West Coast Road Trip (Lots of pics) and more to come...

[geoffp]

Hey guys/gals, so my tour in Hawaii is over :( but I'm getting stationed in Sacramento, CA :) I know its not Hawaii but I'm excited about being out there and my new job. Anyway I took 25 days off and my Dad and I are on a 25+ day road trip. I shipped my Subaru Outback to California (while the E30 is headed to Sacramento) for the trip.

Hung out in Huntington Beach for a couple of days with friends. Old man flew out to Los Angeles on Saturday and we started the trip

Started out driving up PCH headed to Big Sur.

Subie in HB


Took her to Holy Jim Falls in Trabuco Canyon, got her a little dirty and went for a nice trail run.




Holy Jim Falls (not quite as good as the waterfalls in Hawaii - but not bad)


Playing with my new Canon PS Elph 300HS camera's filters:




Santa Monica Pier


Day 1 ended in Lompoc, CA.

Day 2: Lompoc, CA - Ukiah, CA





Ate some breakfast and washed the Subie


Stopped here for some coffee near Big Sur - nice little cafe/art store (expensive!)




Had lunch in Santa Cruz then headed to San Francisco








Day 3: Ukiah, CA - Grant's Pass, OR


Digging this little Canon Elph 300HS...picked it up as a companion to my 60D and G9 (I'll probably use this more!)


Me in Leggett, CA


Drove through the Avenue of Giants







Oregon!


Hit up Redwood National Park in California but it was raining so hard it wasn't really enjoyable. Crossed over to Oregon late afternoon. It's beautiful up here, this is my first time coming here. Stay tuned for more...tomorrow we are exploring Oregon some more, then on Wednesday hitting up Crater Lake (it snowed there today!). Working our way to Washington, then back through Oregon (Hell's Canyon) through Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, back up through California (Death Valley, Grand Sequoia, King's Canyon, and Yosemite). :beer:

[lambo]

Very pretty! Thanks for sharing!

[FLYNAVY]

Oregon!

Best sign in the world right there!

[ZM Blue Devil]

great pics, love road trips. Thanks for sharing.

[delatlanta1281]

Man, I miss Nor-cal. Sacramento was awesome. Considering the cost of living compared to SF, and the proximity to so many cool places, you should have a blast. Where are you living in Sac?

[geoffp]

Man, I miss Nor-cal. Sacramento was awesome. Considering the cost of living compared to SF, and the proximity to so many cool places, you should have a blast. Where are you living in Sac?

Not sure yet? You have any suggestions? I plan on getting a dog, so somewhere dog friendly and I'd like to rent a 2 bed room, house with a garage. I won't get there for another 20 or so days but I've been looking. Looks like I can find a decent place for $1200 or so (which is lower than my housing allowance). Anyway, let me know.

Glad you guys are enjoying the pictures, headed out to explore southern Oregon's scenic byways and hitting up Crater Lake tomorrow (its snowed there yesterday!)

[brutus87]

Welcome to the best coast!

[Albuquerque30]

Cool stuff. That sounds like an amazing road trip. I assume you'll be at McClellan?

[geoffp]

Okay everyone, here's some more pics...

Day 4: Grant's Pass, OR - Union Creek, OR



This is Natural Bridges in Oregon (Union Creek), its hard to grasp from this photo but the river actually runs right through all of these rocks, pretty cool!




Can you see the two lava tubes here? (they're blocked up)




Stayed at these old cabins in Union Creek, OR. Awesome little place!



Ate at Beckies (across the way from the cabins) AMAZING Pie!!


Day 5: Union Creek, OR - Lincoln City, OR

Crater Lake National Park (most of the park was closed due to snow :()





Road trippin!


Drove out to the coast via the Umpqua Scenic Byway, nice drive out.


Cape Creek, OR




Haceta Head Lighthouse, OR


Amazing fish and chips at some small seaside diner


Found this hotel via Yelp! Anchor Motel & Inn in Lincoln City, OR. This place was cheap and AWESOME! knick-knacks EVERYWHERE, but it worked. Staff was cool and she made us a huge breakfast, even had fresh baked cookies for us when we checked in!



Poker room


Day 6: Lincoln City, OR - Hood River, OR

Went to Cannon Beach, OR in the morning (where The Goonies was filmed)


Happy Dog!




Dad





Astoria - Megler Bridge


Oh you know I went to the house where scenes from The Goonies were filmed:





Lunch at the Rogue Public House - AWESOME!!






Headed over the Astoria - Megler Bridge to Washington after lunch. We drove the Columbia River Gorge (Washington side) then crossed back over to Hood River, OR for the night.







Crossing back over to the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge.


Crappy shot but for $59.99 a night - not a bad view from our motel...


stay tuned...about 20 days left of this trip. :beer:

[XW70]

im hopfully gearing up for a big road trip at the end of the year, this is inspirational stuff

[brutus87]

I get so tired of the rain, but man I love the PNW, glad youre having a great time!

[Pantless Spency]

welcome to the sac/bay area! youll love it here man.


awesome photos, i need to get out of the house more and experience these sorts of places hahaha.

[VANOS714]

Looks like fun, the scenery is awesome :)

[geoffp]

Day 7: Hood River, OR - Forks, WA

Today we started out in Hood River, OR and headed up to Mt. Hood - Couldn't see much there due to weather. After that we headed North and crossed back into Washington en route to Olympic National Park. We went to 2 of the rain forests in the park, this place is pretty amazing. Tomorrow we will finish up here and proceed towards Seattle, Mt. Rainier, and possibly further.

Snapped this on a run this morning

[stamar]

nice you got to see two parts of the nw I havent yet, crater lake and olympic national park.

Im about to though.