5-17-08

Hi everybody...

I just discovered that my post from the 14th didn't post - so sorry about that! Ok, so now Zo and I are in Astoria, OR. We arrived just about an hour or so ago. We tried to hit up the local college to use the computers; however, their server was down. A very, very nice teacher, Helen Dvorak (yes, related to the composer and whose son used to work in Billings for the Mustangs calling games over the radio/internet), gave us directions to an internet cafe and the library. I'm at the library at the moment and it's 1pm.

Alrighty, here's the scoop - we have photos! After we left Centralia, we headed towards Castle Rock and enjoyed some of the most beautiful countryside. It reminded me a lot Italy - green pastures with rolling hills. There were probably about a dozen different greens out there - very peaceful. We road along the Chehalis River for quite sometime. After arriving at Castle Rock, we chose to push ahead for about another 10 miles in hopes of finding some campsite in Coal Creek along the Delameter Road. We made it as far as the Delameter Spur when we pulled over to ask someone for directions. This kind elderly lady, named Dorothy, told us to ask the neighbor up the road. Wayne gave us approval to stay on this private land that was once owned by an old man named Mr. Moffet. Mr. Moffet, a retired mailman, bought up 1200 acres of land before dying and arranged that that land be logged for 100 years with all the proceeds going to charities. It's a bittersweet deal. Anyhow, we also met another neighbor, Brian, who left us water and trail mix for the next morning. Again, more abounding graciousness. (Insert by Zo: Eric H. it was very obvious that these are your stomping grounds....so thank you for all the kindness).

The next morning, we headed towards Cathlamet, WA along HWY 4, which was very busy and had little to no shoulder. We had lunch in Cathlamet, took the ferry across the Columbia and finally reached Oregon! We decided to push on ahead, but that wasn't until after a kind couple from Peuget Island offered their backyard for the night. We climbed a LONG, enduring hill and put up tent at the Gnat Creek Campgrounds. Yes, the creek lives up to its name quite nicely.

Today, we may ride to Seaside, OR or Cannon Beach. The weather has been incredible and the people even more so...

We miss you all!