The landscape in our new area is amazing. Some of the main differences between the East Coast and the West Coast are the tree textures and the Mountains. Everything is more rugged in Oregon. The trees are pine and oak and the tree line is pointy and much taller. When you are in New York the trees are soft rounded mounds on the hill sides.
Everything seems wilder and bigger out west. We decided to hit the ocean before heading off to Upstate New York for Roger's brother's wedding. We are about an hour from the ocean and my first impression was that the seagulls are HUGE compared to the ones out on the East Coast. They came in all kinds of browns, grays and whites. They seemed uninterested in us as they dozed in groups on the beach. The beach we went to visit was fine sand and it shifted like an illusion for the eye. I had always assumed as a kid that every beach came with a standard set of seashells. When we went to Florida when I was five I assumed that I would find sand dollars. These to me were the most interesting shells in existence. I realized that there were different shells for each ocean and each beach. I finally found the source of sand dollars. I was unable to find a whole one for the seagulls had smashed each and everyone but still was impressed by the quantity of shells on the beach. There was a strange tube like plant laying in the sand with a bulb at the top and some long waxy thick leaves exploding from the bulb.
It was a fantastically relaxing trip to and from the ocean with little java huts along the way where Roger and I picked up a iced coffee and a muffin. We slowed for the 24 hour flagger who was moving people through the construction in rout back to our house. I admired the wild fox glove along the roads. The forest was lush with moss dripping from all of the branches of the gigantic pines. We went through a tunnel to get there and back and saw lots of little quirky shops one of witch sold a list of exotic meats. They had yack meat, alligator meat buffalo and a few others I can't remember now. There was a old saloon looking town that had a creepy mannequin all dressed up in a floral dress hanging out on the top porch.
We had stopped at a gas station. It rang just like the old fashioned gas stations you see in the movies do and a person came out. Most gas stations in Oregon seem to be full service. It takes a little getting used to for this independent New Yorker but is pretty nice. I would say over all the North Western hospitality is pretty amazing.
After spending one night in our new home we rushed off to a Best Western in Portland to prepare to fly to Upstate New York for a wedding. It was not the best place we have ever stayed but pretty good for a last minute booking. We met the funniest man at the counter who told a witty story about having to rescue a miss deposited bill from under a guests door at 3 a.m. That is one thing I really noticed about the people out in Oregon. They move at a totally different pace then East Coasters. We sped into the bank and waited as the teller fiddled with the little radio at her window till she got a nice clear Cindy Lauper tune. The funny hotel consear was oblivious to our rushed need to get to the air port. Plane is here!! Be back later to finish this story.
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