An hour later, I arrived at the historic Timberline Lodge. If you're unfamiliar, the place you probably know this lodge best it from the aerial views throughout The Shining. I know it as a beautiful lodge and one of Oregon's most popular tourist and skiing attraction that is owned by some distant cousin. If someone would like to explain the relation to me, that would be wonderful. Summer is probably when they are the least busy so there was a lot of construction and restoration happening on the outside. The inside however was magnificent. Beautiful stonework, wood carvings, and high ceilings create what I can only imagine is the lodge to be in during the winter months. While walking around the grounds, I got to introduce myself to a Kohnstamm which was pretty cool because there are not many of us on the east coast.
A quick visit was worth the drive out of the way. It was definitely cool to see history and to meet family I never had. From there, I had to head back to Portland so I could head south down the coast on the scenic 101. A couple hour drive and I finally started to see a lot of blue. It was there that I got my first glimpses of the Pacific Ocean. It also cooled down from 82 in Portland to 65 by the shore. Twas a huge relief!
My dad also suggested to go see Devil's Punchbowl, a natural rock formation on the edge of the ocean. Apparently, when the tide rises, water starts to churn around and spray up out of the hole. I was there for low tide so I didn't see it, but it was beautiful nonetheless.
Looking out into the water, I heard a group of people exclaiming, "I see it, I see it." I meandered over to where they were, looked out in the direction they were looking, and waited. Nothing for a while. Then, in the distance, a spray of water. Then another. Then two more as whales circled that tiny island which is a perfect feeding ground for krill.
At this point it was about 5:30. I got back in my car and started driving down to Eureka, CA. From Devil's Punchbowl to Eureka is about a six hour drive. The trip out to Timberline was a couple hours that I hadn't really accounted for when I left Portland in the morning, so I drove down the coast line as the sunset and through the curvy dark hills in the Redwood National Forest. Finally, around midnight, I arrived at my hotel for the night and was so happy to finally fall asleep after a long beautiful day.
Finally seeing the Pacific Ocean and the sun setting over the sea, I started to get emotional. Yes it was beautiful, but it just hit me how far I've come on this trip. I've gone from coast to coast. I've learned a lot about myself in the three and a half weeks I've been driving by myself. I've met so many interesting people, seen so much history and culture, and have forged strong bonds with people who care about me. I'm so proud of myself for getting this far. Stay tuned to what this journey has left to come.
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