Road Trip

Lucas and I took an amazing trip down the coast of Oregon into California to see old friends and places that I haven't seen in a very long time. It started out with a visit to my sisters in Vancouver. She has some puppies that Lucas had lots of fun with...


...until Lucas got a little too close to Zeus...

...who promptly bit his face sending us to the ER where Lucas received his first round of shots. Road trip starting off very well...

Things started looking up with a long stretch of beautiful weather. Our first visit was the Portland waterfront where geese abound.

Then off to the Oregon Zoo...we loved the bat exhibit.

After a few days with Aunt Jana, we headed for the Oregon Coast to see Kath, my old supervisor from Redwood and her family -- Lucas' first look at the Oregon Coast in Lincoln City.

Kath and Jay work for BLM at the Yaquina Head Historic Lighthouse in Newport. This is the Cobble beach below the lighthouse.

It was low tide and Lucas got to see lots of sea life, but nothing was better than the rocks.

Sticks and rocks -- Lucas' most favorite things.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport. Always a hit.

They have the most amazing shark exhibit.

Nye Beach--beautiful huge long sandy beach.

Lucas must have thought the sand tasted pretty good, he ate a fair amount.

The view from Kath and Jay's living room - Yaquina River.

A couple of days on the Oregon Coast and it was time to drive down gorgeous 101 and into Crescent City where we stayed with my old Redwood co-worker Lynne.

Lucas on my back, or first stop was Endert's beach, my most favorite spot.

It was high tide so we didn't make it to the tide pools, but the view below was wonderful just the same.

We had lunch at the overlook.

Crescent Beach overlook

Then it was off to see the Redwoods via Howland Hill Road. Nothing is more beautiful.

But, before we went we had to make a stop at my old office to see the gang.

Lynda, Lynne, Susan, and the newest Jr. Ranger

Coastal Trail behind the office. The giant oak.

Finally, the Redwoods!

Stout Grove, the most majestic stand of trees on Earth.

Lucas was the star -- Lynne was doing some filming for a pod cast.

Such a good hiker.

Among the giant sword fern.

Redwood roots.

Back and Lynne's Lucas received a gift.

Mommy and me.

Lynne took a day off of work and we took a tour of the park --first stop High Bluff overlook.

A section of coastal trail from High Bluff -- another fabulous vista.

Lynne on the "moon"

We found Roosevelt Elk in Prairie Creek Redwoods.

Redwood Visitor Center on the beach.

More sticks.

The director at Elk Meadow

The star...

We had a wonderful trip. Saw great friends, family and places. But we really wished Daddy had been there to share it with us. Lucas misses his Daddy very much, not to mention how much mommy misses him. But, there will be more trips down the road now that we are back on "the Big Island". And we will be sure that we are all together to take those trips.