Finally to the last leg of our trip, what an amazing ride it was.
We start this leg of our journey, where we left Chris and Scott in Oregon. We started down the coast around the Coos Bay area and we share stories of what we had already experienced on our trip and marvel that there are still adventures ahead. Phil and I would be spending the night in Gold Beach Oregon, we still had time to explore. We hit Coos Bay and made it to the Coquille River Lighthouse. We were pleased to find artists around the Port Orford Beach painting the scenery around them that was nothing less than spectacular.
We settled into our hotel early, it had been a long day, there were long showers, a picnic in our room and a much deserved sleep. After breakfast in the hotel we head out for our final tour of the Oregon Coast. It isn't long before we discover a beach, empty except us and another couple. We meet up and discover they are moving a sea star that had got left out to dry to a new tidal pool. The reflections in the water was amazing, the tidal pools were extraordinary and were filled with all kinds of life.
At the very last rest stop before exiting Oregon, a little time to play. We loved Oregon, it was rural, it was fun and it was full of natural beauty.
We hit California and started heading toward Eureka our destination for the night.
Horses in a field, they were gorgeous. Battery Point Light house, lagoons, visitors centers and the only elk I could catch on my camera.
Then we walked around the square in Arcata and took a drive around Eureka before we settled in.
Phil didn't rest well that evening, it was the first time on the trip that he had a hard night. When we got up he was slow to start. It was going to be an emotional day for us in a happy way. The last time we had been in this area was the last trip before Phil had his seizure. During the chemo and radiation, we often dreamed and promised each other that we would visit some of our favorite places. We set out for the day, the first place would be the Redwood forest, this is one of Phil's and my favorite places, you can feel the energy of the trees. We took time to get out play, laugh and spend time in the trees.
After our time in the trees we head back on the road again. While we had been traveling, we came across many stretches of road that were undergoing construction. It seems there had been many landslides with the rain that we had earlier in the year. On this stop, we watched a helicopter move things about on the construction site. People were having lunches, walking around and standing on their cars trying to figure out what was going on.
Next a quick stop in Mendocino, when Phil was in his darkest times, he would dream of getting to sit by the sea there. He has been watching the Mendocino Market on Facebook and dreaming of stopping there to eat a sandwich. We got to the market right after they closed, no sandwich this time, it just means there will have to be another trip. He did however get to stop at one of our favorite stops from our past adventures and get his photo made.
The next stop meant so much to Phil and I, it makes me tear up just thinking of it. We started the year 2016 in Manchester Beach at the KOA there.
Phil and I had stayed there many times and we love it. We spent New Years Eve there in 2016, the next day Phil burned his hand in an accident and we were seeing the first signs that something was wrong. There were times I thought we would never see that beach again. There he is looking as happy as a clam, we only stopped to use the restroom, but we will be back to camp soon....
It was Gualala and then to our next stop with our friend Lee. We missed a happy hour delight with Steven and Lee, we will have to make that up on another visit....Perhaps that is our way to make sure we get to the Russian River again. We have a special place or two there too. Philly was tired so it was early to bed and then the next morning, I got up with the sun and took a walk around his magical property. Before long I was joined by Phil and Poppy. I loved watching Poppy run around the gardens making sure everything was in order. Thank you Lee for your hospitality and for sharing your magic with us.
Then we head back to the Coast to take Hwy 1 from Jenner to San Francisco.
We love Tomales Bay and Inverness, we picnicked by the Bay and I enjoyed the birds that were all over the place.
Then we turned toward Pt Reyes, it was quite a long interesting drive. You pass cows that have free roam of the area and then you get to a parking lot that says it is 1/4 mile hike, up hill to get to the lighthouse. We set out to go see the lighthouse, fog is coming in and out, sometimes you can see the coast and sometimes it disappears. When we get to the top there is a sign that there are 308 stairs and it is not advisable if you are not in good health. Phil and I had a sidebar discussion and he said he did not one to miss one thing and we headed out to take on those stairs. We had to rest a couple of time back up those 308 stairs, but we made it. Phil did it. One year ago he could barely make it up any stairs, yahoo what an achievement. Now with that being said, I will tell you our damn legs hurt like hell the next day. But we did it!!!!
We waited and waited to see the Golden Gate bridge, I schemed how I would take photos of it. When we got there - surprise, the bridge was socked in with fog. The rest of the trip home was quick and boy where we tired when we got there.
Chris and Scott, there are no words to thank you for this gift. We love you, it was perfection in every way. Phil had an MRI on Monday and had blood work today, next week we are hoping to hear all good news. One perfect, wonderful, glorious minute at a time.
I
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