Let's Talk About Van Dwelling...

I have more confidence now in what I am doing than when I started living in my van two months ago.  In the beginning it was an exciting adventure but a little daunting and a bit scary.  I certainly did not tell very many people what I was doing.  When I was on the coast, I told people I was "traveling." 

I am more at ease with this situation now.  While in my hometown, many of the people I have run into have said they heard I moved, and I tell tell them yes, I moved out of my little green house.  Then they ask where I am at, or where am I going?  I am able to tell them I am living in my van and have just traveled down the Oregon Coast.  Some are surprised, some are excited for me.  I don't know what they are saying behind my back, if anything, but then, I don't really care... haha.  I'm just "Livin' the Life!"

I have a Facebook friend who has just attended the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous in Arizona.  Although living in a van is her goal, she doesn't own one yet, and said this was her first camping trip since she was a little girl.  She had a great time making friends, and learning a lot of new things. Her dream to be in a van by October is more vivid than ever.

It is a whole subset of society that most people do not know about, or really think about.  There are all sorts of reasons why a person may choose to live in their vehicle... from financial to adventurous... because they have to, because they choose to, full-time or part-time.  If you are interested, try Googling "living in your car", "living in your van", and "van dwelling."  There are a lot of sites with tips on how to get started, how to do it, how much it might cost you and how to stay safe and out of the way of the law.

The most important point for self-preservation is to "blend in."  Don't stick out or appear out of place with your vehicle, your appearance, or your behavior.  Your vehicle should be clean, in good shape and in good working order.  You should be clean and dressed decently.  The last one is totally subjective, your behavior, but I think you can guess some of what might not be appropriate.

Today in blogs I read that Van Dwellers live in their vans in a somewhat permanent place for six months to 2 years.  Also called Boondockers, these people are concerned with living off of the grid and may have solar power systems and special toilet systems.  They stay out and away by themselves or in like-minded groupings.  A Vanaboder is a nomad, travels a lot, and doesn't use a toilet system, solar panels, or air conditioning systems fixed on the van like a Van Dweller does.  A Vanaboder may stay involved with society with a job or something else like that.  This page is a good explanation, http://www.vandweller.org/

Without knowing these particular terms, I was thinking of myself as an "Urban Dweller."  Living in a city situation for the most part, Walmart to Walmart.  I am pretty sure camping is in the future as well so some adjustments will have to be made.  Also, hopefully visiting family where I still plan to sleep in the van.

Staying warm when the weather is cool/cold has not been much of a problem.  I personally like the cooler weather and I am snug as a bug in a rug when I curl up to sleep in the van.  Now though, that summer seems to be whipping up it's worst heat, I am mostly worried about the cats, and I basically cannot stay in the van past about 65*F (outside temp, parked in the sun) in the mornings.  When it gets real hot, the cats hunker down under the bed where it stays fairly cool and livable for them, but I still need to find parking in some shade.

I am looking into various forms of window insulation and fans. There seems to be a lot out there that doesn't really work as well as you'd like it to, so I need to do some more research on the products out there.

I haven't found any current statistics, but in 2006, one article noted as many as 3.1 million Americans were living in their cars due to financial ruin.  Four months is the average length for the homeless, but then getting back on their feet and gaining references for new housing is difficult for them.

I am finding in my internet research though, a lot of paranoia and suppression by mainstream society.  A recent blog entry by Bob of http://cheaprvlivingblog.com/   speaks to the Forest Service cracking down on campers (issuing tickets) who are obeying all laws on National Forest Lands, but cannot prove they have a permanent address elsewhere.  Hello?  So people who live in vehicles are being more adamant about staying under the radar.  Of course, traveling, and not staying in one place for too much of a length of time, is a good indicator that you are only passing through, not just living in your car.

This might actually be an issue that cities and states need to take notice of, and create areas where people in this situation might find help like a safe place to park, a bathroom and shower instead of putting them in jail for 90 days and making them pay a $1000 fine.  I would rather stay safe inside my van by myself with my cats and my own things, then sleep in a shelter dorm room without my pets and scared someone might steal my stuff.

Since I am only viewing this as a "season" of my being in the van, planning to find a place in Arizona in the fall, I put myself in the category of being a Vanaboder, a traveler.  Whew, well that makes me feel better, and maybe not so totally weird.  Oh, and I've named my van "Gypsy"... lol  She may not be pretty, but so far, she's gotten me where I have been!

:)

[I plan to add more pics of the inside of my van here, but I don't have any yet.]

* * *

Note from October 2016...  Well, I never got to taking pics of the inside of the van at that time... I always want to have it tidied up... and it is NEVER tidied up.  I have changed things around several times, added plastic drawers, use shoe holders for essentials, hooks for bags, a covered cat box.... in general though, I have way more stuff than I need!

Check for a total overhaul of the inside, sometime in the Spring of 2017 :)

The rust on the front has gotten a lot worse.  I put vinyl roof paint on the top to help with heat, and added a little glitter bling to the sides of that.  I also put lace in the windows for privacy but still get light.  Her name has been changed to "Gypsy Lace"...

Then a friend took this pic and put played with it in a graphics app...

:)

Change in Plans, and Twitter...

Of course, a change in plans.  Nothing bothers my OCD friends more than the fact that I can change my plans on a whim!

We, the whole west coast and southwest desert areas, are currently experiencing a near record-breaking heat wave.  Where I thought I wanted to go, is going to get up to 107 to 109* F and that is just way too hot for my Van Rats.  So I am instead headed to higher country, Joseph, OR, where the temps are to be about 20 degrees lower.  There is going to be fireworks at the lake, and the Hell's Canyon area is supposed to be beautiful, which is why I want to go there.  Never got a chance to go there when we lived closer to the area.

Also, I have figured out my Twitter account, I think, and am going to try out tweeting.  If you do twitter and are interested in following my tweets, I guess you should leave a message at the bottom of the post, and I will get back you personally about my account name.  I currently follow CNN, Fox News, one son, one movie star and one news anchor on my phone.  I will try to be a responsible tweeter, I promise.

I also wanted to say that I am getting anxious to be moving again.  Been in one place for almost 3 weeks, and it feels like it is just time to get back on the road.  Have totally enjoyed meeting up with friends I didn't get a chance to connect with before I left the last time, and getting some things in order, but it is time to "blow this pop stand" and "get out of Dodge" again.

:)

About Politics and Prayer...

I promise this blog is not going to turn into a political forum, or religious pulpit.  But this is my personal environment, and a lot is going on with me.  Please do not continue to read if you don't want to hear my personal opinion on these subjects.  But if you are open to hearing another person's point of view that may differ from your own, then carry on.

I am a born-again Christian, and believe Jesus is the Son of God, part of the Trinity, who came down to earth as a flesh and blood man, to understand the condition of man, and who died on the cross for my sins.  My acceptance of Him entitles me to enter the throne-room of God Almighty with my prayer requests with Jesus as my intercessor.  When God looks at me, He sees His Son, and I am spotless.  I believe if I continue to walk in His path, I will go to Heaven when I die.

So that is me.  Not open for discussion.  It is my Hope.

I have also previously commented that I believe God is involved with my daily life and watches over and protects me.

The friend I am painting for came across an online book that a guy has written about the coming One World Order.  He makes a lot of good points, and claims it began with Nimrod when he began to build the Tower of Babel.  You can read this book HERE, if you would like.  It is overwhelming and somewhat depressing as it seems we have all been just puppets for those who feel they are superior and have been planning this all along.  Even our forefathers, who I have held in high regard, may have been involved in Masonry and a part of all of this.  The ultimate goal is to reduce the world's population to only 300 million people, where "they" have all the money and power and the rest are basically slaves.

Of course, this have been a spiritual war all along.

The last piece to fall into place is America.  And it certainly looks like we are falling.  I don't like what is going on in my own government today.  It does not seem that the elected officials are listening to many of the people, and are pretty much doing their own thing.  I don't care what party you are from, I can't believe that we as Americans approve the giving of arms and gobs of money to foreign countries while we have our own people. right here, living on the streets, mal-nutritioned, lacking medical care and are in other forms of dire straights.

Toward the end of my coastal adventure, I truly felt blessed by God to be able to live as I did the past 6 weeks.  I didn't just want to be greedy or narcissistic though.  I felt that I needed to be doing something for God, not just for myself.  So I have been praying, and trust that the right doors will open at the right time.

Remember the gal that I met in Bandon who said she had a healing touch.  She told me that she envisioned a fire-y hole about 2 inches that was closing.  When I shared this story with some church friends at the bbq last week, one lady said it reminded her of a scripture she knew of that spoke of "fire in the bones" and that she thought it had something to do with sharing His Word.  Well that was certainly interesting.

I looked  up the words on my favorite Bible site, biblegateway.com and found Jeremiah 20:9...

American Standard Version (ASV)	King James Version (KJV)
9 And if I say, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name, then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with forbearing, and I cannot [contain].	9 Then I said , I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing , and I could not stay.
The American Standard Version is in the public domain. (The American Standard Version Bible Online)	The King James Version is in the public domain. (The King James Bible Version Online)

I would say this is fairly confusing.  Which also goes to prove that you can't just pick and choose a verse without understanding the context of it.

I am currently looking through and reading several commentaries on the chapter: Wesley's, Henry's, and others.  I am not making comment on what I think it is all about, but I am praying to see if any of it applies to me at this time.

I am praying and learning and waiting for God's direction.

So, I was contemplating all of this. My friend had been quiet for most of yesterday also, and I was thinking that she was thinking about all of this stuff about the One World Order.  As I was at the sink, rinsing out some dishes I thought, "God, all of this is so overwhelming, and it seems like it has been going on a long, long time... what can I do now to make any change?"  Immediately I heard the words inside me, "Stand firm."

I believe all of this, what is going on in the world, is in God's hands.  He will make His Will come to pass.  Jesus may be returning soon, as the Bible predicts.  The world may be facing some very tough times.  No one can say that things are not changing.  Changes are coming, big ones.  Politically, financially and environmentally.  Especially, I think, for us as Americans.

I will Stand Firm in my God.  I will Stand Firm in Jesus.  I will Stand Firm in His hope and peace.  Because that is what God has told me to do.

I will Stand Firm in my faith which to me means to live what I believe, speak out for what I believe, and maybe someday possibly die for what I believe.  I will never deny Jesus as my Savior.  Jesus is my Hope, no matter what I encounter in this life.

Standing Firm also means being in prayer for my loved ones and those I don't like so much, the saved for strength, the unsaved for salvation, my governments for truth. 

Amazingly, haha, this all seems to tie into my life scripture which I have had for the past 20 years.  It is wonderful how it is confirmed time and again...

Psalm 27...

¹³ I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

I am done.  Just wanted to share what was on my heart.

GBY!  :)

Plans...

Painting job is nearly done - I took a LOT of breaks - lol.  Actually the Glidden paint purchased at Walmart was a wonderful paint to work with.  No second coat needed because the paint is so thick, so the ceiling went along quite easily.  My neck got pretty sore though.  It is hard to look up and back for long periods of time, but I got all the corners done  :)

I went to the Dr. Daly Days Health Fair last Saturday and got a free neck massage from Abby.  It was like heaven and felt really good.  She couldn't believe the knots she found in my neck and shoulders..

At the fair I also saw and talked to lots of friends, got a free blood pressure check, free eye/ear/glaucoma tests by the Lions, and a blood panel that I paid minimum bucks for.  I have a couple things I need to be a little more aware of, and if I would just get on the stick with that NutriBullet, I know I would be more healthy in many ways.  Now that I feel more comfortable in my new way of life, I think it will be more easy for me to start eating the way I really want to eat.  I enjoyed talking with the Red Cross people who were there, and may consider volunteering - something to keep in mind for down the line.

I also visited a friend whose girls were playing in their above-ground pool.  Those sounds of summer took me back many, many years to my own girlhood and hanging out in C.J.'s pool down the street.  Such fun memories.

On Sunday I enjoyed an indoor bbq at another friend's.  The weather had turned a bit cooler and windy.  She has a cozy home with a beautiful view, and a pond!

So, tomorrow I wrap up the painting, and wash my van.  It's been two months so it really needs an inside major clean also... so glad I am not allergic to cat hair!  Saturday I am meeting up with a friend for lunch, and hopefully I will get to go through some stuff in my storage because I am trying to find something...haha, that will be laugh for sure.  And I want to move a few things out of the van.  

Sunday - church and out to lunch, Monday - getting my hair trimmed and a pedicure, Tuesday - I get an oil and lube job on the van, and take off toward Ontario, OR.

I will be in that area for 4th of July, so I checked it out on the internet and found an event to attend on the 3rd called Treasure Valley God and Country Festival.  Parking is $5, but otherwise it is free. 

After that, me and the Van Rats will see where the wind blows us.  Thank you for your prayers and good wishes for safe travel!  I do so appreciate them.

:)

Van Rats...

Yes, I have Van Rats.  That is what my mom and I are calling them now. Truly my two cats, Tirzah and Yarikh have been real troopers throughout this whole deal.  I think they have the idea that this is home now.  I haven't let them out really, but after we leave here, I will give it a try and see if they go very far, and if they will return when called.  The harness/leash thing hasn't worked so far so I am just going to have to trust them.  They are pretty skittish and I think they will not go far and at least return for food.  

Cute picture, yes?

:)

My Hero...

Remember when I tried to put in my new stereo at the beginning of my adventure?  7 weeks later, back in my hometown, I called my electricity hero, R., to fix it up right.  He taught me how to actually crimp a wire connection, found the faulty fuse location and replaced it, figured out what probably caused the problem to begin with... a metal ring in the cigarette lighter that caused a short and the fuse to blow... fixed the fuse again, and also found it was the wrong size.  In order to do all of this, he also had to fold himself into a pretzel underneath my dash!

But now, when I turn on the van, I hear music!  Yay!  Thank you R.!!  Also fixed because of this one fuse:  my horn, the cigarette lighter (so I can plug in my phone charger), my dash lights dim, and I can adjust my side mirrors.

:)

Fun weekend...

I plan on spending about two weeks in my town, taking care of a few things and seeing some people and then take off again.  I have some half-hearted plans, but we'll see.

Meanwhile, it was C.'s birthday on Friday when I arrived, and so four of us went to Alturas and then had dinner at Antonio's.  I gave her a ticket for 91 cents when she was about to quit, and  I told her, "Don't say I never gave you anything for your birthday!"  She won a bonus and made $86 !!  I take all the credit for her win.  Aren't I a nice friend?

 Saturday I started my painting job.

Sunday was Father's Day.  I went to church, and a wonderful friend there said I looked so relaxed.  I said, " I should be... when I had left town I was so stressed out over getting moved out.  After 6 weeks of life along the coast, I am totally refreshed."

There was also good news at church that our music team couple had had their baby boy... A.J. is a keeper!!  He was just 10 days old here...

And  isn't this the cutest tie a daughter could possibly make for her daddy for Father's Day?  And isn't he the best Daddy in the world to wear it to church?

I had lunch with my friend J., and she made a most wonderful cheese cake!  Then I had dinner with R&C for Father's Day...

Monday I was back to painting.  And Tuesday I finished the bedroom, so now I only have ceilings to complete.  Fun, fun, fun.

Am currently watching a show on TV and never realized this...  Did you know there is actually a statue on the top of the capital building in Washington D.C?

The Statue of Freedom—also known as Armed Freedom or simply Freedom—is a bronze state, 19 1/2 feet tall and weighing approximately 15,000 pounds, designed by Thomas Crawford ( Italian, 1814-1857) that, since 1863, has crowned the dome of the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. Originally named Freedom Triumphant in War and Peace, official U.S. government publications now state that the statue "is officially known as the Statue of Freedom".  The statue depicts a female figure wearing a military helmet and holding a sheathed sword in her right hand and a laurel wreath and shield in her left.

She is beautiful, isn't she?

This is probably my last blog entry for a while.  I promise to begin again when my house with wheels goes someplace.  So check back in about two weeks or so.

Thank you so much for following along.  I hope I have made you smile somewhere along the way.  It would make me happy if you signed up to follow... would just like to know who is really reading, but if you don't care to, I totally understand.

GBY!  :)

Back to the Start...

My last leg... onward to where I began this journey. 6 weeks ago.  1,562 miles since then.  So many places I've seen,  people I've met, experiences I've had.

I drove through Grant's Pass, but would like to spend more time there sometime.  It looks nice and I don't know it very well.  I tried to find a fish taco place, but kept running into lunch places that were closed.  So I took the river road to Medford and drove until I found something that looked familiar.  Medford is so big and there are so many cars!  Too big for me.  I stopped at Shari's for dinner.

Now previously I talked about eating by myself in a restaurant.  I have actually gotten over that paranoia a bit now, since I have had so many experiences alone in restaurants throughout this adventure.  I am not so uncomfortable now. So a few minutes after I walked into Shari's waiting for a table, a gentleman walked in by himself behind me.  When the host asked if we were together, I said, no, but then... I don't know what came over me... I turned and asked the guy, "unless you might like some company for dinner?"

Poor guy was really thrown by that.  He was just an average guy, probably in his 40's, a little overweight, glasses.  And all I was thinking about was not to eat alone.  He kinda choked and said, "Uh. Oh. No, thank you, I'm fine."  So I turned to the host and said, "Just one please."  I got a soup and salad and quiche and a free peach pie dessert.

I spent the night in the Medford Walmart parking, and tried to connect with some friends.  While I was waiting, I rented "Safe Haven" from the Red Box and watched it in my van under a big shady tree by a golf course and driving range.  Then tried to do some shopping but wasn't in the mood so I went to Olive Garden Restaurant instead!  Love that place!  Yum!  Someday I am going to get to Tuscany and drive over the roads and stop at some roadside cafe and say, "This looks just like the Olive Garden!" :)

A man had walked in ahead of me, and was seated.  Then I was seated in the same room in the next booth, and sat on the same side so that I was facing his back.  We each ordered, he took a call on his cell phone and then got up and walked out for a while.  When he returned he said to me, "Last time I was here it was raining and thundering."  I replied, "Oh really?  Was that a week or two ago?"  We chatted a little and I said, "Would you like to join me?" and gestured to the other seat in my booth.

This guy looked like a businessman, but not in a suit, about 50's, tall, bald and used to eating by himself.  It was 4:00 in the afternoon.  He said, "No thank you, but thank you for asking."  I said, "Sure."  When he was done with his meal, he got up and came over and shook my hand.  He said, "I just want to thank you for asking me to join you.  That was really nice."  So he must have given it some thought to the fact I had asked.

I am not trying to pick up guys.  I just know that people usually feel a little uncomfortable eating by themselves, and if I can make a new friend, that would be nice.  You know, where you from, where you going?  Europeans eat with strangers all the time because that is just how they seat people in restaurants.  I will not be making a habit of this. Honest Mom, I will not.  But for those of you who think I need a man in my life... looks like I am just "too something" for guys... and that is just fine with me.

Then I took a nap.  Of course!  After that I started the last 4 hour trek of my adventure.  I spent the time thinking about all I have experienced and learned.  Things like:  I am a strong, capable woman and I can do so many things.  I can talk to anyone in almost any situation.  Most people are good.  God cares about and watches over me each step of the way.

Just before coming into L-town, I stopped at the side of the road near Drew's Reservoir.  It is a spot I have often stopped at before, on shopping trips to K-Falls.  It is usually cold through there, but the stars are so bright.  I am often scared to get out of the car because you just feel like you are in the middle of nowhere, and something might get you!  

I stopped, turned off the engine, looked up at the millions of stars and the Milky Way, so distinct, and I thanked my Father God for bringing me safely back home over all those miles and experiences.  I breathed deeply of the cold fresh air.

Then, as I was looking up out of the driver's window... a meteor, a falling star, zipped past, just above me, leaving it's streak ever so briefly... 

and I knew God had heard me, and He was saying, "You're welcome."

:)

A Few Days in Crescent City, CA...

Across from the backside of the Crescent City's Visitor Center is a public pool, and these beautiful mosaics were on the side of the building.

 Was walking through Walmart and saw this:  a Toilet Tattoo....  lol.  You stick it onto the lid :)

It was very, very windy here for most of the time I was here.  Too windy for my kite.  Pictures of the coast, the Battery Point Lighthouse, and other various things I came across...

This lighthouse is now electronically maintained and begins just before sunset.  There is a caretaker that lives in the house now.

 

Mural across from Walmart...

This area is called Pebble Beach.  I saw some sea urchins and starfish in the little pools...

My last evening in town, I did what I wanted to make sure I did NOT do at any time on my trip!  

One of my Survival Rules is to make myself look down in my hand to make sure I have my keys, BEFORE I begin to slam the locked door.  I've been doing really good.  One time I locked the keys inside in Florence when I went to take some pictures of the sunset.  Lucky for me that time, my side door was unlocked and it was not a problem.  So I am headed into Safeway, and I've got my purse in one hand and my glasses and phone in the other, and I slammed the door.  Then I thought, "oh stink!  I locked my keys in the van!"  

I decided not to panic, or to worry about it just at that moment and went into the store.  I got what I needed and was heading back toward the van when I was almost run over by a white car coming across the parking spots.  It stopped just in front of me and I looked at the driver, and I said....

"Joey!  What are you doing here!?"

J. backed up and parked his car, got out and gave me a hug.  He is one of the kids from our hometown that grew up with my kids!  He said, "I was feeling so homesick, I was hoping I would run into someone from home!"  It felt good to be someone's blessing.  We talked for about an hour.  He asked me where I was headed, and I told him I had just locked the keys in the van and was going to figure out what to do.  He followed me over, and was willing to crawl under to see if the spare key that my oldest son hid four years ago was still there.  I can't believe he was able to find it, and that it hadn't fallen off a long time ago.  Again, Thank you Jesus!

J. invited me to come over for coffee in the morning and to meet his sweetie, K.. Then I went geocaching, picked up two more, and saw this mural on a motel...

The next morning I took J. up on his earlier invitation.  I enjoyed the coffee and the company.  When I get back to L-town, I am going to stop by his mom's and let her know I think they are doing just great!

From there I went to have lunch at Fisherman's by the harbor, then drove around to watch the ongoing rebuilding of the harbor from the Japanese Tsunami in March 2012.  This is part of what the harbor looked like after the tsunami hit...

Then I went to see the seals...

and watched the waves at the beach south of town.  I took several deep breaths of the sweet ocean air...

and headed toward the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park...

Look how small my van looks compared these beautiful redwood trees...

Along the Smith River...

:)

They told me not to take the Agnes Road...

Before I left town the next day, I went back to the cemetery to take some pictures.  As I was walking out, I heard someone talking loudly.  Just over in front of the drug store, I saw my friend, M., talking with the bicyclist we had met 5 days earlier at the Cape Blanco Pioneer Cemetery!  I could not believe she managed to wrangle him... lol.  I waved from afar, and she saw me and waved back.

I went to the beach to collect some sand for my collection.  The sand in Newport was very light and fine.  The sand here in Gold Beach was very dark and courser.

I also went to see a jewel that my friend told me about the night before... the place where the seals gathered!  It was just across from the boat dock!  I sat on the deck and watched them for a while through my binoculars.  A sheriff officer came to unload his patrol boat, and he hollered over to me, "My opinion is there are no fish in the river, that is why they are all taking naps!"

 

* * *

As I left Gold Beach, my odometer turned over... my new van engine turned over to 3,000 miles.  Thank you Dan!

* * * 

Since I was told by two different people not to take the Agnes road to Grants Pass, I decided to head farther south than I had originally planned, and went through Brookings-Harbor, crossed the California border, through Smith River to Crescent City, CA.

When I filled up with gas before leaving Gold Beach, the attendant told me about marking the back of my credit card with "CID" which any cashier worth their salt should know means "Check Identification".  It may be a pain for you sometimes, but it might save you headaches if your cards should ever be stolen.

He also told me that last year they had a lot of trouble with gangs that would hit cars parked at the pull-outs and steal stuff while the owners were out exploring the beaches or hiking the trails.  Well that was a real bummer to hear and put a damper on my day.  I didn't leave the van for long when I stopped along the way, and didn't go onto the sand at Meyer's Beach to look for sand dollars like I wanted. 

Below is a picture of the beach south of Meyer's Beach and I couldn't believe how foamy the waves were!  Believe it or not, there is a wind surfer in the background way out there.  I grabbed my binoculars and watched them for quite a while.  When they started coming in closer, I saw that the sail was a lime green butterfly wing.  Later I saw the surfer on the side of the road and pulled over to ask him if he wasn't absolutely exhausted!  He was about 60 years old with long grey hair and a long grey beard.  He said the waves were bigger than they looked and that is was pretty rough, but he had had fun.

 Arch Rock trail...  I love the ridges in these leaves.  My friend, C., thinks they are hostas...

 

I was texting with an old friend while I was hiking in this spot and he told me he was working his [rear-end] off and he was tired of it! 

So to make him feel even worse, (you'd have to understand our friendship) I sent him this beautiful scenic pic and said, "Where I am right this moment :) ahhhhh"

Another turnout on the Samuel H. Boardman State Park... 

Brookings and Harbor, OR  

I decided to just kind of cruise through this area.  Brookings is a good sized town, and Harbor is it's unincorporated neighbor.  My family once came here about 10 years ago for my then-husband to interview for a job.  We talked about getting fresh fish for dinner from the fishermen on the dock, and enjoying the sound of the ocean.  He did not get the position, and coming to this area makes me wonder how different all of our lives might have been if he had.  I have to exercise my faith though, and believe there was some reason God did not allow us to move here at that time.

Stopped for lunch at one of my favorite places... Taco Bell...

I made my way to the Azalea State Park because I was told it was beautiful from the gal at Taco Bell.  I found this wood and rock gazebo overlooking a grassy area that led down to an amphitheater.  The temperature was over 90*F and the breeze flowing through this gazebo was delightful, so I just sat there for a while to enjoy the moment and think about my adventure so far.

After I walked through the park, enjoying the warmth of the air, the smell of BBQs, and the sound of children and families, I tried to find a geocache near a pioneer cemetery just up the street.  It was hot, and my GPS was pointing me toward someone's garage, so I gave up.

I have mentioned Geocaching several times now, and if you don't know what it is, I invite you to visit a page I created for one of my computer classes.  We had to create a page on one of our hobbies, so I did it on Geocaching. My page explains all about what it is, and how we got into it, and how you can begin geocaching also.  Click on THIS GEOCACHING LINK.  Just to whet your appetite, "it is a sport where You are the search engine."

I spent the rest of the afternoon in Harbor along the water... 

There were some girls flying kites in the park strip between the harbor and the beach and my kite was calling to me, so I got to fly it for the second time.  Here is a pic... isn't it pretty?  It is a "Forest Butterfly"  Also, it is really easy and fun to fly.  The two parts are separate, so I can tug on it and really make the wings flutter  :)

I left Harbor before the sun actually set, and caught this picture on my drive south across the California border...

:)