I don't even know where to start. I guess the beginning is as good a place as any.
I drove to Portland last tues. and picked up the guys from the airport. It was really weird for me. I'm not used to seeing people I know, especially in my new surroundings. I think it is really awesome the some friendships are able to transcend contexts. Anyways, I'm not going to get all mushy on you, yet.
After picking them up in PDX we mobbed down to Eugene, of course only after I drove us in the wrong direction for a couple miles and the obligatory stop at Burgerville. We made it down to The Eug around 9:30 or so and pretty much just called it a night.
Day 1: The next day we didn't waste anytime getting the show on the road. We drove out to Cougar Hot Springs, and boy were we in for a treat! The hot springs are about 1.5 hr away, but the drive is beautiful. It felt great to be on the road with old friends on a gorgeous morning. After stopping to fill our coolers and harass the local redneck population, we made it to the hot springs. Since this was the first time out west for both of the guys, I was hoping to get to show them some of the wildlife that isn't found wandering around MKG. I had no idea that we would luck out on the first day. The hot springs are only a half mile or so off the road, it is a real easy hike. We were a little dissappointed to find out that there is a $5 cover, but that isn't too much. It was a quick nice hike back to the springs, and that's when we saw them. There were probably 5 or 6 bear and their wives lounging around the pools completely naked. Now I am certainly no stranger to being naked around people, I can't even repeat some of the things that I instigated in the wrestling lockeroom. This was a little bit akward though. We were outnumbered and probably 20+ years younger than everyone else. I think the guys were a little weirded out. I mean who wouldn't be? There were testicles between knees and belly-buttons between breasts. They really aren't kidding when they say what goes up must come down!
Needless to say, I was naked and in the waterfall in minutes!
That night we camped out about 20 more minutes past the waterful in a really nice spot just off the road. Beers, Brats, and Bros. What else do you need? It was the kind of thing that guys forget to do. We caught snakes, threw rocks, chopped wood, got dirty, drank beer, talked about girls, ran over stuff, it was just an all around good male bonding.
Day Two: We were back on the road pretty early the next day headed back for EUG. We made it back home and picked up Hailey, one of my roomates, and headed out for Triangle lake. Hailey had told us about a place where the rock is real smooth and you can slide down it on rafts. She certainly didn't let us down. The place was awesome. There were rocks all over the place to climb on, cliffs to jump off, rapids to run. It is totally secluded and unpoliced. Perfect way to spend a day. The unporportional amount of good looking girls didn't hurt either. On a side note, is it just me or are younger girls starting to look older and older? After thoroughly wearing ourselves out frolicing in the sun, we made Hailey drive home and pretty much all passed out on the way.
After a couple hours nap and a good hot shower, we dragged ourselves out of bed for a night on the town. We ended going out with the Caitlin, Hailey, and the three girls who are going to be living across the street from me. Good times were had by all. Who knew Craig was such a dancer, move over Napoleon! Somehow the three of us ended up standing on the chairs and dancing in the windows, I don't even need to tell you how much the ladies loved us.
This is what happens when you are the first one to fall asleep!
Day Three: Not even a pretty solid hangover could stop us from rallying the next day. We had a ROAD TRIP to do. We didn't know where we were going, where we were staying, or what we would be eating, all we could hear was the call of the open road. After some sweet talking Hailey into coming with us, the four of us were on the road with a three days of unknown and Portland on the Horizon. After a beautiful drive over to the coast we made our way north up the world famous Highway 101. Honestly, it is stunning. There was one thing that we hadn't counted on though, and that was the attack of the RV's. The number of land yachts cruising the coast is insane. Every single campground and RV park was totally full, and there was no national forest in sight. We ended up driving all the way up to Lincoln City looking for a place to stay. With a little bit of luck and desperation we wound up at a KOA campground, seeting up the tents in the middle of the volleyball court. It was a really lovely location. We were right next to the septic tank, surrounded by yelling kids and wanna be campers. At least we still got to pay $35 for the night! Obviously, we were up and out of there as soon as possible the next morning.
Day Four: This was probably my favorite day out of the entire trip. I just really don't think it could have been much better. Rolling out of the driveway, and unto bluffs overlooking the ocean never gets old for me. We started heading norht on 101, hoping to camp out somewhere near Cannon Beach. We learned our lesson from the day before and did a little research before it started to get dark, and we were pretty much willing to stop anywhere that we found a spot. It was just a great day. We broke up the drive by stopping to take some picture with these crazy cut-outs. We even made it until 12 before we started drinking. We stopped at the Nehalem Winery and tried all kinds of wines that none of us, or at least the guys, had ever heard about. Who knew there were so many different kinds other than Boone's Farm and Mad Dog.
After the winery we were back on the road looking for a place to camp. All the places we wanted to stay were full, but there was one in particular that I wanted to check out. When we got there, Oswald West State Park, the sign said it was full but I had a feeling that an unmanned campground wouldn't exactly be totally punctual with its sign. From the parking lot it is probably just over .25 mi and 150 ft down to the sites. The provide you with wheel barrows to get your stuff down there. There are only 25 or so spots. Everything is right on the woods and each spot has its own little enclave and is pretty private. We walked around looking for a spot and it looked like we were going to strike out again. Then I saw a little girl help taking off a rain fly and jumped at the opportunity. It turned out that they were just starting to pack up and were headed out. Lady luck strikes again. The campground is awesome. There are a couple of surf breaks right around that part of the coast, so the entire campground is full of younger people. There is a really nice beach about 3 min from the tent and what seemed to be a couple of good hikes. I wish we had had a couple more days to just bum around there.
After setting up camp we went to check out Cannon Beach. I think I've told most people already home much I like it there. We got caught in a little but of rain, but after knocking back some beers sitting at the visitors center, the rain passed and we were out on the beach. Cannon Beach is beautiful. It would be awesome to spend a summer living there. Nothing too excited happened that night, we made our way back to the camp and spent the evening roast dogs, making smores, and evaluating the current state of America. I was a bit of an instigator, knowing that Sorenson bleeds red, white, and blue and that Hailey pretty much can't stand being American. In the end I think we all "agreed to disagree", quote of the trip, that and "Hailey the Liberal, Communist".
Day Five: Portland Bound. I'm always a little sad to see the ocean in the rear view mirror. One of these days I will finally live on it, I just keep getting closer. I was excited to get back to Portland though. We made it to the hotel around 1 and pretty much had a throw down show down for the first shower in a week. After a week in the woods nothing is better than the three S's, Shower, S***, and Shave. Devine. After getting all cleaned up we went and wandered around downtown. It was pretty fun, even if Sorenson can only walk a couple of blocks without complaining. We meet up with Hailey and a few of her friends at the Portland City Grill. We quickly realized we were in over our heads when three beers cost more then 3 pizzas at little ceasars! We hurriedly made our way down to the yamhill pub, my personal favorite, and got three pitchers for the same price! We did a little bar hopping and wound up at Blitz where I knew the bartender. It was a pretty quiet Sunday night, but the guys were all I needed. After drinking, pool, shuffleboard, and tater tots, we started walking back towards the hotel. I finally couldn't take it anymore and hailed a cab, just to find out we were only about 5 more blocks away. I was pretty much asleep before I hit the pillow. The worst thing about it, I slept through breakfast the next morning! Thanks for waking me up Hail!
Day Six: The Final Day. Wow this has gotten long! We had to be out of the room by 11 and the guys didn't fly out until 7:00. What should we do? Let's go to the Zoo! It was big fun, I don't know who was more frightened us or the animals.
Then it was off for the airport.
All in all, I think it was a really great trip. I was definitely sad the see the guys go. I had gotten used to just waking up and spending the day with them. If it was up to me we would have spent another couple weeks just driving around. It was hard to say good bye at the airport. Especially since I didn't exactly know when the next time I would see them would be. I don't know why everyone won't just follow me around wherever I go. Why do people have to live their own lives and why doesn't mine coincide with theirs? The one thing that was comforting is that we have been friends for this long even after I left home almost two years ago; and that even after two years they were still willing to fly across the country just to hang out! Hopefully someday soon I'll be able to repay the favor. Boundary waters canoe trip anyone?
