camp. We woke the next day to a cloudy and rainy day:(  Alas, we didn't get to really see the dunes and left early to try and make the Washington border.

Oregon Coast

 We drove north through Portland and arrived in Gifford Pinchot National Forest and home of Mount Saint Helens. We spent the next few days exploring the forest and rivers before driving north to see Mt St Helens. We essentially drove around the volcano and were able to see both the front and back of the mountain to really see the full impact of the 1980 eruption. 

Mt. St. Helens. (Front side)

We also stopped off at the Ape Cave, or a lava tube and hiked down into the dark dank cavern.  

Entrance to the Ape Cave

The drive to the back of the volcano is littered with dead trees or as we soon learned a Ghost Forest. It all feels a bit eerie like the explosion wasn't nearly thirty two years ago but maybe only a few years ago. It has taken the forest nearly all that time to attempt to grow back some of the trees and shrubs that it lost. It look us about thirty minutes to drive through all the damaged areas and only three minutes for the blast to destroy it. Still an active volcano, it's humbling to stand as close as we did knowing that hot lava still bubbles below the mountain. 

Yeah, let's get closer!

A car that was destroyed by the volcano

Getting closer

Ghost forest

Back side of MSH

MSH

Destruction 

This car climbed Mt. St. Helens.....bad idea? 

Continuing north, we landed at a campground near Mt Rainer, yet another volcano, although a dormant one. We had already had a few glimpses of the mountain when we visited Mt. St. Helens but we were wanting a closer look. Unfortunately, Washington had a different idea for us. As a thunder storm rocked our little tent during the night and cold rains soaked our belongings we succumbed to the weather and took a day off from sightseeing. Traveling has gotten the better of Katie and I today and we did not want to pack, clean, or organize the car ONE more time. So we've landed for a few days to rest up and get ready to see Yellowstone National Park. We've decided it will be our last stop on the way home, for time and sanity's sake. I have a few friends near there that I cannot wait to see so we've also decided to spend an entire week there. So until then, happy travels!

Best fort EVER

What is that....?

Oh it's just our shelter...Katie and I have become the crazy camper ladies, great. 

San Francisco.

We arrived in San Francisco late in the day and as we were driving in the fog started in, it looked like fingers creeping up over the hills. 

We stayed at the Frank Hotel right in Union Square. After so many days of driving we decided to stay two nights and be able to really explore the city without worrying about the car. Much to our surprise, the hotel upgraded us to a nice suite, we clearly didn't belong after so many days of camping. 

Our first night we grabbed a bite and walked around Union Square and then fell fast asleep in our huge bed! The next morning, showered and refreshed, we headed out into the city with no particular agenda. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the driving, camping, and packing that we just wanted one day to walk, sit, and relax. Immediately we fell in love with the city. It was our first city of the trip and probably the last one we could afford. Katie and I were the perfect tourists. We ate at a small diner with 50's style decor and road the street car down to the wharf's to walk along the water. 

Katie in her element

Loving SF!

Only Harry Potter fans would poise for this pic:) 

Pier 39

We stopped to admire art and gaze at the ferry boats. Katie was really disappointed that the tours to Alcatraz were all sold out so we decided to take a bay tour and see both the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.  It was a little windy.

SF from the boat

BRRRR!

Katie- "Try not to look so wind blown!"

\

Golden Gate Bridge

Alcatraz 

The "Rock"

Yikes, glad we didn't try that. 

Me- "Give me your best Nick Cage"

 We road a trolley car back to the hotel up an down the hilly streets. We basically did every touristy activity there was to do and loved every minute of it. For dinner we had sushi at a trendy restaurant and then walked the streets admiring all the art galleries near our hotel. We both enjoyed the city so much that we wished we'd had time to stay and really see more of it.  We both remarked how our Mum would love it her with all the diners, street cars, trolleys, and 50's style nightclubs. I guess we'll just have to come back and bring her with us!

Trolley's 

Ready to board!

Perfection. 

Hang on! 

Hmmm? 

Ready to ride

The next day we loaded the car, again, and headed for the redwoods and Sasquatch country. About ten minutes into Bigfoot territory we had already made at least a dozen puns and jokes about him….or her? We situated ourselves for the night in Humboldt Redwood State Park Campground, which was lovely. Now we are driving on the Avenue of Giants which boasts at least every few miles the presence of an "Immortal" tree. Hmmmm, we'll see about that. They really are very large trees though. We are headed for the Oregon coast and maybe, finally, we will get out of California….hopefully…..someday…..any minute now…….geez this is a long state.....

California Coast.

Much to our surprise the coast of California has a similar look and feel to that of the Maine coast. Maybe it's just the cold weather and fog? So we've dug out our warmer clothes and huddled together for warmth in the tent at night. Our first night on the coast we stayed in San Simeon State Park and then traveled up the PCH to land in Pacific Grove, California. We did stop at Hearst Castle on the way and took a tour of the Gothic European style mansion that William Robert Heart, the newspaper tycoon, built in the 1920's. "The Ranch" is was he used to refer to it as. 

All the most important politicians and movie stars of the time spent weekends at the Hearst Castle and for many years W.R used it as his main residence. The Hearst family donated the estate to the state of California park system and now the public can take tours everyday. Coincidentally, the Hearst family still lives on part of the estate and was in attendance the day Katie and I toured for a big party that night! Wish we could have cashed it;) 

The Castle boasted a grand dining room, two swimming pools, gardens, a billiard room, and a authentic movie theater (just to name a few of the rooms). Set high up upon a hill, guests would enjoy a brilliant view of the ocean while gazing at the many exotic animals Hearst purchased to graze the hills of the estate. Needless to say, it was really a worthwhile stop along the way to San Francisco. 

The Pacific Grove or the PG, as the locals called it, is an historic town near Monterrey Bay. We stayed right on the water in a cheap motel and woke the next day to walk around and stop in a few coffee shops to use the internet. 

After a few days of driving up the coast of California and staying in sleepy little coastal towns, we finally arrived in San Francisco!